New national airline: Govt begins search for strategic investor

The Task Force to lead the establishment of a national airline has started a process to engage qualified investors in order to select a strategic investor to partner the government to set up a new national carrier and related services.

The proposed national airline is being developed as a commercially viable, internationally competitive and sustainable carrier, with its base in Accra and operating as a hub for regional and intercontinental connectivity.
The Ministry of Transport, in a statement signed by the Minister, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, is, therefore, inviting potential strategic partners interested in the opportunity to begin engagement with the government. 
“The process will be conducted through three rounds of interactions with prospective partners, which is eventually expected to lead to the selection of a qualified strategic partner,” the statement said.
The government expects that the potential partner, as a minimum, must either be an airline already in operation, be a subsidiary of an airline, or an entity/consortium duly authorised by an operating airline.
The strategic partner must also have expertise in airline operations, management and marketing, must possess route planning and network development experience and have a history (or its parent company must have a history) of being compliant with regulatory requirements.
Also, eligible suitors must demonstrate a strategy and business plan that will lead to achieving the goals indicated by the government and must possess financial strength and the ability to attain the objectives.

Additional criteria
When the task force/government is selecting the preferred strategic partner, the winner is expected to hold the majority equity stake in the new joint venture corporate entity to be set up to operate the airline and must operate a Full-Service Carrier (FSC).
The partner airline must also have premium long-haul to Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and other identifiable routes and must operate hybrid or regional routes with a view to promoting competitive fares and regional integration.
The suitable partner must also operate an integrated cargo unit to support trade and logistics; acquire, supply and deploy operating equipment/fleet selection in the short (not later than the first quarter of 2027), medium and long term, and must roll out a business and operational plan that aligns with the government’s vision and objectives.

Submission
The statement added that the submission of the bid must indicate a number of things, including an overview and relevant experience of the proponent or that of the parent company, or the company that authorised the proponent.