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Reasons Aviation is a Great Career Field
Posted: April 6, 2012, 7:46 pm by nero
For those just starting out, or for individuals considering switching careers, aviation can be a great option. Commercial pilots and air traffic control professionals enjoy important career responsibilities, good pay and opportunities for advancement throughout their working lives.
- Responsibilities – If you are looking for a career in which you can exercise your skills and critical thinking abilities, aviation fits the bill. Both pilots and air traffic controllers undergo rigorous training and are responsible for the lives of hundreds of people every day on the job. Pilots are in charge of checking the aircraft’s weight and balance, interfacing with tower controllers, monitoring the aircraft, and navigating the aircraft during flight. Air traffic controllers guide airplanes and converse with pilots. They monitor the airspace and routes to ensure that all aircrafts are safe in their trajectory. Anyone interested in the detailed training requirements of air traffic controllers can browse the resources at air traffic controller training.
- Job Outlook – According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, commercial airline pilots can expect an 11 percent increase in jobs in the coming years, which is on par with the national average rate of growth in the United States. Many pilots are predicted to retire in the next decade and new pilots will be hired to replace them. Air traffic controllers will face more difficult job prospects as a 3 percent decline in positions is predicted during the 2008-2018 period.
- Career Advancement – When researching a career, it’s also important to consider the advancement opportunities one can expect. Both commercial pilots and air traffic controllers have opportunities to grow in their profession as they gain experience. After 1-to-5 years of experience, flight engineers can advance to flight officer standing; 5-to-15 years is required to advance to the position of flight captain. Air traffic controllers have the opportunity to move into supervisory roles as they gain experience.
- Great Pay – Both air traffic controllers and commercial pilots have earnings that are well above the median U.S. income. The average wages for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers is around $103,000 a year. Wages vary by the pilot’s experience and position. Most pilots begin their careers earning $20,000 a year and earn more as they advance. The average wages for air traffic controllers is $108,000 a year. Those just starting out earn around $37,000 a year; pay increases as the controller completes training phases.
- More Information – If you’re inspired to learn more about getting into an aviation career, check out online resources for information on available aviation degree programs.
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Morocco's Aerospace Industry Takes Off
Posted: March 21, 2012, 7:13 am by nero
Nassima Boukhriss has never set foot on an airplane, but soon she will be helping wire up some of the world's most advanced jetliners.
The 22-year-old vocational student is participating in one of North Africa's most ambitious economic-development efforts: starting an aerospace industry.
Across Morocco, millions of people lack jobs, basic education and even running water. Manufacturing remains a small part of the economy compared with agriculture and tourism. Low-skilled textile work is one of the biggest sectors.
At a school near Casablanca, students are learning skills that they hope will win them high-paying jobs in Morocco's growing aerospace industry. Video and reporting by WSJ's Daniel Michaels.
Yet over the past decade, Boeing Co., Safran SA of France and other leading aviation companies have built increasingly sophisticated factories in this kingdom.
As revolutions swept neighboring countries last year, aerospace giants United Technologies Corp. and Bombardier Inc. BBD.B.T unveiled investments of more than $200 million in new Moroccan factories.
To ensure they have qualified staff, the government and an industry group in May opened the Moroccan Aerospace Institute, or IMA, the vocational school Ms. Boukhriss attends.
The result is that the aviation industry now employs almost 10,000 Moroccans who earn about 15% above the country's average monthly wage of roughly $320.
Moroccan officials are betting that by leapfrogging into advanced manufacturing like aerospace and electronics, the country can attract more basic industries in their wake.
Morocco's Aerospace Gambit
Over the past decade, leading aviation companies have built increasingly sophisticated factories in Morocco, as local officials hope this push into advanced manufacturing can attract more basic industries in its wake.
"When you succeed in aerospace, you can succeed in other industries," said Hamid Benbrahim El-Andaloussi, president of Morocco's aerospace trade group, Gimas.
That hasn't happened yet. Manufacturing's share of Morocco's economy has shrunk over the past decade. The country has joblessness of roughly 30% among both young and well-educated people—the same groups that helped lead revolts in Egypt and Tunisia.
The upheaval of the Arab Spring has put new urgency on showing Morocco's aerospace gambit can deliver. King Mohammed VI last March neutralized protests by offering a more democratic constitution and fresh elections, which proceeded peacefully in November. But for Morocco to remain calm, analysts say, it must create jobs.
"High unemployment is at the center of what's going on in the region," says Karim Belayachi, a private-sector development specialist at the World Bank.
Morocco's push into commercial aeronautics is unusual among developing economies. Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa in the last century developed military aerospace companies, but only Brazil's privatized Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica SA successfully shifted to building passenger planes. Today, it is a national bellwether. Mexico has recently drawn aerospace component producers, but they remain a small part of its economy.
Many more countries have expanded with technology and automotive investments, as Morocco is also attempting. Taiwan, South Korea and Slovakia relied on foreign or state-supported investments, mixed with entrepreneurialism, for economic growth. But those countries fostered regulatory climates more friendly to start-ups than Morocco has achieved and could tap skilled work forces. Education in Morocco lags behind its economic peers, according to the World Bank.
Morocco's aerospace development started in 1999 with a nudge from Mr. Benbrahim at Gimas, who was then a senior executive at Boeing's longtime customer Royal Air Maroc. He and other officials at the national carrier urged the U.S. giant to invest in Morocco as a sign of good faith.
"There was push-back within Boeing," among executives who deemed an investment unnecessary, recalls Seddik Belyamani, who was then Boeing's top airplane salesman and was born in Morocco.
But the Moroccan links and a desire to fend off rival Airbus prevailed. Boeing, the airline and French electrical-wiring company Labinal SA in 2001 opened a small operation preparing cables for Boeing 737 jetliners, named Matis. Staff painstakingly prepared wire bundles and shipped them to Boeing plants in the U.S. for installation.
The labor-intensive work entailed no technical background, yet Boeing managers still initially expected to achieve efficiency of only 30% of industry norms. To their surprise, staff hit 70% efficiency within two years, recalls Mr. Belyamani, who retired from Boeing in 2002 and recently was appointed chairman of Matis.
The results impressed executives at Labinal, which in 2000 had been acquired by the French aerospace group now called Safran. Managers saw that as Matis grew, job openings attracted floods of highly educated applicants. More than 80% are women, who have limited job opportunities in traditional industries.
The only foreigner among 700 Matis staff today is the French general manager, Sébastien Jaulerry, who previously worked for Labinal in the U.S. and France. Walking through the spotless plant recently, he said employees achieve "exactly the same standard" of quality as at his previous plants.
Around him, Matis staff prepared wires not just for Boeing but also for General Electric Co. GE -0.69% engines, Dassault Aviation SA AM.FR -0.42% business jets and even Airbus jetliners. The most visible difference from more established aviation shops was the large number of women in head scarves.
Safran, encouraged by results at Matis, expanded into more advanced manufacturing. In 2006, its Aircelle division opened a plant making jet-engine housings. The work, which includes machining advanced plastic composites and assembling safety-critical structures, mirrors operations at Aircelle plants in France and Britain. Product quality is also comparable, say Aircelle executives.
Today, Moroccan officials highlight aerospace as a success within the country's larger economic modernization drive, dubbed "Emergence." Other projects include a giant Mediterranean port complex and tax-free zone at Tangiers, where French car giant Renault SA recently opened a big factory.
Yet despite Morocco's big push to create export-oriented jobs, manufacturing's share of the economy is shrinking, says Lahcen Achy, an economist with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in Morocco's capital, Rabat. He calculates manufacturing now stands at roughly 15.6% of gross domestic product. The World Bank pegged it at 19% of GDP in 1995.
Moroccan manufacturing growth hasn't kept pace with tourism and other service businesses. A major reason, economists say, is the headaches that domestic entrepreneurs face. Mr. Belayachi at the World Bank notes that Morocco's judicial system reports to the royal palace and isn't an independent arm of government, which undermines its reliability. "Enforcing a contract is lengthy and difficult, which has a big impact" on small businesses, he said.
Moroccan officials say they have made other efforts to help business, including recent anticorruption legislation and the creation in 2009 of a Central Authority for Corruption Prevention.
Analysts say that as a result of impediments to business, local entrepreneurs haven't piggybacked foreign investors as extensively as domestic producers in developing countries of Asia and Eastern Europe.
Ahmed Chami, a member of parliament who served as Morocco's minister of industry until recently, said foreign investments are starting to bear fruit and "spillover will happen." The lack of local aerospace businesses is "the weakness in the picture today and should be the next focus," he conceded.
Boosters of Moroccan aerospace say the growing number of foreign suppliers indicates the sector will go local. One of the first contractors to arrive was Le Piston Français, an aerospace component producer based in Toulouse, France, near the Airbus unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. EAD Director Vincent Fontaine says the company was drawn to Casablanca in 1999 by sales opportunities and government incentives, such as tax breaks.
The plant has grown to 110 employees from about 25 and is adding new customers, such as Bombardier, Mr. Fontaine said. Aerospace materials, like advanced alloys, are also getting easier to buy locally, marking "a big step for industrial development," he said.
But other investors have faced a bumpier ride. Baccarat Precision, a French family-owned aerospace contractor, started making pistons for jetliner brakes near Casablanca in 2007. Soon after, it landed a giant order for explosive devices that blow open airplane doors in emergency evacuations. The complex cylinders, made of 40 precisely machined elements, must be assembled in a clean room to keep pressurized nitrogen from escaping.
When production began in 2008, managers rejected every second cylinder due to production flaws. "Machinists in Morocco have never seen pieces like this," said local manager Giancarlo Zanfonato, holding one of the hand-size metal devices. He eventually realized that compared with seasoned French workers, his Moroccan staff needed twice the documentation, including pictures detailing every production step.
After intense efforts to educate machinists, the rejection rate has shrunk below 10%, yet remains far above the target of 2%, Mr. Zanfonato said. The project, which was expected to break even within one year, remains unprofitable. "We are a small company and this project was much too ambitious for us," he said.
Mr. Zanfonato sees a hopeful sign in the creation of IMA, the vocational school, which will graduate several hundred students annually. The center is a partnership between the government, which contributed the land and buildings, and the industry group, Gimas. Its members organize and sponsor training, modeled on French standards, for their new hires. Students spend up to 10 months alternating two-week stints at IMA, where many live in dormitories, and on their new jobs.
Demand for graduates is so strong that companies are pressing for two shifts of classes, said IMA Director Annie Lagrandeur recently, as students practiced wiring and machining in the school's shop. Nearby, others attended lectures given by veteran aerospace workers whom IMA hired from local plants for their expertise.
Before IMA, foreign aerospace investors were paranoid about rivals poaching their few skilled employees, Ms. Lagrandeur recalled. Some companies even forbade their local staff from riding together on shuttle buses out of fear they might try to recruit each other.
IMA and similar industry-led vocational schools that Morocco has established in the automotive and other industries are "leading-edge in the region," says Anthony O'Sullivan, head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's private sector development division in Paris. Morocco's overall educational development lags many of its neighbors, and he says "one of the best ways to fill the gap is to have companies involved in training."
Within three months of IMA's opening in May, roughly 1,200 aspiring students had delivered resumes to the front gate, and more sent in applications, said Ms. Lagrandeur.
"It's a great opportunity because we learn very technical skills in electronics," said Ms. Boukhriss, the student. Classmate Said Ouchen added he is proud Morocco is developing an aerospace sector and has remained stable over the past year. "Morocco is an example," he said.
Source: Wall Street Journal
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South African Airways to launch a new Flight Academy
Posted: March 21, 2012, 7:04 am by nero
South African Airways (SAA) has initiated a global search for a qualified and internationally recognised partner to join it in establishing and running a new flight academy, the SAA Flight Academy, which will ensure focused, expert training for new pilots.
The SAA Flight Academy will recruit students from across South Africa, placing special emphasis on attracting future pilots from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
Besides training future generations of SAA pilots, it will be launched as an international centre of excellence to candidates from other South African, African, and international airlines.
The new SAA Flight Academy will concentrate its efforts on turning out pilots steeped in the ethos, practices, corporate culture and safety disciplines of a major international carrier while making a significant contribution to the transformation of the entire South African airline industry.
The academy will also offer future pilot generations a clear career path within commercial air transport, with the best candidates earning the opportunity to fly as Second Officers alongside SAA's established Captains and First Officers.
“With only 17% of pilots trained since 1994 coming from previously disadvantaged communities, South Africa has not yet made all the progress it needs to in opening this highly skilled area of airline operations to aspiring pilots,” said Siza Mzimela, SAA's CEO. “In order to establish a secure and sustainable talent pipeline of appropriately trained pilots and to further the best transformation interests of the country, the SAA Flight Academy is a highly systematic approach to ensure the production of top-class pilots year on year.”
SAA has issued a tender calling for established flight training institutions to express interest in a long term partnership to establish and manage the training academy. The tender is open to all qualified service providers from South Africa and internationally.
“Key will be the ability of any prospective partner, whether from South Africa or elsewhere, to prove that they have a track record in implementing international best practice in the airline pilot training sector,” said Mzimela. “As is SAA's practice now, the qualification authority will be the Joint Aviation Authority, responsible for setting training standards for civil aviation in Europe.
In contrast to non-scheduled air transport, the international passenger airline industry is highly regulated, with a premium placed on pilot perfection at every moment from the standard pre-flight checks to the post-flight debriefing after engines are turned off at the arrival gate. Traditionally, South African airline pilots have either received their initial training in the air force or at a private flying school, the latter going on to fly smaller general aviation aircraft as charter pilots or junior flying instructors gathering flying experience foran average of seven years before they are eligible to join a scheduled carrier.
“The new system will begin training pilots for their highly responsible roles within airline operations from day one,” said flight academy project leader Jimmy de Beer, himself an SAA Senior Training Captain with 37 years experience. “We will put candidate pilots into SAA's passenger aircraft simulators for 100 hours soon after they have learned the flying basics on the academy's own entry-level aircraft. This will ensure they absorb the entire approach required by a major carrier from the word 'go', without any unnecessary detours,” he explained.
Intrinsic to the training is the development of collaborative analytical, decision and action-taking skills. These are the foundation of the modern cockpit Crew Resource Management techniques that have contributed significantly over the past two decades in making commercial aviation the safest mode of public transport available.
The previous training philosophy, involving a variety of flying in other environments, has often resulted in pilots joining airlines with an air force or charter background first having to unlearn habits and procedures which are unsuited to the passenger air transport environment.
“Experience shows that over 100 hours in an airliner simulator practising every imaginable situation is worth a great deal more than say over 100 hours flying a light cargo plane between municipal airfields,” said de Beer. “Our students will inculcate the internationally benchmarked SAA approach from day one.”
In order to reach the necessary economies of scale, the academy will aim for an intake of 150 to 250 new students annually. As a result of natural attrition and growth, SAA needs approximately 45 new pilots a year. An integrated academy in South Africa will offer significant advantages: excellent flying weather for almost the entire year, comfortable living and working conditions for students pilots at a new, purpose built facility, and the ability to train on state-of-the-art simulators under the tutelage of SAAs' experienced training captains, will all contribute to the mix.
It is expected that the full training cycle from a candidate pilot's first day in the classroom to the first day in the flight deck on a regular flight will take about 3.5 years and cost between R1-million and R2-million. Candidates sponsored by SAA will be required to work for the airline for an agreed number of years, failing which they will be required to buy their way out of the training contract.
“Interestingly, one of the world's biggest airlines, Cathay Pacific, is about to implement a training system very similar to our new approach,” said Mzimela. “Our aim is for the SAA Flying Academy very quickly to become not only a national asset, but in fact an asset for the whole continent.”
SAA plans to select its partner for the academy this year, with the first student intake expected in 2013.
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Air Berlin to Boost Mombasa Flights
Posted: March 12, 2012, 10:15 am by nero
airberlin will boost its Mombasa lights mid this year as part of its networking realignment with new shareholder Etihad Airways, a move that will also see the Germna carrier cancel its Bangkok service. airberlin will bring its seasonal Mombasa, Kenya services to a year-round offering with two flights a week from 22-Jun-2012. (The service will be briefly suspended between 13-Apr-2012 and 22-Jun-2012.)
airberlin will join fellow German carriers Condor Flugdienst and Jetairfly in offering a year-round service to Mombasa, the centre of coastal tourism in Kenya.
Airberlin currently dominates the route with 1212 seats per week, followed by Condor with 1044 seats per week and Jetairfly with 570 seats per week. Germany accounts for approximately 5% of tourism arrivals to Kenya.
Mombasa Moi International Airport capacity (seats per week) by carrier: 05-Mar-2012 to 11-Mar-2012. Source:centreforaviation.com
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Juba Air: Plans underway for the launch of South Sudan's new airline in April
Posted: March 12, 2012, 9:13 am by nero
An Abu Dhabi-based UAE national is helping to set up an airline, Juba Air, in the newly independent African state of South Sudan.
Captain Samir M. Al Sayed Al Hashemi, chairman and chief executive officer of Legacy Aviation, an aviation consulting firm, is organising start-up funds of up to $40 million (Dh146.8 million) to kick-start the airline in April.
"We have already secured the initial approval from the South Sudan government to prepare for the take-off, following the issuance of the Air Operations Certificate for which we are working closely with the government on certification," he said recently in an interview with a Gulf daily.
"South Sudan is an emerging market. It is a new country, although as a nation it existed for a long time. The country has a huge potential to grow. It's nearly a virgin market and we want to help it with our expertise."
He added that the return on investment could be double to triple compared to other markets.
An aviation expert, Captain Al Hashemi has also set up a company to manage the country's airport assets and help develop the infrastructure. He has also started a media company to launch radio and television stations.
The airline is being set up in partnership with a few investors from South Sudan. They have already deployed a Boeing 727 aircraft and negotiations are on to obtain a few Boeing 737-400s.
The airline, the first private carrier for the nine-month-old country, will be based in Juba Airport — the only international airport in the country. The airport is located on the outskirts of the country's capital city — Juba — to the northeast of the central business district of the city, on the western banks of the White Nile.
High profile
"The UAE is globally renowned for its forward-thinking and open policy approach when it comes to aviation, so seeing a high profile Emirati assisting South Sudan get on the map is of little surprise," Saj Ahmad, Chief Aerospace Analyst at UK-based Strategic-Aero Research, said.
"As a new country, the incentives from a government perspective to drive traffic, business and tourism, South Sudan will no doubt appreciate the expertise that Captain Al Hashemi will bring."
The government is planning to create a new administrative district where the capital will be located.
"The airport is about 30 kilometres away from the site of the new administrative district where the capital will shift. Either way, the airport is ideally located to cater to both places," he said. "However, the airport needs a lot of investment to cater to larger international airlines and handle bigger air traffic."
Juba Airport handles international and local airlines, cargo traffic and chartered commercial flights. It is also used by the South Sudanese military and by the United Nations relief flights for the country. The airport is at an altitude of 461 metres above sea level, and has one runway that is 2,400 metres long.
As of May 2011, Juba International Airport was undergoing improvements and expansion.
The work included expansion of the passenger and cargo terminals, resurfacing of the runway and installation of landing lights for night operations.
His company has already secured a three-year concession for ground handling of passengers and flights.
"We have a plan to upgrade facilities, expand the runaway to handle larger aircraft. The terminal building is capable of handling the current level of traffic, but not more. We will expand the facilities as well," he said.
Captain Al Hashemi said his company is mobilising resources for a US and a Spanish company to build a hangar that will take care of light maintenance of the airline's fleet.
"One of Juba Air's first destinations will be Dubai — which will help South Sudanese people access goods and services from international vendors," he said.
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CNN Business Traveller is Back!
Posted: March 10, 2012, 5:19 pm by nero
Doing Business on the Move
CNN's once popular monthly international TV travel program CNN Business Traveller is back after over 1 year absence! Each month, road warrior Richard Quest and Ayesha presented from hotels, airports and cities around the world, bringing his detailed experience of surviving out of a suitcase.
