Trinidad & Tobago set to explore nonstop Ghana route

When the government of Trinidad and Tobago revealed its intention to develop a?direct air link to Ghana?, the announcement immediately stirred interest across aviation and tourism circles on both sides of the Atlantic. Confirmed publicly by Minister Satyakama Maharaj on 20 November 2025, the initiative reflects a broader effort to strengthen commercial, cultural and visitor flows between the Caribbean and West Africa. Early indications point to a potential?charter service with Ethiopian Airlines?, a detail the minister shared while outlining the plan during a post‑Cabinet briefing, noting that discussions are already underway with Ghanaian authorities.

For professionals across Africa’s tourism sector, this development aligns neatly with a long‑observed shift: the growing appetite for stronger air connectivity between Africa and the Americas. While political collaboration between Trinidad and Ghana has deepened in recent years, the missing piece continues to be fast and reliable aviation capacity. According to multiple route planners, passengers today typically require complex connections and a journey time of close to two days to travel between both destinations—an inconvenience that has long discouraged leisure, business and diaspora travellers.

The motivation to change this reality is not new. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister had already signalled in 2024 that groundwork for a direct route was progressing. What is different now is the renewed momentum, supported by concrete diplomatic and airline-level consultations. For Ghana’s aviation community and the broader West African market, this represents another opportunity to expand long‑haul networks and diversify route portfolios that remain heavily focused on Europe and the Middle East.

Caribbean operators have also taken a fresh interest in the African continent. Discussions are reportedly ongoing not only with Ethiopian Airlines but also with? Caribbean Airlines?, with the Trinidadian government evaluating whether a weekly or biweekly service could be viable. This suggests the market exploration phase is moving beyond preliminary conversations and into operational evaluation, including fleet planning and network profitability studies.

In the wider context of African tourism, accessibility to the Caribbean carries value beyond passenger numbers alone. Trinidad and Tobago hosts a large diaspora with ancestry linked to West Africa, especially Ghana, making cultural tourism a promising driver for traffic. For many African tourism businesses looking to tap transatlantic demand, a direct connection creates new openings for tour packaging, heritage-focused itineraries, student exchanges and investment-driven travel in both directions.

Banking and corporate links offer another dimension. Trinidad’s Republic Bank already maintains roughly 40 branches across Ghana, a presence highlighted by Minister Maharaj as one of the reasons seamless travel would benefit both economies. Enhanced connectivity could therefore increase corporate mobility, facilitate regional conferences and tighten supply‑chain cooperation between Caribbean and African enterprises. For African tour operators servicing trade‑focused travellers, conferences, or investor delegations, a more efficient West Africa–Caribbean corridor would represent a valuable selling point.

Industry observers note that direct flights often stimulate demand that did not previously exist. The success of nonstop routes such as Lagos–New York, Nairobi–Washington or Johannesburg–São Paulo demonstrates how improving point‑to‑point connections naturally encourages new travel habits and supports tourism diversification. Should Trinidad and Ghana advance to a scheduled service after the charter phase, the route could emerge as a strategic commercial bridge connecting two regions with shared historical and cultural foundations.

For destination managers and African tourism executives, the news also raises strategic considerations. Increased air links with Caribbean states can amplify marketing opportunities for? West African cultural destinations?, expand multi-country itinerary formats and help develop niche travel markets spanning music, festivals, culinary exploration and wellness retreats. The Ghanaian tourism brand in particular has benefited from global visibility following initiatives like the Year of Return and Beyond the Return, making additional international reach even more impactful.

On the Caribbean side, Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism planners are positioning the country as a hub for ?diaspora connection?, business tourism and lifestyle-focused segments. A link to Ghana could reinforce this positioning while unlocking new forms of tourism exchange such as joint heritage circuits and integrated Caribbean–African tour design, areas where African tour providers may find innovative business potential.

Operationally, aviation experts will be evaluating factors such as aircraft range, regulatory approvals, bilateral agreements and fuel cost efficiency. Ethiopian Airlines, mentioned by Trinidadian officials as a prospective charter partner, already possesses the widebody fleet, long‑haul experience and network sophistication required for transatlantic routes bridging Africa and the Americas. Should Ethiopia facilitate the charter stage, this could later support a stronger case for a scheduled service operated by either Caribbean Airlines or a West African carrier.

Another element gaining attention is the practical demonstration recently cited by Minister Maharaj, who referenced a test flight showing that a transatlantic route between the Caribbean and West Africa is not only technically feasible but operationally competitive. He highlighted that the flight added just 90 minutes compared to Trinidad–Toronto timings, reaffirming the practicality of a direct service. This emphasis on operational reality may increase confidence among stakeholders considering commercial viability.

For African travel professionals, staying informed about such developments is crucial. Air connectivity shapes demand patterns, influences destination readiness and opens new lanes for revenue generation. As Trinidad and Tobago continues its consultations with Ghana and regional partners, the next months may bring significant movement on charter approvals, scheduling trials and tourism board partnerships.

The project carries the promise of reshaping how African and Caribbean markets interact, expanding choices for travellers and fostering economic and cultural ties. Should the route materialize, it would add a fresh transatlantic dimension to Africa’s aviation map and create another gateway for growth across tourism, investment and cultural exchange.