Ghana sets aviation exhibition for autumn 2016

Air expo rescheduled after cancellation during ebola epidemic

Ghana's minister of transport, Dzifar Attivor, has announced that the country's first aviation exhibition will now run from 12-14 October 2016.

The air expo, which will host about 200 exhibitors, will bring together airlines, airport management, regulators, safety experts and airport services such as ground handlers.

It is the first of its kind to focus on the opportunities and the problems of the African market, where international flights across the continent still stage through European or Middle Eastern destinations rather than fly direct country to country.

It is estimated that the industry involves nearly seven million jobs, 250 airlines and 371 commercial airports.

The air show was originally scheduled for October 2014 but was postponed in August 2014 because of the ebola epidemic in neighbouring countries.

Kotoka international airport, the venue of the show, has recently announced the upgrading and expansion of its arrivals hall to increase the baggage handling units from two to four, to provide additional immigration facilities and provide new air conditioning systems. Work should be completed by the end of 2015. Kotoka also intends to build a new international terminal and has said that plans will be submitted by August 2016.

Tamale airport in the north is also is the process of expansion so that it can handle more international traffic and larger aircraft.