The new episodes debuts with a feature on Singapore(and why everyone wants a piece of the Asian market) and Singapore Airlines. I'm looking forward to fresh episodes and insights from the industry and to Richard Quest's exciting presentation :)CNN Business Traveller
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HH Travel: 3 East Asian Online Travel Retailers form new luxury travel brand
Posted: March 9, 2012, 11:47 pm by nero
Three of Asia's biggest travel agencies in Taiwan, China and Hong Kong jointly launched a high-end travel brand Thursday aimed at the growing demand in Asia for luxury excursions and holidays.
The new company, HH Travel, was formed by Taiwan-based online travel agency ezTravel, China's biggest online travel agency Ctrip.com, and Hong Kong-based Wing On Travel.
One of the first high-end package holidays to be launched by the venture is a US$161,270 round-the-world 80-day tour to five continents on Silversea Cruises, said ezTravel President Jack Yu. The tour will be open to 15 individuals, with registration openings on March 26.A booming Luxury market in Asia
The company estimates that it will sell tour packages to 1,200 travelers at an average price of NT$500,000 this year and to 10,000 travelers at the same average price by 2016.
ezTravel executive Jack Yu said similar luxury group tours promoted by ezTravel in the past -45-day, 60-day and 66-day round-the-world tours in 2005, 2010 and 2011, respectively -were all snapped up in under 15 minutes, an indication of the market potential for high-end travel in the region.
China has over 960,000 households with assets of $1.58 million or more
Yu noted that China has about 960,000 households with assets of 10 million Chinese yuan (NT$46.7 million; US$1.58 million) or more, according to the latest Hurun Report, which publishes an annual list of China's wealthiest people.
There are also more than 600,000 families in Taiwan and Hong Kong that are potential luxury travel customers, Yu estimated.
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Online Travel Agency Travelstart Officially Launched in Kenya
Posted: March 9, 2012, 7:24 am by nero
Travelstart, an online travel agency last week launched operations in Kenya in a battle to win a slice of the growing business as passenger numbers rise.
The South African firm unveiled a portal —www.travelstart.co.ke— that allows travellers to make flight bookings, pay and receive confirmation promptly via the Internet.
The website has a query form in which one fills in the particulars of the flight such as one way or round trip; dates of departure and return; number of travellers and their age.
The site conducts a real-time search of the query by accessing the flight databases of all airlines and displaying all the possible results ranked in terms of cost, which the cheapest on top.Win a Travelstart Luggage
“We have brought in an innovation to the Kenyan travel industry. Online travel booking is more efficient as it can be done at any time and offers better deals by allowing comparisons,” said Mr Stephan Ekbergh, the chief executive officer of Travelstart.
Online reservations offer opportunities to business travellers to book a flight without necessarily going to a physical travel agent.
The Travelstart portal also offers payment solutions through mobile money transfer platforms like M-Pesa, Internet bank transfer, cash deposit at any Barclays or KCB branch and through use of a credit card.
“One advantage of online booking is that travellers are given an opportunity to compare various airlines and there are no hidden charges,” said Magdaline Wambua, a marketing executive at Travelstart Kenya.
Based on pre-arranged terms, travel agencies can secure cheaper bargains with airlines by assuring them a steady supply of travellers.
“Our operations are much cheaper since we so not spend on renting offices, employing many workers, printing. We thus pass this savings to our clients,” said Mr Ekbergh.
Travelstart charges a transaction fee of Sh830($10) for domestic, Sh1,660($20) for regional and Sh2,490($30) for international bookings.
Growing
The online firm offers additional services such as hotel and car booking, offering a one-stop shop for travellers. The online agency seeks to tap into the growing number of travellers passing using Kenyan airports and airstrips.
Data from the Kenya Airports Authority shows that the total number of passengers through Kenyan airports and airstrips grew 12.5 per cent to 8.1 million as at June 2011 compared to 7.2 million a year earlier.
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Why you should book your tickets with local Online Travel Agencies
Posted: March 8, 2012, 11:45 pm by nero
Online travel and booking has finally entered the last market frontiers, in Africa. While in the past, travel in many parts of Africa involved paying a visit to your travel agent and making endless calls to plan your itinerary, the internet has revolutionized the way travel planning is done today.
The most trusted means to book a ticket to your destination is via the airline's booking website with many airlines now eager on installing cutting edge ticket reservations systems integrated with the global GDS. Booking directly within an airline has many advantages, since you are dealing directly with the travel service providers, you can expect to be offered quality service by the travel provider itself!
Alternatively, travellers are now planning their journeys and booking their tickets via Online Travel Agencies like Expedia. The advantage of this is that you can always find very cheap fares on online travel agencies, sometimes even cheaper than the fare offered on the airline's website.You are also able to compare fares from many airlines and they also provide you with additional useful information about your flight like duration, number of stopovers if any. Some even include useful information about your destination including hotels, car hire, tips on places to visit and more.
While global online travel agencies like Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz are quite popular and have entrenched their hold on the travel markets, travellers can still have the option of local online travel agencies which in spite of their small size, still retain a certain winning edge in the local travel market through their local focus and presence.
In Kenya, the most popular Online Travel Agency is Travelstart which offers some very good fares to various international destinations. So what are the advantages of booking a ticket on a local online travel agency as opposed to a global and established player like Expedia?
Local travel agencies are quite fast since they are hosted locally.While flight searches on portals like Expedia or FareCompare will take an eternity, searching for a flight on an Online travel Agency like Travelstart is just a matter of seconds. This is due to the fact that the website is hosted locally and submitting information to a server based in California from Nairobi will naturally take longer than doing the same to a server based in Nairobi.
Another advantage is the local customer support from staff and local travel consultants who understand your language and culture and are in a better position to help you with your travel needs than for example a customer service representative based in the US or Europe. Besides, many local online travel agencies have local offices in your city and can help you plan even more expensive complex itineraries in person especially where you are uncomfortable with undertaking large online credit/debit card transactions.
Local Online Travel agencies also have flexible payment methods that international travel agencies may not necessarily have. While booking on international online travel agencies might require your credit or debit card, local online travel agencies are flexible to cheque payments, mobile payment, bank deposits and more. Besides, with the blacklisting or greylisting of some African countries by global eCommerce platforms, a local online travel agency might just be your prince in shining armour allowing for seamless travel planning irrespective of your location.
I have also noticed that it's possible to get very good fare offers on a local online travel agency. Sometimes better than what you would find on Expedia. Online travel is now moving to emerging markets, always buy from a local travel retailer where one exists and make huge savings while at the same time helping build local eCommerce businesses and keeping jobs in Africa!
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The yellow fever headache: Yellow Fever Vaccinations Requirements in Africa
Posted: March 8, 2012, 10:12 am by nero
For those who have been following news of late, you have probably seen the row between Nigeria and South Africa after some 150 Nigerians were deported from South Africa for allegedly carrying fake yellow fever certificates, an action that prompted retaliatory deportations of South Africans from Nigeria's Murtala Muhammad International Airport.
The countries in Africa considered to be high risk due to high incidences of yellow fever infections include Tanzania, Somalia and Sao Tome and Principe. If you have stayed overnight or longer in these countries, then a yellow fever vaccination will be mandatory as you travel to other countries.
Vaccination certificates requirements of countries are published by the World Health Organization and it's important for all travellers to carefully review these requirements and get the necessary vaccinations to avoid getting stuck at the airport. It's also important for travellers to get vaccinated at any of the WHO designated yellow fever vaccinating centres to avoid running into problems over "fake" yellow fever certificates. Sometimes, a naive traveller might decide to take a vaccine at their local hospital, while the vaccine might be valid, the centre and certificate are probably not recognized and designated by WHO and some immigration officials will not recognize such yellow fever certificates and many of them will not bear a stamp in such cases. Always ensure your yellow fever certificate is STAMPED by the authority administering the vaccination. A yellow fever certificate without a stamp will not be considered valid by many authorities and often results in deportations.
Once administered, a yellow fever vaccine is valid or 10 years! It will be a decade before you are required to take another vaccine so this is not really an inconvenience for travellers frequently hoping from one country to another. Th ey ellow fever jab is however not recommended for those over the age of 65. So please take your yellow fever vaccines properly and avoid putting your governments at loggerheads :)A stamped Yellow Fever Certificate
Some of the African countries where yellow fever certificates are required include:
- Angola: Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate Required for ALL travelers over 1 year old. It's also recommended for your own safety to take a Yellow Fever vaccine when visiting Angola as the country is still considered a yellow fever risk due to incidences of the disease in recent years.
- Algeria: Yellow Fever Vaccination required for all travelers over 1 year old arriving from countries with yellow fever infection. Algeria has no yellow fever risks and yellow fever vaccinations not recommended if you are coming from a country that's yellow fever free.
- Benin: A yellow fever certificate is required for ALL travelers over 1 year old. It's also highly recommended for travellers coming from the yellow fever free countries to take the vaccine due to risk of infection.
- Botswana: A yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers over 1 year of age arriving from or having passed from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Travelers from countries that are yellow fever are free do not have to worry as there is no risk for yellow fever transmission in Botswana.
- Burkina Faso: A yellow fever vaccination is required from ALL travelers over 1 year of age. There is also risk of yellow fever transmission in Burkina Faso so it's in the travelers' best interest to ensure they get a yellow a fever vaccine before traveling to Burkina Faso.
- Burundi: A Yellow fever vaccination is required for all travellers over 1 year of age. It's also highly recommended fr travellers to take an initiative to get the vaccine since Burundi is considered by the WHO as having a risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Cameroon: Yellow fever vaccinations required for all travellers over 1 year of age. It's also highly recommended for travellers entering Cameroon to get a yellow fever vaccination due to risk of transmission.
- Central African Republic: Yellow vaccination required for all travellers over 1 year of age. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Chad: A yellow fever vaccination is required from travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Highly recommended for travellers to get the vaccine due to risk of transmission in Chad.
- Cape Verde: A Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Travellers from countries with no risk of yellow fever transmission do not need yellow fever certificates.
- Comoros: No yellow fever vaccination requirements.
- Congo: Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Cote d'Ivoire: Yellow fever vaccination certificates required from all travellers over 1 year of age. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Yellow vaccine required from all travellers over 1 year of age. Yellow vaccine highly recommended for travellers over 9months old except under the following conditions: Generally, a yellow fever vaccine is not recommended for a traveller whose itinerary is limited the DR Congo's Katanga Province.
- Djibouti: A yellow fever vaccine is required from all travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Egypt: A Yellow fever vaccination is required from travellers arriving from countries with high risk of yellow fever transmission. All arrivals from Sudan are required to possess either a vaccination certificate or a location certificate issued by a Sudanese official centre stating that they have not been in Sudan south of 15°N within the previous 6 days. Travellers from countries with no yellow fever risk do not have to worry about yellow fever vaccinations.
- Equitorial Guinea: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from countries wit risk of yellow fever transmission. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Eritrea: Country requirement: a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Generally not recommended1 for travellers going to the following states: Anseba, Debub, Gash Barka, Mae Kel and Semenawi Keih Bahri.
Not recommended for all other areas not listed above, including the islands of the Dahlak Archipelagos (Map). - Ethiopia: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Highly recommended for travellers aged 9 months and over to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in some areas of the country. Generally not recommended1 for travellers whose itineraries are limited to the Afar and Somali provinces (Map).
- Gabon: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all travellers over 1 year of age. Highly recommended for travellers aged 9 months and over to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Gambia: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all passengers arriving from countries wit risk of yellow fever transmission. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in some areas of the country.
- Ghana: A yellow fever vaccination is required from all travellers over 9 months of age. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Guinea: A yellow fever vaccination is required from all travellers over 1 year arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Guinea Bissau: A yellow fever vaccine is required from all travellers over 1 year of age. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Kenya: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Lesotho: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Lesotho has low potential for exposure and a yellow fever vaccine is not recommended for travellers staying in the country. Travellers from countries with no risk of yellow fever transmission do not require yellow fever certificates.
- Liberia: A yellow fever vaccination is required from all travellers over 1 year of age. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Libya: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Libya has very low potential for exposure to yellow fever and a yellow fever vaccination is not recommended for travellers from countries with no risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Madagascar: A yellow fever vaccination is required from all travellers from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Madagascar has low potential for infection and a yellow fever vaccination is not recommended for travellers staying in the country from regions with no risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Malawi: A yellow fever vaccination is required from all travellers from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Malawi is another low potential country and a yellow fever vaccination is not recommended from travellers staying in the country from regions with no risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Maldives: Not really country in Africa but pretty close to the Africa Region. A yellow fever vaccination is required from all travellers from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. The vaccination is not recommended for visitors staying in the country as there is no risk of yellow fever transmission in the Maldives.
- Mali: A yellow fever vaccination is required from all travellers over 1 year of age. Recommended for all travellers aged 9 months and over going to the areas South of the Sahara Desert.
- Mauritania: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Recommended for all travellers aged 9 months or over travelling to areas south of the Sahara Desert (Map). Not recommended for travellers whose itineraries are limited to areas in the Sahara Desert (Map).
- Mauritius: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Not recommended for visitors from countries with no risk of yellow fever transmission as there's no risk of yellow fever transmission in Mauritius.
- Mayotte: Yellow fever vaccination certificate is not required.
- Morocco: Yellow fever vaccination certificate is not required. Yellow fever vaccination not recommended for travellers as there's no risk of transmission.
- Mozambique: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Yellow fever vaccination not recommended for travellers who do not pose a yellow fever risk i.e. from countries with no risk of yellow fever vaccination.
- Namibia: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. The countries, or parts of countries, included in the endemic zones in Africa and South America are regarded as areas with risk of yellow fever transmission.
Travellers who are on scheduled flights that originated outside the countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, but who have been in transit through these areas, are not required to possess a certificate provided that they remained at the scheduled airport or in the adjacent town during transit. All travellers whose flights originated in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission or who have been in transit through these countries on unscheduled flights are required to possess a certificate. The certificate is not insisted upon in the case of children under 1 year of age, but such infants may be subject to surveillance. Yellow fever vaccination not recommended for travellers who do not pose a yellow fever risk i.e. from countries with no risk of yellow fever vaccination. - Niger: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 1 year of age and recommended for travellers departing Niger. Recommended for all travellers aged 9 months or over travelling to areas south of the Sahara Desert (Map). Not recommended for travellers whose itineraries are limited to areas in the Sahara Desert (Map).
- Nigeria: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Reunion: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Yellow fever vaccination not recommended for travellers who do not pose a yellow fever risk i.e. from countries with no risk of yellow fever vaccination as Reunion has no risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Rwanda: Yellow fever vaccination required from all travellers over 1 year of age. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Sao Tome and Principe: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over
1 year of age. - Senegal: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 9 months of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Seychelles: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 9 months of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. No yellow fever risk in the country so a vaccination is not recommended for those from countries not placed under the mandatory yellow vaccination requirement.
- Sierra Leone: A yellow fever vaccination is required from all travellers. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Somalia: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Generally not recommended for travellers going to the following regions: Bakool, Banaadir, Bay, Gado, Galgadud, Hiran, Lower Juba, Middle Juba, Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle (Map). Not recommended for all other areas not listed above.
- South Africa: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Generally not recommended for travellers from countries with no risk of transmission as South Africa is generally a very low risk(no risk) area for yellow fever transmission.
- Sudan: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 9 months of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. A certificate may be required from travellers departing Sudan. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Swaziland: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Like South Africa, Swaziland has no risk of yellow fever transmission hence a yellow fever vaccination is not recommended unless it's a mandatory requirement for your country.
- Tanzania: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Togo: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 1 year of age. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Tunisia: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. A yellow fever vaccination is not recommended unless it's a mandatory requirement for your country as Tunisia has no risk of transmission.
- Uganda: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Highly recommended for travellers to ensure they take yellow fever vaccine due to risk of transmission in the country.
- Zambia: Yellow fever vaccination certificate not required.
- Zimbabwe: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Zimbabwe, like South Africa has no risk has no of yellow fever transmission and a vaccination is not recommended unless it's mandatory for your country.
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TalkHotels.com: A Social Network for Hospitality Professionals
Posted: March 7, 2012, 7:02 am by nero
There's a new social network in town for hospitality professionals TalkHotels. TalkHotels is according to its founders "the first professional social network or hoteliers". Sort of like the LinkedIn for hoteliers.
The social network is equipped with features to help hoteliers access and process information faster and in a more organized manner in order to help them make quick informed choices. The social network does this by giving members access free access to vendors, products and services, reviews, other hospitality professionals, and knowledge and insight from peers.
The social network has over 750 hotel professionals so far.
The social network also primarily offers hoteliers opportunity to network with other hoteliers from around the world and share ideas and best practices. Some of the features include the following:
Shop Page: Allows members to find vendors, products, and local service providers without having to conduct exhaustive online searches, reading through generic sales pitches, and taking risks on vendors and service providers you’ve never worked with before. The best part is that you’ll also get to read reviews from your peers.
Vendor Profile: Each vendor profile will feature a vendor’s contact information; reviews from your peers, along with responses from the company to give you both sides of any story; and Loyalists, which is a list of people in your network that either use the vendor currently, endorse them, or used them at some point in the past.
Join TalkHotels
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Fly 540 Africa Website
Posted: March 7, 2012, 2:18 am by nero
Had not noticed this before but Fly 540 launched a Pan African website some time back that incorporates both Fly 450 Ghana and Fly540 Angola. According to a report by the Telegraph,Fly 540 was not offering Angolan flights contrary to widely circulated press reports that the airline had launched Angolan Flights and tickets were sold out.
Fly 540 is currently owned by a Lonrho/Stelios Consortium.
Fly 540 Pan African Website
Visit Fly 540 Africa Website Here
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After 20 year absence, first international airline(Turkish) Lands in Mogadishu
Posted: March 6, 2012, 6:58 am by nero
THE first long-distance international commercial airliner in some two decades to fly to Somalia's war-torn capital landed on its maiden flight at Mogadishu airport today.
The Turkish Airlines flight, with a high level delegation from Ankara led by Turkish deputy prime minister Bekir Bosdag, was welcomed on landing in the anarchic seaside capital by Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
"Today is big day for Somalia - Turkish Airlines made its first official flight to Somalia," said Somali government official Abdisalam Mohamud, adding that top leaders welcomed the flight to "commemorate the big event".
Several Somali airlines, including Kenya-based African Express, fly into Somalia from neighbouring nations, but Turkish Airlines' proposed twice-weekly flights are the first commercial flights from outside the region.
"The deputy prime minister of Turkey has officially opened the operations of the international carrier," Mohamud added.
Somalia has had no effective government since 1991 and in recent years al-Qaeda-allied Shabaab insurgents and other groups have taken an increasing hold on large parts of the country.
Security was tightened in Mogadishu ahead of the plane's arrival, with the main roads in neighbourhoods around the airport blocked by gangs of heavily armed policemen.
"Security is a major issue in Mogadishu so we are trying our best to assure that things go smoothly," said Somali police commander, Colonel Mohamed Adan.
"We are very happy to see this country gradually gaining international attention, a step on the road towards development," Adan added.
The airline's arrival was welcomed by Mogadishu residents, who said they hoped it would make it easier for relatives in the large Somali diaspora scattered around the world to come home to visit.
"Everybody is talking about Turkish Airlines," said Hidig Ali, a resident of Mogadishu. "This is a big deal, as it can help many people outside the country to come back and see their homeland and family."
"Turkish Airlines will encourage other international carriers to realize they, too, can operate in Somalia. It really is a major step towards development and we are happy today with Turkey," said Shamso Agey, another resident.
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Berlin Demands more Germans at Airbus
Posted: March 2, 2012, 3:04 pm by nero
The German government has sparked a furious row by calling on EADS, the European defence and aerospace group, to put more Germans in top posts at aircraft subsidiary Airbus or risk losing Berlin’s development aid and export-credit guarantees.
In an unprecedented attempt to influence operational decisions at EADS, deputy economics minister Peter Hintze wrote a letter to Tom Enders, Airbus’s German chief executive who will soon take the helm at EADS, to deplore an “unacceptable” bias towards French management and production in France and to demand “a reversal of this trend”.
The demands look set to give Mr Enders a rocky start when he succeeds Louis Gallois as EADS chief executive this spring, and threaten to make a mockery of their shared ambition to make EADS and Airbus “normal” companies free of political inference.
Airbus quickly and brusquely rejected the demands, saying the letter “spoke for itself” and was “not even a basis for any discussion” with Berlin. “Airbus is not going to play any games with questions of balance and proportionality,” it said.
The intervention by Mr Hintze, a close ally of Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, comes after Mr Enders said he was planning to move EADS’ headquarters from Munich and Paris to Toulouse, already home of Airbus, its most important unit.
Although the move is expected to involve no more than 300 people, the announcement revived fears in Germany that the company’s long-prized Franco-German balance was tipping in favour of France just after the German government agreed to take a 7.5 per cent stake in EADS from its co-founder Daimler, the German carmaker.
The German government’s unusually heavy-handed intervention looks set to kick-off another round of the kind of political mudslinging between France and Germany which many executives at EADS had hoped the company had finally put behind it.
With the French government holding 15 per cent and French media company Lagardère a further 7.5 per cent, EADS has been the focus of many an unseemly struggle with Germany, whose stake of 22.5 per cent is still controlled by Daimler.
The letter reflects the German government’s long-held frustration with EADS and Airbus, where it feels it has to maintain a close watch in the face of sometimes aggressive French industrial policy. But this has also drawn it into ever-deeper involvement, making it, as one official noted, “as French, or more French than the French”.
In his late-February letter, seen by the Financial Times, Mr Hintze complained that the €500m in aid Berlin put up for the development of the wide-body A350 aircraft had not led to the promised strengthening of Airbus’s German production sites in Hamburg and Bremen.
As a remedy, he demanded EADS and Airbus ensure “parity” of German and French executives in the “five top tiers” of both companies by January 2017 – and the relocation of some research and development from Toulouse to its two main German sites.
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Priceline may surpass Expedia to become the largest Online Travel Agency
Posted: February 28, 2012, 5:56 pm by nero
A report by PhoCusWright says Expedia might soon lose its standing as the world's top online travel agency to fast-charging Priceline. The study says Priceline could knock Expedia out of the No. 1 slot by year-end.Priceline has picked up speed the past several years from its successful penetration of Western Europe's travel market, where it's gaining consumers in Britain, Germany, France and other countries, says Carroll Rheem, PhoCusWright's research director.
"The real impact wouldn't be until 2013," Rheem said.
Priceline's been outpacing Expedia in global gross bookings since Q2 2010. It passed Expedia in international revenue last year, Rheem says. Read More
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Infographic: The evolution of online travel
Posted: February 28, 2012, 5:46 pm by nero
When many of us think of online travel agencies , we associate it with the automation and convenience online booking systems that allows us to plan thousands of miles of journeys from the convenience of our laptops.
We also imagine it as a relatively new phenomenon that emerged a few years ago, probably less than 5 years ago because that's when we started using them.
The truth is that automated booking systems have been with us since 1946 and American airlines, pioneers in commercial aviation, were also pioneers in developing the first electronic and automated booking systems.
The first Global Distribution System was built in 1976 in the UK.Today, GDS are at the centre of distribution of travel products be they flights, hotel bookings, car hire and other travel products. The first online travel website of note was Lonely Planet which was founded in 1995. The first online travel agency was definitely Expedia, founded ,in 1996 by Microsoft. These and much more rich facts are available in this well designed and informative infographic! Open the Infographic in a new tab for larger view:
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Dubai International Airport affected by landing congestion
Posted: February 26, 2012, 7:10 pm by nero
More aircraft are having to circulate and burn fuel above Dubai International at peak times as slot congestion rises according to a report by the Business Traveller Magazine.
Full report below:
The practice - well known to passengers travelling to London Heathrow and other key hubs - has spread to the Gulf's leading airport as it grapples with capacity constraints amid increasing growth. The airport handled 50.98 million passengers last year, up 8% on 2010.
One pilot said: "It's becoming a bigger problem. When you're flying an A380 around for half an hour waiting to land, that's a considerable add-on cost."
Emirates declined to comment.
Helen Woodrow, Dubai Airport's Head of Aeronautical Strategy, said there has been a rapid rise in demand for airspace capacity in the past five years, which has led to congestion at Dubai International Airport during peak periods.
Evenings and early mornings tend to be the busiest times as flights criss-cross from Asia and Europe, although many flights operate in the middle of the night.
"We are aware of this and are tackling the issue at multiple levels," she said.
"In the near term, changes to standard arrival and departure routes are currently pending regulatory approval. These changes are designed to enhance the efficiency with which flights to and from Dubai and our neighbouring airports are able to be handled by air traffic control."
She added there are several further phases of airspace development planned over the coming years which will focus not only on changing processes, but also on using emerging technologies such as 'performance based navigation'.Dubai International Airport
In the meantime, Dubai Airports is engaging with various stakeholder to ensure air routes are decongested, bottlenecks are reduced and latent airspace capacity - much of UAE airspace is reserved for military use - is unlocked.
"Unfortunately not all of the fixes required are under our control. Dubai Airports is actively participating in several national and regional forums with our industry partners such as CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation), the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, to work across borders to optimise the region’s airspace structure," she said.
Peak periods, by their very nature, are highly desirable by airlines who typically prefer to retain these slots.
But should the situation deteriorate then the 'plan B' option of switching more flights to Dubai World Central could be accelerated.
"We do anticipate slot constraints at Dubai will make Dubai World Central an increasingly attractive option for general aviation and cargo airlines in future," she said.
Planes circle for up to 55 hours a day over Heathrow, burning 190 tonnes of fuel and releasing 600 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Around 60% of arrivals at the airport are held in four holding stacks, according to figures released by air traffic control service Nats.
Post Courtesy
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Virgin Atlantic Increases Ghana Service
Posted: February 26, 2012, 6:41 pm by nero
Virgin Atlantic is to add two additional frequencies to its existing London Heathrow-Accra route from March 26.
The carrier will move to a five times-weekly service, citing growth of over 50 per cent in premium economy and Upper Class bookings on the route over the last six months.
The new flights will operate on Wednesday and Saturday, adding to existing services on Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Virgin launched flights to Ghana in May 2010, competing with British Airways on the Heathrow-Accra route
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Isthisyourluggage.com: Is this your Lost Luggage?
Posted: February 26, 2012, 12:31 pm by nero
So how has IsthisYourLuggage.com fared on three years after the launch? Not quite good. So far the website, has only a few luggage photos for unclaimed baggage. The website was founded in 2009 by Luna Laboo as a hobby to help passengers trace their lost luggage.
The website features photographs of luggage by the photographer who purchases the luggage from auction houses selling unclaimed baggage and puts their images on the internet in an effort to find the real owners.
Is this your Luggage?
The venture/hobby started on a high note but soon fizzled out though it could be good business given that over one million luggage are lost every year for good with passengers being paid a small compensation fee. Most of these passengers will never see the luggage again but a third party luggage retrieval service could offer them a ray of hope.
Given that the luggage normally cost between $20-$100 at baggage auction houses this could be a profitable venture if only you could trace the luggage owner and give them a second a chance to retrieve their baggage at a small fee slightly above the auction price plus shipping fee. So far, IsThisYourLuggage.com has only 7 bags displayed and it seems to have run out of steam some time ago although I still think with adequate funding, angel investments, it could ease the heartbreak of lost baggage.
On her hobby the founder Luna Laboo says in an interview, "It’s a little odd but not as odd as stamp collecting. Just a little harder to find storage space."
Get some luggage tips
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The Unclaimed Bagage Centre in Alabama, where some of your lost luggage end up in
Posted: February 26, 2012, 9:36 am by nero
Unclaimed Baggage Centre(UCB): A retail shopping adventure in unclaimed baggage
Ever wondered what happens to all your valuables in your baggage after making all the futile frantic calls and waiting for three months to no avail? The airline will in many cases compensate you for the loss, so what happens after the compensation? As has been discussed in previous three posts this week that are all about baggage handling, some of the unclaimed baggage will go to auction houses, some will end up in the hands of airline employees while some airlines will simply shred the luggage and discard it. Often airline employees will help themselves to a few valuables like jewellery, expensive watches, laptops and other valuables before confining the rest of it to the shredder.
However, in Alabama, in the United States , a family has created a thriving business out of unclaimed baggage by building the Unclaimed Baggage Centre(UCB). Since 1970, the Owens family has created a booming business out of buying luggage that the airlines cannot reconnect passengers and reselling the baggage contents-house slippers to diamond jewelry to harpoons — at a discount.Some of the goodies at the Unclaimed Baggage Centre
Many curious people from all over the world, including African countries like Kenya and South Africa, come to the Unclaimed Baggage Centre in Alabama to mull what unlucky travelers have lost.Over the last 42 years, the business has grown from a rented house to a 40,000 square foot facility that draws in nearly a million visitors every year!Unclaimed Baggage: What the travelers leave behind
Besides the bargains and the gawking factor, the Owenses attribute their success to their almost spiritual mission. “We take these misfit toys and put them back into society in a purposeful manner,” says director of marketing Brenda Cantrell.The Owens Family has built a successful business from Unclaimed Baggage since 1970
What happens to unclaimed baggage in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Egypt and other countries in Africa?
Get some tips on lost luggage
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Lost or Delayed Baggage Compensation, how does your airline treat you?
Posted: February 26, 2012, 9:00 am by nero
The issue of compensation for delayed baggage delivery or lost baggage is a hot issue for travelers and airlines. Many travelers often feel, deservedly so, that they should be paid compensation for an airline's mistakes that range from the mishandling of baggage, pilferage, damaged luggage or even lost baggage. But the reality is always much harsher and getting compensation is a difficult process. Airlines will only compensate travelers for damaged or lost luggage but will not compensate you for the stress and inconvenience caused by the delayed delivery of the luggage.
When it comes to baggage compensation claims, airlines normally behave like insurance companies. They will put utmost efforts to reduce their liabilities, including heaping the blame on you for loss of your baggage.
Get some tips on lost luggage
Baggage Claims for Delayed Luggage Delivery
Some airlines clearly state on their websites the amount of compensation that they will give to passengers in the event of delayed delivery of baggage. An example is Scandinavian airlines or Virgin Atlantic who clearly state on their website that they will provide compensation of £50 or up to £50 subject to the passenger providing evidence of expenditure as a result of the delayed baggage delivery. £50 is a very small compensation especially if you're going for a business meeting and the delay necessitates that you purchase personal items afresh to cater for your needs during the duration that the baggage is lost. For most airlines, no compensation will be due to you as long as your baggage arrives in one piece, even a month later!
The Montreal Convention sets out airlines' liabilities for passengers and their baggage and applies to international travel only although some countries are now enacting laws to cater for baggage mishandling on domestic flights. According to Montreal Convention for Destroyed, Lost or Delayed Baggage, the passengers do have rights when these woes have been caused by the airline or as a result of the airline's inadequacies.Lost baggage
To make claims for damaged baggage, ensure you report the claim for the damage within seven days of the receipt of the baggage. Many airlines have outlined procedures for filing these reports on their websites.
For delayed baggage claims, if the airline admits liability for the delay of the checked baggage and the baggage does not arrive within 21 days, then you are entitled to enforce your rights under the Montreal convention and demand compensation. Ensure that you file a complaint within 21 days from the date you received the baggage from the airline. There is however no liability for unchecked baggage, so the loss of your carry-on luggage is not covered under the Montreal convention.
For lost baggage, the various international treaties, Warsaw Convention, Hague Protocol, Montreal Protocol No 4 and IATA Inter-carrier Agreements do not specify any reporting time frame requirements thus giving airlines a window to enact rules that in many cases will limit their liabilities in case of lost luggage.
How much Compensation are you entitled to?
So how much are you entitled to? For claims of mishandled baggage, passengers are entitled to maximum of 1000 Special Drawing Rights which with the current exchange rates, amounts to a maximum of $643 irrespective of the contents of your baggage.
Normally, every case of a lost bag is evaluated individually and airlines will demand receipts for the contents of the baggage to back up your luggage claims which is normally not practical since we cannot have receipts for all the items that we travel with! In the absence of receipts, airlines will compensate you at their discretion(normally far below the actual value of lost items) or not compensate you at all. Compensation, if it happens, often does not reflect the value of items lost with your baggage. Airlines often ask for a list of items that were in the bag and original receipts as proof of their value like insurance companies would do during a claims settlement. Like insurance companies, their offer for compensation often does not match a claim in full because they have reduced payments on the grounds of depreciation of the value of the items in the bag.
The issue of baggage claims is still a grey area in international law and airlines will continue to interpret international laws in their favour and passengers will continue going through agony caused by incompetence of negligence o the airlines.
To be on the safe side, take a few precautions top increase the chance of tracing your luggage or getting a compensation from your airline where your baggage is irretrievably lost. The following book provides tips on
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Travel: What happens to lost your luggage
Posted: February 25, 2012, 8:24 pm by nero
While some airlines will auction your unclaimed luggage for "charity causes", your luggage may in many cases end up in the hands of airline employees who will help themselves to the loot after a fruitless search.
Your luggage could also end up on eBay. To learn more about what happens to your lost luggage and the process airlines undergo to try and retrace the luggage, read What happens to your luggage at the airport. At New Zealand's Christchurch International Airport, they have a much simpler and crude solution to the lost luggage without any form of identification. They simply destroy it, as captured by an AirAsia passenger below:
For tips on taking care of your luggage, you can visit here and purchase some valuable travel resources:
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What happens to lost luggage at the airport?
Posted: February 25, 2012, 8:10 pm by nero
When traveling by air, passengers check in their luggage with the assurance that they will meet their luggage when they arrive at their destination. But for some passengers, this always ends in a lot of headaches where it takes days or even weeks to trace your luggage as pieces of luggage may end in a different destination entirely. In some cases, the luggage is lost for good, never to be seen again. This is especially so in airports where luggage theft is common or instances where the luggage does contain any form of identification. So what happens to this lost luggage?
Many airlines will try the utmost best to reunite the passengers with their luggage although this can be a very difficult task at times. The first step that an airline will take to try and trace your luggage is look for any obvious contact details attached or inside the luggage. So the airline employees will open the luggage and check it through for any form of identification among your items. If no obvious contact details such as names, business cards, IDs, dairies are found in your luggage, most airlines will then turn to the World Tracer System to assist in the recovery of the bags. At this time, you have probably reached your destination and tired of making frantic calls to your airline for luggage inquiries. If you've flown with a reputable airline with a professional service, then there is no needs to worry at this time. Your luggage could still be traced, it could have flown to the wrong airport on the other side of the world. The World Tracer System integrates data from multiple airlines globally to try and match bags with their owners. From the moment you report that your luggage is missing, 100 days will be spent trying to trace your lost items. The system will look to match tag numbers with baggage type, colour and brand within the database, and when a match is made, the item will be forwarded on a "rush tag" to the nearest airport to you, and delivered directly to your contact address, be it your home or hotel. This is a happy ending to a terrible ordeal that happens in most cases but in some cases, the luggage just disappear into thin air and are not traceable even after three months of searching.
A small percentage of luggage is normally not reunited with their owners even after the 100 day period. These sadly are normally auctioned off by airlines in theory but in many cases, they end up with airline employees who divide the loot. So if you have ever wondered where you nice uncle working at the airport gets all these exotic presents, then now you know.
For professional airlines, lost luggage always end up in auction houses where the proceeds from the auctions are supposedly used to fund charitable causes but this is normally a small and secret part of airline operations and not many airlines will reveal the causes they fund with the proceeds from the lost luggage from some unlucky traveler.
Some airlines will remove high value items like laptops, expensive suits and watches and sell them separately while the vast contents of the luggage are normally packed and sold as a package.In many cases, bidders have no idea what they are getting into when they place bids for bags but many will join the bid for the thrill of it. The practice is quite popular in some countries that bidders don't even care what they will lay their hands on in the auction. Many bidders resell the items on portals like eBay while some keep them as souvenir.
It's normally assumed that by the time your luggage enters an auction house, the airline has exhausted all options to retrace your luggage over the 100 day period but it has been revealed that many airlines do a very shoddy job in the process Some of the people who buy lost luggage at auction houses have been known to find contact details and other forms of identification in the luggage meaning some airlines are not very diligent in tracing the luggage owner. It also not known where the proceeds from luggage auctions go to, or what causes it funds. In some cases, airline workers have reported some unscrupulous airlines that rush luggage to auction houses before the 100 day period has even elapsed, meaning the search is aborted early and not given due consideration.
It is clear there's no guarantee that your luggage will arrive with you in your destination and tragically enough, there's no guarantee that it will be traced and brought back to you should it get lost during your flight. You can increase your chances of tracing your luggage by making sure your contact details are clearly visible both outside and inside the case. Failing that, you can take a chance by visiting auction houses where lost luggage, your invaluable possession, is auctioned to strangers who will in turn sell it in bits and pieces to anonymous people on eBay! In many cases, airline employees will help themselves to your valuables.
You might not stop your luggage from getting lost but there are few precautions you can take to ensure you get a soft landing in case you lose your luggage during your travel:
- Buy Travel Insurance: You can get better settlements from reputable travel insurers like TravelGuard .
- Use Secure Identity tag on your bags: One of the main reasons you might lose your luggage is because the airline's identity stickers fall off. Buy Quality Luggage Tags here or ease of identification.
- Don't pack your bags too tightly: Bags stuffed full of clothing and other personal items are more likely to break and be damaged as they move through the airline's baggage handling system.
How does your favorite airline handle lost luggage? Ensure you make inquiries next time you travel!
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FastJet: Sir Stelios Plans West African Venture
Posted: February 24, 2012, 12:33 pm by nero
15 Jets to link six West African countries to Accra Ghana, future expansion into the rest of Africa to create an "African EasyJet"
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is planning to launch his new airline venture in west Africa in the coming months with up to 15 jets in what may eventually become an African version of EasyJet, the UK low-cost carrier he founded.
Sir Stelios is poised to report the results of a feasibility study run by his EasyGroup management team for Rubicon, a cash shell which raised £9m in a December placing to fund the launch of the airline, to be called Fastjet.
The study is expected to recommend that Fastjet link about six west African countries to Accra, the Ghanaian capital. Two people familiar with the study said that up to 15 aircraft could be leased initially. If successful, Fastjet will eventually expand across Africa, they added, to become the first pan-African low-cost carrier.FastJet: West African Venture
“There’s a very serious plan to make Rubicon into a very serious low-cost carrier,” said David Lenigas, a Rubicon board member and chairman of Lonrho, the pan-African conglomerate.
“One of the attractions is that west Africa is very poorly served other than with national carriers that don’t have the proper models to do regional low-cost service,” said Geoffrey White, Lonrho chief executive and also a Rubicon board member. “The initial assumption could look to have 5m passengers a year passing through Ghana.”
Lonrho owns a 12.7 per cent stake in Rubicon and also runs Fly540, a low-cost airline that operates regionally in east Africa and domestically in Ghana and Angola.
“There’s probably going to be an association with Fly540 in Ghana and it will make the whole thing bigger and a whole lot better,” said Mr Lenigas.
Rob Burnham, chairman of Rubicon, said there was space for collaboration with Fly540 but cautioned against suggestions of a reverse takeover on grounds that the airline did not have a jet fleet. “That doesn’t fit with our long-term plans, but Fly540 does operate in Ghana and it does have some infrastructure that could be of use for us in launching this.”
On speculation that Fastjet could rapidly expand throughout the whole of Africa, Sir Stelios tried to damp down expectations. “The concept works best on short flights of about one to two hours,” he told the Financial Times. “This company has to learn how to walk before it can run.”
Sir Stelios said that he has not yet decided whether he will invest directly in Rubicon. Earlier reports suggested that Sir Stelios was planning on making a $500m investment in Fastjet.
In December, Rubicon received exclusive branding rights for Fastjet from EasyGroup for 12 months in exchange for a payment of £480,000, a 5 per cent stake in the company and further royalty fees.
A day ahead of a much anticipated showdown over bonus pay with EasyJet executives, Sir Stelios said that Fastjet would not violate the terms of his non-compete agreements with EasyJet. “Even if it is still in force, it has a very narrow restriction in time and geography,” he added.
Source Financial Times
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Sky Team launches Go Africa Pass
Posted: February 24, 2012, 11:48 am by nero
Global airline alliance SkyTeam has launched a new Go Africa Pass, providing cost savings and flexibility on flights operated by Kenya Airways within Africa. Kenya Airways flies to 45 destinations in 36 countries in Africa.
The pass is available to business and leisure travelers flying with any of SkyTeam’s 15 member airlines on an intercontinental round-trip to Africa or a Go Round the World ticket.
Customers purchasing a Go Africa Pass can opt from a minimum of three to a maximum of 16 flight coupons. Fares are calculated based on the number of miles flown non-stop, offering discounts of up to 75 per cent off standard fares, depending on the itinerary.SkyTeam Go Africa Pass
Coupons have no minimum stay, open-jaw itineraries are permitted and passengers can stop in each city multiple times. According to the SkyTeam alliance, this gives passengers complete flexibility to plan their trips. The Go Africa Pass is available for sale, for travel starting on or after March 1.
“With continued demand for travel to and within Africa, SkyTeam’s Go Africa Pass complements our already comprehensive network of flights from key global cities to major African destinations,” said Jerome d’Anglejan, SkyTeam’s director of sales. “The Go Africa Pass enables passengers to explore Africa’s full potential by increasing their travel options throughout the continent.”
Kenya Airways operates flights to Nairobi from Hong Kong and Guangzhou in the Greater China Region, as well as from cities in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Other SkyTeam airlines with services to Africa include Air France, Alitalia, KLM and Delta Air Lines. Korean Air will start services to Nairobi in June. Future members Saudi Arabian Airlines and MEA also fly to Africa.
SkyTeam’s Go Africa Pass is one of a number of travel passes created by the alliance to offer flexible, economical travel to its global passengers. SkyTeam passes include Go Round the World, Go China, and Go Europe. Customers can contact their local SkyTeam airline, reservation center or travel agent for details and bookings.
The Go Africa Pass, market by Kenya Airways, must be issued in connection with a SkyTeam round trip, open jaw, or round-the-world ticket originating outside Africa with a destination in Africa. These tickets can include frequent-flyer reward tickets.
Reservations for all flights must be completed before departure. Fares per coupon are based on the distance flown. The infant fare is 10 per cent of the regular and for children aged 2 to 11, the child fare is 75 per cent of the fare.
Travel must be completed within the validity of the intercontinental /round-the-world ticket. There is no limit on stop-overs. All bookings are in economy class.
Rebooking and revalidation is not permitted for the first flight. For subsequent flights, rebooking/ and revalidation is permitted free of charge. There is a no-show charge of US$50. Voluntary re-routing is permitted for a fee of US$50 plus any fare difference and no refund applies.
Other SkyTeam Passes include Go Asia, Go America, Go Europe, Go China, Go Italy, Go Mexico
Details of Sky Team Go Africa Pass
Discover the incredible diversity that Africa has to offer while enjoying complete flexibility in your travels.
Whether for business or pleasure, traveling in Africa will be an unforgettable experience. From spotting the 'Big 5' in the most magnificent wildlife parks, hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro, trying couscous in a Moroccan Kasbah, or enjoying a 'Braai' on a South African beach; the continent is waiting for you to discover its charm.
And one easy, economical ticket can get you there. The Go Africa Pass offers you a choice of 45 destinations throughout Africa, giving you plenty of choice when planning your itinerary.
Travel at Your Own Pace
To be eligible to purchase the SkyTeam Go Africa travel pass, all you need to do is buy an international ticket to Africa on any SkyTeam airline that services the continent. Another starting point can be the Round the World Pass, which you can purchase from any of SkyTeam’s 15 member airlines. Then, simply book your first flight within Africa on Kenya Airways at least 3 days before your international departure. SkyTeam Go Africa allows you to go at your own pace travel whenever you are ready for your next discovery.
Terms and Conditions
Carrier: Marketed and operated by Kenya Airways.
Eligibility: Must be issued in connection with a SkyTeam round trip/open jaw/round-the-world ticket originating outside Africa with a destination in Africa, including frequent flyer reward tickets.
Number of coupons: min 3, max 16 coupons.
Reservation: Reservations for all flights must be completed before departure.
Ticketing: Ticketing time limit applies.
Fares: Fares per coupon are based on the distance flown.
Infants and children’s fares: Infant 10% of the fare, Child 2-11, 75% of the fare.
Maximum stay: Travel must be completed within the validity of the intercontinental /round-the-world ticket.
Stopovers: No limit.
Class of service: Economy class.
Changes: 1st flight - Rebooking/revalidation not permitted. Subsequent flights: Rebooking/revalidation permitted free of charge, no show charge of USD50 applies. Voluntary rerouting permitted at USD50 plus any fare difference, no refund applies.
Baggage allowance: Rules of operating carrier apply.
Frequent Flyer: Terms and conditions of respective programs apply.
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Moscow: 29 nations sign declaration against EU Emissions Trading System
Posted: February 23, 2012, 4:12 am by nero
Several countries, including China and the US, have joined Russia in signing a joint declaration against the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) carbon tax on foreign carriers, which took effect Jan.1 this year.
The declaration was signed at the Moscow international conference by Armenia, Argentina, Republic of Belarus, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, China, Cuba, Guatemala, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and the US.
China has formally banned its airlines from participating in the scheme without government approval.
The declaration also listed several retaliatory measures that included filing a complaint with ICAO, prohibiting airlines from participating in the EU ETS, mandating EU carriers to submit flight details and other data, assessing whether the EU ETS is consistent with the WTO agreements, and reviewing bilateral air services agreements. Other countermeasures include suspending negotiations that enhance operating rights for EU airlines and imposing additional levies on EU carriers.
It also gives other countries the latitude to create other retaliatory measures in compliance with their own legislative bases.
Russian deputy minister for transport Valeriy Okulov said Russia is planning to prohibit its local carriers from paying for emissions. The declaration could pass in the first half of 2012.
Okulov also said that Russia could reinstate overflight fees on routes over Siberia. The fees were introduced by the Soviet Union in 1986 to compensate for traffic that Aeroflot lost to foreign carriers. The payments were made part of bilateral air services agreements between member states and the Russian Federation. In 2006, the EU and the Russian Federation agreed to phase out costly Siberian overflight fees by 2013.
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Velvet Sky Airlines Ready to Fly Again
Posted: February 23, 2012, 3:51 am by nero
Velvet Sky Airlines confirmed today(Thursday Morning) that its flights were delayed due to disputes with service providers.The airline had not paid South African Airways Technical and other service providers including Shell service fees.
On Wednesday hundreds of passengers were left stranded at Cape Town International Airport after several flights were delayed for hours.
Dozens of commuters who had booked their flights were left in the lurch and stranded at airports across the country.
Velvet Sky's Gary Webb said that the dispute with one of their service providers was resolved during the course of Wednesday night. The airline has promised to compensate all passengers who were affected by the flight cancellations yesterday. Here's a message posted on their Twitter profile:
Webb also said the company did not have certification of the agreement until today.
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IATA: Africa sees growth in Business and First Class Travel
Posted: February 21, 2012, 5:05 pm by nero
Yet more positive news for the air travel market in Africa. In the year 2011, the growth in first class and business class air travel on intercontinental flights from Africa to Europe, the Far East and the Middle East dipped according to the latest IATA survey.
In Africa, the opposite was true. Business and First Class travel rose within Africa and between Africa and the South West Pacific area.
Business Travel within Africa grew by 2.9%
Decline in Premium Travel in European, M.Eastern and the Far Eastern Routes
Premium travel fell by 7.9 percent between Africa and the Far East, by 5.7 percent between Africa and the Middle East and by 4.8 percent between Africa and Europe. But it rose by 9.6 percent between Africa and the southwest Pacific(Fiji, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Cook Islands) and by 2.9 percent within Africa.
Worldwide, the report shows that air travel in both premium and economy markets rose in December, with premium travel increasing by 3.7 percent, compared with the same month the previous year, and economy travel by 7.4 percent.
IATA economists suggested that this was due to an improvement in business confidence, which had “turned up in the past two months, and is pointing to increased business activity. As a result we would expect some increase in business travel lending some support to premium travel in the months ahead. “However, growth risks from the euro zone debt crisis remain.”
Despite this, the report continued, “a leading indicator of premium travel growth – the purchasing managers’ index of business confidence – signals an optimistic outlook for premium travel markets in coming months”. “Changes in business confidence have been a good early indicator of changes in premium travel growth, leading them by up to six months.
“The index has now clearly turned and broken through the neutral level into expansion territory, indicating likely improvements in premium travel growth in coming months.”
Commenting on the drop in travel between Africa and the Far East and Middle East, the report pointed out that these routes “previously experienced strong growth from increased investments and trade but now shows weakness”.
However, it said that travel within Africa “has proved to be very resilient with good economic growth rates in a number of countries on the continent facilitating strong travel activity”.
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South African Airports handled 30 million passengers in the last 10 months
Posted: February 21, 2012, 4:19 pm by nero
According to the latest figures from the Airports Company of South Africa(ACSA), airports in South Africa handled an estimated 30 million passengers between April 2011 and January 2012 indicating a healthy aviation market in South Africa in spite of the tough economic times globally.
According to ACSA, the air traffic received a huge boost over the summer period at the Cape Town International Airport where international passenger travel increased by 12% in November last year and 17% in December and January this year, compared to the same periods a year earlier.
More than 5-million passengers passed through King Shaka International Airport last year and the increase in passengers was driven in part by the launch of flights by Velvet Sky Airlines.OR Tambo International Airport
New routes from King Shaka have been opened, including a flight to Lusaka, Zambia and a route to Dallas, Texas. Demand for flights to other African countries proved resilient last year with demand for premium and economy class tickets rising at near double-digit rates.
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Tunisia: Syphax Airlines to launch flights in March
Posted: February 21, 2012, 4:05 pm by nero
According to information received from the authorities in the Tunisian Ministry of Transport, the country's newest airline, Syphax Airlines, will launch flights in mid-March, operating from Sfax-Thyna International Airport in Eastern Tunisia.
The transport ministry is currently studying the modalities for allowing the private airline to operate from the airport. Syphax Airlines will operate two aircraft, Airbus A319, to provide regular and charter flights to European and Arab countries.
Syphax Airlines
In January 2012, Syphax Airlines announced the signing of an agreement of $55million for the acquisition of two Airbus A319 aircraft, each with a capacity of 150 passengers. Recently, Tunisia's Telnet Holdings invested in the new airline venture.
The company said that delivery of the first plane to the International Sfax Thyna airport will be made on February 29, 2012 and the second delivery on March 14, 2012.
The two aircraft will provide eight daily flights from the Sfax-Thyna International Airport to Tripoli (Libya), Morocco, France, Italy, Belgium and Turkey.
The establishment of Syphax Airlines brings to five the number of Tunisian airlines. The others include Tunisair (publicly-held), Nouvelair, Tunisair Express and Tunisavia.
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South Africa: Five ACSA employees fired over luggage theft
Posted: February 21, 2012, 3:36 pm by nero
The Airports Company of South Africa(ACSA) has fired five employees in the last week over luggage theft at the OR Tambo International Airport.
The employees were caught red-handed after a recent security upgrade at the airport.
“ACSA is pulling out all the stops to combat luggage theft. Incidents of luggage theft and tampering have dropped by one third over the past two years,” Assistant general manager of airport operations Tebogo Mekgoe told media.
He said ACSA spent about R7.2 million a year on luggage security measures.
Incidents of luggage tampering at the airport have declined from 18 out of 1000 passengers who departed in January 2010, to 10,4 out of 1000, a year later.Luggage Tampered with at the airport
Los Angeles and London Heathrow Airport are some of the worst airports in the world with highest incidents of luggage theft and tampering.
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TAAG Angola Airlines increases flights to Beijing
Posted: February 21, 2012, 3:18 pm by nero
TAAG Angola Airlines will increase frequencies on its Luanda-Beijing line.
The Angolan airline will go from 1 to 2 flights per week to the Chinese capital as of March 26, 2012. The Flights will be operated by Boeing 777-200ER.
The schedule for the route will be as follows:
DT690 LAD0715 – 0415+1PEK 772 14
DT691 PEK0700 – 1700LAD 772 25
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Lonelier Planet: Solo-travel trend continues to rise
Posted: February 20, 2012, 4:17 pm by nero
Tour operators and hotels are noting a significant increase in solo travelers within their customer base and are taking steps to further accommodate this growing travel niche.
There are plenty of reasons why one would want to travel alone. Sometimes a frequent travel partner isn’t available. Other times people simply crave quiet and solitude. For these and many other reasons, solo travel has become a growing niche over the past few years, and agents, tour operators and cruise lines are adjusting the way they do business in order to accommodate the new trend and the new travelers.
Last year, tour operator Abercrombie & Kent launched a dedicated solo travel division that waived or greatly reduced supplements and fees for solo travelers, and saw a 26 percent increase in this niche for the last three quarters of the year. Bob Simpson, A&K’s vice president of product planning and business development, feels that this bump contributed significantly to the company’s overall profits for the year. A full 11 percent of its overall client base is now people traveling alone. Simpson estimates that 50 percent of the company’s solo travelers are not part of the single travel program, but sign up for a regular excursion.Hotels and booking agents are seeing an increase in the trend of solo travel
Get the full story at Travel Agent Central
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The Hidden Cost of Africa's Air Traffic Boom
Posted: February 19, 2012, 4:55 pm by nero
The rush to take flight may be ignoring more democratic transportation infrastructure.
Republished from the Atlantic Cities
A thick man in a green military getup will not let me see the future. The trouble is, I can see it already. Just past a forest of hulking baobabs, and 45 minutes from Senegal’s capital city, a telltale air traffic control tower looms over a dusty, 25,000-hectare construction site. If its builders have their way, the tower will soon direct traffic for five million air passengers every year.
Africa’s newest airport is named for Blaise Diagne, a Senegalese politician and the first African to serve in the French National Assembly, beginning in 1914. It’s a fitting tribute: Diagne would have relished the idea of hopping from Paris to Dakar and back with 21st century ease.
Work on the ambitious, $400 million project began in 2007, with inaugural flights slated for 2012. The project is nowhere near completion, but represents a bold play for airspace in west Africa and beyond: over four miles of runway are under construction (the current offering in central Dakar is half that size.)
Blaise Diagne International Airport (BDIA) is part of an exploding trend on the continent: air travel. Taking flight seems an elegant solution to a prominent African problem. The lamentable road infrastructure across many countries slows the formation of trade distribution networks, restricts movement for ordinary people, and subjects road-dependent economies to price shocks when the cost of fuel spikes. What’s more, tens of thousands of annual road accidents amount to a ruthless theft of African lives.The eye-catching Blaise Diagne International Airport airport will be the operational headquarters of the country's new flag carrier, Senegal Airlines.
Contrasted with flight maps from a decade ago, the proliferation of new routes connecting Africa to itself is astonishing. Once, traveling from Nairobi to Nouakchott required a pit-stop in Europe. Today, those cities, as well as Accra and Lagos, Lagos and Lusaka, Lusaka and Johannesburg are connected by direct flights. You can board a plane in Addis Ababa and wake up in Washington, D.C. The days of sporadic domestic flights on rickety carriers (one memorable flight to Abuja on the defunct Shanshangi Airlines comes to mind) are over; new low-cost, high quality carriers like Fly540, OneTime and Arik Air repeat the EasyJet model, puddle hopping across Africa. Senegal is using its pending airport as a selling point for new national carrier Senegal Airlines, a successor to the now-bankrupt Air Senegal International.
As a frequent passenger, I’ve personally welcomed the new air infrastructure in Africa. For increasingly international businesses, deal-making and due diligence for investors just got easier. BDIA’s projected 5 million annual passengers will enjoy refreshingly simplified access to the Americas, Europe, and Asia—and vice versa. American professor John Kasarda coined the word aerotropolis—conurbations built around an airport. In the book he co-authored with Greg Lindsay on the subject, they note that, “in the area of globalization, we choose cities drawing closer together themselves, linked by fiber optic cables and jet aircraft.” Africa, where high-speed web and mobile connections have already taken off like a hockey stick, is now poised to fulfill the second part of that prediction.
But is this really good from a development perspective? Senegal’s future airport is being built and will be run with foreign help, from the Saudi Bin Laden Group and a German administrator, and it’s clear the depopulated towns surrounding the airport have yet to see a boom. Still, there are hopes that the airport will improve local economic life. Moussigna, a 56-year old Senegalese man who had come with friends to view the construction project, praised its foresight. “It’s a vision for the future,” he says. “We’ve got to have long term projections for this region to grow.” Perhaps more importantly, BDIA anchors a triangle of mid-sized Senegalese cities—Dakar, Mbour and Thiess—which should enjoy tertiary benefits of airport traffic. A short distance from the fancy coastal villas of Toubab Diallo and just past the spartan village of Kirène, the project offers something for everyone—or so the government attests.
Nevertheless, the pattern of technological “leapfrogging” that has so excited Africa-watchers of late carries a hidden danger. The rise of mobile phones rendered landline telephones obsolete. Innovations in mobile banking, or seed production, use new tools to provide new means of wealth creation for ordinary people. For better or worse, (and for public or profit), these previous innovations have been populist. By contrast, air travel risks leapfrogging the ordinary person entirely.
An example: I traveled nearly 300 kilometers by road to Saint-Louis, the former capital of French West Africa (from which Diagne represented Senegal). While the trip was once possible by train, the national rail network—also offering passage to neighboring Mali and Guinea—has been out of service for years. To fill the gap in reliable transport, a private operator is now offering daily flights from Dakar to Saint-Louis, but at rates that dwarf the average monthly salary in Senegal. The state is in the midst of a 655-kilometer road renewal project, but even once its completed, ordinary Senegalese are likely to be stuck with crowded, unreliable buses, overloaded cargo trucks, or out-of-reach airplanes.
Still, the airline industry here is experiencing a boom. Incumbent Ethiopian, South African, and Kenya Airways will give the rejuvenated Senegal Airlines a run for its money. Rwanda—a landlocked, tiny nation with ambitions toward grandeur—is also heavily investing in an air-based economy, and its national carrier, Rwandair.
It’s perfectly sensible for landlocked, overlooked and less populous African nations to reach for the skies. It follows the trajectory of more developed countries; Norway, for example, jump-started its economic growth once new shipping routes lowered barriers to exporting the average person’s goods.
But the rush to take flight may be ignoring more democratic transportation infrastructure. In the short term, planes simply do not create enough popular opportunity. Doctors, lawyers, businesspeople - they can export their services by airplane. Farmers and miners cannot. It’s no easy feat to fly cement, lumber, oil, medicine, or large harvests. For these and other development necessities, you need good roads, good rails and good networks of people. The craze for air travel may erode all three. While airlines grease the wheels of the briefcase set, it’s up to local government to ensure that these shiny new planes don’t enable the elite at the expense of the average citizen.
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The Hidden Cost of Africa's Air Traffic Boom
Posted: February 19, 2012, 4:55 pm by nero
The rush to take flight may be ignoring more democratic transportation infrastructure.
Republished from the Atlantic Cities
A thick man in a green military getup will not let me see the future. The trouble is, I can see it already. Just past a forest of hulking baobabs, and 45 minutes from Senegal’s capital city, a telltale air traffic control tower looms over a dusty, 25,000-hectare construction site. If its builders have their way, the tower will soon direct traffic for five million air passengers every year.
Africa’s newest airport is named for Blaise Diagne, a Senegalese politician and the first African to serve in the French National Assembly, beginning in 1914. It’s a fitting tribute: Diagne would have relished the idea of hopping from Paris to Dakar and back with 21st century ease.
Work on the ambitious, $400 million project began in 2007, with inaugural flights slated for 2012. The project is nowhere near completion, but represents a bold play for airspace in west Africa and beyond: over four miles of runway are under construction (the current offering in central Dakar is half that size.)
Blaise Diagne International Airport (BDIA) is part of an exploding trend on the continent: air travel. Taking flight seems an elegant solution to a prominent African problem. The lamentable road infrastructure across many countries slows the formation of trade distribution networks, restricts movement for ordinary people, and subjects road-dependent economies to price shocks when the cost of fuel spikes. What’s more, tens of thousands of annual road accidents amount to a ruthless theft of African lives.The eye-catching Blaise Diagne International Airport airport will be the operational headquarters of the country's new flag carrier, Senegal Airlines.
