JKIA's efficiency to improve significantly as Kenya Airways eagerly awaits its Dreamliner's arrival

Air Zimbabwe ERJ-145 takeoff from Harare International Airport

New Victoria Falls Airport set to open in April 2015

The Victoria Falls International Airport expansion project which is expected to be completed in April 2015 will have the capacity to handle 1,2 million passengers per annum and can also accommodate three Boeing 747 aircraft at any one time. The completion of the runway will also pave way for the contractors to resurface and extend the current runway to convert it to a taxiway. The civil works are expected to be completed in November paving way for the aircrafts to land on the new 4km runway, while electrical works, lighting, air traffic navigation and instrument landing systems will be completed by the end of the project. Upgrades include not only a new terminal building but also three aerobridges, a new perimeter fence, a broader runway to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft, a new fire station, a new control tower plus an extension to the parking area. In keeping with many modern airports, the new terminal will exploit natural light through a glass façade and provide visitors with an incredible first impression of the Victoria Falls area.

 

Entrance to the Victoria Falls Airport with the Construction site on the Left

 

Road heading to the current Victoria Falls Airport Terminal

 

Facing the current International Terminal with the new Terminal in the Distance

 

Entrance into the current Domestic Terminal, it was revamped before the 2013 UNWTO summit

 

The current International Terminal which will be converted into the Domestic Terminal

 

Looking out at the new Terminal Construction site

On-going Construction Work at the new International Terminal 

CLASSIC PIC: British Airways & Lufthansa 747's at Harare International Airport (HRE) - 1996

CLASSIC PIC - British Airways & Lufthansa 747's at Harare International Airport (HRE) in 1996. This was taken from the view canopy of the old International Airport (current domestic terminal). Both these airlines are currently not flying into Harare.

Comair Limited Announce Order for Eight 737 MAXs

 

Johannesburg, South Africa, March 19, 2014 Boeing and Comair Limited announced an order today for eight 737 MAX 8s valued at $830 million at list prices. It is the first 737 MAX order announcement for an African operator. The order was booked in December 2013 and was previously unidentified on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website. "We're proud to be the first African operator to announce an order the 737 MAX," said Erik Venter, chief executive officer of Comair, "This investment in Comair's fleet upgrade is fundamental to its business strategy of consistently improving customer service and value, while ensuring a sustainable airline. Our decision to make this investment was not taken lightly and is a critical component in managing our exposure to the volatile fuel price and thus minimizing the impact of the fuel price on airfares."

Johannesburg-based Comair operates Africa's first low cost carrier, kulula.com, offering flights to South Africa's major cities. Comair is also the franchise partner of British Airways, operating its local and regional Southern African routes. The company currently flies an all-Boeing fleet of 25 Classic and Next-Generation 737s on its kulula.com and British Airways (operated by Comair) brands. The order for eight 737 MAX 8s will support future fleet renewal and expansion. "Comair has grown over the past six decades by providing a product and service of consistent value, reliability and comfort," said Van Rex Gallard, vice president of Africa, Latin America and Caribbean Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The unmatched operating economics of the 737 MAX make it the best airplane for Comair's growth strategy. In addition, the 737 Sky Interior, combined with Comair's excellent customer service, will provide an unmatched passenger experience."

 

 

The 737 MAX builds on the success of the Next-Generation 737 – retaining efficiency, economics, reliability and passenger appeal that make this family of airplanes the market leader. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, as well as aerodynamic improvements such as new Advanced Technology winglets, to deliver a 14 percent fuel-efficiency improvement over today's most fuel efficient single-aisle airplanes. Airlines operating the 737 MAX will see an 8 percent operating cost per seat advantage over tomorrow's competition. Along with superior operating economics, the passenger-preferred 737 Boeing Sky Interior will also come standard on the 737 MAX. Drawing from years of research inspired by the travel experience, the 737 Boeing Sky Interior features modern-sculpted sidewalls and appealing features reveals that draw passenger eyes to the airplane's windows, giving passengers a greater connection to the flying experience.

 

With today's announcement Comair will have a total of 12 airplanes on order from Boeing, including the eight 737 MAX 8s and four Next-Generation 737-800s for delivery in 2015 and 2016. Since its announcement in 2011, the 737 MAX has amassed more than 1,800 orders worldwide.

 

Source: Boeing

PICS: South African Airways Airbus A320 - New Interior

Bombardier Invests $200 Million In Morocco To Support Africa's Aviation Growth

Africa represents a great investment opportunity for ambitious multinationals, with long-term annual growth projections of about 4.4% a year and a population of 1 billion with ever increasing purchasing power. A key to reaching its enormous potential is to improve connections to, from and within Africa. The boom in the exploitation of oil and gas resources is already driving an increase in air traffic. Currently, however, Africa accounts for just 3% of global air traffic and African airlines for 20% of intercontinental connections. The sector has been held back by high industry costs (namely high fuel costs), inadequate infrastructure at several airports and weak tourism figures, at only 5% of global tourism visits in 2012, according to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) 2013 General Assembly.

