Editing Kotoka International Airport

{{Short description|International airport in Accra, Ghana}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{use Ghanaian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox airport
| name          = Kotoka International Airport<br />Accra Air Force Station
| nativename    = 
| image         = Jan_2019_Kotoka_Airport_Terminal_3.jpg
| IATA          = ACC
| ICAO          = DGAA
| type          = Public
| owner         = 
| operator      = [[Ghana Airports Company Limited|GACL]]
| city-served   = [[Accra]], [[Greater Accra Region|Greater Accra]]
| location      = <!--if different than above-->
| hub           = [[Africa World Airlines]]
| elevation-f   = 205
| elevation-m   = 62
| coordinates   = {{coord|05|36|16.8|N|000|10|02.6|W|region:GH|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map   = Ghana#Africa
| pushpin_label = '''ACC'''
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the airport in Ghana
| website = {{URL|gacl.com.gh}}
| timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc = 0+
| metric-elev = 
| metric-rwy = 
| r1-number = 03/21
| r1-length-f = 11,165
| r1-length-m = 3,403
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| stat-year = 2024
| stat1-header = Passengers
| stat1-data = 3,401,214<ref name =Stats>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gacl.com.gh/traffic-statistics-2019/|title=Traffic Statistics - GACL |date=February 2024|website=Ghana Airports Company Limited}}</ref>
}}

'''Kotoka International Airport''' {{Airport codes|ACC|DGAA}} is an [[international airport]] in [[Accra]], the capital of [[Ghana]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-02|title=Accra – the modern heart of West Africa|url=https://engineered.thyssenkrupp.com/en/accra-the-modern-heart-of-west-africa/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=engineered - thyssenkrupp Company Blog|language=en-US}}</ref> The airport is operated by [[Ghana Airports Company Limited|Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL)]], which has its offices on the airport property.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gacl.com.gh/about.php#mandate|title=Ghana Airports Company Ltd|access-date=21 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128144302/http://www.gacl.com.gh/about.php#mandate|archive-date=28 January 2018|url-status=dead}}. "Ghana Airports Company Ltd".</ref> Until the upgrading of the Tamale and Kumasi airports to international standards, KIA, for a long time, was the sole international airport in Ghana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gcaa.com.gh/web/?page_id=42|title=Airports in Ghana|publisher=Ghana Civil Aviation Authority|access-date=13 April 2022}}</ref>

In 2024, the airport served a record of 3.4 million passengers, a recovery from the 1.2 million in 2020 (reduced due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]).<ref name = "Stats"/> It presently serves as a hub for domestic and regional operator [[Africa World Airlines]], and a base for domestic operator [[Passion Air]].

The airport consists of two passenger terminals, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Terminal 2 serves only domestic flights, while Terminal 3 serves regional, international, and long-haul operators.<ref name="centreforaviation.com">{{Cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/news/new-terminal-at-accra-airport-now-fully-operational-840853|title=New terminal at Accra Airport now fully operational|website=CAPA|date=17 September 2018}}</ref> Terminal 1 is presently no longer in use but will be redeveloped into an [[Fixed-base operator|FBO]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://3news.com/mcdan-gets-licence-to-operate-private-jet-section-at-kia-t1/|title=McDan gets license to operate private jet section at KIA T1{{!}}|date=27 March 2019}}</ref> Terminal 3 has the capacity for large aircraft such as the [[Airbus A380]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eturbonews.com/228358/a380-to-accra-ghana-from-dubai-on-emirates|title=A380 to Accra, Ghana from Dubai on Emirates {{!}} Travel News {{!}} eTurboNews|date=2018-07-18|work=Travel News {{!}} eTurboNews|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en-US}}</ref>

The airport has been recognized as the "Best Airport in Africa" (2-5 million pax per annum) for 2019, 2020 and 2021 by [[Airports Council International]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aci.aero/customer-experience-asq/asq-awards-and-recognition/asq-awards/current-winner-2020/best-airport-by-size-and-region/|title=ACI Awards 2020|access-date=21 March 2021|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301172701/https://aci.aero/customer-experience-asq/asq-awards-and-recognition/asq-awards/current-winner-2020/best-airport-by-size-and-region/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://airspace-africa.com/2022/03/10/kenyas-jomo-kenyatta-moi-international-and-ghanas-kotoka-receive-best-in-africa-airport-awards/|title=Ghana's Kotoka Receives Best in Africa Airport Awards|date=10 March 2022|access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref>

