British Airways moves Accra-London flights from Heathrow to Gatwick October
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MARCH 22 -23, 2021 | WWW.AVIATIONGHANA.COM
British Airways moves
Accra-London flights from
Heathrow to Gatwick
October
By Dominick Andoh
info@aviationghana.com
PAGE 02
'It is a crime to New essay
charge patrons series to explore
in dollars' innovative
– Ghana Hotels ways in Africa’s
COVID-19
Association recovery
PAGE 04
PAGE 04
News
British Airways moves Accra-London
flights from Heathrow to Gatwick October
AviationGhana’s online booking search The returned results of the search
P
from Heathrow to London Gatwick. passengers. January 20, 2021, received a letter
Due to operational reasons, our The Ministry of Aviation in a from BA dated January 14 seeking to
By Dominick Andoh
info@aviationghana.com Accra services will now revert to press release issued on Tuesday, Jan explain the rationale behind the
departing /arriving from London 19, 2021 said the: “The Ministry in a business decision. However, the
assengers travelling from
Heathrow until end of October. We letter to the BA Authorities, rejected Ministry of Aviation rejected the
Accra to London should
apologise for any disruption or the changes and categorically explanation and demanded BA
expect to land at London
confusion this may cause,” the informed British Airways that ‘for reverses the decision. BA then
Gatwick airport instead of
circular noted. the avoidance of doubt, we are temporarily suspended the switch
Heathrow effective end of October.
unable to accept the change in the from Heathrow to Gatwick in
Passengers departing London for
Background London-Accra-London flights March.
Accra must also originate their
About a month ago, British originating from Gatwick Airport.’”
travel from Gatwick.
Airways announced that effective Ghana’s Aviation Ministry on
This follows British Airways’
March 28, 2021, its
resolve to move the London-Accra-
London-Accra-
London flights from Heathrow to
London flights will
Gatwick at the end of October 2021,
operate out of
despite suspending the change in
Gatwick Airport
airport for the Ghana market few
instead of Heathrow.
weeks ago.
The Aviation
The change in airport has
Ministry, which was
already been effected on the airline’s
not notified of the
online booking system.
decision, then called
for a meeting with
AviationGhana’s Accra-London-
the airline to discuss
Accra booking on British Airways,
the issue and to
departing on October 31 and
make clear their
returning on November 10, 2021,
decision to object to
returned results that showed the
such a change
arriving airport as Gatwick and
coming on the back
returning airport as Gatwick. This
of what the Ministry
confirms a circular by BA issued few
described as similar
weeks ago confirming the change.
unilateral decisions
taken by the airline
“Last December you would have
in the past which
received an email advising you that
were unfavourable to
your Accra booking had moved
Ghanaian Details of the flight
NEWS
New essay series to explore innovative
ways in Africa’s COVID-19 recovery
Velde, Director of Programme at “Innovation lies at the heart of
the International Economic Africa’s recovery,” said Rob Floyd,
Development Group at ODI. “And ACET Director and Senior
that’s on top of chronic challenges Advisor, and co-editor of the
like the need for high-quality jobs essays along with te Velde. “We’re
and inclusive growth. African already seeing it. Digital
countries will need to put technologies are helping to
increased emphasis on innovation mitigate economic losses across
to create a fast and more resilient sectors by creating new jobs,
recovery.” diversifying production, boosting
productivity, increasing access to
The essays provide practical, finance and revolutionizing health
high-level policy care. The essays will bring all this
recommendations as to how together as countries look to what
governments might pursue more comes next.”
T
innovative approaches—for
example by emphasizing the role The first four essays will be
of digitalization and putting in published today, March 22 on
place ecosystems for innovation. ACET’s web site
he African Center for on different sectors or issue areas (www.aceforafrica.org). They
Economic Transformation in which innovation and COVID-19 has led to severe cover challenges and opportunities
(ACET) and the technology have made a notable socioeconomic consequences in in the African innovation
Development and Economic impact during the pandemic. They Africa, and the pandemic is far ecosystem; the role of digital
Growth Research Programme identify ways in which innovation from over. Even as countries technologies in African labor
(DEGRP), in partnership with can contribute to more effective continue to prioritize the markets; the impact of innovation
ODI, are launching a new series policy responses by building on immediate health and safety of on youth, employment and skills;
of short, policy-focused essays to recent successes and tackling citizens, government leaders and and the ways innovation can foster
examine the critical role of existing problems. development partners are focused a more inclusive recovery for small
innovation in Africa’s recovery on Africa’s economic recovery. A and medium enterprises and the
from COVID-19. “The recovery in Africa will be strong and sustainable rebound informal sector.
more difficult than in other after the crisis ends is critical to
Authored by policy experts regions, given the lack of access to recapturing lost gains and keeping ACET and DEGRP plan to
and researchers from ACET, fiscal resources and uneven health Africa on a transformation track. publish at least a dozen essays
DEGRP and ODI, the essays focus systems,” said Dirk Willem te between now and August.
