THE national airline, Ghana Airways, has taken delivery of a Boeing 727 aircraft to revamp its regional operations during this peak season.

The 113-seater aircraft, a lease from Million Air, an airline company in South Africa, has been put into immediate operation. The lease will last for five weeks.

A highly placed source at the Ghana Airways, who disclosed this in an interview with the Graphic, in Accra, said the lease is to alleviate the constraint on the airline’s fleet operation, following the November 13 emergency landing incident of one of its DC 9 aircraft in Conakry, Guinea.

In addition, the source said, one of the two DC 9 aircraft which is currently unoperational, will be put into use shortly in order to strengthen the regional operations for the yuletide peak period.

It said, Ghana Airways is optimistic that the operations of the two aircraft will ensure stability and efficiency in its regional flights.

It said in view of the high passenger and baggage traffic envisaged during this Christmas period, Ghana Airways will operate special extra flights to meet the increasing needs of its patrons.

"Though many Ghana Airways passengers tend to travel heavy during Christmas, the national airline is prepared to address the issue of excess passenger luggage", the source assured.

The source also called for the co-operation of the general public, especially patrons of the Ghana Airways during the yuletide to make the system work effectively.

To ensure the success of the measure, Ghana Airways has set up a special task force to co-ordinate operations during the peak season.