==History==

The airport was originally a military airport used by the British Royal Air Force during World War II. The facility was handed over to civilian authorities after the war. A development project was launched in 1956 by President [[Kwame Nkrumah]] to reconfigure the structure into a terminal building. The project was completed in 1958, turning the military base into an airport with a capacity of 500,000 passengers per year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gacl.com.gh/kia.php|title=Ghana Airports Company Limited {{!}} Home :: GACL|website=www.gacl.com.gh|language=en|access-date=2018-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115071715/http://www.gacl.com.gh/kia.php|archive-date=15 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The airport was originally named Accra International Airport.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KIA History – GACL|url=https://www.gacl.com.gh/kia-history/|access-date=2021-01-08|language=en}}</ref>

In 1969, the Accra International Airport was renamed Kotoka International Airport, in honor of Lieutenant General [[Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka]] (1926–1967), a member of the [[National Liberation Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=KIA History – GACL|url=https://www.gacl.com.gh/kia-history/|access-date=2021-01-15|language=en}}</ref> Kotoka was killed in an abortive coup attempt at a location that is now the forecourt of the airport.<ref>{{Cite web|title=GENERAL KOTOKA TRUST ACT, 1969 N.L.C.D. 339|url=http://elibrary.jsg.gov.gh/fg/laws%20of%20ghana/2%20REP/GENERAL%20KOTOKA%20TRUST%20ACT,%201969%20N.L.C.D.%20339.htm|access-date=2021-01-08|website=elibrary.jsg.gov.gh}}</ref>

=== Terminal 3 ===
Construction officially commenced on 1 March 2016 on a new $274 million Terminal 3 which is capable of handling 5 million passengers a year, with an expansion potential of up to 6.5 million. The sod-cutting was done by President [[John Mahama|John Dramani Mahama]] and Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdogan]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahama, Turkish leader cut sod for Terminal 3 project at KIA|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/mahama-turkish-leader-cut-sod-for-terminal-3-project-at-kia.html|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref> The new Terminal 3 will handle 1,250 passengers an hour, equipped with three business lounges, a large commercial and retail area and six boarding bridges. The terminal opened to passengers on 15 September 2018 and officially inaugurated on 2 October by President [[Nana Akufo-Addo]].<ref name="centreforaviation.com"/>

=== Controversy over airport name ===
There has been considerable debate over the years as to whether it was fitting to rename the airport from Accra International Airport to Kotoka International Airport from General [[Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka|Kotoka]]. Many argue that the airport was built by [[Dr Kwame Nkrumah]], and that it is not fitting to name it after Kotoka, who led a coup to overthrow Nkrumah's government.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/Kwame-Nkrumah-International-Airport-Why-Not-282872|title=Kwame Nkrumah International Airport - Why Not?|newspaper=Ghanaweb|date=19 August 2013|language=en|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Renaming-Kotoka-International-Airport-A-slight-difference-190873|title=Renaming Kotoka International Airport- A slight difference|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=30 November 2001|language=en|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/rename-kotoka-airport-samia.html|title=Rename Kotoka International Airport - Samia Nkrumah - Graphic Online|last=Graphic|first=Daily|website=www.graphic.com.gh|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref>

==Airlines and destinations==
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[[File:9GAETatDGAA.jpg|thumb|right|An [[Africa World Airlines]] ERJ-145LR at Kotoka International Airport]]
[[File:DGAA_T3_DEP_INT.jpg|thumb|right|Terminal 3 Departure Hall at Kotoka International Airport]]
[[File:Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana.JPG|thumb|right|Exterior view of Terminal 2 at Kotoka International Airport]]