'It is a crime to charge patrons in
G
dollars' – Ghana Hotels Association
reater Accra recovery of the Tourism
Regional Chair of industry amidst COVID-19’,
the Ghana Hotels Mr. Afunya said their stance
Association, Benjamin in is line with the Bank of
Afunya, has maintained that Ghana’s directives for hotels
hotels across the country do not to charge in dollars.
not quote their rates or charge He said despite the fact
patrons in dollars. that the directive is troubling
According to him, it is a to the association, because
crime for hotels in the they procure some services to
country to charge patrons in run their businesses in
any foreign currency for dollars, they will always
services rendered. abide by the central bank’s
“We do not charge or directive.
quote in dollars but we only “This directive has
charge patrons in cedis. It is a worried us because some of
crime to do that and if you the things we buy to run our
visit any hotel and you’re hotels are sold to us in
billed in dollars, you can dollars. The unstable nature
report them to the police,” he of the cedi also affects us but
said. everyone should know that
Speaking on Accra-based we are still charging our
Happy 98.9FM on the theme: customers in cedis”.
‘COVID-19 a year on; The
FEATURE
Diversity crucial to the industry restart
I
ATA’s 25by2025 initiative will top priority despite aviation’s 25by2025 isn’t prescriptive so prepare the next level of women
be the key enabler. An struggle for survival. has inbuilt flexibility to allow pilots and technicians as well as
industry-wide diversity and “There have even been airlines to decide their own targets senior leaders. Enlarging the pool
inclusion project, 25by2025 aims approaches by non-airline aviation by setting a target of 25%, or a 25% of talent available will be crucial to
to increase the number of women companies and by those that are improvement on their existing improving diversity levels.
in senior positions by either 25% already beyond 25% female situation. One airline is focused on And legislation must be
against currently reported metrics representation but that want to getting more males working in the brought up to date in all countries
or to a minimum representation move toward parity,” says cabin, for example. The individual to ensure parity of pay, maternity
of 25% by 2025. Hoskisson. targets are then aggregated by and paternity leave, and flexible
The project is designed to be IATA to determine the overall working conditions. In the United
encouraging rather than punitive, The heart of travel success of the project. Kingdom, where reporting is
hence the realistic targets. Diversity and inclusion are Every quarter, representatives mandatory, aviation has been
Organizations could lose interest if essential to the industry’s recovery from all signatories will come shown to have large pay gaps with
they deem a goal unachievable. as the search for talent must be together to share best practice and men paid more than women in
But that doesn’t mean the broad in its scope. discuss ideas for improving comparable positions.
industry can relax in its diversity Also, as travel, tourism and collaboration and promoting the The pandemic has actually
efforts, says Hoskisson. aviation restarts, women will be at issue at CEO level. proven helpful in one respect as
“Women pilots represent about the heart of travel decisions for “It is about creating a working from home has brought a
6%-9% of total pilots,” she says. “It families and personally. One of the community and giving diversity greater understanding of the need
seems we’ve heard a lot more biggest emerging markets is solo officials the opportunity to meet for flexibility. But there is nothing
about female pilots recently but travel and women continue to and talk with each other,” says like a legal requirement to focus
actually that figure has been pretty travel on their own more than Hoskisson. “That hasn’t happened business strategy.
consistent since 1945. We won’t get men. Aviation must therefore before.” “IATA’s 25by2025 is more than
to 25% by 2025 because we know develop products and services that IATA will also work internally merely getting women at the top
the pipeline takes some time to accurately reflect their customers to improve its diversity levels. It table,” concludes Hoskisson. “It is
build, but we can move towards a and having female representation plans female representation on all about collaboration to get more
more ambitious target. at all levels of the organization will panels at conferences, for example, talent in the industry. It is about
“And female airline CEOs are aid that quest. and even aims to ensure 25% raising the bar for everybody. The
newsworthy simply because they A recent McKinsey report, female representation on its industry recovery will be stronger
are female and so few and far Women Matter, states that various committees. Accordingly, if diversity is embedded across the
between. That shouldn’t be the “companies where women are IATA is asking all airlines to aviation value chain.”
