<<Print>>Popular TV personality Sandra Ankobiah says she is excited about South Africa Airways’ (SAA’s) latest decision to fly directly from Ghana to the United States of America.
Last week the aviation giant, in partnership with Africa World Airlines (AWA), launched the new direct flight from Accra to Washington DC with the inaugural flight on Sunday, August 2, 2015.
At the launch which was held at the La Pleasure Beach Hotel in Accra were Mrs Dzifa Attivor, Minister of Transport, Nii Kpobi Tetteh Tsuru, La Mantse, Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Lulama Xingwana, South African High Commissioner to Ghana and a host of others including Sandra Ankobiah.
The onetime TV3 anchor is recognised as one of Ghana’s most travelled showbiz personalities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sandra said she enjoyed travelling on South Africa Airways and that she was excited about the new flight.
“I am just really excited; and like I said, America is far and nobody really likes to be on a very long journey. But like I also said, South Africa Airways is very comfortable so I’m really excited and looking forward to flying with them,” Sandra said at the Friday launching ceremony when MC Kwami Sefa Kayi engaged her on stage.
The flights from Accra to Washington DC will be offered four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Washington-Accra flight will be the only nonstop flight between Washington DC and Ghana.
Launching the new flight, Transport Minister Mrs Dzifa Attivor congratulated government for creating an enabling operational environment to facilitate SAA operations in Ghana.
She said the new route was a manifestation of previous collaborations between Ghana and South Africa and that it would further strengthen the two countries’ bilateral relationship.
“While we commemorate the launch of SAA operation to USA, I wish to draw the attention of SAA to the fact that Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and for that matter the ministry, will continue to monitor you in your operations to assess your performance,” she added.
According to Dr John Thambi, a representative of SAA, “SAA’s decision to route some of its North America-bound flights to Ghana was based on sound business principles, as there was considerable demand for passengers to fly from Ghana to the US.”
He said the airline had the best safety record on the continent and that the new flight was the beginning of the efforts to interconnect African countries to make flights in Africa more flexible.
Nii Kpobi Tetteh Tsuru, La Mantse, also spoke and tasked SAA not to relent on its enviable costumer record.