===Passenger===
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{{Airport destination list
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| [[Africa World Airlines]] | [[Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport|Abuja]], [[Kumasi Airport|Kumasi]], [[Murtala Mohammed International Airport|Lagos]], [[Takoradi Airport|Takoradi]], [[Tamale Airport|Tamale]]
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| [[Air Burkina]] | [[Port Bouet Airport|Abidjan]], [[Ouagadougou Airport|Ouagadougou]]
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| [[Air Côte d'Ivoire]] | [[Port Bouet Airport|Abidjan]]
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| [[Air Peace]] | [[Murtala Muhammad International Airport|Lagos]], [[Roberts International Airport|Monrovia–Roberts]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/11/air-peace-expands-regional-connectivity-resumes-monrovias-flight-operations/ | title=Air Peace expands regional connectivity, resumes Monrovia's flight operations | date=21 November 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afritraveller.com/post/popular-demand-air-peace-resumes-flights-to-accra|title=Air Peace Resumes Flights to Accra|date=2 March 2021|publisher=The AfriTraveller}}</ref>
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| [[ASKY Airlines]] | [[Banjul International Airport|Banjul]], [[Lungi International Airport|Freetown]], [[Lomé-Tokoin Airport|Lomé]], [[Roberts International Airport|Monrovia–Roberts]]
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| [[British Airways]] | [[Gatwick Airport|London–Gatwick]],<ref>[https://www.britishairways.com/travel/schedules/public/en_gb Timetables]</ref> [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]]
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| [[Brussels Airlines]] | [[Brussels Airport|Brussels]]<!-- Please do not add Abidjan or Lome. SN does not carry passengers between LFW/ABJ and ACC only. -->
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| [[Delta Air Lines]] | [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]<br /> '''Seasonal:''' [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]] (resumes 1 December 2025)<ref name="DLAfrica2025">{{cite web |url= https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/02/28/delta-adds-two-new-routes-in-africa-and-in-mexico/|title= Delta Adds Two New Routes in Africa and One in Mexico|website=Aviation A2Z|date=February 28, 2025|access-date=February 28, 2025 }}</ref>
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| [[Egyptair]] | [[Cairo International Airport|Cairo]]
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| [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] | [[Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport|Abidjan]], [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai–International]]
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| [[Ethiopian Airlines]] | [[Bole International Airport|Addis Ababa]]
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| [[Gianair]] | [[Obuasi Airport|Obuasi]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gianairltd.com/12-news/14-gianair-commences-accra-obuasi-accra-flights|title=Gianair commences Accra-Obuasi flights|website=GianAir|date=21 March 2016}}</ref>
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| [[Ibom Air]] | [[Murtala Muhammed International Airport|Lagos]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Ibom Air Schedules mid-October 2023 International Debut |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230922-qioct23acc |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=22 September 2023}}</ref>
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| [[ITA Airways]] | [[Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport|Rome–Fiumicino]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Machado |first=João |date=October 11, 2023 |title=ITA Airways announces seven new destinations for Summer 2024 |website=Aviaci Online - Últimas noticias de aviación de Argentina, Latinoamérica y el mundo |language=English |url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/10/ita-airways-announces-seven-new-destinations-for-summer-2024/ |access-date=October 11, 2023 }}</ref>
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| [[Kenya Airways]] | [[Lungi International Airport|Freetown]],<ref name="aeroroutes_250325-kqns25int">{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250325-kqns25int|title=Kenya Airways NS25 International Service Changes – 23MAR25|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=25 March 2025|accessdate=25 March 2025|language=en}}</ref> [[Roberts International Airport|Monrovia–Roberts]],<ref name="aeroroutes_250325-kqns25int"/> [[Jomo Kenyatta International Airport|Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta]]<ref name="aeroroutes_250325-kqns25int"/>
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| [[KLM]] | [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]]
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| [[Middle East Airlines]] | [[Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport|Beirut]]<!-- Please do not add Abidjan as a destination. No local traffic rights. -->
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| [[Passion Air]] | [[Kumasi Airport|Kumasi]], [[Sunyani Airport|Sunyani]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/business/269174/PassionAir-sets-September-to-begin-flight-operations-to-Sunyani-Airport | title=PassionAir sets September to begin flight operations to Sunyani Airport }}</ref> [[Takoradi Airport|Takoradi]], [[Tamale Airport|Tamale]], [[Wa Airport|Wa]]
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| [[Qatar Airways]] | [[Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport|Abidjan]], [[Hamad International Airport|Doha]]
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| [[Royal Air Maroc]] | [[Mohammed V International Airport|Casablanca]]<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230810-kqatcodeshare|title=Kenya Airways / Royal Air Maroc Plans Codeshare Resumption in 2H23|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=10 August 2023|accessdate=8 February 2024|language=en-CA}}</ref>
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| [[Rwandair|RwandAir]] | [[Kigali International Airport|Kigali]]
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| {{nowrap|[[South African Airways]]}} | [[Port Bouet Airport|Abidjan]], [[OR Tambo International Airport|Johannesburg–OR Tambo]]
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| [[TAP Air Portugal]] | [[Lisbon Portela Airport|Lisbon]], [[São Tomé International Airport|São Tomé]]
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| [[Turkish Airlines]] | [[Istanbul Airport|Istanbul]]
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| [[United Airlines]] | [[Dulles International Airport|Washington–Dulles]]
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===Cargo===
[[File:DHLATRinDGAA.jpg|thumb|An [[ATR 72]] freighter of [[DHL Aviation]] at Kotoka International Airport]]
Kotoka International Airport is served by numerous cargo airlines on a regularly scheduled basis, in addition to ad-hoc cargo flights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gacl.com.gh/cargo-airlines/|title=Cargo Airlines - GACL|publisher=Ghana Airports Company Limited|access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref>

