VIDEO: The Nairobi JKIA 20 Million Greenfield Terminal TVC

Visa facilitation and air connectivity – key areas for tourism development in Africa

 

Visa facilitation and air connectivity are key areas to address in order to fully seize Africa’s steadily rising tourism performance and foster sustainable development in the region concluded the 5th Investment and Tourism Business Forum for Africa (INVESTOUR). 12 African Tourism Ministers attended the 2013 edition of INVESTOUR, an initiative held every year on the occasion of the Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR). (Madrid, Spain, 23 January 2014).

 

With international tourist arrivals growing by 6% in the region for the second consecutive year, Africa is one of the fastest growing tourism regions in the world. Between 2000 and 2013, international tourist arrivals more than doubled (from 26 million to 56 million). By 2030, UNWTO forecasts this figure to reach 134 million.

 

INVESTOUR, organized by UNWTO, FITUR and Casa Africa, promotes Africa´s tourism potential and the sector’s importance as a catalyst of socio-economic development through partnerships with Portuguese and Spanish tourism companies. Attending the Forum were the Ministers of Tourism of Algeria, Benin, Cape Verde, Cote D´Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 

“Tourism is of rising importance to the African economies. Today we will focus on three barriers still hampering the full potential of tourism in the region: air connectivity, visa facilitation and hotel investment” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the event. “56 visas to visit 56 countries is not acceptable. Only with collective efforts can we successfully address such barriers and continue to promote tourism in Africa as a tool for development while stimulating new business opportunities in Spain and Portugal”, he added.

 

This year, a record of 134 tourism initiatives from 32 African countries and 40 Spanish and Portuguese companies gathered at INVESTOUR. A significant number of the participating projects seek to develop sustainable tourism offers in countries such as Ethiopia, the Ivory Coast, Kenya and Rwanda while several other projects sought partners for the creation or renewal of the hotel infrastructure.

 

Source: TravelandTourWorld

Ethiopian Airlines chief dismisses Stelios’s "Fastjet" African dream

Africa is not ready for airlines such as Fastjet, the brainchild of EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, says the head of the continent’s leading carrier. Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam told the Aviation Club in London yesterday: “We have a different view of the low-cost model in Africa because cross-border traffic in Africa is fragmented.”

Gebremariam said: “Low-cost carriers are based on utilising aircraft 10 times a day, then unit costs come down. It is very difficult to do that in Africa. “Point to point will be challenging on the continent [because] 60% of market segments in Africa have less than 50 passengers per day.” Fastjet began operating as a low-cost carrier in November 2012, based in Tanzania and also serving South Africa and Zambia.

Co-founder Haji-Ioannou has plans to turn Fastjet into a pan-African carrier But Gebremariam said: “There are other constraints. One is traffic rights between countries. “The low-cost model could be perfect within a country’s borders, within Nigeria or South Africa for example. But the issue of cross-border traffic rights is a big bottleneck.”

He added: “The low-cost model should transform costs. But in Africa low-cost and full-service carriers pay the same not just for fuel but for [using] the airport. It is very difficult.” Gebremariam was also critical of European governments, especially the UK’s. He said: “We see aviation’s centre of gravity moving from Europe to the Gulf and European governments and politicians are helping the [Gulf carriers] by making it very difficult for airlines to operate in Europe. “Tax is one factor. Airport congestion is another. Ethiopian Airlines wants to fly to Heathrow twice a day but we can’t even go daily. We operate six flights a week. “A third runway has been discussed for years. Dubai just got on and built six runways.”

Source: TravelWeekly

British Airways-Comair withdraws Maputo Route

British Airways (operated by Comair) has advised that it will no longer be operating flights between OR Tambo International Airport and Maputo International Airport from February 8. Since launching in May 2013, the route has proved to be commercially unviable for the airline. Iain Meaker, Commercial Distribution Executive for Comair, says: “After much consideration and review we have decided to withdraw the Maputo route to ensure the airline remains sustainable.” Passengers already booked with BA Comair will be re-accommodated by the airline on SAA at no additional cost. Un-ticketed bookings will be cancelled.

Discussion with Erik Venter CEO of Comair

 

Air Zimbabwe A320's grounded in South Africa

 

 

Air Zimbabwe's two A320 Airbuses have been grounded at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the last four months amid disclosures that the planes were unserviceable. Grounding of the Airbuses adds to the woes of the national carrier that now has only two planes in the air servicing the Harare-Johannesburg route and the domestic market. The two are a Boeing 737 and the leased Embraer jet. The third functional plane is a Boeing 767 which is usually used when the 737 is down or when President Robert Mugabe is travelling outside the country. Three MA60's acquired from China a couple of years ago have also remained in the hangars as their potential to get back to the skies has been ruled out.

