AFRICA WORLD AIRLINES(AWA)
Africa World Airlines is a privately owned Ghanaian airline founded on 15 November 2010. It commenced operations with its inaugural flight on 21 September 2012, flying between Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale using Embraer 145 aircraft .
AWA holds IATA code AW, ICAO code AFW, and uses the callsign “BLACKSTAR”. The airline is IOSA-certified and became a full IATA member in 2017 .
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🌍 Network & Fleet
• AWA operates a fleet of 7‑8 Embraer jets, serving both domestic and regional destinations across West Africa .
• It flies within Ghana to Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi, and Wa, as well as internationally to Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria, Monrovia in Liberia, and Freetown in Sierra Leone, with plans to add destinations like Côte d’Ivoire .
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🏢 Corporate Profile
• The airline is headquartered in Airport City, Accra, with its operational hub at Kotoka International Airport .
• Founded by Togbe Afede XIV, AWA is backed by Ghanaian shareholders including SAS Finance Group and SSNIT, as well as Chinese partners like HNA Group (now Liaoning Fangda) and the China‑Africa Development Fund via Zhongjia Investments .
• AWA’s guiding vision is to be the “leading airline in Africa delivering a world‑class service,” with a mission to connect Africa to the world safely, reliably, and affordably .
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🏆 Achievements & Recognition
• The airline has consistently won awards such as “Best Domestic Airline in Ghana” from the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) multiple years since 2015 .
• It has also been recognized internationally, for example as “International Airline of the Year in Nigeria” and “African Airline of the Year in Nigeria” in 2021 .
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📊 Scale & Reach
• As of 2022, AWA carried over 600,000 passengers, handling approximately 55% of Ghana’s domestic air traffic and 20% of total air passengers in the country. The airline has maintained profitability consistently since 2014 .
• Employment figures reached around 381 employees by 2020, and the airline remains the largest all-jet operator in Ghana .
Reviews
I recently flew with Africa World Airlines from Accra to Kumasi, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The check-in process was smooth, the staff were courteous, and the flight departed right on time. The aircraft was clean and well-maintained, and even though it was a short flight, the crew made sure everyone felt comfortable and informed.
What really stood out to me was the professionalism and friendliness of the crew — they gave clear instructions, smiled throughout, and made passengers feel welcome. For a domestic airline, AWA exceeded my expectations. I’ll definitely be booking with them again!