Contrasted with flight maps from a decade ago, the proliferation of new routes connecting Africa to itself is astonishing. Once, traveling from Nairobi to Nouakchott required a pit-stop in Europe. Today, those cities, as well as Accra and Lagos, Lagos and Lusaka, Lusaka and Johannesburg are connected by direct flights. You can board a plane in Addis Ababa and wake up in Washington, D.C. The days of sporadic domestic flights on rickety carriers (one memorable flight to Abuja on the defunct Shanshangi Airlines comes to mind) are over; new low-cost, high quality carriers like Fly540, OneTime and Arik Air repeat the EasyJet model, puddle hopping across Africa. Senegal is using its pending airport as a selling point for new national carrier Senegal Airlines, a successor to the now-bankrupt Air Senegal International.
As a frequent passenger, I’ve personally welcomed the new air infrastructure in Africa. For increasingly international businesses, deal-making and due diligence for investors just got easier. BDIA’s projected 5 million annual passengers will enjoy refreshingly simplified access to the Americas, Europe, and Asia—and vice versa. American professor John Kasarda coined the word aerotropolis—conurbations built around an airport. In the book he co-authored with Greg Lindsay on the subject, they note that, “in the area of globalization, we choose cities drawing closer together themselves, linked by fiber optic cables and jet aircraft.” Africa, where high-speed web and mobile connections have already taken off like a hockey stick, is now poised to fulfill the second part of that prediction.
But is this really good from a development perspective? Senegal’s future airport is being built and will be run with foreign help, from the Saudi Bin Laden Group and a German administrator, and it’s clear the depopulated towns surrounding the airport have yet to see a boom. Still, there are hopes that the airport will improve local economic life. Moussigna, a 56-year old Senegalese man who had come with friends to view the construction project, praised its foresight. “It’s a vision for the future,” he says. “We’ve got to have long term projections for this region to grow.” Perhaps more importantly, BDIA anchors a triangle of mid-sized Senegalese cities—Dakar, Mbour and Thiess—which should enjoy tertiary benefits of airport traffic. A short distance from the fancy coastal villas of Toubab Diallo and just past the spartan village of Kirène, the project offers something for everyone—or so the government attests.
Nevertheless, the pattern of technological “leapfrogging” that has so excited Africa-watchers of late carries a hidden danger. The rise of mobile phones rendered landline telephones obsolete. Innovations in mobile banking, or seed production, use new tools to provide new means of wealth creation for ordinary people. For better or worse, (and for public or profit), these previous innovations have been populist. By contrast, air travel risks leapfrogging the ordinary person entirely.
An example: I traveled nearly 300 kilometers by road to Saint-Louis, the former capital of French West Africa (from which Diagne represented Senegal). While the trip was once possible by train, the national rail network—also offering passage to neighboring Mali and Guinea—has been out of service for years. To fill the gap in reliable transport, a private operator is now offering daily flights from Dakar to Saint-Louis, but at rates that dwarf the average monthly salary in Senegal. The state is in the midst of a 655-kilometer road renewal project, but even once its completed, ordinary Senegalese are likely to be stuck with crowded, unreliable buses, overloaded cargo trucks, or out-of-reach airplanes.
Still, the airline industry here is experiencing a boom. Incumbent Ethiopian, South African, and Kenya Airways will give the rejuvenated Senegal Airlines a run for its money. Rwanda—a landlocked, tiny nation with ambitions toward grandeur—is also heavily investing in an air-based economy, and its national carrier, Rwandair.
It’s perfectly sensible for landlocked, overlooked and less populous African nations to reach for the skies. It follows the trajectory of more developed countries; Norway, for example, jump-started its economic growth once new shipping routes lowered barriers to exporting the average person’s goods.
But the rush to take flight may be ignoring more democratic transportation infrastructure. In the short term, planes simply do not create enough popular opportunity. Doctors, lawyers, businesspeople - they can export their services by airplane. Farmers and miners cannot. It’s no easy feat to fly cement, lumber, oil, medicine, or large harvests. For these and other development necessities, you need good roads, good rails and good networks of people. The craze for air travel may erode all three. While airlines grease the wheels of the briefcase set, it’s up to local government to ensure that these shiny new planes don’t enable the elite at the expense of the average citizen.
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Picture: Kenya Airways Plane in Sky Team Livery!
Posted: February 19, 2012, 3:29 pm by nero
Isn't it cute? A Kenya Airways B737-700 aircraft will fly the Sky Team colours reflecting the Kenyan carrier's status as the only African representative of the global Airline Alliance.
Bigger image hereKenya Airways aircraft in Sky Team Livery
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Picture: Kenya Airways Plane in Sky Team Livery!
Posted: February 19, 2012, 3:29 pm by nero
Isn't it cute? A Kenya Airways B737-700 aircraft will fly the Sky Team colours reflecting the Kenyan carrier's status as the only African representative of the global Airline Alliance.
Bigger image hereKenya Airways aircraft in Sky Team Livery
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Dropped from the Skies: African Airlines that went under in the last decade
Posted: February 19, 2012, 1:27 pm by nero
Air Afrique
Ghana AirwaysAir Gabon went bankrupt in 2006
Air Senegal InternationalCameroon Airlines, Camair went under in 2008 under financial difficulties and financial issues. The successor airline Camair-Co began operations in 2011.
Air Senegal International ceased operations in 2009 after after 38 years in the sky. The successor airline Senegal Airlines took to the skies in 2011.
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Dropped from the Skies: African Airlines that went under in the last decade
Posted: February 19, 2012, 1:27 pm by nero
Air Afrique
Ghana AirwaysAir Gabon went bankrupt in 2006
Air Senegal InternationalCameroon Airlines, Camair went under in 2008 under financial difficulties and financial issues. The successor airline Camair-Co began operations in 2011.
Air Senegal International ceased operations in 2009 after after 38 years in the sky. The successor airline Senegal Airlines took to the skies in 2011.
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Former CEO: Nigerian Airways could have been salvaged
Posted: February 19, 2012, 12:04 pm by nero
Former Nigeria Airways(NAL) CEO Major General Olu Bajowa has stated that the airline could have survived its financial troubles in the last decade due its robust assets and bilateral service agreements.
According to the former CEO, the airline was not dead as it was painted, which was the excuse used to liquidate and sold it. The former CEO added that NAL had tremendous human and material assets, locally, regionally and internationally that could have helped defray some of its debts, rather than the outright liquidation by the Obasanjo civilian administration.
“NAL had assets in Europe, UK, America, African countries to offset the liability it purportedly acquired. The various routes its aircraft were flying as the national carrier and the Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) it entered into with other international airlines then were enough for its sustainability.The defunct Nigeria Airways
The huge resources from BASA and its annual subvention from the Ministry of Aviation then should have formed part of what could have bailed it out then or in the alternative entered into operations with mega airlines such s as the British airways or other international airlines, the former NAL CEO in the 1980s said, adding that the airline was the country’s pride.
Mr Bajowa was speaking at the launch of the book "Nigerian Civil Aviation: Decade of Security, Safety and Passenger Comfort Development" by Oba Olufemi Adewunmi Ogunleye, an event that was also attended by the former President under whose administration the Nigeria Airways was liquidated Mr Olusegun Obasanjo who contended that there was no way for the airline to have survived profitably as it was run by various boards of directors who were perennially corrupt. Obasanjo said NAL was a huge drain to government funds.Former Nigeria Airways Employees protest the liquidation of the airline 2003
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Former CEO: Nigerian Airways could have been salvaged
Posted: February 19, 2012, 12:04 pm by nero
Former Nigeria Airways(NAL) CEO Major General Olu Bajowa has stated that the airline could have survived its financial troubles in the last decade due its robust assets and bilateral service agreements.
According to the former CEO, the airline was not dead as it was painted, which was the excuse used to liquidate and sold it. The former CEO added that NAL had tremendous human and material assets, locally, regionally and internationally that could have helped defray some of its debts, rather than the outright liquidation by the Obasanjo civilian administration.
“NAL had assets in Europe, UK, America, African countries to offset the liability it purportedly acquired. The various routes its aircraft were flying as the national carrier and the Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) it entered into with other international airlines then were enough for its sustainability.The defunct Nigeria Airways
The huge resources from BASA and its annual subvention from the Ministry of Aviation then should have formed part of what could have bailed it out then or in the alternative entered into operations with mega airlines such s as the British airways or other international airlines, the former NAL CEO in the 1980s said, adding that the airline was the country’s pride.
Mr Bajowa was speaking at the launch of the book "Nigerian Civil Aviation: Decade of Security, Safety and Passenger Comfort Development" by Oba Olufemi Adewunmi Ogunleye, an event that was also attended by the former President under whose administration the Nigeria Airways was liquidated Mr Olusegun Obasanjo who contended that there was no way for the airline to have survived profitably as it was run by various boards of directors who were perennially corrupt. Obasanjo said NAL was a huge drain to government funds.Former Nigeria Airways Employees protest the liquidation of the airline 2003
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DR Congo Suspends two airlines after Gulfstream IV N2SA Crash
Posted: February 19, 2012, 11:30 am by nero
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended the licenses of two aviation companies operating in the country after one of their planes crashed last week killing a top adviser to President Kabila and four others.
Minister of Transport Joseph Martin Kitumba said in a statement released late Tuesday that the licenses of Air Katanga Express and Katanga Wings had been suspended as Congolese and American experts investigate the crash of the Gulfstream 3 jet.
The Katanga Express plane went down Sunday as it attempted to land at Bukavu airport in eastern Congo. Among the five bodies pulled out of the wreck was Augustin Katumba Mwanke, described in United States diplomatic cables as "the power behind the throne" in Kabila's administration, according to WikiLeaks.The Gulfstream IV crash in Bukavu
The plane's two pilots were also killed. There were 10 passengers on board.
The minister announced that a special commission will investigate the causes of the crash. Congo has one of the worst safety records in the world. Just two weeks ago, an Antonov plane crashed after it left the same airport in eastern Congo. Officials found the debris from the destroyed plane around 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the town of Namoya, where it was supposed to land an hour later.
Last July a plane operated by a different airline crashed, killing 85 people on board. The forested country has almost no good roads outside of the capital, forcing people to rely on badly-maintained flights or boats.
Each time, Congolese officials have promised an investigation. The death of the presidential adviser, who on Wednesday was posthumously awarded an honor, may finally prompt a more-in depth review. In addition to Mwanke, who was also the former governor of copper-rich Katanga province, the minister of finance, a provincial governor and one of Kabila's at-large ambassadors were also injured. The three were evacuated to South Africa for treatment.
"Given the urgency and the necessity, an investigative commission has been created and charged with leading an investigation into the probable cause of the accident, and determining responsibility," said the statement.
Congo expert Jason Stearns wrote on his blog that Mwanke's influence cannot be overstated. He had a direct hand in the country's mining contracts.
"He was the mastermind behind crucial financial deals, including most of the big mining deals concluded in the past decade. ... 'No mining contract is signed without Katumba's approval,' is a phrase I heard more than once among Kinshasa businessmen," wrote Stearns, author of a history of Congo's conflict. "Rasputin, Dick Cheney, eminence grise -- these were all epithets applied to Katumba."
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DR Congo Suspends two airlines after Gulfstream IV N2SA Crash
Posted: February 19, 2012, 11:30 am by nero
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended the licenses of two aviation companies operating in the country after one of their planes crashed last week killing a top adviser to President Kabila and four others.
Minister of Transport Joseph Martin Kitumba said in a statement released late Tuesday that the licenses of Air Katanga Express and Katanga Wings had been suspended as Congolese and American experts investigate the crash of the Gulfstream 3 jet.
The Katanga Express plane went down Sunday as it attempted to land at Bukavu airport in eastern Congo. Among the five bodies pulled out of the wreck was Augustin Katumba Mwanke, described in United States diplomatic cables as "the power behind the throne" in Kabila's administration, according to WikiLeaks.The Gulfstream IV crash in Bukavu
The plane's two pilots were also killed. There were 10 passengers on board.
The minister announced that a special commission will investigate the causes of the crash. Congo has one of the worst safety records in the world. Just two weeks ago, an Antonov plane crashed after it left the same airport in eastern Congo. Officials found the debris from the destroyed plane around 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the town of Namoya, where it was supposed to land an hour later.
Last July a plane operated by a different airline crashed, killing 85 people on board. The forested country has almost no good roads outside of the capital, forcing people to rely on badly-maintained flights or boats.
Each time, Congolese officials have promised an investigation. The death of the presidential adviser, who on Wednesday was posthumously awarded an honor, may finally prompt a more-in depth review. In addition to Mwanke, who was also the former governor of copper-rich Katanga province, the minister of finance, a provincial governor and one of Kabila's at-large ambassadors were also injured. The three were evacuated to South Africa for treatment.
"Given the urgency and the necessity, an investigative commission has been created and charged with leading an investigation into the probable cause of the accident, and determining responsibility," said the statement.
Congo expert Jason Stearns wrote on his blog that Mwanke's influence cannot be overstated. He had a direct hand in the country's mining contracts.
"He was the mastermind behind crucial financial deals, including most of the big mining deals concluded in the past decade. ... 'No mining contract is signed without Katumba's approval,' is a phrase I heard more than once among Kinshasa businessmen," wrote Stearns, author of a history of Congo's conflict. "Rasputin, Dick Cheney, eminence grise -- these were all epithets applied to Katumba."
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Ethiopian Airlines to use the Dreamliner in the Johannesburg Route
Posted: February 19, 2012, 9:20 am by nero
Ethiopian Airlines will deploy the B787 Dreamliner on the Johannesburg Route from June this year according to the Global Distribution System(GDS) timetable for the airline.
Reports Airline Route
ET’s Boeing 787 seats 270, including 24 Cloud 9 Business Class and 246 Economy Class.
Planned Boeing 787 operation as follows. Although routes mentioned below are now opened for reservation, there is a chance for 787 inaugural date to be altered pending on delivery time frame.
Routes to be serviced by the Dreamliner will include Addis-Dubai, Addis-Johannesburg, Addis-Guangzhou, Addis-Harare and Addis-Lusaka.
Addis Ababa – Dubai eff 15JUN12 ET600/601 operates with 787, replaces 767/77L (EXCEPT 16AUG12 – 15SEP12)
ET600 ADD2215 – 0300+1DXB 787 D
ET601 DXB0435 – 0740ADD 787 D eff 16JUN12
Addis Ababa – Johannesburg eff 15JUN12 Daily 787 service replaces Boeing 767
ET809 ADD0850 – 1330JNB 787 D
ET808 JNB1420 – 2050ADD 787 D
Addis Ababa – Guangzhou eff 15AUG12 Daily nonstop flight replacing Boeing 767 via Bangkok
ET606 ADD0030 – 1515CAN 787 D
ET607 CAN2300 – 0600+1ADD 787 D
Addis Ababa – Harare eff 18SEP12 Service operates Day x246, replacing 767-300 (Day 246 with 737-800; this route from 16SEP12 operates nonstop in both direction)
ET873 ADD0920 – 1245HRE 787 x246
ET872 HRE1440 – 1955ADD 787 x246
Addis Ababa – Lusaka eff 18SEP12 Service operates on Day 246, replacing 767 (this route from 16SEP12 to operate nonstop in both direction)
ET883 ADD0910 – 1215LUN 787 246
ET882 LUN1500 – 2005ADD 787 246
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Ethiopian Airlines to use the Dreamliner in the Johannesburg Route
Posted: February 19, 2012, 9:20 am by nero
Ethiopian Airlines will deploy the B787 Dreamliner on the Johannesburg Route from June this year according to the Global Distribution System(GDS) timetable for the airline.
ET’s Boeing 787 seats 270, including 24 Cloud 9 Business Class and 246 Economy Class.
Planned Boeing 787 operation as follows. Although routes mentioned below are now opened for reservation, there is a chance for 787 inaugural date to be altered pending on delivery time frame.
Routes to be serviced by the Dreamliner will include Addis-Dubai, Addis-Johannesburg, Addis-Guangzhou, Addis-Harare and Addis-Lusaka.
Addis Ababa – Dubai eff 15JUN12 ET600/601 operates with 787, replaces 767/77L (EXCEPT 16AUG12 – 15SEP12)
ET600 ADD2215 – 0300+1DXB 787 D
ET601 DXB0435 – 0740ADD 787 D eff 16JUN12
Addis Ababa – Johannesburg eff 15JUN12 Daily 787 service replaces Boeing 767
ET809 ADD0850 – 1330JNB 787 D
ET808 JNB1420 – 2050ADD 787 D
Addis Ababa – Guangzhou eff 15AUG12 Daily nonstop flight replacing Boeing 767 via Bangkok
ET606 ADD0030 – 1515CAN 787 D
ET607 CAN2300 – 0600+1ADD 787 D
Addis Ababa – Harare eff 18SEP12 Service operates Day x246, replacing 767-300 (Day 246 with 737-800; this route from 16SEP12 operates nonstop in both direction)
ET873 ADD0920 – 1245HRE 787 x246
ET872 HRE1440 – 1955ADD 787 x246
Addis Ababa – Lusaka eff 18SEP12 Service operates on Day 246, replacing 767 (this route from 16SEP12 to operate nonstop in both direction)
ET883 ADD0910 – 1215LUN 787 246
ET882 LUN1500 – 2005ADD 787 246
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Korongo Airlines: Brussels Airlines gets permits for the DR Congo Subsidiary
Posted: February 19, 2012, 8:47 am by nero
Brussels Airlines has received the necessary documentation from the government authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to set up a local subsidiary in that country.
According to information from Brussels Airlines, the new airline will be called Korongo Airlines and will be set up in partnership with investment company George Forrest International and other private investors. It will operate on regional routes in the Central African country, as well as to several other cities including Johannesburg.
It's expected that Korongo Airlines will now begin operations in March or April this year, according to an article in a Belgian newspaper. Two years ago, Brussels Airlines and mining magnate George Forrest formed a partnership to form an airline that would provide domestic flights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Korongo Airlines: "Korongo" is Swahili for migratory birds
It was expected that an airline formed by Brussels Airlines would earn the trust of the Congolese traveling public as the existing local airlines have very poor safety records and have been involved in numerous accidents that have claimed several lives. DR Congo's airlines have always been christened "Flying Coffins" due to their poor safety records.
According to Brussels Airlines, many businessmen, UN officials and aid workers in the Congo have repeatedly asked for a safe airline for flights between towns and cities in the vast Central African country that's estimated to be the size of Western Europe and without a proper road network. A local Brussels Airlines subsidiary will also provide travelers from the Congo the convenience of easy connections to international flights on Brussels Airlines.
The ambitions of Brussels Airlines and George Forrest were long crippled by bureaucratic obstacles. Late last year, the airline and George Forrest International invested $11 million in Korongo Airlines but had faced vehement opposition by the aviation Union leaders in Belgium and the opposition in the DR Congo.Mining magnate George Forrest made his fortune in the Democratic Republic of Congo's brutal mines
According to George Forrest, the way is now clear for the launch of the newest bird in the Skies of the Congo: "We now have all authorizations to the last signature" He continued, "We have a few weeks for our structure to start,"
Korongo Airlines will use Lubumbashi, the capital of Katanga Province as its hub.
The news of the breakthrough is positive for Congo and the Congolese aviation fraternity. Korongo Airlines will definitely usher in some assurance of safety to the chaotic and dangerous Congolese aviation scene that has claimed thousands of lives.
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Korongo Airlines: Brussels Airlines gets permits for the DR Congo Subsidiary
Posted: February 19, 2012, 8:47 am by nero
Brussels Airlines has received the necessary documentation from the government authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to set up a local subsidiary in that country.
According to information from Brussels Airlines, the new airline will be called Korongo Airlines and will be set up in partnership with investment company George Forrest International and other private investors. It will operate on regional routes in the Central African country, as well as to several other cities including Johannesburg.
It's expected that Korongo Airlines will now begin operations in March or April this year, according to an article in a Belgian newspaper. Two years ago, Brussels Airlines and mining magnate George Forrest formed a partnership to form an airline that would provide domestic flights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Korongo Airlines: "Korongo" is Swahili for migratory birds
It was expected that an airline formed by Brussels Airlines would earn the trust of the Congolese traveling public as the existing local airlines have very poor safety records and have been involved in numerous accidents that have claimed several lives. DR Congo's airlines have always been christened "Flying Coffins" due to their poor safety records.
