SOUTH AFRICA: 20 Years Of Flying To Ghana

South African Airways (SAA) is celebrating 20 years of flying to Accra, Ghana, which is a key route in a country that is strategic for South Africa. In a statement on Tuesday, the national carrier said the 20-year milestone of flying to Ghana is important, as Ghana is South Africa's second-largest trading partner in the West African region.

"It presents a key growth market for South African goods and services, as well as an investment destination for South African companies," said SAA.

SAA first landed a B767-200 aircraft at the Kotoka International Airport in April 1996. The route has grown from three frequencies to eight frequencies per week.

"High service standards and attention to customer service delivery have resulted in growing frequent flyers and high load factors. Our customers enjoy Africa's warmest hospitality on board and the reliability of our flight schedules," said Gloria Mensah, SAA country manager in Ghana.

In October 2013, more South African companies showed an interest in Ghana. This, in turn, stimulated further growth, which directly resulted in the introduction of a daily flight service.

As a further investment in the route, SAA introduced flights between Accra and Washington DC in the United States in August 2015. The airline was granted traffic rights, making it the first African carrier to offer a direct service between Accra and Washington.

"The Accra to Washington DC route is tremendously popular and has shown steady growth. It received favourable customer ratings for excellent onboard service and on-time departures. We thank our loyal customers for their patronage and our dedicated team at the South African Airways Ghana office," Mensah said.

South Africa and Ghana established diplomatic relations in 1994. To date, the two countries have signed 19 bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding.