Ghana airways faces imminent collapse

Ghana Airways has hit the doldrums. Recently the airline took the unusual step of holding a prayer service to save it from imminent collapse! The airline is heavily indebted and morale amongst the staff is at the lowest ebb.

Ghana Airways is not alone, a majority of national airlines in Africa are battling to stay in the skies. Frequent flight cancellations, delays, loss of luggage, overbooking, shoddy passenger treatment and dilapidated planes are regular complaints from travellers.

From a business point of view notable exceptions include South African Airways, Egypt Air, Air Maroc(Morocco), Air Mauritius, Tunisia airlines, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.

Apparently in countries where there is a semblance of better management and quality service the airlines are often run by foreigners.

On Africa Live today we want to hear your tales about travelling by air in Africa - was it a stress-free ride above the clouds or a nightmare journey through hell? Is it worth having a national flag carrier or is it misplaced pride? Why is inter African air travel expensive, tedious and unreliable? Should foreigners be brought in to run national airlines?

Email us with your telephone number if you would like to take part in the discussion live on Wednesday at 1630 and 1830 GMT.

Your comments:

The live discussion and exchange of experience regarding travel on African national Airlines is a bright idea. I have frequently travelled on Ethiopian Airlines international flights and I have nothing but praise for them. As an airline that has been around for 50 years I regard it as one of the best African airlines. Once in the air passengers are greeted and served with well mannered and attractive flight attendants. I also understand the pilots at Ethiopian Airlines are well trained and highly regarded by the international air industry. The only negative thing that I have experienced about Ethiopian Airlines is while boarding the play and their security detail which is quite displeasing. I have also high regards for Kenya Airways except that I have not felt the warmth from the flight attendants as I did on Ethiopian Airlines. Regarding having foreigners run the African Airlines that are not functioning, why not? If the pilots and flight attendants remain Africans that will give it a sense of Africanism.
Tesfaye Davino, USA

I have flown so many African Airlines domestically and internationally a gazillion times. South African Airlines (SAA) is superb with service, information, and their pilots are wonderful. The pilots share updates, weather and viewing sights. The only African airline I will fly!
J Hauser, USA

Over the last 10 years I have flown with numerous African airlines, including Air Tanzania, Zambia Airways, Air Afrique, Air Kenya, Air Namibia, Air Botswana, Royal Swazi, Comair, South African, Air Malawi and others. Maybe I am just very fortunate but my luggage has never been lost by an African Airline, nor can I recall any serious delays and certainly no cancellations. I have even flown a few internal flights in Nigeria and lost no luggage, only my nerve.
Andrew Cover, UK

My family and I have flown many times with Egypt Air and Kenya Airways, on both internal and International flights. I have no complaints whatsoever regarding their services.
Kevin Johnson, UK

For some time now, Ghana Airways has been the only West African Airline still in business. They have made sporadic efforts at improving their service. But for reasons that are not clear to me, the improvements do not last. The stories about Nigeria Airway¿s performance are plentiful, sad and discouraging. As for having nationals or expatriates, what is needed will be decided dispassionately, if the airline is privately owned. The owners will hire competent nationals, if they can find them, because, all other things being equal, rationally nationals ought to be much cheaper than expatriates. Trouble is, all other things are rarely equal. To compete in today's world requires a work ethic and culture. Sadly, all too often, a national who may be technically qualified, may well lack the much needed mindset and work ethic.
Nim'ne E. Mombo, USA

The problems surrounding the Airlines of poorer African countries is that of perception. People in the first world have a perception that their own carriers are more reliable than those of a developing economy, and consequently are unwilling to travel with them. How are poorer airlines able to compete against an image that is based on the profile of their country, rather than their ability as an airline? Is it any wonder that they are plagued by cancellations, poor customer service and badly maintained planes. I myself have travelled British Airways, British Midlands, Alitalia and South African Airways, and have received better service from SAA. Oh, and by the way, SAA is cheaper on a long-haul flight to South Africa than BA, and as far as I know, they are South African run.
Shaun, UK/SA

Although I have never flown an African airline I would be more relaxed, should I ever have to fly with one, if I knew foreigners were involved in the day to day running of the airline. When I look at the main reasons for transportation disasters in Africa, such as incompetence, corruption, worn out or poorly maintained equipment and overcrowding bringing in foreigners to run things makes a lot of sense.
Charles , Canada

Air Botswana is both reliable and comfortable. I have flown with them a dozen or so times with no incident.
S. Broderick, UK

I am sick and tired of Europeans trying to justify their criminal colonial past. The exceptional airlines are all run by foreigners? Give me a break!!!
Chiedu Ikedionwu, Nigeria

