The Kumasi-London (Gatwick) flight, initially scheduled for December 15, 2024, has been postponed to a later date due to low demand, AviationGhana reports.
This follows the successful maiden flight on December 6, 2024, when an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 flew directly from London Gatwick to Kumasi’s Prempeh II International Airport.
Despite the initial enthusiasm and the importance of the route, sources reveal that the flight, which had a capacity of 154 seats, including 16 business class and 138 economy class, was almost empty.
The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) had been behind the initiative to offer direct flights from Kumasi to London Gatwick, planning to expand air travel options for the Ashanti region.
However, the low passenger turnout raised concerns about the sustainability of such routes. Aviation experts, including Sean Mendis, Africa Aviation Specialist, criticized the approach of GACL, calling it unproductive and damaging to the long-term viability of Kumasi Airport.
He pointed out that offering subsidized flights could discourage airlines from investing in the airport, especially when they would face competition from such heavily subsidized routes.
Mr. Mendis also pointed out the limitations of Kumasi Airport’s infrastructure, including the runway, which currently cannot accommodate wide-body aircraft.
Although the facility was recently upgraded at a cost of approximately £66 million, and there are plans to extend the runway as part of Phase III of the Kumasi Airport Project, the current setup still hinders larger international airlines from operating regular flights.
The runway extension, expected to cost around £58.9 million, would increase the airport’s capacity and make it more commercially viable for international airlines like Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and British Airways to consider regular operations.
Despite these challenges, experts remain optimistic about the potential for the Kumasi-London route, noting that Kumasi has a seasonal market for flights to Europe.
However, until the infrastructure is expanded and the commercial viability of such routes improves, flights from Kumasi to major international destinations are likely to remain limited.
