Africa World Airlines
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Founded | 2010 | ||||||
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Commenced operations | 21 September 2012 | ||||||
CEO)[2] | |||||||
Employees | 381 (2020)[3] | ||||||
Website | flyafricaworld |
Africa World Airlines Limited (AWA) is a Ghanaian airline company that was incorporated in 2010 and commenced flights in 2012. It has its head office in Airport City Accra,[4] and its main hub at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.[3]
It is the largest airline in Ghana with over 600,000 passengers booked in 2022,[3] accounting for 55% of domestic passengers and 20% of all air passengers in the country.[5][6][7] The airline has been consistently profitable since 2014.[8][9]
AWA is a joint venture between Ghanaian shareholders SAS Finance Group and
History
Startup
AWA was born as the brainchild of noted Ghanaian
Consolidation
In December 2013, AWA launched its first international route connecting
Expansion
AWA began the next phase of its expansion in December 2016, with the delivery of its fourth Embraer 145 aircraft.
COVID-19 pandemic
AWA temporarily suspended passenger operations on 30 March 2020 due to the spread of
Post COVID Challenges
AWA failed to restart flights to Wa after the COVID-19 related disruptions, citing safety concerns at the airport.
Fleet
Current fleet
The Africa World Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of September 2022):[53][21][52][54]
Aircraft | In Service | Passengers | Notes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B | E | Total | |||||
Embraer ERJ-145LR
|
7 | 0 | 50 | 50 | [55] | ||
Total | 7
|
Fleet development
Africa World Airlines took delivery on 30 August 2012 of its first
Future plans
Africa World Airlines stated that it intended to introduce two additional ERJ-145s in 2021,
Destinations
Africa World Airlines operated the following scheduled services as of August 2022.[62][63]
Country | City | Airport | Notes | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ghana | Accra | Kotoka International Airport | Hub | |
Kumasi | Kumasi Airport | |||
Takoradi |
Takoradi Airport | [23] | ||
Tamale | Tamale Airport |
|||
Nigeria | Abuja | Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport | [31] | |
Lagos | Murtala Muhammed International Airport | [22] |
On 15 April 2021, Africa World Airlines conducted the first ever test flight by a jet aircraft to Ho Airport in the Volta Region of Ghana. The airline stated that they intended to commence scheduled services between Ho and Accra shortly thereafter.[64] However, in March 2022, AWA confirmed that it had decided not to launch flights on this route due to operational challenges.[65]
In August 2022, AWA made the decision to suspend all flights to Freetown and Monrovia due to operational constraints. Coming on the heels of the cancellation of Abidjan services, it left AWA serving only destinations in Ghana and Nigeria as of September 2022.[52][54]
Statistics
As a privately owned carrier, AWA does not make financial data available to the public. However, traffic statistics are published by the airline as well as Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and Ghana Airports Company Limited.[3][7][5] Other figures have been made available via press reports, interviews and other publications.[8][9][21][66][6]
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Profitability | loss | loss | profit | profit | profit | profit | profit | profit | ||||
Number of employees | 276 | 381 | ||||||||||
Number of passengers | 85,850 | 149,940 | 184,800 | 251,289 | 418,889 | 467,438 | 601,930 | 335,989 | 600,196 | 601,790 | 471,675 | |
Passenger load factor (%) | 74.8% | 75.2% | 77.1% | 76.7% | 76.4% | 86.8% | 86.1% | 80.2% | ||||
Number of aircraft (at year end) | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
Partnerships
Africa World Airlines has
Agreements
In 2019, AWA signed a
The airline also announced an interline partnership with Emirates to provide domestic and regional feed to their flights at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.[70]
AWA also signed a
In October 2019, AWA and Brussels Airlines concluded an interline partnership to connect passengers through their joint networks.[72][73]
AWA and
Africa World Airlines and Cabo Verde Airlines also announced a partnership effective from February 2020 to improve connectivity in West Africa between their respective networks.[75][76]
In May 2022, AWA and Kenya Airways announced an expansion of their partnership to enhance West African connectivity between the two airlines over AWA's hub at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.[77]