* [[Air Ghana]]
* [[Cargolux]]
* [[DHL Aviation]]
* [[Emirates SkyCargo]]
* [[Ethiopian Airlines Cargo]]
* [[Qatar Airways Cargo]]
* [[Turkish Cargo]]

In 2016, [[Air Ghana]] opened the Ghana Airport Cargo Center, a 10,000 sq.m dedicated cargo warehouse facility supplemented by 9,000 sq.m of office space, in partnership with [[Ghana Airports Company Limited]] and [[Swissport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gaccentre.com/|title=Ghana Airport Cargo Center (GACC)|website=GACC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aircargonews.net/cargo-airport/official-opening-for-ghana-airport-cargo-centre-in-accra/|title=Official Opening for Ghana Airport Cargo Centre|publisher=Air Cargo News|date=31 October 2016}}</ref>

== Statistics ==

The activity of passengers, cargo and flight movements through the airport each year is given in the table below :
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|+ style="text-align: center;" | Airport statistics for Kotoka International Airport, by year<ref name="Stats"/><ref name = "GCAA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gcaa.com.gh/web/?p=126|title=Aviation Statistics|access-date=21 March 2021|publisher=Ghana Civil Aviation Authority}}</ref>
!style="background:#3830AE;color:white" scope="col" | Year !! style="background:#3830AE;color:white" scope="col" | Domestic pax !! style="background:#3830AE;color:white" scope="col" | International pax !! style="background:#3830AE;color:white" scope="col" | Transit pax !! style="background:#3830AE;color:white" scope="col" | Total passengers !! style="background:#3830AE;color:white" scope="col" |Aircraft Movements !! style="background:#3830AE;color:white" scope="col" | Cargo (tons)
|-
! scope="row" | 2010
| 132,922 {{increase}} || 1,387,045 {{increase}} || 117,478 {{increase}} || '''1,637,445''' {{increase}} || 30,104 {{increase}} || 45,615 {{increase}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2011
| 199,073 {{increase}} || 1,586,602 {{increase}} || 145,760 {{increase}} || '''1,931,435''' {{increase}} || 32,439 {{increase}} || 50,260 {{increase}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2012
| 543,379 {{increase}} || 1,726,051 {{increase}} || 154,723 {{increase}} || '''2,424,153''' {{increase}} || 36,434 {{increase}} || 46,577 {{decrease}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2013
| 778,466 {{increase}}|| 1,669,603 {{decrease}} || 162,305 {{increase}} || '''2,610,374''' {{increase}} || 41,934 {{increase}} || 43,688 {{decrease}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2014
| 719,234 {{decrease}}|| 1,650,520 {{decrease}} || 177,773 {{increase}} || '''2,547,527''' {{decrease}} || 41,949 {{increase}} || 54,389 {{increase}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2015
| 525,440 {{decrease}} || 1,667,675 {{increase}} || 157,003 {{decrease}} || '''2,350,118''' {{decrease}} || 37,611 {{decrease}} || 51,325 {{decrease}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2016
| 421,986 {{decrease}} || 1,746,669 {{increase}} || 213,232 {{increase}} || '''2,381,887''' {{increase}} || 36,349 {{decrease}} || 47,678 {{decrease}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2017
| 483,261 {{increase}} || 1,811,428 {{increase}} || 214,650 {{increase}} || '''2,509,339''' {{increase}} || 39,217 {{increase}} || 50,360 {{increase}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2018
| 415,158 {{decrease}} || 1,975,803 {{increase}} || 202,451 {{decrease}} || '''2,593,412''' {{increase}} || 39,255 {{increase}} || 52,390 {{increase}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2019
| 690,314 {{increase}} || 2,110,593 {{increase}} || 218,157 {{increase}} || '''3,019,064''' {{increase}} || 46,966 {{increase}}|| 49,846 {{decrease}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2020
