Passion Air
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{short description|Commercial airline in Ghana}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = PassionAir
| image =
| logo = PassionAirLogoGhana.png
| logo_size =
| IATA = OP
| ICAO = DIG
| callsign = PASSION
| company_slogan =
| founded = 2017
| commenced = 2018
| ceased =
| aoc =
| bases = Kotoka International Airport
| hubs =
| secondary_hubs =
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer =
| fleet_size = 5
| destinations = 6
| parent =
| num_employees =
| headquarters = Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
| key_people = Edward Annan (Founder), Billionaire Boateng, Duncan Sambu{{Cite web|url=https://flypassionair.com/company-information/|title=Company information}}
| website = {{URL|flypassionair.com}}
}}
Pisces Aviation (dba as PassionAir){{cite web|url=https://www.gcaa.com.gh/web/wp-content/uploads/2022/Statistics/GHANAIAN%20VALID%20ACL%20HOLDERS%20AS%20AT%2021-03-2022.pdf|title=Ghanaian Valid ACL Holders as of March 2022|publisher=Ghana Civil Aviation Authority|date=21 March 2022}} is a domestic airline of Ghana with its head office in Accra, Ghana, and its main hub at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
It is the largest domestic airline in Ghana, having transported 386,294 passengers in 2023, {{Cite web|url=https://www.gacl.com.gh/traffic-statistics-2022/|title=Traffic Statistics – GACL}} and holds a 51% share of the domestic market as of 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/domestic-air-travels-surge-record-highest-patronage-in-8-years.html|title=Domestic Air Travels Surge|date=31 March 2022|publisher=Daily Graphic|author=Maclean Kwofi}}
History
Passion Air was founded as DAC International Airlines (Ghana) by notable local businessman Edward Annan, in partnership with DAC Aviation of Kenya. The company was founded in 2017 and achieved its Air Operator Certificate in December that year.{{cite web|title=Ghana's DAC Int'l Airlines secures AOC|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/62698-ghanas-dac-intl-airlines-secures-aoc-to-launch-in-2018
|date=22 December 2017}} Flight operations commenced under the PassionAir brand in August 2018 using a single Bombardier Dash 8 Q400.{{cite web|title=Ghana's PassionAir commences flight operations|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/70211-ghanas-passionair-commences-flight-operations
|date=27 August 2018}}
On 20 February 2021, Passion Air operated its first flight with an all female crew from Accra to Tamale.{{cite web|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/passionair-makes-history-with-all-female-flight-crew/|title=Passion Air makes history with all female crew|publisher=Joy News|date=21 February 2021}} The airline is also notable for hiring Ghana's youngest female pilot, Audrey Esi Swatson.{{cite web|url=https://thebftonline.com/28/09/2020/meet-audrey-swatson-a-young-female-pilot-changing-the-aviation-narrative/|title=Meet Audrey Swatson: a young female pilot changing the aviation narrative|date=20 September 2020|publisher=Business and Financial Times}}
Fleet
File:PassionAir-9GACC-PIA-MRH-DGSI.jpg]]
The PassionAir fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of April 2022):{{cite journal |title=Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One) |journal=Airliner World |volume=October 2019 |page=15}}
| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="margin:1em auto; border-collapse:collapse"
|+ PassionAir fleet |
| bgcolor=#ccccff
!rowspan="2"|Aircraft !rowspan="2"|In Service !colspan="3"|Passengers |
| bgcolor=#ccccff
!B !E !Total |
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
|align="center"|2 |0 |78 |
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q300
|align="center"|3 |0 |50 |
| align="center"|Total
|{{center|5}} |colspan="6"| |
Destinations
PassionAir operates the following scheduled services as of March 2022.{{cite web|url=https://flypassionair.com/map/|title=Route Map|website=flypassionair.com|date=25 March 2022}}
;Ghana
- Accra – Kotoka International Airport
- Kumasi – Kumasi Airport
- Tamale - Tamale Airport
- Takoradi – Takoradi Airport
- Wa - Wa Airport
- Sunyani – Sunyani Airport
| class="collapsible uncollapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:10em; margin:0.2em auto" |
| Destinations map |
|---|
| {{Location map+ |Ghana |width=500|float=center
|caption=Destinations for Passion Air |places= {{Location map~ |Ghana |lat=5.6061|long=-0.1681|position=right|label=Accra|label_size=200 |marksize=20 }} {{Location map~ |Ghana|lat=6.7145|long=-1.5926|position=right|label=Kumasi|label_size=200 |marksize=20 }} {{Location map~ |Ghana|lat=9.5544|long=-0.8662|position=right|label=Tamale|label_size=200 |marksize=20 }} {{Location map~ |Ghana|lat=10.0833|long=-2.5076|position=right|label=Wa|label_size=200 |marksize=20 }} {{Location map~ |Ghana|lat=4.8945|long=-1.7727|position=under |label=Takoradi|label_size=200 |marksize=20 }} {{Location map~ |Ghana|lat=7.3595|long=-2.3292|position=top|label=Sunyani|label_size=200 |marksize=20}} }} |
Incidents
- On 10 October 2018, a PassionAir Bombardier Dash 8 from Kumasi to Accra experienced a taxiway excursion incident upon arrival. No injuries were reported, but the aircraft was grounded for further investigation. {{Cite web|url=http://www.gh-aviation.com/11/211/breaking-news-passionair-plane-grounded-due-excursion-on-runway|title=BREAKING NEWS: PassionAir plane grounded due excursion on runway|website=GH-Aviation}}