Starbow
Starbow was a privately owned Ghanaian airline that operated domestic and short-haul regional passenger services before ending operations in 2017.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Starbow was the trading name of Aero Surveys Limited, a privately owned Ghanaian airline headquartered in Accra. The company originated in October 1997 as an aviation business operating under the Aero Surveys name. It later used the Air Shuttle brand for domestic charter and air-taxi activity, operating two Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft. Aero Surveys obtained its Ghanaian Air Operator’s Certificate in August 2009, creating the regulatory foundation for a larger scheduled-airline operation. Following a change in ownership in 2011, the business was repositioned under the Starbow name. The new brand was intended to support a regional passenger-airline strategy rather than the company’s earlier charter-oriented activities. Starbow introduced scheduled services from Accra International Airport, initially linking the Ghanaian capital with Kumasi and Tamale. Takoradi was added soon afterward. The airline’s early fleet consisted of BAe 146-300 regional jets configured with business- and economy-class seating, allowing it to serve domestic routes with relatively high frequency and jet operations. Starbow expanded its ambitions in 2012. It arranged to lease two additional BAe 146-300 aircraft, potentially doubling its fleet to four aircraft, and announced its first international services. Flights from Accra to Cotonou, Benin, began in August 2012, followed by a route to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in November. The company also announced plans to add a BAe 146-200. These international services did not perform as expected, however, and they were suspended in early 2013. The airline subsequently examined fleet-renewal options and began considering the disposal or replacement of its aging BAe 146 aircraft. Starbow faced structural pressures common to Ghana’s domestic aviation market, including a limited market size and low fares. In 2013, chief executive James Eric Antwi publicly raised concerns about the operating environment and suggested that the company might relocate outside Ghana if government policy did not address the challenges facing domestic carriers. The reported fleet strategy also changed as aircraft were sold, written off, or considered for disposal, and Starbow later operated ATR 72 aircraft in addition to its historical BAe 146 fleet. The airline experienced several operational incidents between 2014 and 2017. These included an engine-related return to Accra, a hydraulic-system failure that resulted in an emergency landing and aircraft write-off, and a runway overrun involving another BAe 146. On 25 November 2017, an ATR 72-500 preparing to depart Accra for Kumasi veered off the runway during heavy rain after the captain’s seat moved backward. Five occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off. Starbow suspended all flights following the accident and terminated operations soon afterward. As a result, the Starbow brand is defunct rather than an active Ghanaian airline.
History
Starbow’s corporate predecessor was incorporated in Ghana in October 1997 as Aero Surveys Limited. Its early aviation activities were associated with surveying, domestic charters, and air-taxi operations. The company later traded as Air Shuttle and operated two Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft. It obtained an Air Operator’s Certificate in August 2009, enabling it to develop a more formal commercial aviation operation. A change in ownership in 2011 led to a new commercial identity: Starbow. The rebranding was accompanied by communications and recruitment activity and a shift toward scheduled regional passenger services. The company acquired two 94-seat BAe 146-300 aircraft and opened scheduled domestic operations from Accra International Airport. Kumasi and Tamale were among the initial destinations, with Takoradi added in November 2011. The aircraft offered business- and economy-class seating. The airline sought to scale rapidly. In February 2012, it announced an arrangement to lease two more BAe 146-300 aircraft, which would have brought the intended fleet to four aircraft. Starbow also pursued a regional West African network. Its first international route, Accra–Cotonou, began in August 2012, and Accra–Abidjan followed in November. A BAe 146-200 was also announced for addition to the fleet. The international strategy was short-lived: all international services were suspended in early 2013 because of poor performance. During 2013, Starbow considered replacing its aging BAe 146 fleet. Reports described plans to dispose of two BAe 146-300s and one BAe 146-200, while another BAe 146-300 was being sold for parts. The company’s chief executive, James Eric Antwi, also warned that Starbow might move its business out of Ghana if problems affecting domestic airlines were not addressed. He cited the small size of the domestic market and low fares as significant commercial pressures. Starbow’s remaining years were marked by operational incidents. In August 2014, a BAe 146 returning to Accra after an engine event landed safely. In October 2014, another BAe 146 experienced a hydraulic failure during climbout from Accra to Takoradi. It landed without flaps, suffered landing-gear damage and a fire, and was subsequently written off; two people were injured during the evacuation. Ghana’s Civil Aviation Authority temporarily grounded the airline. In October 2015, a BAe 146 flying to Tamale overran the runway, collapsed its nose gear, and was also written off. By 2017, Starbow’s network had centered on domestic connections from Accra to Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale. On 25 November 2017, an ATR 72-500 preparing for departure to Kumasi veered off the runway during heavy rain after the captain’s seat slid backward. Five occupants were injured and the aircraft sustained damage beyond economical repair. Starbow suspended all flights after the accident and ceased operations shortly afterward. The airline therefore remains a defunct Ghanaian carrier, with no evidence in the supplied references of a subsequent restart.
- 2017
Operations suspended after ATR 72 accident
[1]An ATR 72 veered off the runway at Accra, leading Starbow to suspend all flights and subsequently cease operations.