 

Responding to the globalization of the aerospace industry, which has opened up new markets and new opportunities, Bombardier Bombardier Aerospace gained a foothold in Africa when it began operations in a transition facility near Casablanca one year ago. The eventual permanent facility, currently in construction and due to open in late 2014, represents a $200 million investment that will create 850 jobs by 2020. With this investment, Bombardier believes it can develop a manufacturing capacity that will improve its cost competitiveness and is confident it can provide solutions to respond to African airlines’ profitability issues with its range of commercial aircraft suited to the African market.

 

Forecasts show Africa will operate 1,100 new airplanes and will have to replace a good portion of its aging fleet over the next 20 years. Of these, 70% will be single-aisle aircraft. Tourism is set to increase, especially with Europe coming out of its economic crisis, and air traffic is projected to grow at an annual rate of 6.1%. Bombardier believes its investment in Morocco, a location chosen for its internationally competitive manufacturing costs, low shipping and transportation costs and proximity to Europe, will serve as a springboard to the rest of the region and help it win an important part of the continent’s demand for new aircraft.

 

“Africa is the continent of the future in many aspects, including aviation. Our commercial aircraft such as the CSeries, the Q-Series or the CRJ Series – for which we are already producing operational parts in Morocco – are the future of aviation. It is a logical move for us to market our aircraft in Africa where we expect they will significantly contribute to the growth of the sector,” says Ray Jones, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Asset Management, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft during a recent interview at Bombardier’s offices in Casablanca. “Increased profitability should encourage African airlines to provide more routes, better service and better prices.” Bombardier has already booked 201 firm orders for CSeries airliners, and commitments from 18 customers and lessees, underlining the aircraft’s position as a major part of the future of global aviation. The CSeries took its maiden flight in September 2013 and more than 10 aircraft are already in various stages of testing and production.

 

“Our investment in Morocco shows our dedication to the continent’s economic development which is so intricately linked to regional aviation. We are confident the CSeries can boost the African sector’s ability to meet demands for traffic growth, reduced emissions, improved safety and added comfort,” concludes Mr Jones. Bombardier brings know-how and expertise to the region and is currently in talks to develop its local supply chain. By training local talents and bringing them into their operations and involving local suppliers, it can be a catalyst for an industry that is so closely tied to the continent’s growth.

 

Source: Forbes

Emirates EK713 Airbus A340-300 Landing at Harare International Airport HRE

Proflight Zambia Teams up with Kenya Airways

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA–Lusaka-based regional airline Proflight Zambia has signed an interline agreement with Kenya Airways that will enable passengers to travel across the networks of both airlines with a single booking. Under the agreement, customers will be able to purchase joint Proflight Zambia-Kenya Airways itineraries and will be issued with a single combined ticket. This will enable seamless connections to and from Proflight’s ten domestic destinations: Lusaka, Ndola, Livingstone, Mfuwe, Solwezi, Chipata, Mansa, Kasama, Lower Zambezi and Mongu, as well as its two international routes, Lilongwe in Malawi and Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. It will also enable Proflight customers to book flights to over 60 destinations within the Kenya Airways network from its hub in Nairobi, Kenya.

 

The move should draw more leisure and business travels to Zambia, and facilitate wider travel options for passengers from Zambia looking to travel internationally. “We welcome Kenya Airways passengers to the Proflight network in Zambia, and look forward to a long and happy partnership between the two airlines,” said Captain Philip Lemba, Proflight Director of Government and Industry Affairs. Customers will enjoy a range of added benefits, including special fares on itineraries across the two airlines.

South African Airways Launches Travel Trade Website

 

South African Airways has launched a brand new trade website aimed at providing trade partners with up-to-date information on South African’s national airline. The site has been designed to serve as a useful one-stop-shop for the trade to use and includes details on SAA’s routes and fleet, plus SAA contact information, FAQs as well as the latest news from the airline. It also serves as a platform for trade to download the latest aircraft images and logos if needed, and features a Live Chat function to offer a new way to communicate with the SAA team.
 

Katie Edwards, Marketing & Comms Executive said, ‘We’re really excited about the launch of our first trade website and the opportunity it presents us to offer a new and engaging way to communicate with our trade partners. We hope it will play an important role in continuing to improve how we work more closely with the trade in the future.’ Gary Kershaw, Country Manager UK for SAA said, ‘We said that SAA needed to improve its relationships with the UK travel trade.  So alongside the new SAA team, the new trade website brings real time, digital news, information and support to our trade partners.’

SAA operates the first direct flight of the day from Heathrow to Johannesburg and has built an outstanding reputation for punctuality, winning the Flight Stats Award for the Most on Time Airline in the World twice during 2013. The airline, a Star Alliance member, operates double daily flights from Heathrow Terminal 1 to Johannesburg connecting to over 30 destinations within Southern Africa.

Source: IncentiveTravel