Kumasi Airport

Last updated

Kumasi International Airport
Kumasi international airport.jpg
Summary
Airport type Domestic airport
Owner Ghana Airports Company Limited
Serves Kumasi
Location Kumasi, Ghana
Opened1943
Time zone Greenwich Mean Time (0+)
 • Summer (DST) GMT (1+)
Elevation  AMSL 942 ft / 287 m
Coordinates 06°42′52″N001°35′26″W / 6.71444°N 1.59056°W / 6.71444; -1.59056
Map
Ashanti (Ashanti Region) location map.png
Airplane silhouette.svg
KMS
Runways
Direction LengthSurface
mft
02/201,9826,502 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Passengers406,716 [1]
Source: DAFIF [2] [3]

Kumasi International Airport( IATA : KMS, ICAO : DGSI) is a national airport in Ghana serving Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region. [2] [3] [4] In 2023, the airport handled over 400,000 passengers, making it the second busiest airport in Ghana after Kotoka International Airport in Accra. [5]

Contents

Kumasi International Airport is located 6 kilometres (4 mi) from Kumasi. It was changed from a military base to an airport in 1999. The airport has undergone several renovation and expansion projects to help push its status as an international airport. [6]

History

Approval to start an airport in Kumasi by the then British government was obtained in 1940, even though the land acquisition documentation was completed and paid for in 1947. Prior to that, in 1943, the Kumasi Airport had been completed and was in use. [7] [8] [9] The airport was started as a military air force base for the British Royal Air Force during World War II.

In 1958 and 1959, the Government of Ghana made extensive developments on the runway, navigational facilities,and human resources to ensure the enhancement of internal airline operations. [10]

In the late 1970s, there was a major uplift through the installation of runway and Taxiway lights and an extension of the main runway to the southern part of the Airport. [10]

On 1 December 1993 a new Terminal building and the installation of a VOR/DME were commissioned by President Jerry John Rawlings. [11] The airport was changed from a fully military base into a domestic airport in 1999. [11]

In 2008, renovation works were done by Bans Consult Limited at the airport, including the rehabilitation of the arrival and departure halls, the control room, the rescue and fire station, and the construction of a VIP Lounge ahead of the African Cup of Nations 2008 (CAN 2008) which Ghana was hosting. [12] [13]

Airlines and scheduled destinations

Africa World Airlines Embraer ERJ-145LR at Kumasi Airport 9GAET in Kumasi.jpg
Africa World Airlines Embraer ERJ-145LR at Kumasi Airport
AirlinesDestinations
Africa World Airlines Accra
Passion Air Accra, Wa

Statistics

These data show,the number of passenger movements into the airport, according to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.

Year201520162017201820192020202120222023
Passengers275,644226,984244,673205,962376,823229,127417,510476,266406,716
Reference [14] [14] [14] [14] [15] [16] [1] [17] [1]

Upgrades to an international airport

The Kumasi Airport attained international status in 2014. [9] However, the airport only operated on a regional level, even though it had had the full complement of security, customs, and immigration staff in place since 2003. Even though it had attained that status, work to upgrade the physical structures had yet to be fully put in place. [18] The Kumasi Airport has undergone several rehabilitations and upgrades to help ensure its status as an international airport. [9]

In 2012, initial renovation works were started on the existing facilities involved patching and filing of cracon the main runway, construction of additionn aal waiting room and bu,ilding a car park to make way for future renovation and upsgrades targeted for the following year. [19]

As of 2023, the airport was purely serving domestic air traffic.

Expansion projects

Phase 1

In 2013, the Government of Ghana embarked upon a phased development of the Kumasi Airport to provide the requisite infrastructure for safe domestic and international operations to ensure safety and comfort for passengers whilst ensuring Ghana had a fully functioning international airport along with Kotoka International Airport. [6]

Phase 1 works to upgrade the Kumasi Airport to international standard was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014. The first phase consisted of the rehabilitation of the defective runway and installation of airfield lights and aeronautical ground lights on the runway to facilitate night operations at the airport. The commissioning of the Phase 1 which happened in December 2014, was earmarked with a historic first night landing by the then President John Dramani Mahama [20] [6] [9] Prior to this upgrade an Instrument Landing System (ILS) was installed to aid pilots for take off and land. [21]

Phase 2

Passion Air Bombardier Dash8-Q400 registered 9G-MRH at Kumasi Airport in Kumasi, Ghana 9GMRH-DGSI.jpg
Passion Air Bombardier Dash8-Q400 registered 9G-MRH at Kumasi Airport in Kumasi, Ghana

