Africa World Airlines (AWA) has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190, marking the start of a broader plan to add ten new aircraft to its fleet as the carrier looks to deepen air links between Ghana and the wider West African region.
The new plane, which seats 102 passengers across 14 premium economy and 88 economy seats, was shown off at Accra International Airport during an event themed “Expanding Horizons, Elevating West African Connectivity.”
AWA’s Chief Executive, Luolin Cui, described the aircraft as a milestone for the airline, framing it as both a business and national achievement. He said the airline wants each of its planes to reflect Ghanaian identity and pride. Cui confirmed the E190 is the first of ten aircraft the airline plans to bring in, with the goal of boosting connections across the sub-region. He added that Ghanaians make up 97% of AWA’s staff, and that the airline has flown more than five million passengers since it launched in 2012.
Yvonne Botchey, Managing Director of the World Trade Centre Accra, spoke on behalf of AWA’s Executive Chairman, Togbe Afede XIV, and noted that the fleet investment is happening despite tough conditions in Ghana’s domestic aviation industry.
She pointed to the airline sector’s dependence on imported equipment, foreign exchange pressures, and customs charges as major cost drivers. Botchey also flagged low passenger volumes and restricted airport hours as obstacles that limit how efficiently airlines can use their aircraft and turn a profit.
She revealed that AWA only paid out its first dividend after 13 years in business, underscoring how difficult it has been to run a profitable airline locally. “AWA has come to stay,” she said.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe, speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, said the government is putting money into aviation infrastructure to increase capacity and improve links across the country. He mentioned that a new concourse connecting Terminals 2 and 3 at Kotoka International Airport should make it easier for passengers to transfer between domestic, regional, and international flights.
Nikpe added that airport upgrades are underway in Bolgatanga, Wa, and Sunyani, and that the runway at Kumasi International Airport is being extended to handle bigger planes. He said operating hours at some airports are gradually being extended to support Ghana’s push toward a 24-hour economy. He also called on domestic carriers to pass recent government relief measures — including the removal of duties on aircraft spare parts — on to travelers through lower fares.
Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie said stronger air connectivity is essential for growing tourism and cultural exchange in the region. She said AWA’s expansion could make travel within Ghana and across West Africa more accessible for both tourists and other travelers, calling connectivity “the lifeblood of tourism and cultural exchange.”
Gomashie noted that traveling between African countries can still involve long and inefficient routes, and said better intra-African air links would help boost both tourism and broader economic activity. She praised AWA’s investment in the E190, saying it supports Ghana’s goal of becoming a leading regional hub for air travel and tourism.
The aircraft’s unveiling comes as AWA celebrates 14 years in operation and follows the airline’s relaunch of its Accra–Abidjan route this past July.