According to Brussels Airlines, many businessmen, UN officials and aid workers in the Congo have repeatedly asked for a safe airline for flights between towns and cities in the vast Central African country that's estimated to be the size of Western Europe and without a proper road network. A local Brussels Airlines subsidiary will also provide travelers from the Congo the convenience of easy connections to international flights on Brussels Airlines.
The ambitions of Brussels Airlines and George Forrest were long crippled by bureaucratic obstacles. Late last year, the airline and George Forrest International invested $11 million in Korongo Airlines but had faced vehement opposition by the aviation Union leaders in Belgium and the opposition in the DR Congo.Mining magnate George Forrest made his fortune in the Democratic Republic of Congo's brutal mines
According to George Forrest, the way is now clear for the launch of the newest bird in the Skies of the Congo: "We now have all authorizations to the last signature" He continued, "We have a few weeks for our structure to start,"
Korongo Airlines will use Lubumbashi, the capital of Katanga Province as its hub.
The news of the breakthrough is positive for Congo and the Congolese aviation fraternity. Korongo Airlines will definitely usher in some assurance of safety to the chaotic and dangerous Congolese aviation scene that has claimed thousands of lives.
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Air Cemac ends ties with South African Airways, looking for new strategic partner
Posted: February 19, 2012, 8:12 am by nero
Air Cemac, a proposed airline for the Central African region has terminated its air services agreement with South African Airways and is now shopping for new partnerships within the next one month.
The accord has ended suddenly as a result of "deep differences of opinion" between Air Cemac and the South African Airways management.
Air Cemac is an initiative of the heads of states of nations in the Central African region to create a regional, mainly privately held airline to foster regional integration and easier travel in the Central African region.Air Cemac shopping for new Strategic Partners
Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad, which are shareholders in Air Cemac, agreed to base the airline in Brazzaville, Congo.
With so many suitors in the African aviation industry, Air Cemac will not be shopping for long.
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Protecting your data as you travel
Posted: February 19, 2012, 6:00 am by nero
Our last post on cybersecurity at the airport and on board some aircraft that offer on board connectivity dealt with rogue Wi-Fi hotspots and the measures you can take to protect your laptop from hackers. This post will deal with a bigger problem of information security throughout your travel itinerary and how you can protect yourself from data loss or even data theft during your travel.
Wi-Fi access points still play a major role as they are the entry points to your data that hackers, cybercriminals and the individuals involved in cyber espionage. The other option is when your laptop is stolen. So these miscreants have two gateways to your information. Free Wi-Fi is the most important amenity amongst Business Travelers, according to a survey done by American Airlines and HP in 2009. In fact business travelers responded that Wi-Fi was the "most important airport amenity, outscoring basic travels needs such as food by nearly 30 percentage points."
For many of these travelers, the convenience of accessing free Wi-Fi at the airport lounge outweighs the risks of hacking and information theft. But this depends on the position in the pecking order. The loss of information by a high flying executive or government agent is definitely quite expensive!Information security and travel: Travelers needs to place more efforts in safeguarding their data.
Even for an "ordinary" business traveler, there are risks associated with malware installed via rogue Wi-Fi access points that might cost you lots of data and hundreds of dollars to restore your data and remove the malware.
According to a study conducted by the Ponemon Institut, the physical loss of devices, and the accompanying combination of replacement cost, detection, forensics, data breach, lost intellectual property costs, lost productivity, and legal, consulting and regulatory expenses sets a company back an average of $49,246 per lost laptop! Lost laptops with encryptionhttp://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4596185367102352450&postID=4789261814681384493 however cost companies only $20,000, which is 29,000 less than for an unencrypted laptop. Encrypted disks however safeguard data by scrambling information on them. They unlock that information only when the user enters the proper passcode.
Tips for Safeguarding your data during your travelThere are a few simple steps that you can take to ensure your data is safe during your travel. Travel can be a headache and who wants an extra head ace post travel? Use the following steps to safeguard your data and ensure a smooth and safe Wi-Fi access as you hop from one city to another in your business travels:
- Use an encrypted disk to safeguard the information on your laptop or smart phone and make sure you log off of your computer when you're not using it.In most cases when you hibernate your computer, its memory is recorded unencrypted. You can also use a free software called TrueCript(http://www.truecrypt.org) that allows you to encrypt the content of your local drive and on USB Flash drives.
- Turn off your wireless and Bluetooth connections if you're not using them. These are electronic gateways into your devices and as long as they are on, hackers can scan for open Wi-Fi peer to peer connections and gain access to your files. Hackers can use software like Aerodump to quickly figure out the existing wireless access points. Woo unto you if yours is one of them and you are not well armed to fend off attacks.
- Use an anti-glare shield on your computer to prevent others from spying on your screen. With such shields, you must be face-to-face with the screen to be able to read it.
- Regularly back up the data on your laptop or smart phone. Several companies offer backup services, but you can also save information on other computers and disks. Even if your data is encrypted- eliminating your fear of sensitive information getting stolen -backing up the data will make it easy to transfer to a new phone or laptop.
- If you lose your smart phone and don't want others to access your information, call your provider and request that the device be wiped of information. There also exist security software that allows you to send a text message to your phone that will remotely wipe it and block others from accessing its content.
- To ensure that you're visiting an authentic Web site and not getting duped by a phishing scheme, some experts suggest logging onto those sites through your company's VPN connection.
- Be vigilant to avoid losing or forgetting your laptop at the lounge. Avoid sleeping or taking a nap with the laptop on your lap; place the laptop on your lap instead of a table when using it as it's much easier to forget the laptop on the table but impossible to forget to carry it with you when it's on your lap :)
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Protecting your data as you travel
Posted: February 19, 2012, 6:00 am by nero
Our last post on cybersecurity at the airport and on board some aircraft that offer on board connectivity dealt with rogue Wi-Fi hotspots and the measures you can take to protect your laptop from hackers. This post will deal with a bigger problem of information security throughout your travel itinerary and how you can protect yourself from data loss or even data theft during your travel.
Wi-Fi access points still play a major role as they are the entry points to your data that hackers, cybercriminals and the individuals involved in cyber espionage. The other option is when your laptop is stolen. So these miscreants have two gateways to your information. Free Wi-Fi is the most important amenity amongst Business Travelers, according to a survey done by American Airlines and HP in 2009. In fact business travelers responded that Wi-Fi was the "most important airport amenity, outscoring basic travels needs such as food by nearly 30 percentage points."
For many of these travelers, the convenience of accessing free Wi-Fi at the airport lounge outweighs the risks of hacking and information theft. But this depends on the position in the pecking order. The loss of information by a high flying executive or government agent is definitely quite expensive!Information security and travel: Travelers needs to place more efforts in safeguarding their data.
Even for an "ordinary" business traveler, there are risks associated with malware installed via rogue Wi-Fi access points that might cost you lots of data and hundreds of dollars to restore your data and remove the malware.
According to a study conducted by the Ponemon Institut, the physical loss of devices, and the accompanying combination of replacement cost, detection, forensics, data breach, lost intellectual property costs, lost productivity, and legal, consulting and regulatory expenses sets a company back an average of $49,246 per lost laptop! Lost laptops with encryptionhttp://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4596185367102352450&postID=4789261814681384493 however cost companies only $20,000, which is 29,000 less than for an unencrypted laptop. Encrypted disks however safeguard data by scrambling information on them. They unlock that information only when the user enters the proper passcode.
Tips for Safeguarding your data during your travelThere are a few simple steps that you can take to ensure your data is safe during your travel. Travel can be a headache and who wants an extra head ace post travel? Use the following steps to safeguard your data and ensure a smooth and safe Wi-Fi access as you hop from one city to another in your business travels:
- Use an encrypted disk to safeguard the information on your laptop or smart phone and make sure you log off of your computer when you're not using it.In most cases when you hibernate your computer, its memory is recorded unencrypted. You can also use a free software called TrueCript(http://www.truecrypt.org) that allows you to encrypt the content of your local drive and on USB Flash drives.
- Turn off your wireless and Bluetooth connections if you're not using them. These are electronic gateways into your devices and as long as they are on, hackers can scan for open Wi-Fi peer to peer connections and gain access to your files. Hackers can use software like Aerodump to quickly figure out the existing wireless access points. Woo unto you if yours is one of them and you are not well armed to fend off attacks.
- Use an anti-glare shield on your computer to prevent others from spying on your screen. With such shields, you must be face-to-face with the screen to be able to read it.
- Regularly back up the data on your laptop or smart phone. Several companies offer backup services, but you can also save information on other computers and disks. Even if your data is encrypted- eliminating your fear of sensitive information getting stolen -backing up the data will make it easy to transfer to a new phone or laptop.
- If you lose your smart phone and don't want others to access your information, call your provider and request that the device be wiped of information. There also exist security software that allows you to send a text message to your phone that will remotely wipe it and block others from accessing its content.
- To ensure that you're visiting an authentic Web site and not getting duped by a phishing scheme, some experts suggest logging onto those sites through your company's VPN connection.
- Be vigilant to avoid losing or forgetting your laptop at the lounge. Avoid sleeping or taking a nap with the laptop on your lap; place the laptop on your lap instead of a table when using it as it's much easier to forget the laptop on the table but impossible to forget to carry it with you when it's on your lap :)
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The dangers of rogue Wi-Fi Hotspots in Airports
Posted: February 19, 2012, 4:59 am by nero
Just when you thought your troubles were over after long immigration queues, a delayed flight, cancelled flights, congestion, long immigration queues,extra baggage fees, intrusive security screening there is just one more problem you might endure before you finally board your flight, rogue Wi-Fi access points in airport lounges!
Many travelers are only too happy to settle at the lounge for a few moments online to do some business, write a few reports, reply to a few emails before a long flight and update friends and family via social media before boarding flight. Sometimes, delayed flights might force travelers to wait for hours in an airport lounge. To easen the burden and anxiety on travelers, many airports have installed free Wi-Fi hotspots on airport lounges to enable travelers to get online before boarding the aircraft.
What you might not know is that hackers and cybercriminals might also be sitting in the same lounge, masquerading as free public Wi-Fi providers to gain access to travelers laptops and steal private information, read your emails, your bank account details, reports and more private information.Free Wi-Fi at the airport comes with the dangers of rogue Wi-Fi access points
These fake Wi-Fi hotspots are called "rogue Wi-Fi" as it's not the official Wi-Fi provided by the airport but an illegal local network set up to infiltrate your information. It's very difficult for a traveler to differentiate between a good internet access point and a rogue network.
The traveler's laptop will simply provide list of Wi-Fi spots available and the traveler will randomly connect to one of the available options, especially if it has a 'familiar' name like "Airport Wi-Fi" or "free Airport-Wi-Fi". It's virtually impossible for the traveler to determine which is which and therein lies the loophole that hackers and cybercriminals exploit.
Many airport security are not trained in monitoring rogue Wi-Fi Access Points in the airport and are in many cases more concerned with the more important task of ensuring physical security at the airport to prevent the next underwear bomber from slipping past the airport security system.
This gives the hackers a free ride in the airport. They might just be your regular guy using their laptop while in the real sense, they are actually setting up a rogue Wi-Fi access point.
As a traveler, it's safe to connect to Facebook, Twitter or other social networks but exercise great caution when performing online transactions which will require you to enter your credit card information! One sure way to exercise caution is ascertain the true identity of the legitimate airport Wi-Fi by for example asking around and connecting to only those networks whose identities you trust. Make sure that your communication is secure, disconnect the wireless when you stop using it, and maintain the list of wireless connections that you use on your laptop so that you don't accidentally connect to networks that may spring up when you're traveling.
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The dangers of rogue Wi-Fi Hotspots in Airports
Posted: February 19, 2012, 4:59 am by nero
Just when you thought your troubles were over after long immigration queues, a delayed flight, cancelled flights, congestion, long immigration queues,extra baggage fees, intrusive security screening there is just one more problem you might endure before you finally board your flight, rogue Wi-Fi access points in airport lounges!
Many travelers are only too happy to settle at the lounge for a few moments online to do some business, write a few reports, reply to a few emails before a long flight and update friends and family via social media before boarding flight. Sometimes, delayed flights might force travelers to wait for hours in an airport lounge. To easen the burden and anxiety on travelers, many airports have installed free Wi-Fi hotspots on airport lounges to enable travelers to get online before boarding the aircraft.
What you might not know is that hackers and cybercriminals might also be sitting in the same lounge, masquerading as free public Wi-Fi providers to gain access to travelers laptops and steal private information, read your emails, your bank account details, reports and more private information.Free Wi-Fi at the airport comes with the dangers of rogue Wi-Fi access points
These fake Wi-Fi hotspots are called "rogue Wi-Fi" as it's not the official Wi-Fi provided by the airport but an illegal local network set up to infiltrate your information. It's very difficult for a traveler to differentiate between a good internet access point and a rogue network.
The traveler's laptop will simply provide list of Wi-Fi spots available and the traveler will randomly connect to one of the available options, especially if it has a 'familiar' name like "Airport Wi-Fi" or "free Airport-Wi-Fi". It's virtually impossible for the traveler to determine which is which and therein lies the loophole that hackers and cybercriminals exploit.
Many airport security are not trained in monitoring rogue Wi-Fi Access Points in the airport and are in many cases more concerned with the more important task of ensuring physical security at the airport to prevent the next underwear bomber from slipping past the airport security system.
This gives the hackers a free ride in the airport. They might just be your regular guy using their laptop while in the real sense, they are actually setting up a rogue Wi-Fi access point.
As a traveler, it's safe to connect to Facebook, Twitter or other social networks but exercise great caution when performing online transactions which will require you to enter your credit card information! One sure way to exercise caution is ascertain the true identity of the legitimate airport Wi-Fi by for example asking around and connecting to only those networks whose identities you trust. Make sure that your communication is secure, disconnect the wireless when you stop using it, and maintain the list of wireless connections that you use on your laptop so that you don't accidentally connect to networks that may spring up when you're traveling.
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26 nations meet in Moscow next week to discuss ETS Retaliatory measures
Posted: February 17, 2012, 12:31 pm by nero
26 powerful nations dubbed the coalition of the unwilling amongst them China, India, the United States and Russia will meet in Moscow next week to look for a coordinated retaliation against the EU Emissions Trading System that went into force in January this year.
The EU introduced a unilateral measure to add aviation into its Emissions Trading System, a move that will force even foreign airlines landing or taking off in Europe to acquire permits corresponding to the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during the entire flight — regardless of where it originated or ended or the nationality of the airline.
Emissions Trading System: Time for some hard talk?
The measures have been vehemently opposed by China, US and Russia amongst other nations but Europe believes these countries are not their best friends when it comes environmental issues and has vowed not to back down(or to be intimidated into backing down) on the implementation of its ETS.
The countries will adopt a few hard measures to force Europe to back down. According to the New York Times, "Those countermeasures include following China’s lead in banning its airlines from paying the charges unless and until the Chinese government grants permission; imposing punitive levies on European airlines when they fly over other countries’ air space; reviewing bilateral and “open skies” agreements covering such things as landing rights and market access, and freezing consideration of any new routes or capacity, according to a draft discussion paper seen by the International Herald Tribune on Friday.
In addition, the paper calls on governments to consider reopening trade agreements in sectors other than aviation and to freeze trade negotiations as a way of “putting pressure on E.U. industries.” The meeting would “send a very strong signal to our E.U. friends that other countries are really angry and really preparing something strong,” said a Chinese diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue. "
EU has said it would adapt its law if ICAO comes up with a global solution. According to the EU Spokesperson for Climate Action Isaac Valero-Ladron: "A solution is clear: rather than asking for the suspension of the only functioning system that exists to address aviation's carbon emissions, we'd like to see the countries criticising the EU come forward with concrete suggestions, in the framework of ICAO, for an even better, global solution,"
Read More
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26 nations meet in Moscow next week to discuss ETS Retaliatory measures
Posted: February 17, 2012, 12:31 pm by nero
26 powerful nations dubbed the coalition of the unwilling amongst them China, India, the United States and Russia will meet in Moscow next week to look for a coordinated retaliation against the EU Emissions Trading System that went into force in January this year.
The EU introduced a unilateral measure to add aviation into its Emissions Trading System, a move that will force even foreign airlines landing or taking off in Europe to acquire permits corresponding to the amount of greenhouse gases emitted during the entire flight — regardless of where it originated or ended or the nationality of the airline.
Emissions Trading System: Time for some hard talk?
The measures have been vehemently opposed by China, US and Russia amongst other nations but Europe believes these countries are not their best friends when it comes environmental issues and has vowed not to back down(or to be intimidated into backing down) on the implementation of its ETS.
The countries will adopt a few hard measures to force Europe to back down. According to the New York Times, "Those countermeasures include following China’s lead in banning its airlines from paying the charges unless and until the Chinese government grants permission; imposing punitive levies on European airlines when they fly over other countries’ air space; reviewing bilateral and “open skies” agreements covering such things as landing rights and market access, and freezing consideration of any new routes or capacity, according to a draft discussion paper seen by the International Herald Tribune on Friday.
In addition, the paper calls on governments to consider reopening trade agreements in sectors other than aviation and to freeze trade negotiations as a way of “putting pressure on E.U. industries.” The meeting would “send a very strong signal to our E.U. friends that other countries are really angry and really preparing something strong,” said a Chinese diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue. "
EU has said it would adapt its law if ICAO comes up with a global solution. According to the EU Spokesperson for Climate Action Isaac Valero-Ladron: "A solution is clear: rather than asking for the suspension of the only functioning system that exists to address aviation's carbon emissions, we'd like to see the countries criticising the EU come forward with concrete suggestions, in the framework of ICAO, for an even better, global solution,"
Read More
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Kenya Airways to fly a Boeing 737 in Sky Team Colours
Posted: February 16, 2012, 8:08 am by nero
Kenya Airways has painted one of its Boeing 737-700 aircraft in SkyTeam livery to signify its position as Africa’s representative to the global airline alliance.
The aircraft will have SkyTeam branding on its tail and fuselage in addition to the Kenya Airways logo thus symbolizing the mutual benefits of the partnership.
SkyTeam membership allows Kenya Airways passengers access to over 926 destinations in 173 countries and over 490 lounges globally. Through Kenya Airways, SkyTeam partner airline passengers can access the former’s expansive destination network in Africa.The Kenya Airways Sky Team livery
Kenya Airways Chief Executive, Dr Titus Naikuni, noted that “Our partnership with SkyTeam will enable us to consolidate our presence in the African and global markets in line with our 10-year Growth Plan.” Dr. Naikuni added that Kenya Airways was a key strategic member in SkyTeam by being Africa’s sole representative with access to 45 destinations in Africa and 11 in the rest of the world. “SkyTeam is a compelling proposition that enables partner airlines to offer customers additional connections across the globe,” added Dr Naikuni. The SkyTeam livery on the Kenya Airways’ aircraft is also a symbol of the airline’s commitment not only to the alliance but also to delivering high quality service to its customers.China Airlines spotting a Sky Team livery
The SkyTeam Livery design was inspired by the alliances logo and features a dark blue SkyTeam logo on the tail fin, the blue SkyTeam ribbon wrapped around the back portion of the white fuselage, the SkyTeam name in large, dark blue letters along the front side of the aircraft fuselage Kenya Airways placed below it.
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Mango Airlines Innovative Banner Campaign
Posted: February 16, 2012, 5:46 am by nero
South Africa's Low cost airlines are known for their innovative products and advertising. Remember Kulula and its Flying 101 or Kulula versus FFA ads in the run up to the 2010 World Cup? One South Africa LCC, Mango Airlines, has taken outdoor advertising to a new level. The airline contracted a new agency late last year called Airbone for its new launch strategy.
An 800sqm Mango Airlines banner ad was displayed from a helicopter on beaches in Kwa Zulu Natal and Western Cape to holiday makers.
Below are photos of their spectacular January marketing campaign:
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Indian Airlines staff not paid for two months!
Posted: February 15, 2012, 11:59 pm by nero
Indian Airlines are seeing red!
Indian airlines have been faced by an unprecedented financial woes since last year and some have been unable to pay their staff since November last year! Some 18,000 staff of two major Indian airlines have not been paid since November 2011, according to report from India's The Economic Times.