Plans to start working on the phase 2 which is to cost around €65 million had been decided by November 2016, the project covered mainly the construction of a new two-storey ultra-modern terminal of 7,000 square metres of space based on a 400-passenger per hour and an annual passenger traffic forecast of 1,500,000,parking areas and a ring road around the airport. [22] [23] The building is to also include spaces like VVIP and VIP lounges, restaurants, commercial areas, three boarding gates, a central screening system for passengers, an IATA standard baggage handling system and also offices for the airline companies. [22]

In December 2016, President John Dramani Mahama along with a representative of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asafohene Acheamfuo Kwame Akowuah cut the sod for work to begin on the second phase of the Kumasi Airport project by Contracta Engenhiria Ltd [23] [24]

In June 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut sod for the second phase of the expansion of Kumasi Airport, which is expected to be completed in 24 months. It will see the expansion of the runway from 1,981 meters to 2,300 meters and the

construction of a new terminal building with a capacity of 1 million passengers per year. [25] [26]

Phase 3

In April 2019, the Parliament of Ghana approved a budget of €58.9 million for Phase 3 of the development of the Kumasi Airport. [27] Phase 3 includes an extension of the terminal building, a fire station, fire access routes and an air control tower. It also includes the extension of the car park and access roads, an apron extension, a runway strip, and an airside service road. [28] The second and third phases are currently being done concurrently and are expected to be completed by October 2022. [29]

The Kumasi Airport is currently served by two domestic carriers, Africa World Airlines and PassionAir. [30]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Ghana</span> System of transport in Ghana

Transport in Ghana is accomplished by road, rail, air and water. Ghana's transportation and communications networks are centered in the southern regions, especially the areas in which gold, cocoa, and timber are produced. The northern and central areas are connected through a major road system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kotoka International Airport</span> International airport in Accra, Ghana

Kotoka International Airport is an international airport in Accra, the capital of Ghana. The airport is operated by Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), which has its offices on the airport property. It is the sole international airport in Ghana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nashville International Airport</span> Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Nashville International Airport is a public/military airport in the southeastern section of Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Established in 1937, its original name was Berry Field, from which its ICAO and IATA identifiers are derived. The current terminal was built in 1987, and the airport took its current name in 1988. Nashville International Airport has four runways and covers 4,555 acres (1,843 ha) of land. It is the busiest airport in Tennessee, with more boardings and arrivals than all other airports in the state combined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghana Airways</span> Defunct national airline of Ghana, 1958–2004

Ghana Airways Limited was the flag carrier of Ghana, with its main base of operation and hub at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. The airline ceased operations in 2004, although plans were discussed to revive it in 2020 in partnership with Egyptair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport</span> International airport serving Abuja, Nigeria

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is an international airport serving Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. It is the main airport serving the Nigerian capital city and was named after Nigeria's first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904–1996). The airport is approximately 20 km (12 mi) southwest of the city centre, and has an international and a domestic terminal that share its single runway.

CTK CiTylinK was an airline based in Accra, Ghana.

Ghana International Airlines (GIA) was the national airline of the Republic of Ghana between 2005 and 2010. The airline suspended operations on 13 May 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antrak Air</span>

Antrak Air was a Ghanaian scheduled airline based in the Airport Residential Area of Accra, Ghana. It started operations in September 2003 and operated scheduled domestic, regional and international services, as well as charter services in West Africa. Its main base was at Kotoka International Airport, Accra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamale International Airport</span> Airport in Ghana

Tamale International Airport is an airport serving Tamale, a city in the Northern Region of Ghana. It was established in December 1940 serving as the landing of military troops during the World War II. It is the third international airport in the country in addition to Kotoka International Airport and Kumasi International Airport. TML is the third-busiest airport in Ghana, with 148,548 passengers in 2020 and 217,958 passengers in 2021.

Allied Air is a cargo airline based in Lagos, Nigeria. It operates scheduled and charter services in Nigeria and throughout Africa. Its main base is Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starbow</span>

Aero Surveys Limited, which traded as Starbow, was a privately owned airline in Ghana that operated from 2012 till 2017.

Africa World Airlines Limited (AWA) is a Ghanaian airline company that was incorporated in 2010 and commenced flights in 2012. It has its head office in Airport City Accra, and its main hub at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldstar Air</span>

Goldstar Air was a planned Ghanaian airline to be based at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. It planned to launch flights to both regional and long-haul destinations, but never commenced operations. As of 2021, the airline is no longer listed as having a valid Air Carrier License by Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ho Airport</span> Domestic airport in Ghana

Ho Airport is a regional airport built to serve Ho in the Volta Region of Ghana. Construction was completed in 2017, although the airport was not opened to commercial traffic until 2021.