| 423,718 {{decrease}}|| 702,651 {{decrease}} || 31,041 {{decrease}} || '''1,157,410''' {{decrease}} || 25,183 {{decrease}} || 43,428 {{decrease}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2021
| 722,721 {{increase}}|| 1,269,898 {{increase}} || 117,008 {{increase}} || '''2,109,627''' {{increase}} || 37,870 {{increase}} || 46,700 {{increase}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2022
| 852,101 {{increase}}|| 1,800,341 {{increase}} || 152,905 {{increase}} || '''2,805,347''' {{increase}} || 43,970 {{increase}} || 38,998 {{decrease}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2023
| 775,662 {{decrease}}|| 2,138,999 {{increase}} || 181,015 {{increase}} || '''3,095,676''' {{increase}} || 43,858 {{decrease}} || 40,774{{increase}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2024
| 862,727 {{increase}}|| 2,349,024 {{increase}} || 189,463 {{increase}} || '''3,401,214''' {{increase}} || 45,262 {{increase}} || 42,767{{increase}}
|}

== Airport City ==
[[File:Airportcityaccra.jpg|thumb|Airport City enclave in Accra at night in 2020]]
[[Airport City Accra]] is an urban development centered around Kotoka International Airport.

The development is promoted by [[Ghana Airports Company Limited]] on the principle that airports have ceased to be mere terminals, but rather economic growth outlets to promote trade and generate employment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/469124/1/accra-airport-city-on-the-fast-lane.html|title=Accra Airport City on the fast lane|website=Modern Ghana|publisher=Daily Graphic|author=Kofi Yeboah|date=17 June 2013}}</ref>

Developments within Airport City include retail outlets such as [[Marina Mall Accra|Marina Mall]], hotels such as [[Marriott Hotels|Accra Marriott Hotel]], [[ibis Styles|ibis Styles Accra]] and [[Holiday Inn|Holiday Inn Accra Airport]], as well as corporate offices for companies such as [[Africa World Airlines]] and [[Vodafone Ghana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gacl.com.gh/airport-city/|title=Airport City|publisher=Ghana Airports Company Limited|access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref> Projects underway include the [[hotel rating|five-star]] [[Pullman Hotels and Resorts|Pullman Accra Airport City]] by [[Accor]] and the [[Protea Hotels|Protea Hotel by Marriott Accra Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buildinganddecor.co.za/top-structure-construction-to-continue-at-pullman-accra-airport-city-in-early-2021/|title=Top Structure Construction to Continue at Pullman Accra Airport City in 2021|publisher=Building and Decor|date=2 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotelmanagement.net/development/marriott-to-bring-protea-brand-to-ghana-s-capital-city|title=Marriott bringing Protea to Ghana's capital city|date=20 November 2018|author=Jena Tesse Fox|publisher=Hotel Management Magazine}}</ref>

International airlines such as [[American Airlines]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/contact-american/ticket-sales-centers.jsp|title=Ticket sales centers|publisher=American Airlines|access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref> [[Brussels Airlines]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brusselsairlines.com/com/contact-us/contact-us-new.aspx|title=Contact us - Local office|publisher=Brussels Airlines|access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref> and [[Turkish Airlines]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-ru/any-questions/get-in-touch/|title=Our Offices|publisher=Turkish Airlines|access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref> also have their ticketing and sales offices located within Airport City.