case.” most strongly represented at board consider diversity when
Nevertheless, the strong or top-management level are also nominating people to IATA “The industry restart is an
response to 25by2025 shows the the companies that perform best.” committees. opportunity for aviation to build
industry’s determination to do Furthermore, aviation needs to Already, the number of female back better with diversity at its
better. So far, 57 signatories have reflect the diversity it connects senior leaders and directors in the core,” Jane Hoskisson, IATA’s
committed to the initiative. Even across the world. The nature of the association has increased from 16% Director, Talent, Learning,
during the pandemic interest in industry, the business of freedom, to 22%. Engagement and Diversity.
25by2025 has continued to grow necessarily dictates a diverse and Raising the bar
and Malaysia Airlines is the latest inclusive culture. Two elements will be critical to
to join. For Hoskisson, this is a the future success of the initiative.
sure sign that diversity remains a Good to talk Training will be essential to
FEATURE
Trying To Get Into China Amid
A Global Pandemic
T
reported more than 101,000 Covid government has presented the rule
cases. Although questions have as an easing of its visa application
By Sui-Lee Wee and Keith Bradsher
been raised about the accuracy of procedures. But it does not help
o keep the virus out, Beijing trade partners are emerging from the numbers, they are far lower than travelers from countries like the
has enacted some of the their own self-imposed slumps. in the United States, where 29.8 United States where Chinese
world’s toughest border “When it comes to measures million people have tested positive vaccines are not available.
controls. Lives have been upended, that draconian, you are going to for the virus. China’s strategy “It’s kind of a Catch-22,” said
and business has been disrupted. disenfranchise people who are big reflects its strengths as well as its Jeff Jolly, who has been stuck in the
Leave your partner and children China fans and are not allowed to weaknesses. United States since July after leaving
behind. Quarantine for up to a return to the country they have China was the only major Shanghai, where he runs a language
month. Get inoculated with a made their home,” said Alexander economy to grow last year. It knows training center and academic
Covid-19 vaccine from China, if you Style, the British owner of a businesses will find a way to keep consultancy.
can find one. And prepare yourself Shanghai-based company that their Chinese operations running, In a statement, China’s foreign
for an anal swab. makes electric vehicle parts for with or without expatriates, and it is ministry said: “We believe this is a
For the past year, people trying export, who has been forced to betting that they will come back meaningful exploration of
to go to China have run into some of relocate with his family to New when the pandemic eases. At the facilitating international travel once
the world’s most formidable Jersey. same time, China’s restrictions mass vaccination has been
barriers to entry. To stop the Other countries have their own highlight the inadequacies of its achieved.”
coronavirus, China bans tourists travel restrictions, though few are as vaccine rollout, which has been slow As deadlier and more infectious
and short-term business travelers tight. The United States, for compared to those of the United virus variants appeared in other
outright, and it sets tough standards example, bans foreigners traveling States, Britain and other countries countries in recent months, China
for all other foreigners, even those directly from China unless they are Foreign executives think China introduced onerous new
who have lived there for years. green card holders or certain is likely to be one of the last requirements.
The restrictions have hampered immediate family members of countries in the world to fully At the end of last year, it
the operations of many companies, American citizens. It also bans reopen, perhaps as late as next year, essentially stopped allowing anyone
separated families and upended the foreigners leaving from Europe, as after the Beijing Winter Olympics in to bring a spouse or child into the
lives of thousands of international well as Brazil and other countries. February. China’s restrictions will country. Since January, travelers
students. Global companies say Australia lets in just a few mean significant delays in building arriving in Beijing from countries
their ranks of foreign workers in the hundred of its citizens and large factories or winning sales with severe outbreaks have had to
country have dwindled sharply. permanent residents each day, orders, according to business endure weekly anal swab tests while
At a time of strained tensions while Japan has barred the entry of groups. in quarantine, with fecal material
with the United States and other foreign workers and students since In recent days, Chinese tested for traces of the virus. The
countries, China is keeping itself late December. embassies in at least 50 countries measure prompted indignant
safe from the pandemic. At the same In China, officials regard travel have said that foreigners wanting to complaints from the United States
time, it risks further isolating its limits as crucial to their success in enter China could avoid some visa and Japan.
