Skip to main content

ValueJet · VK · Lagos ⇄ Accra ⇄ Banjul · Since March 2026

ValueJet from Accra: Lagos, and the only nonstop flight to The Gambia

ValueJet arrived at Accra on 30 March 2026, welcomed as the 27th airline at the airport, with a small Bombardier jet on the Lagos route. Six weeks later it did something no other airline was doing: on 12 May 2026 it opened a nonstop service from Accra to Banjul, the only regular scheduled flight between Ghana and The Gambia. For Ghanaians heading to the Smiling Coast, and for Gambians coming to Accra, that ends the days of changing in Dakar or Lomé. Here is how the Lagos–Accra–Banjul line works, what you fly on, and what to know at both ends.

The Lagos–Accra–Banjul line

ValueJet runs one rotation through Accra: Lagos to Accra and on to Banjul, then back the same way. Nigeria is one hour ahead of Ghana; The Gambia is on the same time as Ghana.

FlightRouteFrequencyFlight time
VK110Lagos → Accra → BanjulThree times a weekabout 1 h to Accra, about 3 h to Banjul
VK111Banjul → Accra → LagosThree times a weekabout 3 h to Accra, about 1 h to Lagos

Why Banjul matters

Before May 2026, Ghana and The Gambia had no regular nonstop flight; travellers changed in Dakar, Lomé or Lagos, often losing a whole day. ValueJet's three weekly flights cut that to about three hours. Check the days of operation when you book: with only three flights a week, a missed flight means waiting two or three days.

Banjul flight guide Lagos flight guide Accra arrivals today

ValueJet at a glance

Key facts

  • Codes: IATA VK, ICAO FVJ.
  • Company: FlyForValue Aviation Limited, trading as ValueJet, established in 2019, a privately owned Nigerian airline.
  • Base: Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
  • Fleet: Bombardier CRJ900 and CRJ1000 regional jets, with two-by-two seating and a small overhead space.
  • Network: about ten airports in Nigeria, Ghana and The Gambia, including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Owerri, Jos and Benin City.
  • At Accra: Lagos since 30 March 2026; Banjul since 12 May 2026.
  • Alliance: none.

Ghana and Nigeria right now

Local time in Accra and Lagos, the weather in Lagos at this moment, and a live converter between cedis, naira and the main currencies. Banjul is on the same time as Accra; its currency is the Gambian dalasi (GMD).

Words for the line

  • How far? (Nigerian Pidgin): how are you? Answer I dey.
  • No wahala: no problem.
  • Salaam aleikum (The Gambia): peace be upon you, the everyday greeting.
  • Nanga def? (Wolof, The Gambia): how are you? Answer Mangi fi: I'm here, I'm fine.
  • Abaraka (Mandinka): thank you.

Entry and health rules

  • Ghanaians: no visa for Nigeria or The Gambia; all three are ECOWAS members. Travel with a valid passport or ECOWAS travel document.
  • Other nationalities: check the official immigration rules of each country before you book; Nigeria requires most non-ECOWAS visitors to apply online in advance.
  • Yellow fever: carry your yellow fever card; it is checked in Nigeria, The Gambia and Ghana.
  • Through passengers: on the stop in Accra or Lagos, follow the crew's instructions and keep your boarding pass for the next leg.

Embassies and visa centres in Accra

The Gambia: Africa's smallest mainland country

The Gambia in brief

  • Capital: Banjul, on an island at the mouth of the River Gambia; the airport is at Yundum, about 25 kilometres inland.
  • Independence: from Britain on 18 February 1965, eight years after Ghana.
  • Currency: Gambian dalasi (GMD).
  • Languages: English, with Mandinka, Wolof and Fula.
  • Time: GMT, the same as Ghana.
  • Kunta Kinteh IslandThe UNESCO-listed former slave fort in the River Gambia, and Juffureh, the village of Alex Haley's "Roots". The Gambian chapter of the story Cape Coast and Elmina tell.
  • The Atlantic coastKololi, Kotu and Sanyang, the beaches that gave The Gambia its name as the Smiling Coast.
  • Birds and the riverMore than 500 bird species, Abuko Nature Reserve near the airport, and boat trips up the river.
  • Across the borderThe Gambia is surrounded by Senegal; Dakar and the Casamance are a road trip away.

