Yes, you can fly non-stop from the UK to Accra International Airport (ACC), formerly Kotoka International Airport. British Airways flies there from London Heathrow and London Gatwick, according to its media centre factsheets, and lists the flight at about 6 hours 35 minutes from London. The non-stop services we found leave from London. From anywhere else in the UK you connect through a hub or travel to London first. The choices that matter most are your departure airport, your month of travel and your baggage.
This guide covers the practical questions behind flights to Ghana from the UK: which airports, how long, which months, what to check before you pay. For a quote, start from our Ghana destination page.
We read the sources listed at the end on 12 October 2026. Airline schedules change with the season, so use the airport details below as a starting point and check the airline's timetable for your dates.
Is there a direct flight from the UK to Ghana?
Yes. British Airways flies non-stop to Accra from London Heathrow and London Gatwick. Its Heathrow factsheet lists Accra, and its Gatwick factsheet lists Ghana with the airport code ACC. The Heathrow sheet we read refers to summer 2026, and the Gatwick sheet carries no date. Neither gives days or frequencies, so we do not state any here. Open British Airways' booking page for your dates to see what runs and when.
Booking sites use "direct" and "non-stop" in different ways. Non-stop means the aircraft flies from the UK to Accra without landing in between. Direct can include a flight that keeps one flight number but stops on the way. A connection means you change planes, usually with a new flight number for each leg. When a result says direct, open the itinerary and count the stops and the flight numbers.
Which UK airports can you fly to Ghana from?
The non-stop services we found leave from London. Every other UK departure connects.
| UK departure | Non-stop to Accra? | What we found on 12 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow (LHR) | Yes, British Airways | BA's Heathrow factsheet lists Accra (the sheet we read refers to summer 2026) |
| London Gatwick (LGW) | Yes, British Airways | BA's Gatwick factsheet lists Ghana, airport code ACC (undated sheet) |
| Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh and other UK airports | None found | Connect through a hub, or travel to London. Check airline timetables for your dates |
We have not listed which airline connects which regional airport. Those pairings change by season, and we only name one when we have seen it on the airline's own page for your dates. Tell us your home airport on the enquiry form and we will check what operates.
Heathrow and Gatwick sit on opposite sides of London, so the airport on your ticket affects your journey on the day. Look for the code on the itinerary: LHR is Heathrow and LGW is Gatwick. Work out how you will reach that airport before you pay, especially for an early departure.
How long is the flight from the UK to Ghana?
British Airways lists about 6 hours 35 minutes from London to Accra on its own route page, which we read on 12 October 2026. The page does not say whether the figure applies to Heathrow or Gatwick, so we do not attribute it to either. Flight times also vary by direction, season and schedule, and your ticket shows the scheduled time for your date.
A one-stop journey takes longer. You fly two sectors and wait at the hub in between, so the total depends on which hub and how long the connection lasts. Ask for the elapsed time from door to departure gate to arrival on your dates, not only the time in the air.
Is the non-stop always the better choice?
It depends on where you live. The non-stop is the shortest way to Accra and avoids a connection, but it leaves from London. If you live in Manchester, Birmingham, Scotland or the North, you have two realistic options:
- Travel to London for the non-stop. You skip the connection but add a journey to Heathrow or Gatwick. Price the train, the coach or a domestic flight, plus a hotel if the departure is early.
- Connect from your home airport. You avoid the trip to London and usually fly a longer total journey, with a wait at a hub.
Whichever you choose, ask whether the whole journey is on one ticket. What happens if you miss a connection, and whether your bags are checked through to Accra, depends on the tickets and the airlines involved, so check before you book. We make the same comparison for Zimbabwe in our guide to flights from Manchester, Birmingham and the UK regions to Harare.
Which months are busier, and which are quieter?
We give no cheapest month, because the monthly fare statistics we found disagree between sites. The table sticks to what official and news sources say about each period.
| Months | What is happening | Source |
|---|---|---|
| December to February | Harmattan dry season, generally December to February, with dry winds and dust | Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) |
| March to June | Major rains in southern Ghana, about March to June (GMet's 2023 report says to July). Easter Sunday 2027 falls on 28 March, and Kwahu Easter draws visitors to the Kwahu Scarp from Good Friday to Easter Monday | GMet; Graphic Online (2025 coverage) |
| July to August | August is typically a short break in the southern rains. In 2026 the Emancipation Day week ran from 22 July to 1 August, and dates change each year. UK school summer holidays also fall in this window | GMet (2023 report); Ghana News Agency |
| September to November | Minor rains in the south, about September to November | GMet |
December needs its own mention. Ghana recorded 141,186 international arrivals in December 2025, up 11.35% on December 2024, according to ATTA's summary of the 2025 Ghana Tourism Report. If your trip falls in December, our guide to flying home to Ghana for Christmas covers the order of steps and the points specific to that month.
For any month, fix the dates that cannot move, such as a wedding, a funeral or a school term, and then compare flights around them. If you tell us your home airport and two or three possible sets of dates, we can compare them side by side through our Ghana destination page.
How far ahead should you book?
No single week works for everyone. Published advice on booking windows ranges from a few weeks to about six months, and the sources contradict each other, so we do not give one number.
Two things we can say. First, the name on your ticket has to match the passport you travel on, so check that passport's expiry date before you book. Second, your visa and yellow fever certificate take time. Book when you know your dates and know what you need to obtain before you travel.