Airport City is expected to host multiple stations on the proposed Accra Sky Train system.<ref name = "SkyTrain">{{cite web|url=https://www.khl.com/news/Ghana-to-build-US-2.6-billion-SkyTrain/1141268.article|title=Ghana to build US$2.6 billion SkyTrain|author=Joe Sargent|publisher=KHL Group|date=20 November 2019}}</ref>

==Military use==
The airport shares its facilities with '''Air Force Base Accra''', an installation of the [[Ghana Air Force]]. It hosts a squadron of [[Airbus C295]] transport aircraft, as well as a helicopter squadron with [[Harbin Z-9]] and [[Mil Mi-17]] utility helicopters.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-03-21 |title=An air arm on the rise |language=en |work=Key.Aero |url=https://www.key.aero/article/air-arm-rise |access-date=2023-12-11}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==

* On 5 June 2000, a Ghana Airlink [[Fokker F-27]] en route from [[Tamale, Ghana|Tamale]] to [[Accra]] crashed on approach to Kotoka International Airport. Six people were killed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghana Air Link Fokker F-27 plane crash|website=1001crash.com|date=5 June 2000 |url=https://www.1001crash.com/transport-page-description-accident-Ghana_F27-lg-2-crash-166.html|access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref>
* On 28 January 2009, a [[Ghana International Airlines]] [[Boeing 757]] operating from [[Accra]] to [[London Gatwick]], United Kingdom, with 96 passengers and nine crew reported anomalies with the control systems when climbing out of [[Accra]]. The crew declared a [[mayday]] and made a safe return to Kotoka International Airport where the remains of a [[beetle]]-like creature were discovered to be obstructing the left [[pitot tube|pitot]] system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources/Boeing%20757-258,%20G-STRZ%2012-09.pdf|title=Serious incident|type=PDF|work=aaib.gov.uk}}</ref>

* On 2 June 2012, an [[Allied Air]] [[Allied Air Flight 111|Boeing 727 cargo aircraft]] operating from [[Lagos]] to [[Accra]] on behalf of [[DHL Aviation|DHL]] with 4 crew overshot the runway while landing in heavy rain. At least 12 people on the ground were killed. The 4 crew all survived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201206/87684.php|title=Update: 10 dead as Cargo plane crashes into Hajj Village|work=edition.myjoyonline.com|date=2 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605152913/http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201206/87684.php|archive-date=5 June 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Red Clay, Jana (P1100321).jpg|thumb|Damaged Starbow ATR 72-500 on display near Tamale]]

* On 28 October 2014, a [[Starbow]] [[BAe 146-200]] from Accra to [[Takoradi Airport]] with 77 people on board suffered a hydraulic failure during climb out. The crew were forced to make an emergency landing in Accra without flaps, resulting in damage to the landing gear and a fire. Two persons were injured in the resulting emergency evacuation. The aircraft was written off.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=47c8c776&opt=0|title=Accident: Starbow B462 at Accra on Oct 28th 2014, hydraulic failure|website=Aviation Herald}}</ref>

* On 10 January 2015, an [[ASKY Airlines]] [[Boeing 737]]-43QSF (leased from [[Ethiopian Airlines]]), was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident and runway excursion. The aircraft was written off and there were no fatalities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=4800ff53&opt=0|title=Accident: Ethiopian B734 at Accra on Jan 10th 2015, runway excursion|website=Aviation Herald}}</ref>
* On 25 November 2017, a [[Starbow]] [[ATR 72-500]] suffered a runway excursion due to the captain's seat sliding backward during the take-off roll. The aircraft struck the airport perimeter fence before coming to a halt. Five passengers were injured, and the aircraft was written off with significant damage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=4b1883a9&opt=0|title=Accident: Starbow AT72 at Accra on Nov 25th 2017, runway excursion during takeoff due to sliding pilot seat|website=Aviation Herald}}</ref>

