Starbow

Starbow
IATA ICAO Callsign
S9 IKM EASY SHUTTLE
Founded 1995
2011 (trading as Starbow)
Operating bases Kotoka International Airport
Fleet size 3
Destinations 5
Company slogan It's all about you.
Headquarters Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
Key people James Eric Antwi (CEO). Kenneth Anthony Thompson
Website www.flystarbow.com

Aero Surveys Limited, which trades as Starbow, is a Ghanaian privately owned airline headquartered at 15 Senchi Road, Airport Residential Area, Accra, Ghana.[1] Starbow claims to be the largest Ghanaian airline measured by passengers carried;[2] Despite a brief regional expansion, the airline now only operates domestic flights, from its base at Kotoka International Airport, Accra.

History

Origins and rebranding

The company was originally incorporated in October 1997 as Aero Surveys Limited and later rebranded its activities as Air Shuttle. It operated two Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft for domestic charters and air taxi services, gaining its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), in August 2009.

In 2011, the ownership of the airline changed, which resulted in a further rebranding to a new commercial name, Starbow, with regional flights in mind. A communication and recruitment campaign was launched and two 94 seat BAe 146-300 jet aircraft were acquired for scheduled domestic passenger services.

Starbow began domestic flights out of Kotoka International Airport on 26 September 2011, serving Kumasi and Tamale. The aircraft offered both business and economy class seating. Starbow added its 3rd destination on 8 November 2011, with return flights to Takoradi from its Accra base.

Expansion plans curtailed

On 3 February 2012, after just 5 months in operation, Starbow announced that they had finalised a deal to lease two additional BAe 146-300 aircraft that would double their fleet size to 4 aircraft.[3] The aircraft entered into service less than 6 months later.

Starbow's first international route was announced on 31 July 2012. The up to 5 times weekly service from Accra to Cotonou in Benin started 13 August 2012.[4] Abidjan in the Ivory Coast became the carrier's second international destination. The route launched on 8 November 2012 with flights operating up to 5 times weekly from Accra.[5] Starbow also expressed ambitions for further regional routes to be provided.[6]

Starbow announced on 16 December 2012 that they were adding a 97-seat BAe 146-200 to their fleet.[7]

However, in early 2013 all international services were suspended due to poor performance. In November 2013, press reports said that Starbow were to go ahead with fleet renewal plans following the recent appointment of an agent to dispose of the current fleet of two BAe 146-300s and one BAe 146-200, with the third BAe 146-300 being sold for parts. Collectively, the aircraft average 25 years of age. Starbow was reportedly still considering its options for potential replacement aircraft.[8][9]

Also in November 2013, Starbow's CEO James Eric Antwi said they would move their business out of Ghana if the Government does not address the concerns of domestic airlines, citing small market size and low fares as some of their concerns, and saying that Starbow could relocate their business to other countries such as the Ivory Coast.[10]

Destinations

Starbow currently operates to and from the following destinations:[11]

 Ghana

 Liberia

Monrovia - Spriggs Payne Airport

Starbow also operates charter services from its Accra base to other cities in the sub-region.[12]

Fleet

The Starbow fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of August 2016):[13]

Starbow Fleet
Aircraft Total Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
BAe 146-300 1 — 8 86 94 [14]
AVRO RJ-100 1 — 0 97 97
ATR 72 1 — 0 66 66
Total 3 — —

The airline fleet previously included the following aircraft:

References

  1. ↑ "Contact us." Starbow. Retrieved on 6 May 2013. "832 First Street Adjacent to the Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters Osu, Accra"
  2. ↑ http://www.flystarbow.com/en/bottom-menu/about-starbow
  3. ↑ 3rd and 4th BAe146-300 added to Fleet
  4. ↑ Starbow launch first International route with flights from Accra to Cotonou
  5. ↑ Accra to Abidjan route launched
  6. ↑ http://ghanaaviationnews.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/air-shuttle-expands-domestic-charter.html Air Shuttle Expands Domestic Charter Route
  7. ↑ Starbow's fleet grows with the additional of its first BAe146-200
  8. ↑ http://www.avitrader.com/2013/11/04/cockley-brake-to-sell-three-bae146-aircraft-for-starbow-airlines/ Cockley Brake to sell three Bae146 aircraft for Starbow Airlines
  9. ↑ http://www.ch-aviation.ch/portal/news/23105-ghanas-starbow-to-sell-off-its-bae146-fleet Ghana's Starbow to sell off its BAe146 fleet
  10. ↑ http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=285508 Starbow threaten to move its business out of Ghana
  11. ↑ "Travel Destinations | flystarbow.com". www.flystarbow.com. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
  12. ↑ "Fly domestic with Starbow! Great Flights to and from Kumasi, Accra, Tamale, Takoradi and Sunyani | It's all about you | flystarbow.com". www.flystarbow.com. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
  13. ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2016 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2016): 15.
  14. ↑ http://www.ch-aviation.ch/portal/news/23105-ghanas-starbow-to-sell-off-its-bae146-fleet Ghana's Starbow to sell off its BAe146 fleet
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