Although upgrading the Kumasi Airport to an international standard has improved the country’s aviation industry, the runway length has become a concern for some industry players regarding modern aircraft and long flights.
Aviation Analyst, Sean Mendes has observed that the current length of the runway which is 1900 meters is not suitable for some modern aircraft.
He tells The High Street Journal that in the age of high technological advancement in the aviation industry, the current runway is simply not long enough for modern airplanes such as Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 to take off fully loaded for direct flights to Europe.
Sean Mendes explains this isn’t about preferences but a matter of laws of physics. He narrates planes need a certain speed to lift off, which requires enough runway length. The heavier the plane due to passengers, cargo, or fuel, the longer the runway it needs. For a long trip to Europe, airplanes require more fuel, making them heavier.
With the current runway, the former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Africa World Airlines says there will also be a need for a compromise as airlines will be forced to choose between reducing fuel, limiting passengers, or skipping long-haul routes altogether.
“The current runway in Kumasi is 1900m long which is insufficient for current technology aircraft such as the Boeing 737 or Airbus 320 to fly nonstop from Kumasi to Europe without restricting the number of passengers on board to reduce weight. This is not a matter of opinion, but rather facts driven by the laws of physics,” he contended.
He further added, “An airplane can only lift a certain maximum weight from a runway, and that weight can either be from fuel (more fuel needed for longer flights) or passengers (less passengers to reduce the weight).”
Although there is a planned expansion of the runway to 2300 meters, Sean Mendes believes it won’t be able to deal with the problem entirely as there are other issues such as the parking ramp and runway width.
He therefore maintains that the Kumasi Airport is ideal and best suited for domestic and regional flights within Africa.
“A slightly longer runway such as the proposed extension to 2300m will reduce but not eliminate this issue. The physical characteristics of the airport including the parking ramp, runway width, etc.. makes it more suitable to serve domestic and regional flights within Africa rather than long-haul international flights,” he added.
Given the current situation of the airport, it raises the question of whether the Prempeh International Airport is best suited to handle the country’s dream of being the second international flight hub considering the limitations it places on long-haul flights and modern planes.
