The Delta Air Lines saga in Ghana continues, which soon could spill over to other carriers if a new proposal gains any traction that would ban all aircraft over 20 years from the airspace of Ghana.
Ghana Now Considering Banning All Aircraft Older Than 20 Years From Its Airspace
After a problem-plagued Boeing 767-300 aircraft was used repeatedly to operate flights between New York (JFK) and Accra (ACC), the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) banned that particular aircraft from its airspace and requested that Delta stop flying the 767 altogether on to Ghana. Even so, outrage grew that Delta would use such a troubled aircraft, with some charges of racism being directed at Delta even though it uses the same aircraft to serve destinations in Europe and within the USA. A lawsuit was also threatened.
> Read More: Bizarre Delta Air Lines Ghana Flight Prompts Formal Complaint, Threat Of Lawsuit
> Read More: Ghana Bans A Delta 767-300 From Flying To Accra
Now, the GCAA will reportedly soon issue a directive that will block the flying and importation of any commercial aircraft that are 20 years in Ghana. Charles Kraikue, the Director-General of the GCAA, explained:
“Following persistent complaints from passengers, we will soon bring out a new directive that will stop airlines from using overage aircraft in the country’s airspace.
“Under the new regime, the proposed ceiling for commercial aircraft to be deployed to Accra is 20 years. This is part of a bundle of measures designed to ensure that aircraft on the Accra route are fit for purpose.”
Of course, age is just a number not just with humans, but airplanes. Indeed, a well-maintained 40-year-old Delta DC-9 might be far “safer” than a newly-delivered Aeroflot A350 that has operated for several months without maintaining its inspection log. Kraikue virtually concedes this point:
“If the proper maintenance procedures are followed, chronological age is not a limitation, but the directive has become necessary due to recent periodic complaints and dissatisfaction from passengers.”
That strikes me as a rather weak reason for the ban, especially considering roughly half the aircraft in Ghana would face a ban under this measure. For example, domestic operator Passion Air would be left with only two aircraft, since its fleet of Dash 8-300s is over 30 years old.
Delta responded to the letter by saying it would abide by the ban of that particular 767-300, N-195DN, but explained that it uses the 767 on routes all over the world and that “Delta is committed to providing the highest levels of safety and industry-leading service for not just our Ghanaian customers but also all our customers.”
CONCLUSION
Ghana is considering banning all aircraft over 20 years from flying in its airspace. This strikes me as the sort of “using a shotgun to shoot a fly” type of solution. Perhaps instead the GCAA should heavily fine airlines who experience mechanical delays rather than a blanket ban, but I ultimately think the latest GCAA proposal will hurt the very people it intends to help.
image: Richard Snyder
Hope they like no planes flying over their airspace or into their airports.
LOL!!! I hope they have enough buses to bring their people into neighboring countries so they can fly out.
There are a lot of airlines based in the “third world” that you see having relatively young fleets. It’s pretty common. For one thing, the culture in many of these regions equates new aircraft with safety and old aircraft as being unsafe. And, in many countries that’s true. But I think the main reason you see older fleets at US/Euro airlines than in many other places is that it’s expensive to maintain aircraft – especially as they get older. Airlines like Ethiopian purchase new jets in decent numbers and get a relatively good deal. But……how well are they maintained?
As the article implies (albeit using an extreme example): I’d rather be on a 20-30 year old DL, UA, AA, LH or Austrian airliner than on a 5 year old plane flown by some rando airline in Indonesia or Africa. The statistics bear me out on this.
Charles Kraikue is not a fool, but he is a political appointee.
And to be fair, he says in the original interview that they are “consulting with stakeholders” as to the need for a move like this – not that it is actually going forward yet.
If this actually goes forward, it will also wind up grounding about half the aircraft registered in Ghana – which means lost revenue for his own organisation. That is likely to be what causes this initiative to quietly die without much further ado.
Dear God, Someone there really has a stick up their arse over this whole thing. Apparently the crying influencer posting from the toilet had an impact, lol.
An obvious attempt to give advantage to Global Ghana Airlines.
Not a single plane in their fleet is older than 20 years.
This is so stupid. Is London banning the 767? No. Don’t see how they can even claim this is racism.
I agree. For what it’s worth, I flew UA from Washington to Accra this past weekend and struck up a conversation with a few Ghanaians while waiting to board. The DL thing came up. They all were incensed that DL sent their junk to Africa. When I pointed out the same aircraft flew other international routes, they were not persuaded differently.
I do give credit to the Ghanaian authorities for giving DL hell initially. But it seems they have gone a bit too far. FWIW, UA flies a 787-8 so they would be ok.
Too bad, I won’t be able to buy a ticket for my next vacation to….Ghana! Thank You.
This reminds me of the UAE ban done a decade back.. i think it was on aircraft older than 30 yrs not allowed landing or overflying right?
Different countries have different reasons to implement bans and constraints as they fit to their local conditions and constraints.
“Racism “. The most overused term in the global vocabulary.
“Be sure the cure isn’t worse than the disease ”
Dr.Corraso
Man of LaMancha