Ghana to ban planes older than 20 years from its airspace
Air travellers in Ghana are increasingly complaining about a lack of comfort on some of the planes serving the country. These complaints come on top of recent technical problems on a Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-300 aircraft flying from the US to Ghana.
Soon, aircraft older than 20 years will no longer be allowed to fly to Ghana. In an interview with the Ghanaian website Daily Graphic on Friday, August 26, 2022, the Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) revealed that his institution is currently in talks with air transport stakeholders to this end.
"Following persistent complaints from passengers, we will soon issue a new directive that will prevent airlines from using old aircraft in the country's airspace. Under the new regime, the proposed ceiling for the deployment of commercial aircraft in Accra is 20 years. This is part of a package of measures to ensure that the aircraft serving Ghana are fit for purpose," Charles Kraikue said.
According to him, this measure is necessary in view of recent complaints from travellers. "If proper maintenance procedures are followed, age is not a defect. But the directive has become necessary because of recent periodic complaints and passenger dissatisfaction.
However, the decision will come after the GCAA banned Delta Air Lines' Boeing 767-300, registration N195DN, from operating the New York - Accra route (1 daily flight). The 24.9 year old aircraft has recently experienced several functional anomalies.
The ban on aircraft over 20 years old will not make Ghana an exception. Several countries around the world, such as Turkey, already impose age restrictions on aircraft in service. In Africa, the DRC has also banned the import of aircraft over 15 years old, but the measure has never been enforced.