An insider reported that: "The Airbuses have been at OR Tambo for the last four months and are incurring storage charges which are rising by the day as they remain unfixed. They were taken to South Africa for C-Checks." C-Check refers to the comprehensive overhaul of aircraft after a certain amount of time or usage. The source added: "When one of the Airbuses was flying, the airline used to cannibalise the parked one for parts. One of the planes needs its landing gear replaced." Contacted for comment last night, Airzim spokesperson Shingai Taruvinga confirmed the Airbuses were grounded in SA, but could not give more details.

A senior official at the airline also confirmed that the Airbuses had been grounded, but could not give further details. "It's true that they (Airbuses) are in South Africa since we don't have the capacity to service them here. One of the planes has a landing gear problem and the lessor is looking at replacing it soonest," the official said. The senior official also confirmed that the airline was conducting C-Checks on two Boeings locally and these will be completed soon. "We need about $1,5 million to complete the C-Checks on the Boeing 767 and Boeing 737 at our workshops and I suppose that should be done within the next three weeks," the official added.

Source: Bulawayo24

VIDEOS: Focus on Africa's Aviation Industry

LAM Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique orders three B737 NextGens

 

 

LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM, Maputo) says it has signed an agreement with Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) for three B737 NextGen aircraft, tentatively due for delivery in 2015, 2016 and 2017. CEO Marlene Manave said the contract was signed in November last year. Under the terms of its current 5 Year Plan, LAM has set itself the goal of serving all Southern African Development Community (SADC) capitals by 2017 with flights to Cape Town and Durban King Shaka due this year along with a connection between the Mozambican cities of Tete and Nampula to Blantyre and Lilongwe in Malawi. Windhoek Int'l, Namibia is scheduled to begin in 2017. In addition, LAM is considering launching intercontinental flights to Rio de Janeiro Int'l and São Paulo Guarulhos in Brazil in either 2016 or 2017 as LAM Internacional (Maputo).

 

Source: ch-aviation

Kenya Airways in talks to acquire bigger stake in Precision Air

 

 

Precision Air (PW, Dar-es-Salaam) is in talks with 41.23% shareholder, Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta), in a bid to raise USD30million in capital needed to keep the struggling Tanzanian airline afloat. According to The East African, the ongoing talks could see Kenya Airways boosting its stake in Precision Air after similar discussions with the Tanzanian government collapsed. “KQ was waiting for the government’s decision. When the government gave us its final decision on the matter, KQ came up with the idea to increase its stake, over which we are still in discussion. Our aim is it get between $20 million and $30 million through equity,” said Precision's chairman, Michael Shirima.

 

Faced with rising uncertainty about its future, caused largely by a failed 2012 IPO and an overambitious expansion plan, Precision Air has been forced to make drastic cuts to its fleet and route network in recent months as it struggles to stay afloat. Increased competition from Fastjet (FN, Dar-es-Salaam) on domestic routes has also compounded its woes.

 

Source: ch-aviation

Update: Malawi Airlines Schedule

As of 04FEB14

Malawian Airlines has launched operation on 30JAN14, initially operating Lilongwe – Blantyre – Harare service. The airline will be gradually expanding operations to Johannesburg, Lusaka and Dar es Salaam later this month. Reservations for these destinations are now available.
Lilongwe – Blantyre – Harare 3 weekly (Dash8-Q400 operating this service, replacing planned 737-800)
ET038 LLW1730 – 1815BLZ1900 – 2015HRE DH8 135
ET039 HRE2100 – 2215BLZ2300 – 2345LLW DH8 135
eff 05FEB14 Lilongwe – Blantyre – Johannesburg 1 daily (Blantyre – Johannesburg sector begins from 17FEB14)
ET020 LLW0800 – 0845BLZ0930 – 1145JNB 738 D
ET021 JNB1245 – 1500BLZ1545 – 1630LLW 738 D
ET021 until 16FEB14 operates as BLZ0945 – 1030LLW
ET020/021 until 16FEB14 operates with Dash8-Q400
eff 17FEB14 Lilongwe – Lusaka 3 weekly
ET046 LLW0900 – 1015LUN DH4 135
ET047 LUN1115 – 1230LLW DH4 135
eff 18FEB14 Lilongwe – Blantyre – Lusaka 4 weekly
ET032 LLW1730 – 1815BLZ1900 – 2010LUN 738 x135
ET033 LUN2055 – 2205BLZ2250 – 2335LLW 738 x135
eff 18FEB14 Lilongwe – Dar es Salaam 3 weekly
ET042 LLW0800 – 1000DAR DH4 246
ET043 DAR1045 – 1245LLW DH4 246
Following planned service is delayed, planned new launch date is currently unavailable
Lilongwe – Blantyre – Beira 3 weekly
Lilongwe – Blantyre – Maputo 3 weekly
Lilongwe – Blantyre – Tete 2 weekly

Source: Airlineroute