In line with the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), Overland Airways has embarked on connecting cities in West Africa to actualise the African Union (AU) objective of enhancing intra-African trade and tourism.
This is also in line with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) projected to create 13 million jobs in the region.
In its inaugural flight to Banjul, The Gambia at the weekend, Overland was welcomed by the top Gambian officials who were elated that the Nigerian carrier would connect the country to other destinations in the sub-region with three-weekly flights with firm plan to become daily in the next few months.
Speaking during the reception of the Overland Airways team at the Banjul International Airport, the Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ebrima Sillah, said the Gambian government has granted Overland Airways fifth freedom rights to enhance regional air connectivity and foster economic growth.
The fifth freedom right will enable the airline to operate flights between two foreign countries while originating from their home base and this will enhance the optimisation of the airline’s operations, expand networks, and serve underserved routes.
The minister said The Gambia granted fifth freedom right to Overland Airways because of its commitment to regional integration and the vision of SAATM and the country’s plan to deepen its tourism market.
He said this is with the hope that Overland Airways will bring tourists and entrepreneurs to the West Africa nation to enjoy its beaches and top hospitality offered by the many resorts and hotels located along the beautiful beaches of The Gambia.
“The Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure believes that establishing direct air links between Lagos and Banjul will greatly benefit the two sister countries, as it will enable greater movement of our people, which will lead to wider economic benefits and prosperity.
“ Therefore, I wish to assure you of my ministry’s commitment to provide all necessary support to the airline and all those that are interested in establishing their industries in the Gambia, in the form of incentives, granting of rights and auto routes, as well as designation where necessary,” he said .
In his speech, the Chief Operating Officer of Overland Airways, Capt. Edward Boyo, who is SAATM Ambassador for West and Central Africa, said: “Overland Airways is very pleased to be here today.
“Today, Overland Airways presents itself under the African Union, the African Civil Aviation Commission, Single Air Transport Market programme, which is a programme designed to open the skies of Africa and raise the integration of African states.
“Air travel is currently, I would say, confined to the well-to-do. But we are trying to make air transport affordable and available for everybody so that the African continent can progress in economy, in trade, and in the integration of people. Our flight from Lagos to Banjul takes three hours, 30 minutes,” Boyo said.
Overland Airways which a few days ago also launched a flight to Freetown, Sierra Leone would connect Lagos to Banjul via Freetown and intends to increase the frequency of the flights to these routes in near future.
Chinedu Eze
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