The number of International airline operations at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has increased from 35 to 38 in traffic statistics, a report by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has revealed.

This comes as the inclusion of Air France, Mid Africa Aviation and Air Namibia have boosted traffic statistics at the KIA.

Traffic statistics between 2016 and 2017 indicate that domestic passenger flow was 483,261 in 2017 as against 421,261 in 2016.

This resulted in a positive variance of 61,275 representing 14.5 percent increase in passenger traffic compared to the same period in the previous year.

The increase in the figures is partly as a result of the abolishment of the 17.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) by government on domestic air fares, last year.

In the second quarter of 2018, domestic passenger throughput stood at 178,007, while international throughput in 2017 showed an increase of 64,729 representing 3.71 percent compared to the previous figure of 1,746,699.

This is a result of AWA embarking on new routes to Abuja and Monrovia, as well as the commencement of operations by Air France and Air Peace during the second quarter of 2017.

AWA saw its domestic flight frequency increase from two to three times daily and from three to four times to Lagos, Nigeria.

Additionally, Afriqiyah after a temporary suspension has resumed flights to KIA.

Air Freight at KIA recorded in 2017 was 50,360 tonnes compared to the recorded figure of 47,678 tonnes in 2016. This shows an increase of 2,682 tonnes representing 5.6 percent.

For the second quarter of 2018, total freight recorded is at 26,519.

The positive variance was due to an increase in exports and imports of equipment, general goods, spare parts, fruits, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and computer accessories.