I have flown with both Kenyan and Ethiopian Airways. I found Kenyan airways to be clean, professional, and comfortable. In fact, I would rate Kenyan Airways above some US Carriers. I found Ethiopian Airlines to be just as clean and comfortable, although the planes were not as new. All in all, I had pleasant experiences and would not hesitate to fly with them again.
Christian Harris, USA

I will not fly any African airline because we do not have what it takes to run an airline. Corruption, selfish interest, it is government property and lack of technology are all factors. We do not make plane and we have no business in trying to run an airline. We need to leave it to those that can do it better, maybe we will learn from them. A country does not need an airline as its symbol. A private airline is what we need.
ola-Omotayo, Nigerian, US

As with other African "institutions", the airlines will return to the state of non-entities. The forest will reclaim them.
BD, US

In February of 2002, I travelled to Liberia for my mother's funeral. I got to Monrovia three days late. I had to sleep over in Ghana which was not part of the original schedule. The ride was stressful because of the age and condition of the carrier from Baltimore to Ghana and back. I noticed a duck tape used in place of a screw to hold two internal pieces together. The flight from Liberia to Ghana was very rough for almost an hour. Many passengers cried for fear that the plane was about to crash. I believe all African airlines should be privatised and government officials and their families should not be allowed to fly free or on discounted tickets. All passengers should be charged the same fair price.
Asumana Pelima, Liberian in USA.

As an American who lived in West Africa for four years, I have had a lot of experience with air travel on the continent. My experience has been you get what you pay for. If you are willing to pay the higher prices, you will have a reliable, comfortable flight. But if you are looking for a cheaper alternative, you need to realize you are taking a gamble. Travel in Africa is always an adventure. If you go in knowing what to expect, you will be less stressed about the whole thing. My congratulations go out to Royal Air Maroc, which keeps air fares low and still manages to provide professional and on-time service.
Tim, USA

Most third world national airlines are a complete joke. Misplaced national pride fuels rampant incompetence. I will never fly a non-major carrier.
Gary, US

Just let me start by saying that one of your notable exceptions run and managed by foreigners - 'Ethiopian' - is managed and run by Ethiopians. And I, for one, would like to see that continue. I have had very good flights with Ethiopian airlines both on domestic and international routes, never a case of 'a wing and a prayer', for sure. When you think about the size of the fleet and the routes that it serves, what ET is able to accomplish is simply a feat. In terms of delays and losing luggage I have had worse experiences with two of the world's best airlines. Ethiopian Airlines is not beyond reproach but it certainly is a proud flagship airline and deserves to stay airborne for a long, long time to come. Thank you.
S. Gebreyes, Canada

Travelling by air within Africa is in fact a stress-free ride above the clouds. The stress endured is on the ground and happens before and after the actual plane ride. For that, we have the following to thank: poor managers and ground crew of airlines, corrupt immigration officers, unruly fellow passengers who have learned from previous experience that only sharp elbows will get you on that waiting plane.
Mar, Gambia

Five years ago I flew Ethiopian Airlines from Frankfurt to Addis Ababa. It was a very pleasant experience. I just wish they would bring back those cute lion stickers that they used to hand out until about 15 years ago. I would be happy to pay a few extra dollars or euros for that. These things were just adorable.
G.R., Germany/USA

I was very pleased by my experience with Kenya Airways' domestic service in 2001. It was immediately before and after 11th September, and the service was superb and efficient throughout. Even the new baggage identification anti-terrorism exercise on the runway was handled reasonably well. I thought many US carriers could take some pointers from Kenya Airways' professionalism and on-time performance. Even a short leg flight had jet, not prop, fleet service. This experience dispelled all my pre-conceived negative notions about African air travel. So obviously Kenya is an exception to the rule? In early 90's I know Egypt Air left me and a full plane of passengers on the tarmac in Luxor with no air condition for several hours prior to take off, roasting and fuming in the Sahara heat...thank goodness Kenya Airways was so much better!
William Hudson, USA

I think Ethiopian Airlines has the best record in Africa and it is never run by foreigners. Other African carriers should learn from it or work together with Ethiopian Airlines.
Momiye, US

It is about time African corporations took a long and hard look at the management and competitive strategies they employ. EasyJet and Southwest Airlines are great role models of no-frills, efficient, cost effective and customer-centric business models. Get with the program guys! If the enterprise is bleeding change the way you do business. More government subsidies leads to more inefficiencies. As for prayers...the least said the better.
Donatus Weobong, Ghana/USA

