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Aside VIRGIN ATLANTIC and UNITED AIRLINES, two other airlines have also advanced plans to launch their operations in Ghana by the third quarter. VIRGIN ATLANTIC and UNITED AIRLINES would be operating Accra-London and Accra-Washington routes respectively as a government-motivated initiative. Whilst Virgin Atlantic is scheduled to have its first flight direct from Heathrow in London to Ghana on May 24, United Airlines also plans to operate a once-daily service linking Washington with Accra, beginning June 20. This would make UNITED AIRLINES the second operator to travel direct from Washington to Accra after Delta airlines but its first-ever nonstop service to the African continent. VIRGIN ATLANTIC on the other hand has scheduled a three-services-a-week operation between Heathrow Airport and Accra as its fifth to Africa using a 240-seat Airbus. The new once to join are BRUSSELS AIRLINES and TURKEY AIRLINES, which plan to fly Accra-Brussels and Accra-Istanbul routes respectively sometime in July. The Civil Aviation Authority disclosed to Citi Business these form part of the several applications awaiting the sector ministry�s approval after all the necessary requirements have been met. The Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Air Commodore (Retired) Kwame Mamphey told Citi Business the recent influx of airlines into the country is mainly due to the oil find which airlines are positioning themselves to harness its huge economic prospects. According to him, about four airlines are therefore expected to start operating in Ghana, all before or during summer time. �We expect this summer to be very busy with four carriers coming in to Accra from various destinations as a result of the oil and gas boom in Ghana�, he noted. He added that, �these Airlines are projecting a lot of economic activities in Ghana and they want to be in position at the appropriate time so that they don�t loose out, even though the traffic has not grown that much at the moment�. The incursion would only go to further deepen the competition in the local airline industry and this; Commodore Mamphey said should ultimately inure to the benefit of Ghanaian passengers and Ghana as a whole. According to him, the development is generally regarded as having a positive impetus for the local airline industry by deepening competition. That is, whilst Virgin Atlantic is to compete with British Airways and Ghana International Airlines, UNITED AIRLINES would be competing with Delta Airlines on their respective routes.