Awards and recognition
Africa World Airlines has been recognised as "Domestic Airline of the Year" in Ghana every year consecutively since 2015. In September 2019, the airline was inducted into the CIMG Hall of Fame after being voted the winner in the "Domestic Airline of the Year" category for five consecutive years.[78]
Africa World Airlines was also recognised as "Best Airline in West Africa" for 2019 by the Balafon Travel Awards being held during the Accra Weizo 2019 travel conference and exhibition.[79]
In April 2019, AWA was recognised by
In October 2019, Africa World Airlines received the 2019 AviaTour award for "Best Passenger Experience".[81]
In December 2019, the prestigious Routes Africa Awards honored the airline with the Airline Excellence Award for "Innovation and Capacity Growth" in recognition for AWA's steady growth and creative marketing.[82]
AWA also received recognition and commendation from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President Jair Bolsonaro in July 2020, for assisting with the repatriation of Brazilian citizens from 7 countries in West Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.[83][84]
Africa World Airlines was the recipient of the Tower Award for "Best African Airline Connectivity (Regional)" at the Aviators Africa conference in October 2021. The airline won the award for the second consecutive year in October 2022.[85][86]
In February 2022, AWA was recognised as the Best International Carrier in Nigeria for 2021 by the organisers of the Abuja Jabamah Travel Awards.[87]
Incidents
- On 13 February 2018, an Africa World Airlines
References
- ^ a b c "Togbe Afede's Airline Takes Delivery of Second Aircraft". Ghanaweb.com. 11 September 2012.
- ^ a b c "Introducing Our New CEO". FLYAfrica. Accra, Ghana: Land & Marine Publications. August 2022. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d "About Africa World Airlines". Africa World Airlines. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Contact Us". Africa World Airlines. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Traffic Statistics". Ghana Airports Company Limited. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ a b c Maclean Kwofi (31 March 2022). "Domestic Air Travels Surge". Daily Graphic.
- ^ a b "Aviation Statistics - GCAA". Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "HNA's Africa World Airlines helps the Ghanaian government". PR Newswire. 8 April 2020.
- ^ a b James Pearson (5 November 2019). "Africa World Airlines will be West Africa's leading carrier". Anna.aero.
- ^ Katie Cantle; Rob Finlayson (25 July 2012). "Hainan Airlines, Africa World Airlines launch JV". Aviation Week.
- ^ "HNA Group and Africa World Airlines sign Joint Venture Agreement". Bravia Capital. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines - World Airline News". World Airline News. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Ghana gets new airline". The Africa Report. 25 September 2012.
- ^ "How We Started Africa World Airlines On The Back Of A Paper Napkin - Mendis". New Telegraph (Nigeria). 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Post by Africa World Airlines Limited". LinkedIn. Africa World Airlines. 4 March 2021.
On 4th March 2011, Africa World Airlines was awarded our Air Carrier License by Ghana Civil Aviation Authority
- ^ Drew Hinshaw (29 December 2011). "West African Skies beckon new carriers". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "HNA Group invests in Africa World Airlines". CAPA Centre for Aviation. 23 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Victoria Moores (7 September 2020). "Mendis confident in post-virus world". African Aerospace Magazine.
- ^ "AWA to receive first aircraft on August 30". Africa Business Communities. 29 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Africa World Airlines re-appoints Michael Cheng Luo as CEO". CAPA Centre for Aviation. 19 September 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Africa World Airlines Fleet". AirFleets.net. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ a b "AWA flies to Lagos twice daily". LIV News. 10 December 2013.
- ^ a b "AWA to start flights to Takoradi". Ghana Business News. 19 April 2015.
- ^ Sumit Singh (26 November 2020). "How Ebola Meant Africa World Airlines Was Ready For COVID-19". Simple Flying.
- ^ Christin Roby (12 September 2014). "Airlines Cut West Africa Flights". Voice Of America.
- ^ "Ghana growth curbed by cutbacks". anna.aero. 18 July 2018.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines - Local, Reliable Talent". Business Focus Magazine. 12 February 2020.
