Accra, March 7, GNA - A new airline that will operate passenger and cargo services within Ghana and West Africa has been presented with its Air Carrier Licence (ACL) by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Togbe Afede XIV, Chief Executive of SAS Finance Group and Chairman of Africa World Airlines Limited, received the ACL on Friday from Air Commodore (Rtd) Kwame Mamphey, Director-General of GCAA, at a ceremony at the Kotoka International Airport.

A statement issued in Accra on Monday by the new airline said it would commence flight operations in mid-2011 with all-jet services from Accra to Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi. Air Commodore Mamphey congratulated the management on achieving the milestone and welcomed the new carrier on domestic routes in order to increase competition and reduce airfares. Air Commodore Mamphey advised the airline to ensure that the highest standards of safety and reliability were maintained and assured it of GCAA's support.

Togbe Afede, who is also the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli Traditional Area, thanked the GCAA and the Ministry of Transport for their assistance through the licensing process. He assured the public that the airline intended to revolutionalise domestic air transport by making it affordable to many people. Africa World Airlines Limited is a Ghanaian private-sector joint venture between SAS Finance Group, an integrated investment banking and financial advisory firm, and Chinese investment and technical partners.

"Africa World intends to provide low cost scheduled airline passenger services from Accra to domestic and regional destinations, using jet aircraft throughout its route network," the statement said.