prepaidafrica: From Senegal to Sierra Leone, start-ups, decrepit local carriers and even international airlines are out to prove that jet travel can extend beyond deep-pocketed passengers to West Africa’s flourishing middle-class and business travelers. In the past year, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways Ltd. and even American R&B singer Akon have invested in new local carriers. Air France-KLM SA is in talks to take a 35% stake in Air Ivoire, Ivory Coast’s bankrupt carrier. Delta Airlines which flies to five cities in the region from the U.S., began flying crowded planes between Accra and Monrovia, Liberia in February. It’s easy to see why. West Africa has some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, including that of Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation. The International Monetary Fund projects that Ghana’s economy will grow 13.5% this year.

prepaidafrica:

From Senegal to Sierra Leone, start-ups, decrepit local carriers and even international airlines are out to prove that jet travel can extend beyond deep-pocketed passengers to West Africa’s flourishing middle-class and business travelers.

In the past year, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways Ltd. and even American R&B singer Akon have invested in new local carriers. Air France-KLM SA is in talks to take a 35% stake in Air Ivoire, Ivory Coast’s bankrupt carrier. Delta Airlines which flies to five cities in the region from the U.S., began flying crowded planes between Accra and Monrovia, Liberia in February.

It’s easy to see why.

West Africa has some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, including that of Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation. The International Monetary Fund projects that Ghana’s economy will grow 13.5% this year.