Kotoka International Airport (KIA) is an international airport in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
Inside Kotoka International Airport Terminal 3 Video Tour
Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana.
History of Kotoka International Airport
The airport was originally a military airport used by the British Royal Air Force during World War II. After the war, the facility was handed over to civilian authorities. A development project was launched in 1956 by President Kwame Nkrumah to reconfigure the structure into a terminal building. 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 Kotoka.
Accra Airport City.
Terminals and Expansion
The airport has two passenger terminals: Terminal 2 and 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 Dramani Mahama and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 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.
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Airlines and Destinations
KIA presently serves as a hub for domestic and regional operator Africa World Airlines.Below is a table of airlines that operate in Kotoka International Airport with their destinations:
| Airline | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Africa World Airlines | Domestic and Regional Destinations |
| Air Peace | Monrovia, Accra |
| Air Tanzania | Dar es Salaam |
| Delta Airlines | Routes in Africa and Mexico |
| Kenya Airways | Nairobi |
| United Nigeria Airlines | Accra |
Incidents and Accidents
On 5 June 2000, a Ghana Airlink Fokker F-27 en route from Tamale to Accra crashed on approach to Kotoka International Airport. 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. On 2 June 2012, an Allied Air Boeing 727 cargo aircraft operating from Lagos to Accra on behalf of DHL with 4 crew overshot the runway while landing in heavy rain. At least 12 people on the ground were killed. 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. 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. 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.
COVID-19 Protocols
The international air borders of Ghana reopened for travelers on 1 September 2020, subject to certain conditions. 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.
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Read also: Accra Airport Guide
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