What baggage can you take to Ghana?
The allowance depends on the airline, the fare you buy and sometimes the route. We do not publish a weight table, because any table would be wrong for some fares.
On a one-stop journey, check the allowance for every flight on the ticket, not just the first. Ask for the allowance in writing on your quote before you pay.
If you are carrying gifts or cash, GOV.UK tells travellers to declare all hard currency and anything that may be prohibited or subject to duty. Our Christmas guide has the detail in its section on cash, gifts and customs.
What do UK passport holders need to fly to Ghana?
UK passport holders need a visa to visit Ghana. GOV.UK says to apply through the Ghana High Commission: complete the online form and payment, then post the printed form and documents. Ghana's Immigration Service also runs an official e-visa portal at evisa.immigration.gov.gh, and its eligibility checker shows UK citizens as needing an e-visa that can be applied for online. The two official sources do not explain how the routes relate, so confirm which applies to your passport before you apply.
Other entry points to check:
- Passport validity. GOV.UK says your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive. The e-visa applicant guide asks for a passport valid for at least 6 months from your intended departure from Ghana, with at least 3 blank pages. Check which rule applies to your application.
- Yellow fever. GOV.UK says you must have a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination to enter Ghana. TravelHealthPro says the certificate is required from all travellers over 9 months of age.
- Malaria. TravelHealthPro lists a high risk of malaria in Ghana and recommends antimalarial tablets. Ask a health professional which tablets suit you.
- Vaccine advice. GOV.UK says to check the latest vaccine recommendations for Ghana at least 8 weeks before your trip.
Ghanaian-British dual nationals have a separate option. GOV.UK says you can register with the Interior Ministry in Ghana for a dual nationality card, which you can show on entry to prove you do not need a visa. We explain which passport to show where in our guide to which passport to use when flying to Africa. Our Christmas guide walks through the visa and certificate steps in order.
Entry rules change. Read GOV.UK's Ghana entry requirements again before you book.
Can you fly to Cape Coast, Kumasi or elsewhere in Ghana?
Fly into Accra for both. We found no commercial airport serving Cape Coast, so the usual route is a road journey from Accra.
Kumasi has its own airport, now called Prempeh I International Airport. Ghana Airports Company's Kumasi page lists two domestic carriers and no international airline. It does not say which routes they fly, so check the domestic schedule if you plan to connect from Accra by air.
What changed at Accra airport in 2026?
The airport's name changed. Ghana's Ministry of Transport announced on 23 February 2026 that the government was reverting the name of Kotoka International Airport to its original name, Accra International Airport. The airport code is still ACC. Ghana Airports Company now calls it Accra International Airport.
You will still see Kotoka in places, including British Airways' factsheets, which we read on 12 October 2026. Both names refer to the same airport. Ghana Airports Company says the airport is about 10 kilometres from the city centre.
What should you check before you pay?
- The traveller's name matches the passport exactly.
- The number of stops and the flight number on each leg.
- The airport code for London departures: LHR or LGW.
- The connection time at the hub, if you connect.
- The baggage allowance on every flight.
- The return date and the arrival time.
- Passport expiry, against the rule that applies to your entry route.
- Your visa route and your yellow fever certificate.
- Who to contact if the airline changes the schedule.
How can Travel Orbit help?
Send us your home airport, your dates, the number of travellers and how many bags you plan to take. We will check what operates for your dates, and which airport suits you best.
Travel Orbit searches several airlines through our booking systems and quotes you the options, so you can compare routes before you choose.
Use the enquiry form or email [email protected], and read the Ghana destination page for more on the country.
Sources
We read these pages on 12 October 2026.
- GOV.UK, Ghana entry requirements: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ghana/entry-requirements
- GOV.UK, Ghana health: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ghana/health
- TravelHealthPro, Ghana: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/89/ghana
- Ghana Immigration Service e-visa portal: https://evisa.immigration.gov.gh
- British Airways media centre, London Heathrow factsheet: https://mediacentre.britishairways.com/factsheet/details/11
- British Airways media centre, London Gatwick factsheet: https://mediacentre.britishairways.com/factsheet/details/15
- British Airways, London to Accra route page (flight time): https://www.britishairways.com/content/flights/ghana/accra
- Ghana Ministry of Transport, airport name reversion, 23 February 2026: https://mot.gov.gh/10/16/1/328/government-reverts-kotoka-international-airport-to-accra-international-airport
- Ghana Airports Company, Accra International Airport: https://www.gacl.com.gh/accra-international-airport/
- Ghana Airports Company, Kumasi Airport: https://www.gacl.com.gh/kumasi-airport/
- Ghana Meteorological Agency, State of the Climate reports (2025 and 2023): https://www.meteo.gov.gh
- ATTA, December 2025 arrivals (summary of the 2025 Ghana Tourism Report): https://atta.travel/resource/ghana-records-11-35-rise-in-december-arrivals-as-2025-tourism-report-highlights-mixed-results.html
- Ghana News Agency, 2026 Emancipation Day: https://gna.org.gh/2026/07/2026-emancipation-day-launched/
- Graphic Online, Kwahu Easter 2025: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-kwahu-oo-2025-easter-celebration-on-the-scarp.html
For how Accra compares with other African routes, see our guide to flight times from the UK to Africa.