Tours in The Gambia and Senegal with local guides, from the river and Kunta Kinteh Island to the coast, booked before you travel. Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but always welcome.

GambiaVibes.com SenegalVibes.com Dakar flight guide

Nigeria: Lagos and beyond

Nigeria in brief

  • Capital: Abuja. Lagos, ValueJet's base, is the largest city.
  • Currency: naira (NGN).
  • Time: West Africa Time, UTC+1, one hour ahead of Ghana.
  • Onward with ValueJet: Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Owerri, Jos and Benin City from Lagos.

Tours in Nigeria with local guides, from Lagos and Abuja to the heritage sites, booked before you travel. Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but always welcome.

United Nigeria Airlines page Explore Nigeria Nigerian radio live

Honest tips for this route

  • Small jets. The CRJ has little overhead space; large cabin bags may be taken at the aircraft door and put in the hold. Keep valuables and medicines with you.
  • Three flights a week to Banjul. Build in a buffer: if a flight is cancelled or delayed, the next one may be two or three days away.
  • Low-cost rules. Check what your fare includes: checked bags, seat selection and changes may cost extra.
  • Lagos airport. Ignore touts, use official taxis or ride-hailing apps, and keep documents in reach.
  • Dalasi and naira. Change money only at banks or licensed bureaux; in The Gambia, cash is still king outside the hotels.
  • Compare on Lagos. Six airlines fly Accra–Lagos; timings and baggage rules differ a lot.

Coming the other way: from Banjul and Lagos to Ghana

Gambians and Nigerians need no visa for Ghana (ECOWAS). For Gambian visitors, Ghana's castles tell the larger version of the Kunta Kinteh story, and Accra the story of Kwame Nkrumah, whose independence in 1957 inspired The Gambia's own eight years later.

Landing in Accra? Airport pickup with free internet, private vehicle hire and a three-destination tour, booked before you land. Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but always welcome.

Accra International Airport All 29 airlines at Accra

One search, more than 50 countries

The Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana and every African country: our network search covers more than 70 connected websites in one go.

Search our Network. Start here.

How bookings work on this site

GhanaFlights.info is an independent information portal, not an airline or travel agency, and ValueJet does not pay to appear here. Booking boxes come from third-party partners: Viator for tours and airport pickups, Stay22 for hotels, and Expedia for hotels and flights. If you book through them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For airline tickets, always compare with the airline's own website.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a direct flight from Accra to Banjul?

Yes. Since 12 May 2026, ValueJet flies Accra–Banjul nonstop three times a week, the only regular nonstop service between Ghana and The Gambia. The flight takes about three hours.

Does ValueJet fly Accra–Lagos?

Yes, since 30 March 2026, on the same Lagos–Accra–Banjul rotation, about one hour each way.

What aircraft does ValueJet fly?

Bombardier CRJ900 and CRJ1000 regional jets.

Do Ghanaians need a visa for The Gambia?

No. Ghana and The Gambia are both ECOWAS members, so Ghanaians travel visa-free with a valid passport or ECOWAS travel document.

What is the time difference between Ghana and The Gambia?

None. Both are on GMT. Nigeria is one hour ahead.

What is the capital of The Gambia?

Banjul, on an island at the mouth of the River Gambia.

All pages on GhanaFlights.info

All 29 airlines at Accra International Airport

Airports of Ghana

West Africa

Central, East and Southern Africa

North Africa and the Middle East

Europe

The Americas and Asia

Route guides and services

Read and listen across Africa

Before you fly, tune in to The Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana and the rest of the continent. Live radio from all over Africa, in one place.

All African Radio Stations

Part of the Ghana-Net network

GhanaFlights.info belongs to an independent network of more than 70 African travel, heritage and information websites, online since December 2000. No Google advertising, no sponsored praise: just the routes and the countries, as they are.

GambiaVibes.com · SenegalVibes.com · GuineaVibes.com · NigerianRadio.com · Explore Nigeria · Denegal.com · Ghana-Net.com · Cape Coast Castle Museum · Elmina Castle · AfricanIndependence.com

Updated and fact-checked: 30 October 2026. Route launches checked against Ghana Airports Company reports (30 March 2026) and CAPA (Accra–Banjul, 12 May 2026); codes, fleet and rotation against current published schedule data. Always confirm days and times with ValueJet before booking. Text and research by Remo Kurka for GhanaFlights.info. This website carries no Google advertising.