Many people, especially in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, will be eagerly anticipating the arrival of Ethiopian Airlines at Prempeh I International Airport at 9am as originally advertised. This event is set to be historic, marking the first international flight to land in the cultural city of Kumasi.
However, checks by The High Street Journal indicate that the flight has been rescheduled and is now expected to arrive on either 5th of December or at a latter date.
According to the sources, the delay stems from a lack of available slots at London’s Gatwick Airport for the original date. Earlier announcements by the Ghana Airports Company had stated that the flight from London to Kumasi would take place on December 3rd, but recent developments have altered the timeline.
Late last night, the Ghana Airport Company issued a statement confirming The High Street Journal story that the flight has been rescheduled. The Statement however failed to provide a specific date and only indicated that the flight will arrive later this week.
Aviation expert Sean Mendez earlier clarified that this flight is not part of a regular international route but is a one-time charter arrangement. “This is a single charter flight from London to Kumasi and back,” Mendez told The High Street Journal in a written statement. He emphasized that tickets for the flight cannot be purchased directly from Ethiopian Airlines but must be secured through a charter agent, highlighting its special service nature.
The latest statement by the Airport Company now describes the flight as “Special” strongly suggesting that it is a chartered flight as The High Street Journal reported over the weekend.
The Boeing 737-800, which typically seats 189 passengers, will be restricted to selling only 80 to 120 seats due to the flight’s charter conditions . Additionally, luggage allowances will be limited, Mendez explained. These conditions are influenced by the length of the runway at Prempeh I International Airport, which is not long enough for smooth takeoff of a bigger and heavier aircraft.
Passengers on the flight are expected to pay around $600 each, but reports suggest the overall cost of the charter exceeds the amount raised by ticket sales. It remains unclear who is financing the charter and whether the government or a private individual will cover the shortfall.
