Domestic Flights Grounded Again

Flights to the Kumasi Airport have been grounded for the second time in less than a month.

Since December 27, 2015, the flights have been on and off but last Monday, the weather conditions worsened forcing aviation authorities to ground flights from Accra to Kumasi and vice versa.

But the Kumasi Airport Manager, Mr Kwadwo Abrefa Sarkodie, told Daily Graphic that expectations that the situation would get better yesterday did not materialise.
Three weeks ago, flights to the Kumasi Airport were all grounded due to the hazy harmattan weather.

The north-easterly winds are said to have reduced visibility such that it makes it difficult for pilots to see clearly.

In the aviation industry, the visibility standard is five kilometres but anything above two kilometres would be fine for business, experts say.

Passengers

Regular passengers who expected the worst yesterday left the airport even before the official announcement was made that poor visibility had grounded domestic flights.

A few who have business meetings in Accra today and those who were returning after celebrating the Christmas with their families expressed disappointment at the events.

“I doubt whether this airport is of international standard.

The early government gets the right equipment to upgrade the airport to meet international standards, the best it will be for all of us,” Mr James Addae, a frustrated traveller, told Daily Graphic.

The stranded passengers have resorted to the VIP buses to get to Accra early before their business appointments.