On Monday this week, Kingfisher Airlines delayed payments for the umpteenth time for its December salaries citing "large unanticipated payments" issued by their airline to creditors. Employees of Jet Airways, India's largest private carrier, have not been paid their January salaries.
KIngfisher Airlines Crew: Working without pay
Kingfisher Airlines CEO Sanjay Aggarwal in an email to employees informed them of the new delays in the issue of salaries "We got hit by a couple of large unanticipated payments which had to be addressed on an emergency basis," Kingfisher last paid employees in November last year. About 180 Kingfisher pilots, out of the airline's 700, have written to the management warning that they may not report duty if their December salaries are not paid soon.
Stiff competition in the market, rising fuel costs and low fares means Indian Airlines have posted a loss of $1 billion in the current financial year. Boeing has urged the cash-strapped carriers to increase fares by 15% to break even but with the brutal competition on the Indian aviation market, this is not even an option!
But the Indian airlines crew still report to work, hoping for the best. Staff from African airlines are quite lucky that their airlines are churning out a profit, they get paid on time, and still demand more salary increases!
Read Full story on the Economic Times
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Qatar Executive Bombardier Global 5000 business jet Showcased at Singapore Air Show
Posted: February 14, 2012, 11:25 pm by nero
SINGAPORE – Qatar Airways’ corporate jet division, Qatar Executive, is showcasing its Bombardier Global 5000* business jet at this week’s Singapore Air Show, the largest aerospace event in Asia.
With its aircraft participation at the five-day trade show starting today (February 14), Qatar Executive reinforces its strategy to tap into up-and-coming markets, presenting its Qatar Executive product and service for the first time to the Asian audience.
Taking place until February 19 at the Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC) close to Singapore Changi Airport, the bi-ennial show hosts over 900 leading aviation industry companies, including industry professionals, global stakeholders and aviation enthusiasts from across 50 countries worldwide.
Qatar Executive Bombardier Global 5000 business jet being Showcased at this week’s Singapore Air Show
The Global 5000 jet, which is on static display for the entire show, is part of Qatar Executive’s wholly-owned Bombardier fleet of six long-range business jets.
Qatar Executive’s ultra-long Global 5000 aircraft has 13 seats and a comfortable two cabin configuration – forward cabin with four seats and a four place conference table. The rear cabin has two single seats, a three-person divan and private aft lavatory. The aircraft is equipped with large monitors, surround sound and communications equipment, as well as Wi-fi connection, making it a true “office in the sky”.
Apart from the two Global 5000 jets, Qatar Executive also has three Bombardier* Challenger 605* jets and a Global Express* XRS* aircraft – one of the most accomplished and luxurious business jets in the sky, making it the youngest fleet of business aircraft in the Gulf, with an average age of just over one year.
With its ultra-modern fleet, Qatar Executive is able to fly passengers throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, North America and even Australia, offering the ultimate jet-setting experience for those who prefer to fly at their own schedule in comfort.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “We look forward to showcasing our Global 5000 business jet for the first time at the Singapore Air Show. Knowing that the business aviation sector is experiencing significant growth in Asia, it is a great opportunity to present Qatar Executive’s top-end service for individual and flexible air travel to the travelling public across Asia.
“The Asian market continues to be at the forefront of wealth creation, minting millionaires at a faster pace than any other region in the world. And we are confident that the exclusive travel experience
we provide onboard our luxurious jets, will exceed the expectations of the most discerned clientele also in this part of the world.”
Customer response towards the interior cabins of the Global 5000 aircraft has indeed been extremely positive.
Added Al Baker: “The high ceiling, the space inside, the finish, the capabilities of the in-flight entertainment system and the positioning of the high-quality leather sofas and seats, has made the aircraft type extremely popular among our customers.”
Customers flying onboard Qatar Executive’s fleet can enjoy not just personalised service and a virtually unlimited range of onboard amenities, but also the hassle-free experience of not having to queue at airports and wait long hours for connecting flights as they decide where they want to fly, at the time of their choice.
Being part of a well-established full service global network airline of Five-star ranked Qatar Airways, Qatar Executive customers can be rest assured to receive the highest standards of travel in terms of quality, exclusivity, comfort and confidentiality provided by highly trained and experienced crew.
The à la carte service for passengers includes the convenience of booking an aircraft in as little as four hours before departure, access to premium airport lounges, and check-in 10 minutes prior to take off.
For further information and bookings, the Qatar Executive service team is available 24/7 on +974 4445 3800 or request@qatarexec.com.qa. Further details are available at www.qatarexec.com.qa.
Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of 104 aircraft from its Doha hub to 112 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.
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Gulfstream IV N2SA Jet crashes in the Congo
Posted: February 13, 2012, 6:39 pm by nero
An aide of the Congolese President Joseph Kabila is the latest casualty of the DRC's dangerous skies after a Gulfstream IV N2SA jet crashed in Bukavu(Eastern DRC) today.
According to information from Radio Okapi in the DRC, the DR Congo Finance Minister has been critically wounded in the crash, the Governor of South Kivu Province who was also on the plane has also been wounded. Those killed include the American Crew of the Gulfstream IV plane, a former Governor of Katanga, a senior aide to President Kabila and two farmers in the region who were within the perimeter of the crash scene.
The aircraft had 10 passengers on board and is said to have overshot the runway before plunging into the river. Authorities are blaming pilot error for the crash. The aircraft is operated by Lima Delta Company as a trustee for a foreign company, Stanford Aviation LLC, which was owned by billionaire Allen Stanford whose company is now under trusteeship.
Last week, an Antonov 28 cargo plane operated by aviation charter company TRACEP crashed in the Kivu province just before landing at Namoya Airstrip of the DRC killing all five passengers on board.
Gulfstream IV crash in Bukavu
Kavumu Airport in Bukavu
The GulfStream IV N2SA: The aircraft was operated by Lima Delta Company as a trustee for a foreign company, Stanford Aviation LLC
The aftermath of the Gulfstream IV N2SA crash in Bukavu, Eastern Congo The Gulfstream IV N2SA crash in Bukavu Eastern Congo
Crowds milling about the Gulfstream IV N2SA crash site in Bukavu, Eastern Congo
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Gulfstream IV N2SA Jet crashes in the Congo
Posted: February 13, 2012, 6:39 pm by nero
An aide of the Congolese President Joseph Kabila is the latest casualty of the DRC's dangerous skies after a Gulfstream IV N2SA jet crashed in Bukavu(Eastern DRC) today.
According to information from Radio Okapi in the DRC, the DR Congo Finance Minister has been critically wounded in the crash, the Governor of South Kivu Province who was also on the plane has also been wounded. Those killed include the American Crew of the Gulfstream IV plane, a former Governor of Katanga, a senior aide to President Kabila and two farmers in the region who were within the perimeter of the crash scene.
The aircraft had 10 passengers on board and is said to have overshot the runway before plunging into the river. Authorities are blaming pilot error for the crash. The aircraft is operated by Lima Delta Company as a trustee for a foreign company, Stanford Aviation LLC, which was owned by billionaire Allen Stanford whose company is now under trusteeship.
Last week, an Antonov 28 cargo plane operated by aviation charter company TRACEP crashed in the Kivu province just before landing at Namoya Airstrip of the DRC killing all five passengers on board.
Gulfstream IV crash in Bukavu
Kavumu Airport in Bukavu
The GulfStream IV N2SA: The aircraft was operated by Lima Delta Company as a trustee for a foreign company, Stanford Aviation LLC
The aftermath of the Gulfstream IV N2SA crash in Bukavu, Eastern Congo The Gulfstream IV N2SA crash in Bukavu Eastern Congo
Crowds milling about the Gulfstream IV N2SA crash site in Bukavu, Eastern Congo
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EU Emissions Trading Systems: Asia Piles Pressure on Europe
Posted: February 13, 2012, 6:36 pm by nero
Asian aviation leaders have signaled that they will; step up their war against the European Union's Emissions Trading System(ETS). Attending the Singapore Airshow was the EU Vice President Siim Kallas who has held the EU position firmly, telling the Singapore Airshow's Aviation Leadership Summit that while the EU is willing to negotiate over how the Emissions Trading System will apply to airlines outside Europe, the EU will only do so on its own terms and is will be in no hurry to give ground.
Last week, the Chinese authorities banned its airlines from complying with the EU ETS. A legislation in the US Congress will also have a similar effect, preventing American airlines from complying with the ETS. It seems the EU will only lord it over the smaller weaker nations, whose airlines have much smaller carbon footprints.
EU will be faced by a scenario of wide-scale refusal by airlines outside the EU to comply with its ETS. How will Europe respond? The ETS regulations call for punitive fines against operators who fail to account for their carbon emissions and pay for their carbon credits. The Chinese airlines have already indicated that they will not share this information with the EU. China and the US, which have been leading the charge against the ETS, have both threatened Europe with serious consequences if it does back down on its plan, raising the spectre of an aviation trade war.Emissions Trading System" Will Europe Back Down?
“This issue must be solved and tackled by ICAO…we would prefer multilateral solutions,” Kallas admitted. “We are not trying to dominate the world…transport is a dynamic part of our economy and is the only sector in Europe that has increased emissions of carbon dioxide. [Therefore] it is quite natural for certain measures to be implemented.”
Europe “Ready To Negotiate”Kallas indicated that the EU is “ready to negotiate within our own framework…I don’t think this is economically a big problem. It is mostly a matter of principle. That is why it has been raised to a political level.” He suggested that steps should be taken to avoid a trade conflict in future. “We are serious in negotiating a solution.” However, he added: “If [non-EU members] say nothing will happen until you suspend the ETS and [only] then start negotiations, that is unacceptable.”
Voices against the EU ETS were loud and clear here in Singapore. “This tax is morally unacceptable even though it is economically tedious. It has no sense of balance,” said Martin Craig, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), speaking on behalf of his Asian counterparts.
However, Kallas seems to be in no hurry: “The conditions are not right yet for EU ETS to be suspended because we have time until 2013,” he asserted. During the 2012-2013 trading period, 85 percent of the total available allowances will be allocated to airlines free of charge while the remaining 15 percent will be auctioned by the EU. But the potential costs are troubling airlines, not to mention the extraterritorial nature of the scheme.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) is one airline that has taken a clear stand on ETS, preferring to coordinate through the International Air Transport Association, said Goh Choon Phong, SIA’s CEO. But as an industry association with clear vested interests, the EU is highly unlikely to accept it as an honest broker in settling the increasingly bitter dispute.
Airline Bottom LinesMeanwhile, aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, whose business is currently driven by the growth in the Asia Pacific, voiced concerns over ETS, fearing the issue could hurt airline bottom lines. Airbus CEO, Tom Enders stated: “[We] hope it is avoidable. What started as a solution for the environment has become a potential trade conflict.” As Europe’s top airframer it clearly has the most to lose from any trade war over ETS.
A major issue remains over legalities, “In the EU court of law [European Court of Justice], ETS cannot be challenged on grounds of the Chicago Convention, as the EU is not a signatory [to the Convention], but individual states are. Therefore, in effect, talks [on ETS] should be held with each country, as many countries have not as yet ratified EU horizontal [cooperation] agreements. The world needs to challenge the legality of this issue.”
IATA director general Tony Tyler questioned the very logic of the ETS. “Departure taxes in the UK, Germany and Austria–introduced as environmental measures–amount to well over €4 billion. At current market prices for UN-issued Certified Emissions Reduction [credits], that would offset the world’s CO2 emissions about one-and-a-half times. And ETS is being added on top of that!”
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EU Emissions Trading Systems: Asia Piles Pressure on Europe
Posted: February 13, 2012, 6:36 pm by nero
Asian aviation leaders have signaled that they will; step up their war against the European Union's Emissions Trading System(ETS). Attending the Singapore Airshow was the EU Vice President Siim Kallas who has held the EU position firmly, telling the Singapore Airshow's Aviation Leadership Summit that while the EU is willing to negotiate over how the Emissions Trading System will apply to airlines outside Europe, the EU will only do so on its own terms and is will be in no hurry to give ground.
Last week, the Chinese authorities banned its airlines from complying with the EU ETS. A legislation in the US Congress will also have a similar effect, preventing American airlines from complying with the ETS. It seems the EU will only lord it over the smaller weaker nations, whose airlines have much smaller carbon footprints.
EU will be faced by a scenario of wide-scale refusal by airlines outside the EU to comply with its ETS. How will Europe respond? The ETS regulations call for punitive fines against operators who fail to account for their carbon emissions and pay for their carbon credits. The Chinese airlines have already indicated that they will not share this information with the EU. China and the US, which have been leading the charge against the ETS, have both threatened Europe with serious consequences if it does back down on its plan, raising the spectre of an aviation trade war.Emissions Trading System" Will Europe Back Down?
“This issue must be solved and tackled by ICAO…we would prefer multilateral solutions,” Kallas admitted. “We are not trying to dominate the world…transport is a dynamic part of our economy and is the only sector in Europe that has increased emissions of carbon dioxide. [Therefore] it is quite natural for certain measures to be implemented.”
Europe “Ready To Negotiate”Kallas indicated that the EU is “ready to negotiate within our own framework…I don’t think this is economically a big problem. It is mostly a matter of principle. That is why it has been raised to a political level.” He suggested that steps should be taken to avoid a trade conflict in future. “We are serious in negotiating a solution.” However, he added: “If [non-EU members] say nothing will happen until you suspend the ETS and [only] then start negotiations, that is unacceptable.”
Voices against the EU ETS were loud and clear here in Singapore. “This tax is morally unacceptable even though it is economically tedious. It has no sense of balance,” said Martin Craig, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), speaking on behalf of his Asian counterparts.
However, Kallas seems to be in no hurry: “The conditions are not right yet for EU ETS to be suspended because we have time until 2013,” he asserted. During the 2012-2013 trading period, 85 percent of the total available allowances will be allocated to airlines free of charge while the remaining 15 percent will be auctioned by the EU. But the potential costs are troubling airlines, not to mention the extraterritorial nature of the scheme.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) is one airline that has taken a clear stand on ETS, preferring to coordinate through the International Air Transport Association, said Goh Choon Phong, SIA’s CEO. But as an industry association with clear vested interests, the EU is highly unlikely to accept it as an honest broker in settling the increasingly bitter dispute.
Airline Bottom LinesMeanwhile, aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, whose business is currently driven by the growth in the Asia Pacific, voiced concerns over ETS, fearing the issue could hurt airline bottom lines. Airbus CEO, Tom Enders stated: “[We] hope it is avoidable. What started as a solution for the environment has become a potential trade conflict.” As Europe’s top airframer it clearly has the most to lose from any trade war over ETS.
A major issue remains over legalities, “In the EU court of law [European Court of Justice], ETS cannot be challenged on grounds of the Chicago Convention, as the EU is not a signatory [to the Convention], but individual states are. Therefore, in effect, talks [on ETS] should be held with each country, as many countries have not as yet ratified EU horizontal [cooperation] agreements. The world needs to challenge the legality of this issue.”
IATA director general Tony Tyler questioned the very logic of the ETS. “Departure taxes in the UK, Germany and Austria–introduced as environmental measures–amount to well over €4 billion. At current market prices for UN-issued Certified Emissions Reduction [credits], that would offset the world’s CO2 emissions about one-and-a-half times. And ETS is being added on top of that!”
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BRICS Business: ACSA Invests 500 million ZAR in Brazilian Airport
Posted: February 12, 2012, 12:32 am by nero
The Airports Company SA will commit an investment of R500m to Guaralhos International Airport in São Paulo under a strategy by the South African state-owned airports operator to diversify its earnings.
OVER the next 20 years Airports Company SA (Acsa) would commit R500m to Guaralhos International Airport (GIA) in São Paulo, the busiest airport in Brazil, under a strategy by the state-owned airports operator to diversify its earnings and make inroads into emerging markets.
This week, Acsa, in partnership with Brazilian companies Invepar and OAS, won the bid to manage GIA, less than two-and-a-half years away from the 2014 Soccer World Cup which Brazil is hosting.
The country’s National Civil Aviation Agency concluded a concession auction for three major airports, two in São Paulo and one in Brasilia, which together handle 30% of Brazil’s passenger traffic.
"Brazil was a natural fit for us and they have a massive infrastructure programme," Acsa’s acting MD Bongani Maseko said.
He said after the 2010 Soccer World Cup Acsa "did a scan on where we could start offering consulting services that were not just based on our World Cup experience in SA but also the experience we have gained from managing the Mumbai airport in India and our track record of growing nonaeronautical revenue domestically."
The company was looking to grow new revenue streams away from the local market. Last October Acsa implemented a 70% tariff increase in SA, much less than it had sought to cover airport upgrades.
Yet the Brazilian contract is a deal that almost did not happen. Last November, when the bid documents were made available, ACSA struggled to find a partner. Many of the Brazilian companies did not take ACSA seriously or believed that they could win the bid without ACSA’s skills, said Mr Maseko.
However, on December 15 the Brazilian government amended the conditions for the bidding companies by stipulating that bidders must have an airports operator as part of any consortium hoping to secure a contract.
"We were still looking for a partner and then on the 15th we became somebody everybody wanted to speak to," Mr Maseko said.
"There are 68 airports in Brazil. We don’t know how many will be concessioned (in future) but we are told that most of them will be. It was very important to get in front and pay our school fees, so if there is a future opportunity we will decide what we want to do and if we want to do it," he said.
Martyn Davis, the CEO of emerging markets advisory firm Frontier Advisory, said the investment by ACSA was the type of transaction that would boost commercial ties between BRICS countries —-Brazil, Russia, India, China and SA — where such opportunities have been few. Mr Maseko said South African corporates were looking away from developed countries, where there were high levels of saturation and competition, towards economies that offered growth.
Over the next three months ACSA would finalise the structure of the special purpose vehicle due to be set up in Brazil that would hold its 10% stake in the airport project. This would be used if in future ACSA was required to borrow money to meet its obligations for investment in GIA, Mr Maseko said.
Most of the funds to be invested in the upgrading of the airport would be generated by the airport itself. The Brazilian investment would be ring-fenced from ACSA’s local operations and no money would be taken from SA for this deal, he said.
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Korean Air to launch direct flights between Seoul and Nairobi
Posted: February 10, 2012, 12:14 am by nero
Korean Air, will introduce its first nonstop link to East Africa on a scheduled basis. From 21 June 2012 the airline will offer three weekly flights between Seoul Incheon and Nairobi in Kenya. Korea's flag carrier will operate an Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the route.
The flying time for the Seoul-Nairobi leg is 13:15hrs (14hrs from September 2012), so that this route will become the presently longest scheduled nonstop flight to be operated on board an Airbus A330-200 aircraft.Korean Air will launch Nairobi Flights21 June 2012
Korean Air is already code-sharing on fellow SkyTeam carrier Kenya Airways' flights between Nairobi and Bangkok, providing a quick connection to Seoul on the other four days of the week.
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South Africa Adds Eritrea to list of countries requiring yellow fever vaccination
Posted: February 10, 2012, 11:53 pm by nero
South Africa's Department of Health has added Eritrea to the list of countries requiring vaccination against yellow fever. As of 01 January 2012, all travellers from Eritrea have been required to show proof of vaccination upon entry into South Africa.
South Africa requires a valid yellow fever certificate from all citizens and non-citizens over one year of age:
- travelling from a yellow fever risk country; or
- having been in transit through a yellow fever risk country
- refuse entry; or
- quarantine until their certificate becomes valid, or for a period of not more than six days; or
- those with an exemption certificate due to medical reasons will be allowed entry and required to report any fever or other symptoms to the health authorities and be placed under surveillance.
The vaccine must be administered 10 days before departure
Definition of a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate: vaccination should be approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and administered at a Yellow fever-approved vaccination centres at least 10 days before departure to South Africa. The vaccine offers protection 10 days after administration. If vaccination is administered less than 10 days before departure, the above-mentioned measures will be applied.
