Afra Airlines

{{Infobox airline

| airline =

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| IATA =

| ICAO = UAG

| callsign = AFRALINE

| founded = {{Start date|2003}}
Accra, Ghana

| commenced = {{Start date|2003}}

| ceased = {{End date|2005}}

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| alliance = CTK - CiTylinK

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| parent = Global Air

| headquarters =

| key_people = Luke Butler, CEO

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}}

Afra Airlines was a privately owned Ghanaian airline, established in 2003 in Accra, which never commenced operations.

It was intended as a new consumer airline to be focused on providing low-cost air services to and from destinations within Ghana, Africa, Europe and North America. It had management connections with Global Air Group, which was also unsuccessful. Afra Airlines itself ceased trading in 2005 after Ghana Police charged its CEO with defrauding investors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/83049/luke-butler-wanted-by-police.html|title=Luke Butler wanted by Police|website=Modern Ghana|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}}

History

Afra Airlines was established in 2003 by Luke and Simone Butler,{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050128005484/en/Global-Air-Afra-Airlines-Signing-Babcock-Brown|title=Global Air and Afra Airlines: Signing of Babcock & Brown Engagement Letter For FF-1080-300 Fleet Purchase|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-17}} who had moved to Accra to establish Afra Airlines, Afra Resorts & Holdings and Afra Air Cargo. The airline was awarded its Air Carriers licence for cargo and passenger operations by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Afra-Airlines-awarded-Ghana-Air-Carrier-License-74358|title = Afra Airlines awarded Ghana Air Carrier License|date = 30 November 2001}} and an Air Tour Operators Licence from the Ghana Tourist Board.

In January 2005 it was announced{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050128005484/en/Global-Air-Afra-Airlines-Signing-Babcock-Brown|title=Global Air and Afra Airlines: Signing of Babcock & Brown Engagement Letter For FF-1080-300 Fleet Purchase|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-17}} that Afra Airlines was to merge with Boeing 747 owner and charter operator, Global Air Group, to complete financing arrangements for the purchase of 100 Utilicraft Aerospace Industries new FF-1080-300 Freight Feeder aircraft, for deliveries starting in 2007. This was subsequently denied by Babcock & Brown, who had been cited as having been engaged as transaction advisors.{{cite web |url=http://www.utilicraft.com/press/press2005-02-05.htm |title=AUC Press Release - 10-2004 |website=www.utilicraft.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206080908/http://www.utilicraft.com/press/press2005-02-05.htm |archive-date=2005-02-06}}

Afra Airlines claimed to have entered a co-operative agreement with CTK - CiTylinK on new regional services, although this was also denied by CiTylinK management. The new service, allegedly to be named AfraCityLink, was announced to start domestic services on 15 February 2005, but never commenced operations.Airliner World, April 2005

Afra Airlines then claimed corruption by the Government of Ghana prevented it from operating, accusing President John Kufour of a high level conspiracy to frustrate them.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/New-lawyers-for-Afra-Airlines-83126|title = New lawyers for Afra Airlines|date = 30 November 2001}} As a direct consequence Afra Airlines laid off 40 Ghanaian staff, closed its offices, put its investments in Ghana on hold for the foreseeable future, and management fled the country.{{cite news|url=http://www.modernghana.com/news/79131/1/afra-airlines-lays-off-staff-refocus-outside-ghana.html|title=Afra Airlines Lays Off staff, Refocus Outside Ghana|date=2 June 2005|publisher=Modern Ghana|accessdate=23 December 2012|location=Accra}} Their CEO remains a fugitive wanted by Ghana Police.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/83049/luke-butler-wanted-by-police.html|title=Luke Butler wanted by Police|website=Modern Ghana|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}}

References

External links

[http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/dossier.php?ID=95 Ghana Web - Dossier of Afra Airlines articles]

Category:Defunct airlines of Ghana

Category:Airlines established in 2003

Category:Airlines disestablished in 2005

Category:Ghanaian companies established in 2003