economy, the world’s second- containing the virus. Since the paperwork by taking a Chinese-
largest, at a moment when its major outbreak started, China has made Covid-19 vaccine. The
CONTINUE ON PAGE 9
FEATURE
Trying To Get Into China Amid A Global Pandemic
the southwestern Chinese city of job as the China director of a
L
Chengdu, said he had tried taking marketing and strategy company
By Sui-Lee Wee and Keith Bradsher
his lessons online since being shut that helps foreign brands sell in
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 out of the country early last year. China.
ast month, the government China’s re-entry policy “treats all But he had to rent space to do so, In late September, the
announced that foreign and foreign personnel equally, and there because there is no electricity or government announced that people
Chinese travelers coming is no so-called differential internet access at his family’s home, with expired residence permits
from more than two dozen treatment.” 280 miles from the capital, Addis could return to China after applying
countries would have to do two China’s restrictions have been Ababa. for a visa. Ms. Astbury Allen rushed
weeks of employer-supervised compounded by decisions on visas Mr. Tafese says he cannot find a to apply for one in October. But by
quarantine overseas before they and entry requirements that can job, because he has no degree, and the time she reached a visa center,
were even allowed to fly to China. seem arbitrary to those trying to is relying on his father’s small the rules had already changed.
Then, after landing, they were return. income to support himself. China announced on Nov. 4 that
expected to spend two more weeks Glyn Wise, who had been “All this made me depressed,” it would temporarily suspend the
at a government-managed teaching English literature at an Mr. Tafese wrote in an email. entry of foreigners from Britain,
quarantine facility. international school in Shanghai, China’s tough restrictions, even if they had visas or valid
The number of foreign business was able to get a work visa from the including its recent ban on residence permits. It described the
managers in China has slumped. A Chinese Embassy in London in dependents, have also exacted an move as a “temporary response” as
survey of 191 businesses in southern October. But the agency that helped emotional toll on some families who cases of Covid-19 surged in Britain.
China by the American Chamber of prepare his application told him have been forced to live apart for The situation has left Ms.
Commerce found that 70 percent later that Chinese border officials months, in some cases more than a Astbury Allen feeling
had fewer than five expatriate would not acknowledge the visa. year. overwhelmed. She worries most
employees in China at the end of “A lot of the times they would In February of last year, Jessie about the trauma this separation is
last year, compared to 33 percent a change the rules about who they Astbury Allen took her two young inflicting on her daughters.
year earlier. The proportion of were accepting,” Mr. Wise said. He daughters to England to wait out the Her 12-year-old, Livia, became
companies with no expatriates had said he was looking for job outbreak as it swept across China, depressed and hid under her
surged to 28 percent, from 9 percent opportunities outside China. hoping they would reunite with her blanket, refusing to come out of her
a year earlier. But many others are still husband in Shanghai by Easter. room for three days. When Mae, her
Mr. Style, the owner of the hopeful, and some have organized It was a plan she would come to usually cheerful 7-year-old, saw her
electric vehicle parts company, said campaigns on social media to draw regret. mother crying last month, she
that the Chinese visa process now attention to their plight. “I knew in my gut we were became very upset and emotional,
favored big companies that Nearly 13,000 international doing the wrong thing, but it was Ms. Astbury Allen said.
contribute a great deal of tax students being kept out of China too late,” she said, weeping, as she “I said, ‘Do you miss your dad,
revenue, not start-ups like his signed an online petition urging described how she felt upon landing honey?” said Ms. Astbury Allen.
business. He said he had settled Beijing to allow them to return, at London’s Heathrow Airport. “And she said, ‘Yes,’ and I said: ‘It’s
down in the United States — his while others launched a Twitter OK. We miss him, too.’”
wife is American — and did not campaign called Like many parents coping with (Source: nytimes.com)
plan to return to China any time #TakeUsBackToChina. a lockdown, Ms. Astbury Allen has
soon. Amanuel Tafese, an Ethiopian had to juggle the demands of her
The foreign ministry said student enrolled at a university in daughters’ online classes with her
Jessie Astbury Allen with her daughters Mae, 7, and Livia, 12. They left China more than a year ago; Ms. Astbury Allen’s
husband is still there.Credit...Francesca Jones for The New York Times
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