Smile Air

Smile Air was a planned Ghanaian airline based at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. It planned to use Xian MA600 and MA700 aircraft to fly to destinations throughout West and Central Africa. The airline failed to obtain certification and licenses from Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.

Smile Air
IATA ICAO Callsign
 ?  ?  ?
Founded2014
HubsKotoka International Airport (Accra)
Fleet size0 (68 planned)
Key peopleAlexander Nwuba, CEO; Andrew Fuller, Director
Websitegosmileair.com (no longer active)

History

Smile Air initially planned to operate long-haul flights to cities in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East using Boeing 747 aircraft.[1][2] Two former Mahan Air Boeing 747s were leased from a UAE based private equity company and repainted in Smile Air's livery. However, Smile Air dropped these plans in November 2015, instead deciding to focus on regional flights using smaller aircraft.[3]

In December 2015, the airline placed a provisional order for 68 Xian MA600 and MA700 aircraft, costing over US$1.2 billion.[4]

UAE based founding director Andrew Fuller resigned from Smile Air on 24 April 2017.

As of December 2019, Smile Air was still undergoing certification from the GCAA, a process it began in 2014.[4]

Destinations

From its Accra hub, Smile Air planned to fly to cities across West and Central Africa.[4]

Fleet

Smile Air planned to operate 68 Xian MA600 and MA700 aircraft.[5] The aircraft were planned to be delivered between 2016 and 2021 at a rate of 10–12 aircraft annually, although no deliveries actually took place.[4]

Smile Air fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Xian MA600 and MA700 — 68 ? deliveries 2016–2021

See also

References
  1. "Profile on Smile Air". CAPA - Centre for Aviation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  2. "About Smile Air". Routesonline. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  3. "SmileAir cancels B747-400 orders". African Aerospace. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  4. "Smile Air orders 68 MA-600/-700 planes". ClassFMonline.com. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  5. Wong, Joy (1 March 2016). "MA600 Receives Type Certificate from Ghana Civil Aviation Authority". China Aviation Daily. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
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