- 2015
Tamale runway overrun
[1]A BAe 146 overran the runway at Tamale and was written off.
- 2014
Hydraulic-failure accident and temporary grounding
[1]A BAe 146 suffered a hydraulic failure on approach after departing Accra; the aircraft was written off and the regulator temporarily grounded the airline.
- 2013
International services suspended
[1]Poor performance led Starbow to discontinue its international routes and reassess its fleet strategy.
- 2012
Fleet expansion and regional route development
[1]Starbow announced additional BAe 146 aircraft and launched international services to Cotonou and Abidjan.
- 2011
Starbow rebrand and scheduled-service launch
[1]After an ownership change, the business adopted the Starbow name and began scheduled domestic passenger operations from Accra.
- 2009
Air Operator’s Certificate obtained
[1]The company obtained its Ghanaian Air Operator’s Certificate while operating charter and air-taxi services.
- 1997
Aero Surveys Limited incorporated
[1]The company that later traded as Starbow was incorporated in Ghana as Aero Surveys Limited.
Products and positioning
A Ghanaian regional airline focused primarily on scheduled domestic passenger connectivity from Accra, with a short-lived attempt to expand into neighboring West African markets.
Airline service · 2011
Domestic scheduled passenger services
Starbow’s principal offering was scheduled domestic air travel within Ghana from its Accra base. Its network connected Accra with Kumasi, Tamale, and Takoradi, using regional aircraft and offering business- and economy-class seating during its scheduled-airline period.
Airline service · 2012
Regional international services
The airline briefly operated cross-border services from Accra to Cotonou in Benin and Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire. The routes were intended to extend Starbow’s Ghanaian domestic network into West Africa but were suspended in early 2013 after poor commercial performance.
Aviation service
Charter and air-taxi operations
Before the Starbow rebrand, Aero Surveys Limited and its Air Shuttle activities operated domestic charters and air-taxi services. These operations used Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft and formed the earlier commercial foundation of the airline business.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Starbow rebranding and recruitment campaign
Ghana
Following an ownership change, the company introduced the Starbow commercial identity and ran communications and recruitment activity to support its move into scheduled domestic passenger aviation.
Outcome. The rebrand was followed by scheduled services from Accra to Ghanaian domestic destinations.
Brand decisions
2017
Suspension and termination of operationsOtherBackground
An ATR 72-500 veered off the runway at Accra during a departure attempt in heavy rain, injuring five occupants and sustaining major damage.
Action taken
Starbow suspended all flights after the accident.
Aftermath
The airline terminated operations shortly afterward and became defunct.
2013
Fleet reassessment after international retrenchmentStrategyBackground
The airline’s international services had underperformed, while its BAe 146 fleet was described as aging.
Action taken
Starbow pursued plans to dispose of several BAe 146 aircraft and evaluated replacement-aircraft options.
Aftermath
The company continued operating a primarily domestic network but remained exposed to fleet and market constraints.
2012
Attempted West African regional expansionStrategyBackground
Starbow aimed to extend its domestic network beyond Ghana and increase its fleet capacity.
Action taken
It arranged additional BAe 146 aircraft and launched routes from Accra to Cotonou and Abidjan.
Aftermath
The international routes performed poorly and were suspended in early 2013.
2011
Shift from charter operations to scheduled regional aviationStrategyBackground
After an ownership change, the company sought to build a recognizable scheduled-airline business rather than remain focused on charter and air-taxi operations.
Action taken
It adopted the Starbow name, acquired BAe 146 aircraft, and launched scheduled domestic services from Accra.
Aftermath
The airline established a domestic network and later attempted international expansion.
Recent events
- 2017
Starbow suspends flights after ATR 72 accident[1]
Other · Leadership change
An ATR 72-500 departing Accra for Kumasi veered off the runway during heavy rain after the captain’s seat slid backward. Five occupants were injured, the aircraft was written off, and Starbow suspended all operations.
- 2015
Starbow aircraft overruns runway at Tamale[1]
Other
A BAe 146 operating from Accra to Tamale overran the runway on landing. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft was written off, without major injuries reported.
- 2014
Starbow BAe 146 suffers engine incident after departure[1]
Other
A BAe 146 operating toward Kumasi returned to Accra after an engine produced a loud bang and visible flames; the crew shut the engine down.
- 2014
Hydraulic failure leads to Starbow emergency landing[1]
Regulation · Other
A BAe 146 flying from Accra to Takoradi landed without flaps after a hydraulic failure. The aircraft was damaged and two people were injured during the evacuation; Ghana’s civil aviation regulator temporarily grounded the airline.
- 2013
Starbow suspends international services[1]
Other
The airline discontinued its international routes after they performed poorly, returning its focus to domestic operations.
- 2012
Starbow launches first international route to Cotonou[1]
Product launch
Starbow expanded beyond Ghana with scheduled service from Accra to Cotonou, followed later that year by service to Abidjan.
- 2011
Starbow begins scheduled domestic operations[1]
Product launch
The newly branded airline began scheduled services from Accra, initially serving Kumasi and Tamale before adding Takoradi.
Sources1 sources
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