New route to Accra

Flights to Accra will commence on 24th May from LHR on an A343 departing LHR on Thursday, Friday and Sundays (Friday subject to government approval)

VS657 will depart LHR at 2230 and arrive into ACC at 0415
VS658 will depart ACC at 1015 and arrive into LHR at 1800

[HighFlyer]

Thanks for the confirmation [y]

There is a 2 week Special Offer of 450 return.
Travel will be 24th May - 30th June and 1st October - 30th November subject to availability.
Ed

Am I missing something as I cant seem to check availablity on the site for this destination!?

I understand bookings via Call Centre for the first few weeks while VAA complete the development to the Website

Here's a question: Accra has never featured on V-Flyer's list of desired destinations ... so, who would like to actually go there?

quote:Originally posted by slinky09
Here's a question: Accra has never featured on V-Flyer's list of desired destinations ... so, who would like to actually go there?


So pleased you asked the question, was wondering the same thing[:?] dont think i will be bagging any G,s on this one.

cheers

alex

[HighFlyer]

quote:Originally posted by slinky09
Here's a question: Accra has never featured on V-Flyer's list of desired destinations ... so, who would like to actually go there?


Me either, but there is a growing oil and gas industry there (Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, etc) and BA fly direct there, so I can understand the route if it is profitable, though I hope VS have done their homework on the traffic/loads.

Thanks,
Sarah

quote:Originally posted by slinky09
... so, who would like to actually go there?


Accraites?
Accraolians?
Accraunians?

I think it will be mostly local pax, as they are one of the better off African nations, plus there are lots of Ghanaian people living in and around london.

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
quote:Originally posted by slinky09
... so, who would like to actually go there?


Accraites?
Accraolians?
Accraunians?


You're absolutely right to point out my limited viewpoint. But I was still asking the V-Flyer community, who should be among VS's more frequent customers. But then, Lagos still continues, and I don't recall ever seeing a TR there? Just goes to show ...

i travel to Accra 4 or 5 times per year. At the moment only choices are BA or GIA. If the price is right then i may be tempted

Stuart

[Darren Wheeler]

Lagos TR

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=29509

[Scrooge]

So let's see, we have VS going up against two established airlines with 3 flights a week.... Errrr fail, big time, did VS learn nothing from ORD, they will end up as the 3rd choice resulting in junk yields.

BA rarely manage to fill their CW cabin on this route even in the summer when using a 767 with 24 CW seats. How do VS think they have any chance of filling the 36 UC seats on an A343?

BA have been flying a 777 to ACC over the Winter and loads have been very low, sometimes barely over 100 PAX.

Don't forget Cargo.... The reason that Chicago was kept running for so long.....

Is there sufficent slack in the fleet for this to start leaving other routes as they are or will something else suffer a reduced frequency

[mitchja]

I think the A/C will be coming from the soon-to-be cancelled MRU route.

Regards

The flight times don't look too appealing. I would't fancy arriving in ACC at 04.15. I have looked at some of the local hotels and they don't allow check in until 16.00. Thats worse than Dubai!!

With the other posts on here talking about low loads and the fact that VH do not sell Ghana as a holiday destination, I wonder how long this route will last before the plug is pulled.

Who does the market research for VS[?]

When we started Lagos it wasn't daily, and now it's our most profitable route. I expect the days chosen are those with the highest predicted load factors and once the route is established the frequency will increase to daily.
Like Lagos it will be mainly oil workers and nationals. Ghana isn't a top tourist destination!

quote:Originally posted by virginboy747
When we started Lagos it wasn't daily, and now it's our most profitable route. I expect the days chosen are those with the highest predicted load factors and once the route is established the frequency will increase to daily.
Like Lagos it will be mainly oil workers and nationals. Ghana isn't a top tourist destination!


quote:stuart101 Posted - 03/03/2010 : 09:47:41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BA rarely manage to fill their CW cabin on this route even in the summer when using a 767 with 24 CW seats. How do VS think they have any chance of filling the 36 UC seats on an A343?

BA have been flying a 777 to ACC over the Winter and loads have been very low, sometimes barely over 100 PAX.

So I wonder what does VS think is going to change anytime soon?

There are thousands of Ghanaians living in the UK and thousands of Britons living in Ghana. The amount of cargo exchanged between the UK and West Africa is vast. Ghana has quite a large tourism industry compared to many others on the continent; hotels are up to European and US standards and some of the country's beaches are amazing. Also the British FCO has quite a mission in Ghana; diplomats and not forgetting foreign oil workers don't tend to be seated economy.

However, I do know that many upper class Ghanaians (including politicians) have a tendency to be proud and I think will still prefer to fly GIA or *British* Airways unless timing of flights is favourable.

United Airlines (IAD), Brussels Airlines (BRU), Turkish Airlines (IST) and Delta (ATL) all begin service to Accra this year. Like these, I'm sure Virgin has done ample homework.