Goldstar Air

Goldstar Air was a planned Ghanaian airline to be based at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. It planned to launch flights to both regional and long-haul destinations, but never commenced operations. As of 2021, the airline is no longer listed as having a valid Air Carrier License by Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.[1]

Goldstar Air
Founded2014
HubsKotoka International Airport (Accra)
Key peopleEric Bannerman, CEO
Websiteflygoldstar.com

The company has repeatedly been recognized as among the most notorious "fake airlines" of the world as it failed to commence operations despite numerous public statements and advertisements.[2][3] In 2017, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority released a statement advising the public not to do business with Goldstar Air since the company lacked any operating permit.[4]

Goldstar Air claimed to be a strategic partner of the Government of Liberia to establish Lone Star Air in 2020 as the national airline of Liberia, but that carrier also failed to commence operations.[5][6]

History

Goldstar Air was founded in 2014 as Goldstar Airlines. It planned to begin operations on 13 June 2014 with twice-weekly flights to Baltimore in the United States and London–Gatwick, followed by Guangzhou, China and Natal in Brazil.[7] The airline planned to use McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and Boeing 747 aircraft. However, the launch date was postponed to late July 2014[8] before being indefinitely postponed, as the airline was still awaiting certification from the GCAA.[9]

Goldstar Air has experienced delays in receiving certification from the GCAA. In September 2014, it appealed to President John Dramani Mahama for help, as the GCAA had still not inspected the airline's aircraft and facilities in the United States.[10] In July 2015, Goldstar Air threatened to stage a protest in Accra against the GCAA, after it allowed South African Airways to operate the same route Goldstar Air had applied for (Accra to Washington, D.C.).[11] However, the protest was avoided when Minister for Transport Dzifa Ativor ordered the GCAA to inspect Goldstar Air's aircraft.[12]

In January 2016, the airline announced it would begin a training programme for flight attendants. Goldstar Air will employ local Ghanaian flight attendants but will initially employ expatriates for the cockpit crew.[13] In June 2016, Goldstar Air said it was working on obtaining its Air Carrier Licence, after which it would receive its air operator's certificate and commence operations by the third quarter of the year.[14] The airline has secured incentives from Baltimore Airport authorities in preparation for Goldstar Air's planned flights to the airport.[15] Goldstar Air later revealed that it would use the Diamond Hangar FBO at London Stansted Airport as a maintenance facility and employee training school.[16]

In August 2016, Goldstar Air announced that it had purchased three aircraft, which needed to be inspected by the GCAA.[17] The following September, the GCAA released a notice advising customers not to do business with the airline, stating that Goldstar had begun to advertise its services despite lacking an operating permit.[4]

In October 2020, Goldstar Air signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Government of Liberia to revive the national carrier under the "Lone Star Air" brand.[18]

As of March 2022, the airline is no longer listed as having a valid Air Carrier License by Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.[19]

Despite not actually existing, Goldstar Air continues to sponsor award ceremonies to confer awards upon themselves. In 2022, they sponsored the "Ghana Aviation News Awards" which in turn awarded them with the "Emerging Airline Company of the Year" award. [20]

Destinations

The airline planned to launch flights between Accra and Baltimore. Other destinations under consideration included London and various West African cities.[21][22][23]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
United Kingdom United KingdomLondonHeathrow Airport
United States United StatesBaltimoreBaltimore Washington International Airport
ProvidenceTF Green International Airport
AtlantaHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
HoustonGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport
ColumbusJohn Glenn Columbus International Airport
Liberia LiberiaMonroviaRoberts International Airport
Nigeria NigeriaLagosMurtala Muhammed International Airport
Sierra Leone Sierra LeoneFreetownLungi International Airport
Senegal SenegalDakarBlaise Diagne International Airport
The Gambia The GambiaBanjulBanjul International Airport
Guinea GuineaConakryConakry International Airport
China ChinaGuangzhouGuangzhou International Airport
United Arab Emirates DubaiDubaiDubai International Airport
Ghana GhanaAccraKotoka International AirportHub
TamaleTamale Airport

Fleet

Goldstar Air planned to operate two Boeing 737-300s and three Boeing 777-200s as well as up to forty Airbus A380.[21]

It projected a fleet of more than 100 modern aircraft.[24]

The aircraft were planned to be named after former Presidents of Ghana.[25]

  • 9G-AKUFFOADDO
  • 9G-JOHNMAHAMA
  • 9G-ATTAMILLS
  • 9G-JOHNKUFFUOR
  • 9G-JERRYJOHNRAWLINGS

In October 2020, Goldstar Air announced that it would also name an aircraft as 9G-H.E.GEORGEOPPONGWEAH in honour of George Weah, the President of Liberia.[24]

Maintenance

Goldstar Air announced its intention to conduct maintenance on its fleet at Tamale Airport. It has named its planned maintenance hangar after the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Alhaji Nuhu Sharabatu.[25]

See also

References
  1. "Ghanaian ACL Holders - 2021" (PDF). Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  2. Daniel Goz (15 December 2020). The Business of Fake Airlines (Youtube video). Nonstop Dan – via YouTube.
  3. Valius Venckunas (21 November 2020). "Top 10 fake airlines". Aerotime.aero.
  4. "GCAA warns against dealing with GoldStar, Global Ghana Air". ch-aviation. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  5. "Liberia's Gold Star Air Conundrum: A Flawed Experiment in Mediocrity". Front Page Africa. 9 November 2020.
  6. "Liberians Concerned Over National Carrier Deal -Who is Goldstar CEO Bannerman?". The Analyst (Liberia). 2 November 2020.
  7. "Ghanaian start-up, Goldstar, to tap intercontinental market". Ch-aviation. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  8. Addo, Charles (11 June 2014). "Goldstar Airlines postpone flights to various destinations". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  9. "Profile on Goldstar Airlines". CAPA - Centre for Aviation. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  10. "Ghana's Goldstar Airlines appeals for presidential intervention". Ch-aviation. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  11. "Goldstar Airlines to stage massive protest against GCAA". GhanaWeb. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  12. "Minister orders GCAA to inspect Goldstar Airlines aircraft after impasse". GhanaWeb. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  13. "Goldstar Airlines prepares to train cabin crew". Ghana News Agency. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  14. Eduku, Pius (29 June 2016). "Goldstar Air to begin operations by 2016 third quarter". citibusinessnews. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  15. "Goldstar Air to brief the press on company's operations". GhanaWeb. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  16. Ansah, Kobina (14 July 2016). "Goldstar Air to use Diamond Hanger at London Stansted Airport". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  17. "Goldstar Air purchases three aircrafts [sic]". GhanaWeb. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  18. "Lone Star Air on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-27.
  19. "GHANAIAN VALID AIR CARRIER LICENCE (ACL) HOLDERS AS AT 21/03/2022" (PDF). Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  20. https://www.ghanaaviationnews.com/index.php?page=2022f08f27f1419072708194a2022f12f15f0452281512194&heading=the_2022_ghanaaviationnews_awards_winners_
  21. Dron, Alan (7 November 2016). "New African airline sets sights on Baltimore". Air Transport World. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  22. "Goldstar Air honours Chief Imam". Graphic Online.
  23. "Goldstar CEO receives Most Inspiring Personality in Aviation Award". 2 June 2020.
  24. "Ghanaian Carrier, Goldstar Air Honours the President of Liberia – Global News Network".
  25. "Goldstar Air to Name Aircraft After Chief Imam, Akufo-Addo, Mahama, Kufuor, Rawlings". 15 January 2020.
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