The Executive Director at the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Adjoba Kyiamah, has called on British Airways to reconsider its decision in route relocation to London Gatwick Airport.
According to her, the move will bring some inconvenience to business travellers who commute between Accra and London.
“The decision from my understanding is that the decision is a commercial one which is part of a reorganization of their routes across the world. However, from the point of view of our members, it is not an ideal situation. Because we have amongst our members business people looking for convenience and cost-effective means of travel, and flying through Heathrow provides them with that.
“So, while we understand that it’s a commercial decision by British Airways we would hope that they would take into consideration their passengers, some of whom are our members and reconsider the decision”.
Adjoba Kyiamah
Until recently, all London-Accra-London bound British Airways flights originated and terminated at the London Heathrow Airport.
A press release issued by the Ministry of Aviation on Tuesday, 19th January 2021, rejected and subsequently communicated its displeasure about the way the decision by the management of British Airways, that from June this year, it will be moving its operation of British Airways Ghana Services from the London Heathrow Airport to London Gatwick Airport
Sean Mendis, speaking to the issue, however, insisted that the move by British Airways will bode well for the Ghanaian passenger, describing it as strategic.
In a correspondence to an earlier complaint to the British Airways, the Aviation Ministry had indicated that no consultation had been made to arrive at the move and found it unfair for a decision to be made in its current unilateral nature.
According to the government, the move forms part of a number of dissatisfactory treatment and service rendered Ghanaian passengers on British Airways watch.
“We wish to remind you about the unpleasant experience of similar unilateral decisions in the past by British Airways such as moving the Ghanaian passengers from terminal 5 to Terminal 3 at the Heathrow Airport without due consultation with the Ghanaian authorities.”
The letter signed on January 20, 2021 further added that “even the Boeing 747 aircraft that was used for several years to serve Ghanaian passengers was unsuitable and visibly old and several complains about the aircraft was deliberately ignored”.
On the back of these, the Aviation Ministry said it will not condone the latest determination by the carrier and is ready to back its position with some action.
“The Ghanaian authorities will advise itself and take a reciprocal decision on behalf of our passengers in the coming days if our call for British Airways to rescind its decision on the movement to Gatwick Airport is not heeded”.
Meanwhile, KLM Dutch Airlines has adopted a double test obligation for all passengers traveling from Ghana to the Netherlands.
This introduction follows a new travel directory by the Dutch Government as part of measures to control, if not curb the spread of the Covid-19 variant. This directive was effected on the 23rd of January.