- ^ Joy Ogbebo (11 April 2016). "Africa World Airlines Secures IOSA Certification". MamaJ's Aviation Blog.
- ^ Norvan Acquah -Hayford (28 September 2015). "Apiigy Afenu resigns". Citi News.
- ^ "Meet the AWA CEO". Facebook. Africa World Airlines. 19 June 2017.
Mr Quan John Xiaoyi has 16 years of Airline Experience having held various positions within Hainan Airlines in China and its conglomerate. His last post was MD of Air Guilin.
- ^ a b "Africa World Airlines begin Accra-Abuja daily flights". StarFM. 27 June 2017.
- ^ Sam Edem (24 November 2017). "AWA to launch flight to Monrovia". Prime News Ghana.
- ^ "IATA presents certificate to Africa World Airlines". Ghana News Agency. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ @FlyAfricaWorld (14 December 2018). "A team from IATA visited Africa World Airlines..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Chidozie Uzoezie (22 May 2018). "Ghana's AWA begins flights to Freetown". The AfriTraveller.
- ^ "AWA first to serve Wa". ch-aviation. 6 September 2019.
- ^ a b Kojo Bentum Williams (15 February 2020). "AWA continues expansion with inaugural Abidjan flight". Voyages Afriq.
- ^ "Making Ghana Proud". FLYAfrica. Accra, Ghana: Land & Marine Publications. August 2019. p. 2. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines increases Abuja frequencies". RoutesOnline.com. Informa Markets. 21 May 2019.
- ^ Chinedu Eze (29 January 2021). "Nigeria loses West African air travel market to Ghanaian carrier". This Day (Nigeria).
- ^ Jon Howell (23 September 2022). Sean Mendis. Looking back at 10 years of Africa World Airlines- an African aviation success story (Television production). AviaDev Africa – via YouTube.
- ^ Elizabeth Sasu (28 March 2020). "AWA to suspend all flights by Monday". GH-Aviation.
- ^ Joanna Bailey (16 July 2020). "How Africa World Airlines Is Making The Most Of COVID". Simple Flying.
- ^ @FlyAfricaWorld (19 April 2020). "Africa World Airlines is pleased to announce the resumption of limited domestic scheduled flight service..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines - Bringing Ghanaians Home". Africa World Airlines. April 2020.
- ^ Chidozie Uzoezie (8 September 2020). "AWA to resume international operations". The AfriTraveller.
- ^ Sumit Singh (27 November 2020). "Why African Aviation will recover faster". Simple Flying.
- ^ Victoria Moores (25 November 2020). "ANALYSIS: For Most African Carriers, Next Year Will Be Precarious". Aviation Week.
- ^ "Africa World scores second highest in Africa for Safe travel". Africa World Airlines. November 2020.
- ^ "Wa route to be back after safety concerns fixed". Ghanaweb.com. 22 April 2021.
- ^ Ikechi Uko, ed. (19 October 2020). "Sean Mendis leaves Africa World Airlines AWA after the end of contract". African Travel Quarterly (ATQ).
- ^ a b c Dominick Andoh (12 August 2022). "Africa World Airlines To Suspend Monrovia, Freetown Operations". Aviation Ghana.
- ^ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World. October 2019: 15.
- ^ a b c Dominick Andoh (31 August 2022). "AWA suspends West Coast Operations". Aviation Ghana.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines on ch-aviation". ch-aviation. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines First Aircraft Lands". Infrastructure News. 3 September 2012.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines Finalizing Launch Plans for ERJ-145". ch-Aviation. 27 July 2012.
- ^ "Embraer ERJ-145 Operator List". PlaneSpotters.net. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ Thomas Jaeger (16 November 2019). "Africa World Airlines builds fortress Accra". ch-Aviation.
- ^ Togbe Afede XIV (17 February 2020). The Market Place on JoyNews (17-2-20) (Television production). Ghana: JoyNews – via YouTube.
