Afra Airlines
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Founded |
2003 Accra, Ghana | ||||||
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Commenced operations | 2003 | ||||||
Ceased operations | 2005 | ||||||
Alliance | CTK - CiTylinK | ||||||
Parent company | Global Air |
Afra Airlines was a privately owned Ghanaian airline, established in 2003 in Accra. It was intended as a new consumer airline to be focused on providing low-cost air services to and from destinations within Ghana, Africa, Europe and North America. It had management connections with Global Air Group, which was also unsuccessful. Afra Airlines itself ceased trading in 2005.
History
Afra Airlines was established in 2003 by Luke and Simone Butler,[1] who had moved to Accra to establish Afra Airlines, Afra Resorts & Holdings and Afra Air Cargo. The airline was awarded its Air Carriers licence for cargo and passenger operations by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and an Air Tour Operators Licence from the Ghana Tourist Board.
In January 2005 it was announced[2] that Afra Airlines was to merge with Boeing 747 owner and charter operator, Global Air Group, to complete financing arrangements for the purchase of 100 Utilicraft Aerospace Industries new FF-1080-300 Freight Feeder aircraft, for deliveries starting in 2007.
Afra Airlines also entered a co-operative agreement with CTK - CiTylinK on new regional services. The new service, AfraCityLink, was scheduled to start domestic services on 15 February 2005.[3]
Afra Airlines claimed official frustration and corruption by the then Government of Ghana prevented it from operating. As a direct consequence Afra Airlines laid off 40 Ghanaian staff, closed its offices and put its investments in Ghana on hold for the foreseeable future. [4]
References
- ↑ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050128005484/en/Global-Air-Afra-Airlines-Signing-Babcock-Brown
- ↑ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050128005484/en/Global-Air-Afra-Airlines-Signing-Babcock-Brown
- ↑ Airliner World, April 2005
- ↑ "Afra Airlines Lays Off staff, Refocus Outside Ghana". Accra: Modern Ghana. 2 June 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2012.