Indigneous domestic airline operator, Antrak Air, has maintained its position as the market leader in the domestic airline industry.
This is in spite of the fact that the airline’s market share which stood at 40 per cent at the first half of the year dipped marginally 39 per cent in the third quarter of the year according data from the Ghana Airport Company Limited.
The data further showed that out of the 575,351 people who traveled by air within the country in the first three quarters, 310,113 passaengers, representing 39 per cent, travelled by Antrak Air, leaving the remaining 61 per cent to the other five competitors.
The market share of Starbow, Antrak’s closest competitor, however maintained its 34 per cent market share; followed by Fly540 with 18 per cent.
Africa World Airline (AWA), which is the latest entrant, however, gained about one per cent market to push its total for the period to eight per cent.
The remaining market share, which is less than two per cent, was shared between the Noordzee Helikoters Vlaaderen (NHV) and chartered flights.
The recent statistics come in the wake of rising competition within the domestic aviation sector following the entrance of more operators.
Antrak Air, which is owned by business mogul, Alhaji Asoma Banda, has been dominating that the sector since the advent of doemstic flights in the country.
The drop in the market share, industry watchers said may be as a result of the reduction in the number of aircraft Antrak presently flies.
Antrak reduced its aircraft from three to two, citing challenges with fluctuating load rates in the midst of heightening competition from new entrants.
Its Chief Commercial Manager, Mr Kwaku Antwi-Bosiako, was, however confident that the situation would soon revert to normalcy following the introduction of new initiatives to help increase passenger carriage.
The company has started a promotion that is aimed at encouraging people to travel by air and Mr Antwi-Bosiako was confident that the initiative could help deepen Antrak's hold on the market as well as grow the domestic aviation sector.
The promotion makes it possible for first-time travelers of the airline to buy a traveling voucher at GH¢250 and be qualified to use the airline to any part of the country.
"Generally, the idea is to grow the industry and also give the first-time travelers the fine experience of traveling by air, including enjoying the the safety, comfort and timeliness," he added.