Government Urges Airlines to Lower Airfares After Duty Waiver
Government Urges Domestic Airlines to Lower Airfares Following Import Duty Waiver
With domestic flight tickets remaining a real pinch point for many Ghanaians, government is now calling on local airlines to pass on recent savings from a duty waiver directly to passengers.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe made the call at the unveiling of Africa World Airlines’ (AWA) new 102-seater Embraer E190 aircraft, using the moment to speak directly to the broader issue of high domestic airfares.
Nikpe pointed to the recent waiver of import duties on aircraft parts as a meaningful cost-saver for domestic carriers. His argument was straightforward if airlines are now spending less on operating costs, that relief should show up in ticket prices too, rather than staying purely on the airlines’ side of the ledger.
We want to seize this opportunity to appeal to all the airlines, especially the leading domestic airlines, to also look at their affairs and let it reflect on the Ghanaian traveller, so that our people can also enjoy some reduction in airfares, he said.
Beyond the appeal on pricing, Nikpe also had positive things to say about AWA’s decision to bring larger aircraft into its fleet. He noted that increased seating capacity could work in favour of more Ghanaians choosing to fly, helping make domestic air travel a more accessible option overall rather than something reserved for a smaller segment of travellers.