Pisces Aviation is a domestic airline of Ghana with its head office in Accra, Ghana, and its main hub at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDan Group of Companies</span> Ghanaian organization

The McDan Group is a Ghanaian transportation and logistics company with operations in freight forwarding for land transports, sea freight, air freight and contract logistics. The headquarters of the company is in Accra, Ghana. It has presence in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Equatorial Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghana Airports Company Limited</span>

Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) is a state-owned company with responsibility for developing, maintaining, planning, and managing airports in Ghana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidency of John Mahama</span> Ghanaian presidential administration from 2012 to 2017

The presidency of John Mahama began on 24 July 2012 and ended on 7 January 2017. John became the 4th President of the Ghanaian Fourth Republic after he succeeded John Atta Mills who died in office on 24 July 2012. Prior to that, he served as Vice-President of Ghana from January 2009 to July 2012.

Gianair is a Ghanaian airline with its head office in Accra, Ghana, and its main base at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Traffic Statistics - Domestic per airport" (PDF). Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Airport information for DGSI". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Data current as of October 2006. Source: DAFIF.
  3. 1 2 Airport information for KMS at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF  (effective October 2006).
  4. ↑ Adarkwa, Kwasi Kwafo (2011). Future of the Tree: Towards Growth and Development of Kumasi. Kumasi, Ghana: University Printing Press (UPK) Knust. pp. 14–34. ISBN   978-9988-1-5451-6.
  5. ↑ "Traffic Statistics – GACL".
  6. 1 2 3 "Kumasi Airport assumes international status". Graphic Online. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "International airlines not using Kumasi Airport". Pulse Ghana. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  8. ↑ Dogbevi, Emmanuel (29 March 2015). "International airlines not using Kumasi Airport – Minister". Ghana Business News. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Ghana upgrades facilities and expands capacity at its airports". Oxford Business Group. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Kumasi Airport – GACL" . Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Ghana Construction News – Kumasi International Airport Expansion". ghanaconstructionnews.com. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "Minister of Aviation inspects rehabilitation works in Kumasi Airport - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "Bans Consult Limited – Transportation Engineering and Project Management : Welcome". www.bansconsult.com. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "STATISTICS - DOMESTIC PASSENGERS (TO/FROM ACCRA)" (PDF). GHANA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY. 2018.
  15. ↑ "Monthly Spread / Distribution of Passengers per Year (for each Airport)" (PDF). GHANA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY. 2018.
  16. ↑ "2019 (JAN - DEC) STATISTICS - DOMESTIC PASSENGERS (TO/FROM ACCRA) Pax Distribution % per Airport" (PDF). GHANA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY. 2019.
  17. ↑ "Monthly Spread / Distribution of Passengers per Year (for each Airport)" (PDF). GHANA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY. 2021.
  18. ↑ "Local airlines push for 24 hour service at Kumasi airport". Citi Business News. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  19. ↑ Gupta, Kasturi (20 July 2012). "Ghana's Kumasi Airport renovation started". African Review (in Polish). Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  20. ↑ "Mahama, Asantehene commission refurbished Kumasi Airport - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "Kumasi airport gets Instrument Landing System". citifmonline.com. 20 March 2014.
  22. 1 2 "Construction of new Terminal Building at Kumasi Airport to ensure security and comfort of passengers as Parliament okays project". Ghana Justice. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  23. 1 2 Ato Dapatem, Donald (6 December 2016). "Prez Mahama cuts tape for 2nd phase of Ksi Airport". Graphic Online. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  24. ↑ Awuah Jr., Joe (12 December 2016). "Mahama Cuts Sod For K'si Airport". DailyGuide Network. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  25. ↑ Dapatem, Donald Ato (7 June 2018). "Akufo-Addo cuts sod for Kumasi Airport phase 2 project". Graphic Online. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  26. ↑ Jafaru, Musah Yahaya (8 June 2018). "Kumasi Airport sod-cutting ceremony shocks Minority". Graphic Online. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  27. ↑ "Ghana's Parliament Okays €58.9 Million Contract for Kumasi Airport". News Ghana. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  28. ↑ "Parliament approves €58.9m contract to develop Kumasi Airport". Ghana Business News. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  29. ↑ "Kumasi airport will be a total waste if 3rd phase is not completed — Minister reveals". www.ghanaweb.com. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  30. ↑ "Kumasi Airport – GACL" . Retrieved 24 August 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.