- ^ "COMAC signs MOU on Jointly Promoting China-Africa Regional Aviation Cooperation with CADFund and Africa World Airlines". COMAC. 10 September 2019.
- ^ "Destinations - Africa World Airlines". Africa World Airlines. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "Route Map - Africa World Airlines". Africa World Airlines. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines conducts test flight at Ho Airport ahead of Ho-Accra service launch". CAPA Center for Aviation. 16 April 2021.
- ^ Maclean Kwofi (5 April 2022). "Airlines ghost Ho airport". Daily Graphic.
- ^ "LinkedIn : Africa World Airlines Limited". LinkedIn. Africa World Airlines. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ "Connection Partners - Africa World Airlines". Africa World Airlines. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ "South African Airways Increases West African Connectivity". Sawubona. Johannesburg, South Africa: Mikateko Media. April 2019. p. 102. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines and South African Airways Unveil New Codeshare Agreement". Aviation Tribune. 31 October 2019.
- ^ Nour Salman (16 April 2019). "Interline agreement between Emirates Airline, Africa World Airlines". WAM - The Emirates News Agency.
- ^ Kojo Bentum Williams (17 August 2019). "AWA, ASKY, Ethiopian Airlines partner to bring seamless travel to Ghanaians". Voyages Afriq.
- ^ Kojo Bentum Williams (8 October 2019). "Africa World and Brussels Airlines interline to provide seamless travel for passengers". Voyages Afriq.
- ^ Jeanette Briedenhann (21 October 2019). "AWA partners with Brussels Airlines". Inside Travel.
- ^ Romuald Ngueyap (13 January 2020). "AWA inks interline partnership with Air Burkina to improve connectivity in West Africa". Ecofin Agency.
- ^ "Cabo Verde Airlines and Africa World Airlines improve air connections in West Africa". World Air News. 30 January 2020.
- ^ Prof. Wolfgang Thome (5 February 2020). "Africa World Airlines, Cabo Verde Airlines partner to grow connectivity in West Africa". ATC News.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines partners with Kenya Airways". Logistics Update Africa. 6 May 2022.
- ^ Patricia Ama Bonsu (4 October 2019). "Africa World Airlines Inducted into CIMG Hall of Fame". Modern Ghana.
- ^ "Africa World Airlines Wins Award". Holiday Guide Magazine. 7 October 2019.
- ^ Ronald Donner (26 June 2019). "Aviation on the World's Second Largest Continent Remains Challenging". Aviation Pros.
- ^ Ikechi Uko, ed. (4 October 2019). "Aviation: Africa World Airlines Bags Best Passenger Experience Award". African Travel Quarterly (ATQ).
- ^ "Cape Town Air Access named the Overall Winner for second year runningin the Routes Africa 2019 Awards". Modern Ghana. 10 December 2019.
- ^ "Africa World ERJ145s Repatriate Brazilians". Embraer Commercial Aviation. 24 July 2020.
- ^ @jairbolsonaro (23 July 2020). "Bom trabalho Ministro @ernestofaraujo e equipe!" (Tweet) (in Brazilian Portuguese) – via Twitter.
- ^ Toni Ukachukwu, ed. (27 October 2021). "Aviators Africa - Tower Awards - Winners". Aviators Africa.
- ^ Sade Williams (3 November 2022). "Stakeholders at fourth Aviators Africa Conference seek reorganisation of Africa's aviation". The Travel Port (Nigeria).
- ^ "Travellers Award Unveils Africa World Airline As The Best International Airline In Nigeria". African Travel Quarterly (ATQ). 1 February 2022.
- ^ "AWA Pilot says robbery happens only in Lagos". Sahara Reporters. 25 February 2018.
- ^ Ben Schlappig (19 February 2018). "I have so many questions about this Lagos airport robbery". One Mile At A Time.
- ^ "Ghanaian pilot unleashes hot gas on Nigerian thieves in aircraft robbery attempt". Ghanaweb.com. 15 February 2018.
External links
- Official website
- Africa World Airlines on LinkedIn
- Africa World Airlines on Facebook