== COVID-19 pandemic ==

Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana|COVID-19 pandemic]], domestic flights in Ghana were suspended from 30 March 2020, but resumed on 1 May 2020 under enhanced sanitary protocols.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.panapress.com/Coronavirus-Ghana-resumes-domest-a_630640163-lang2-free_news.html|title=Coronavirus: Ghana resumes domestic flights with strict health safety protocols|date=4 May 2020|publisher=Pan African News Agency|website=panapress.com}}</ref> Ghana was the first African country to resume domestic flights after a COVID-related suspension.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

The international air borders of Ghana reopened for travelers on 1 September 2020, subject to certain conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ghana-travel-covid-19/index.html|title=Traveling to Ghana during COVID-19?|website=CNN.com|date=30 December 2020 |access-date=30 March 2021}}</ref> Passengers were required to undergo a [[PCR test]] in their country of origin no more than 72 hours prior to departure, and also undergo a further [[rapid antigen test]] upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport. A laboratory was set up at the airport for prompt processing of test results. The cost of the tests were set at US$50 for citizens of [[ECOWAS]] countries, and US$150 for all other citizens. Those testing negative on both tests were permitted to enter [[Ghana]] without any further quarantine or restrictions, subject to clearance by [[Ghana Immigration Service]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=KIA releases revised rules for travellers amidst Covid-19 pandemic - MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/kia-releases-revised-rules-for-travellers-amidst-covid-19-pandemic/|access-date=3 February 2021|website=www.myjoyonline.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2021, the process of awarding the contract for testing at the airport to Frontiers Healthcare came under scrutiny for its lack of transparency during the vetting hearings for [[Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo#Personnel|various ministers appointed to the second cabinet]] of President [[Nana Akufo-Addo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thebftonline.com/17/02/2021/transparency-issues-stain-world-class-covid-19-test-regime-at-kia-aviation-expert/|date=17 February 2021|title=Transparency issues stain world-class COVID-19 test regime at KIA – aviation expert|work=Business and Financial Times|author=Osei Owusu Amankwaah}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/1062772/kia-covid-19-testing-minority-demands-bi-partisan.html|title=KIA Covid-19 testing: Minority demands bi-partisan inquiry into Frontiers Healthcare|date=19 February 2021|website=ModernGhana.com|publisher=StarFM}}</ref>

In March 2022, the [[parliamentary opposition]] threatened to demonstrate at the airport in protest against the continued high costs for on-arrival testing of passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2022/03/minority-threatens-protest-at-kotoka-if-covid-19-testing-isnt-made-free/|title=Minority threatens protest at Kotoka if COVID-19 testing isn't made free|website=Citi News|date=23 March 2022}}</ref> Industry experts also warned that the high costs of testing were likely to suppress passenger numbers for 2022 if not addressed as a priority.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/unfavourable-covid-19-testing-regime-at-kia-could-drive-away-international-travellers-aviation-expert/|title=Unfavourable COVID-19 testing regime at KIA could drive away international travellers – Aviation Expert|date=24 March 2022|website=myJoyOnline.com|publisher=Joy News|author=Charles Ayitey}}</ref> In response to this, the testing requirements for fully vaccinated passengers were waived effective 28 March 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://citibusinessnews.com/2022/03/ghanas-international-air-traffic-in-2022-should-exceed-2-1-million-aviation-analyst/|title=Ghana's international air traffic in 2022 should exceed 2.1 million – Sean Mendis|date=29 March 2022|website=CitiBusinessNews.com|publisher=Citi News|author=Bobbie Osei}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Kotoka International Airport}}
* [http://www.gacl.com.gh Official website]

{{Portal bar|Africa|Aviation}}
{{Accra}}
{{Airports in Ghana}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Airports in Ghana]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Accra]]