Pix from left Alhaji Ishaq Na’Allah, Executive Director, Business Development, Med-View Airline; Mr Abdul Waheed Odusile, Presient, Federations of African Journalists; Mr Bako Freeman, Managing Director, Liberia Airport Authority; Ambassador Tunde Ajisomo, Special Representative of The President of Ecowas Commission in Liberia; Alhaji Muneer Bankole, Managing Director, Med-View Airline and Mr Bankole Bernard, National President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies during the inaugural flight of Med-View Airline to Monrovia and Freetown via Accra at the Presidential lounge of Liberia International Airport, Monrovia, Liberia. Photo Lamidi Bamidele
Medview Airline on Tuesday expanded its service to more destinations in the West African sub region with the commencement of flight operations to Monrovia, Liberia and Freetown, Sierra Leone via Accra Ghana.
This was in fulfillment of the airline’s promise to use its ever Accra operations as sub-hub to other countries in the West Coast.
The inaugural flight of Medview Airline to the two countries took off from Lagos via Kotoka International Airport, Ghana to Roberts International Airport, Liberia and Freetown International Airport, Sierra Leone.
The outbound flights left Lagos to Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana to the other two destinations and then back to Lagos via Accra on the inbound flight.
Liberia and Sierra Leone welcomed the airline and wished for long-term services, which the Nigerian carrier assured, as the two countries describing the operations as a giant step by Medview towards strengthening regional integration among ECOWAS countries.
At the Roberts International Airport, Liberia where the flight was also warmly received, the Special Representative of the President of ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, Ambassador Tunde Ajisomo, described the new operation as a courageous move by Med-View to fill the vacuum created by absence of African airlines plying the West African routes.
He said the development aligns with the vision of ECOWAS to deepen trade and economic relations between African countries and their peoples.
It was also a rousing welcome the airline received at Freetown International Airport Sierra Leone as the country’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Leonard Koroma who was patiently awaiting the arrival of the flight said the government and people of Sierra
Also speaking, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Gladys Dupeola- Quist Adebiyi said the new flight opening would boost trade relations between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
The Managing Director of Med-View Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said the airline decided to open up the two routes simultaneously because of his belief in deepening regional integration which the West African leaders have been agitating for.
According to him, the flight service would also improve business activities, capacities and capabilities of people of the two countries. He added that Med-View Airline is in Liberia and Sierra Leone to create jobs for the people of the two countries.
He assured that the airline would be consistent in the new routes, saying the airline would expand in the two countries and provide more jobs for their people.
Speaking in Freetown, Bankole said the airline built its selling point on on-line departure and safety, adding “We tell people what we do and our service on board is incomparable. What I will advise every body here is to fly Medview.”
Meanwhile Med-View has taken delivery of one of its aircraft, a B737-800, which arrived Nigeria also on Tuesday. The aircraft is expected to strengthen the airline’s domestic operations especially as the Christmas and New Year festivities draw nearer with the expected surge in passengers.
THISDAY