I was once on a flight from Cairo to Port Sudan on a Sudan Airways flight when white smoke started coming from the panels inside of the aircraft. When some of the Italian tourists enquired about this they were told by the attendant "don't worry this is Mukaif" (Mukaif means air condition in Arabic). Sudan Airways has improved in the past few years with improved service, food and aircraft simply because of the increase in competition from new carriers, so maybe that is what other African countries should do.
Hassan De Witt, Sudan

I have flown Ghana Airways in the past and besides a delay of two hours, the flight was smooth. However, I have also flown the now defunct Air Afrique and have a particularly memorable experience of being on a flight where a basket was passed to buy fuel since the pilot's credit card was not acceptable to the airport. Another time my luggage took a trip to Dakar whilst I was on my way to Abidjan. When it arrived, five days later, it had been thoroughly picked through. However, the strangest items of all that were missing was most of my underwear! But what did I expect when I paid several hundred dollars less to fly on that plane than Air France? West Africa needs a dependable, competitive and safe regional airline.
Stephanie Santos, USA

Africans should take business carefully and not a joke. They should not mix politics with business. Few of the African countries are doing well in business such as Kenya and South Africa.
Laurent Makol, USA

I have the experience of flying several African airlines from the last three decades. In-flight services are generally comparable with any major carriers, in fact Ethiopian Airlines has probably the best service in the world! Where the problems persist is on the ground where staff are often incompetent, inflexible and rude.
V Rais, Finland

Despite the problems that my country has been facing over the past three years, I think Air Zimbabwe is one of the most reliable airlines here in Africa. I am quite impressed by their service in these hard times.
Herbert Dandadzi, Zimbabwe

Leaving aside the debate about flight safety for a moment, I have always found the flight and cabin crews on Nigerian domestic services to be charming and polite, while staff on foreign flights into and out of the country are extremely rude. As a European I am always embarrassed that I am treated better by Africans than they can expect to be treated on an international airline.
Dave Clark, Nigeria

I have flown on Air Senegal several times and was pleasantly surprised. The staff was extremely friendly, the food was delicious, my luggage was safe, and we were on time. Much nicer conditions than many domestic US flights I have experienced.
Leonore, USA

I have travelled with South African Airways and had my luggage misplaced for a week. This can be expected to happen once in a while, although it is truly inconveniencing. But I find your intimation that foreigners will do things better than Africans an outright insult. The developed world never reached where they are overnight. If this is a campaign gimmick intended to square the professional ineptitude of Africans, it will succeed! You have succeeded to paint Africa as your imperialist forefathers saw it: a dark continent! who then is bold enough to step into a dark continent teeming with wars, hunger and official corruption by means of a disastrous air-travel?
Moses Ndiritu, Kenya

I have flown Kenya Airways many times both international and local and I hereby confirm it to be the best Airline in Africa, Kenyans are also wonderful and up-to-date ,keep it up Kenyans!!!
Henry Jordan, US

One thing people should know before they travel is what kind of pilots will be engineering the cockpit on take off. And if you care as much as I do, I would not hesitate to fly African rather than European. The pilots in these western countries have become increasingly obese that the chances of dozing off during a flight are close to 90%. Look at people in Britain or Scotland they are so obese that even an eight hour shift chokes them. How can they last on a flight of 16hrs? Sooner or later, many jobs, especially piloting will need people who are fit, physically alert and can stay up for long hours. And who is more suited than an African? I would prefer flying Ethiopian or Kenyan because I know they can last longer like their athletes.
Minega, Rwandan in Canada

I have not as yet travelled with any of the African Airlines. But I am not sure that what you describe as frequent flight cancellation, delays, loss of luggage, overbooking, shoddy passenger treatment and dilapidated planes are not peculiar problems passengers encounter with only African Airlines. Both in the US and Europe other airlines also encounter such problems if not worse. I do not think the answer to solving these perceived problems lies in having foreign companies to run the Airlines. Rather, there should be an equal level of market and economic opportunities for all. And of course poor countries will always be branded poor by the wealthy ones, in everything they do.
Nathan, USA

Africans should continue running airlines however bad the service may be as long as there is free competition amongst the airlines. That is the only way for us to learn. The notion that we need foreigners to run our airlines might as well be extended to almost every aspect of economic activity on the continent because others claim with or without justification to be able to do better and whilst we are at it we could ask the British Government to come back to Nigeria for example as the colonial administration seems to have been more efficient than what we have seen since independence.
Dolapo Olufawo, France

I strongly believed that Africa has no business whatsoever running airlines. We are too greedy and corrupt. Everything about running airlines is high tech. and civilisation - two words that have no meaning in Africa. Everything that can make an airline survive in a competitive environment is just not available here. For one, there is overprotection, overcharging, overage aircraft etc.
Joseph, Banjul in The Gambia