List of countries for which a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into South Africa:
- Angola
- Argentina
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Colombia
- Congo
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ecuador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- French Guyana
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guyana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Republic of Suriname
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- United Republic of Tanzania
- Venezuela
- Zambia
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Zimbabwe Implements new Airport Development Taxes
Posted: February 10, 2012, 11:42 pm by nero
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe(CAAZ) introduced an Aviation Infrastructure Development Fund (AIDEF) levy to raise money to rehabilitate the aviation infrastructure in Zimbabwe. Authorities are hoping to raise an additional US$400 million in the next 10 years. As a result the airport tax in the Southern African country got increased. The new tariff was already implemented on 01 Feb 2012.
- For domestic journeys, passengers will be charged a US$10 departure tax, plus US$5 AIDEF levy. Rates are charged per person.
- For international journeys, passengers will be charged a US$35 departure tax, plus US$15 AIDEF levy. Rates are charged per person.
At the beginning of this year, the luxury tourist destination imposed an airport development tax of $25 on all international departures that was met with stiff opposition from the traveling public and airlines. For more information, visit the CAAZ website.Harare International Airport
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What are Global Distribution Systems?
Posted: February 10, 2012, 5:37 pm by nero
The travel marketplace remains a global arena where various service providers such as airlines, hotels, car rental companies and more exchange services with travel agents and travelers. Travel involves flying to newer destinations to discover newer cultures and products. To access these products, travel agents and travelers need a global shelf with millions of travel inventories from which they can choose the best travel products as they plan their trips.
Travelers and agents need a kind of a global supermarket that serves their needs and which they can easily plug into in order to access the latest inventories. In the travel market, computerized reservation services are now the norm in booking and managing property and access of the property to consumers who need the services.
The modern travel market is anchored on an infrastructure consisting of various Global Distribution Systems. These are the online supermarkets linking buyers to travel service providers like airlines, hotels, motels, car hire, train bookings, holidays service providers and more.
So what is a Global Distribution Systems(GDS)? The GDS are companies which provide automated services to travel vendors such as hotels, airlines and car rental companies by building an inventory of products and rtaes that can be accessed and booked by any travel agent that subscribes to that particular Global Distribution System.
The Global Distribution Systems transmit their loaded rates and rules about a specific reservation on the travel agents' websites when customers request them. The travel agents transmit the reservation information through the GDS to the hotel and the hotel then settles the transaction directly with the customer.
To be included in the GDS, the travel vendors must first list their properties with the global distribution system. Normally, travel vendors will employ a GDS Manager in charge of the commercial relations between the service provider and the GDS. In many GDS, signing up is a quick process and the travel provider is only billed when a booking is made through the particular GDS in which they are listed.
Global Distribution Systems are used by over 800,000 travel agents worldwide who plug into the systems to access their travel inventory for sale to their audiences. Most travelers use the internet to research travel options before booking flights. Normally that search or comparison shopping will land them on the website of a travel agent that's plugged into the GDS system.
While the GDS is nowadays associated with the internet due to the tremendous growth of online booking services, the global distribution systems actually preceded the internet and were an invention of the airlines. The airline industry created the first GDS in the 1960s to keep track of flight schedules, availability, and prices. Although accused of being “dinosaurs” due to their use of legacy system technology, the GDSs were actually among the first e-commerce companies in the world facilitating B-2-B electronic commerce as early as the mid 1970s, when SABRE (owned by American Airline) and Apollo (United) began installing their propriety internal reservations systems in travel agencies. Prior to this, travel agents spent an inordinate amount of time manually entering reservations. The airlines realized that by automating the reservation process for travel agents, they could make the travel agents more productive and essentially turn into an extension of the airline’s sales force. It is these original, legacy GDSs that today provide the backbone to the Internet travel distribution system.
To get a rough idea on the process you go through to access your flights on Expedia or Priceline, I have created an illustration of the Global Distribution System to illustrate the online processes in the global distribution infrastructure that ensure you access the cheapest and accurate fares and flight schedule information:
Today, the GDS are at the core of an airline's service distribution and airlines cannot do without these systems. Some of the GDS systems used by the major African airlines are as follows:
Kenya Airways uses Travelport Distribution Systems to sell its travel products to travel agents worldwide. The airline signed a 5 year partnership agreement to distribute via Travelport's Galileo and Worldspan distribution channels.
Ethiopian Airlines uses Sabre Airline Solutions for its online reservations and as its GDS service provider to distribute its travel products to global consumers.
EgyptAir uses Amadeus Altéa GDS through a long term contract signed a few years ago.
South African Airways uses the Sabre GDS. Last year, South African Airways signed a multiyear distribution agreement with Sabre Travel Network that now provides Sabre travel agencies and corporations in South Africa and around the world with access to South African’s full range of fares, schedules and availability including published fares sold through the airline’s own website and reservations offices.
Some of the Global Distribution Systems
Travelport: With a presence in 160 countries, approximately 3,500 employees and reported 2010 revenues of $2.3 billion, Travelport is comprised of the global distribution system (GDS) business, which includes the Galileo and Worldspan brands and its Airline IT Solutions business, which hosts mission critical applications and provides business and data analysis solutions for major airlines.
Travelport also owns approximately 48% of Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW), a leading global online travel company. Travelport is a private company owned by The Blackstone Group, One Equity Partners, Technology Crossover Ventures, and Travelport management.
Amadeus: 520 million bookings, 145 airlines, $66billion in global travel sales and $94 billion in all sales channels, 400,000 agency points of sale. 70% or $66 through travel agency channels. Booking charges of less than 2.8%
Sabre: Sabre Travel Network provides technology solutions to the global travel industry. It operates the world’s largest travel marketplace, connecting travel buyers and sellers through the Sabre global distribution system (GDS). Its innovative software connects more than 350,000 travel professionals to more than 400 airlines, 93,000 hotels, 25 car rental brands, 50 rail providers, 13 cruise lines and other global travel suppliers. More than 300 million people purchase airline tickets through this channel annually. www.sabretravelnetwork.com.
Pegasus: Dallas-based Pegasus Solutions, Inc. (http://www.pegs.com) is a leading provider of end-to-end reservation distribution solutions to the hotel industry worldwide. Its services include central reservations systems; third-party marketing and reservation representation services, including Utell and Golden Tulip Worldwide; electronic distribution services that connect more than 38,000 hotels to the Internet and to the global distribution systems (GDS); commission processing and payment services; the consumer travel Web site TravelWeb.com (http://www.travelweb.com); data warehousing and database marketing and consulting services; and soon, a Web-based property management system. Pegasus' customers comprise more than 100,000 travel agencies around the world, including nine of the 10 largest U.S.-based travel agencies(1); more than 40,000 hotel properties around the globe, including 18 of the 20 largest hotel companies in the world based on revenues and total number of guest rooms(2); and more than 240 Web sites/services have contracted to have their hotel reservations Powered by Pegasus™. In addition to its corporate headquarters in Dallas, Pegasus has 39 offices in 25 countries, including regional hubs in Phoenix, London and Singapore. The company's stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol PEGS.
EmQuest: EmQuest, the travel distribution division of Emirates Airline, manages a large network of brands, content and service offerings that are designed to meet the unique and specific needs of all levels of players within the travel industry. EmQuest provides electronic distribution products and services to the travel industry, connecting suppliers with resellers and giving them a platform to exchange content and trade with one another.
Navitaire: Navitaire was founded in 2003 and has been developing Global Distribution Systems particularly tailored for the low cost airlines market(LCCs). Its reservations system now powers some of the largest LCCs in the world. Airlines using Navitaire's reservation systems booked more than 70% of all sales transactions via the Internet. Navitaire reservations systems booked more than 320 million reservations in 2009, more than 4.5% of the world's total population!
Patheo: Patheo was one of the leading data management and distribution solution company in the airline consolidator industry. Patheo featured a complete, integrated product line serving both the travel agency and the consolidator with end-to-end solutions. Patheo was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Westminster, CA.
TravelSky: TravelSky Technology Limited, a unit of China TravelSky Holding Company, develops leading edge applications and services that enable electronic transactions and the management of travel-related information for companies across the travel industry. TravelSky operates passenger services systems for air carriers in China, and maintains the global distribution system (GDS) for China's travel agencies, processing more than 200 million passengers annually. Customers include 30 domestic airlines, approximately 200 regional and international airlines, 147 domestic airports and 7,000 ticket agents. Services reach into 300 cities in China, 80 international cities and a growing range of social networking sites. TravelSky is headquartered in Beijing and has more than 4000 employees.
In addition, there are several smaller or regional GDSs, including SITA’s Sahara, Infini (Japan), Axess (Japan), Tapas (Korea), Fantasia (South Pacific), and Abacus (Asia/Pacific) that serve interests or specific regions or countries. In this article, we will provide a closer look at the four major GDSs.
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Top 10 Online Travel Agencies in Australia
Posted: February 9, 2012, 7:46 pm by nero
Top 10 Online Travel agencies in Australia. The Australian Market as expected is dominated by the local subsidiaries of the global players Expedia, Flight Centre, Lastminute.com . The global players have established Australia-specific websites, obviously recognizing the potential of the Australian market.
The online travel market in the emerging markets is still largely underexploited and ignored by global players. The local online travel markets in Africa, some parts of Asia, Latin America are still open to local players in the respective countries with right business model and tech talent.
Information Courtesy: Hitwise
Email Us at FlightAfricablog@gmail.comhttp://flightafrica.blogspot.com Email FlightAfricablog@gmail.comRank Website Domain Percentage of Visits Previous Position 1 Webjet Australia www.webjet.com.au 13.34% 1 2 Expedia Australia www.expedia.com.au 11.83% 2 3 Flight Centre www.flightcentre.com.au 9.20% 3 4 Lastminute.com.au www.lastminute.com.au 5.14% 4 5 Best Flights www.bestflights.com.au 3.41% 5 6 Jetabroad www.jetabroad.com 2.66% 6 7 Wego www.wego.com 2.46% - 8 Airfares Flights Australia www.airfaresflights.com.au 2.08% 8 9 ZUJI Australia www.zuji.com 1.93% 9 10 Travelzoo Australia www.travelzoo.com/au 1.72% 7 -
South African Airways tackles Credit Card Fraud in its Voyager Centres
Posted: February 9, 2012, 6:21 pm by nero
South African Airways has changed requirements when dealing with upgrade taxes and verification process in a bid to mitigate cases of credit card fraud at its Voyager Centre.
South African Airways call centres will no longer be required to request credit card authentication from clients in the form of a copy of the back and front of the card together with a copy of the customer’s identification document. The airline is currently also in the process of developing a systematic payment verification process to further ensure the prevention of any fraud incidents in the future.
In 2010 there were several instances of FlySAA agents experiencing issues of credit card fraud when using their clients’ cards for SAA Voyager upgrade taxes and verification processe. In recent weeks, issues of credit card fraud have resurfaced, with agents complaining that their clients had experienced credit card fraud shortly after the agent had sent through the client’s ID information and a completed form with all their personal details, including address and the back and front of the credit card.South African Airways Voyager
According to the head of SAA Voyager, Manoj Papa, “We view these incidents in a very serious light and have initiated various investigations in this regard. We have a dedicated team of specialists reporting to our head of security focusing on such issues. Within the business unit, we have also set up a team of specialists to look into such cases from an operational level and to assist on all investigations, the review process and to implement necessary preventative measures,”
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Safety and Travel: CyberSecurity Tips for Travelers
Posted: February 9, 2012, 5:25 pm by nero
Safe travel begins at the point where you are booking the ticket for your next flight. Credit card fraud is increasingly becoming a major issue in travel with airlines and travelers losing billions of dollars every year. This is becoming more apparent as more travelers are now opting to purchasing their tickets online through airline booking engines, online travel agencies, affiliate websites and more. The distribution infrastructure for airline tickets has broadened and so have the cyber threats. Devices such smartphones and e-passports have also increased security risks for travelers. If you are the techie traveler, here are a few tips to keep safe online before you board your next flight:
Some deals are literally too good to be true:
Airlines and travel retailers are literally bombarding travelers with deals, particularly during the peak travel seasons like Easter Holidays, Christmas, New Year, August Holidays etc. These deals can be sold via an airline's website, partner websites, affiliate websites and other online distribution infrastructure. With so many channels, it can be difficult for naive bargain hunters to distinguish trusted websites from online scams. Cyber criminals always take advantage of such to dupe customers into buying into non existent deals. Always reaserch, thoroughly, a company behind the latest "hot" travel or holiday offers before committing your cash. Buy from trusted travel providers. The safest place to buy a ticket is from an airline website's booking engine.
Groupon Spoofing: Cybercriminals are capable of spoofing popular online group buying websites and install malicious software on your computer to steal your financial information and money. What initially looks like an awesome travel deal to South Africa on "Expedia" or "Groupon" eventually turns out to be an elaborate scam that costs you thousands of dollars in a matter of minutes. These scammers build fake websites with the familiar feel and look of your normal online travel website be it Expedia, Groupon, Kulula Daddy's Deals, Travelstart, Priceline or eDreams. In some cases, they might even spoof airline websites although this is quite rare. The idea is make consumers who are less diligent trust these fake websites as the real thing. They are normally accompanied by highly discounted travel offers. The trick to escaping scams online is to research and research well. Don't trust unsolicited emails, if you are looking for a great travel product, then use search tools and buy from the trusted service providers.
Pay for your trips with Credit Cards
Always pay for your trips using a credit card. For Africans, this might be a challenge as many African countries are now facing wholesale blacklisting or greylisting of credit cards from their countries by international service providers due to perceived threat levels supposedly posed by the credit card transactions from many African nations. Many international providers are no longer honoring transactions by credit cards issued in the African digital space. Credit cards normally protect users against losses due to theft and fraud.
Safety in the public: booking your travel in a cybercafe? Think again
The easiest way for cybercriminals to steal your login credentials and financial information is via public browsing arenas such as cybercafes, libraries, airports or hotels. Never use a shared machine for online transactions, you are placing yourself at a significant risk by doing so. In Kenya and many parts of Africa, this might not be practical due to the low rate of internet access and broadband subscription so many users are likely to be forced to share computers in public places such as cybercafes. Take some extra precautions, always enable private browsing when using a shared machine in a cybercafe, hotel, conference etc. Clear all browsing history, cookies, cache and temp files after every internet session; never expose your debit card/credit card number, cybercafes are quite congested and it's very easy or someone to spy on your card information, never "Remember Password", never download files in public computers, you are likely to forget to delete them, leaving your private info or everyone to see; empty the Recycle Bin for all the files you have used and deleted during a login session. In some cases, the public computers could be installed with spyware such as Keylogger software that reads and stores every information you type into the keyboard. Finally advice, never visit websites that require you to login or enter credit card info in public computers.
The dangers of public Wi-Fi
Avoid using public Wi-Fi as much as possible even if it's provided freely at the airport, the plane or hotel. Cybercriminals can set up rogue Wi-Fi access points tat once you connect into, will ive them access to all your information. It's difficult for many travelers to tell the rogue Wi-Fi from the legitimate Wi-Fi. Ask the airline for the name of the Wi-Fi network where you are not sure. Also, instead of public Wi-Fi, use Mi-Fi instead(MiFi Mobile Hotspots) or tether your laptop, notebook or tablet to your smartphone's 3G service.
Precautions with your e-Passports
In the US, all passports issued since 2007 are e-Passports. In Africa, passports are still as they once were. A dark blue booklet with several leaflets. If you are using an e-Passport, ten there are safety precautions that you must take before you embark on your journey to the airport immigration queue. e-Passports contain an electronic chip with biometric data. The RFID chip containing your biometric details can easily be wirelessly read by criminals and identity thieves from hundreds of feet away, perhaps standing in the same queue as you! A good precaution for protecting the integrity of the information on your e-Passport is buying an RFID blocking passport wallet to keep your information safe.
Bluetooth threats during your travel
Turn off Bluetooth on your mobile devices when not in use. Hackers can use bluetooth to access your system and steal private information. Hackers can also install Malicious software to your system via Bluetooth
Also be aware that Bluetooth headsets can be eavesdropped on, allowing criminals to easily record your conversations.
Careful use of social media when traveling
Announcing to everyone via social media that you are traveling makes you a very easy target. Some travelers go as far as tweeting their Flight number, the city they are traveling to and the hotel you will be staying in thus creating a digital trail for criminals in your destination city to easily locate your whereabouts and target you. Watch the amount of formation that you divulge online. KLM recently introduced a Meet and Seat program that allows travelers to share certain information from their social media profiles after booking a flight in order to help them in choosing a preferred seat mate during a flight. While this is an interesting innovation, it can be abused in many ways by criminals and stalkers.
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Aviation and the Emissions Trading System: Will Europe Fail?
Posted: February 8, 2012, 8:49 am by nero
Europe adopted a unilateral approach to including international aviation to its own regional Emissions Trading Scheme , a move which has ruffled many feathers especially of the powerful players in China, Russia and the United States. This week, China directed its airlines not to participate in the EU ETS.
The China Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said the EU-ETS could hit Chinese carriers with additional carbon emission charges of up to RMB 17.6 billion ($2.8 billion) by 2020 and urged Chinese airlines not to pay a charge on carbon emissions imposed by the EU. The body also barred them from hiking freight fees or adding other fees accordingly without government permission.
And now China has partnered with 25 other nations to oppose the EU ETS scheme, including Russia. At best, countries are likely to undertake retaliatory measures against EU airlines in their various markets resulting in a market distortion and more charges for airlines and travelers. Most countries support the global sectoral approach under International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) that ensures aviation emissions are accounted for only once but the EU decided to add aviation to its ETS citing slow progress at the CAO led process. It seems as opposition stiffens and country's resolve to countermeasures, a sort of trade war emerges and the EU's stance will be not be sustainable in the long term.Emissions Trading System: Will EU Fail?
Many countries view EU's inclusion of their airlines into its ETS as a sort of "colonial" arrogance where Europe's still feels it can violate other countries' sovereignty and impose taxes on their airlines as it wishes. With opposition now being led by China, the United States and Russia, the opposition can only stiffen as many weaker countries, particularly those in Africa, Latin America and Asia, will be emboldened to challenges Europe's ETS. Europe will likely fail and something has got to give.
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Events: AFRAA Aviation Supplies and Stakeholders Convention
Posted: February 7, 2012, 9:23 pm by nero
About the ConventionThe Aviation Suppliers and Stakeholders Convention (ASASC) 2012 is being organised by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) in collaboration with its member airlines and industry partners. It aims at bringing together airline and airport operators and solution/service providers with the view to foster dialogue, build sustainable networks in supply chain management, create a competitive environment for business and improve the aviation business support base in the continent and globally.
ObjectivesThe Convention aims to provide a forum to:- Develop aviation business support base on the continent
- Develop synergy among sector players in the industry(airlines, airports, CAAs) through interaction, identifying and proposing joint solutions to industry challenges.
- Facilitate interaction among aviation organizations & industry suppliers
- Discuss emerging technologies
- Share industry knowledge, information and experience
- Create a competitive environment & choice to aviation companies in Africa.
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Royal Air Maroc to launch Flights to Nairobi
Posted: February 7, 2012, 5:14 pm by nero
According to information on Wolfgang Thome blog, a Kenyan delegation is visiting Morocco to facilitate direct flights to Kenya by Morocco's carrier Royal Air Maroc to Nairobi. The delegation is led by Kenyan tourism Minister and various stakeholders in Kenya's tourism industry.
In line with Kenya Airways' ambitious Pan African vision to connect every African city by 2013, the Kenyan carrier is expected to launch flights to Morocco in the next two years. Kenya Airways is also expected to launch flights to Tripoli and Tunis in Libya and Tunisia respectively in the next two years. A delegation from Casablanca is expected to visit Kenya in next month to finalize the agreements.
Morocco has had a vibrant aviation industry following its implementation of the Open Skies Policy with the EU in 2006. Hundreds of European airlines now fly to various destinations in Morocco bringing an estimated 10 million tourists.Facing fierce competition from the north, Moroccan carriers have been looking South for new routes and markets.
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Do Airlines need new generic top level domains, again?
Posted: February 6, 2012, 8:30 pm by nero
In June last year, the body that is in charge of internet domain names and addresses, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers(ICANN), made a decision to introduce a new set of generic top level domain names to the internet that will enable regions, communities, brands and other entities to apply for just about any string as a top level domain name. Top level domains are the right most characters in a domain name, i.e. the characters that are located right of the dot in the domain. For example, if you have www.cheapflights.com, the "COM" is a top level domain name.
Currently there are 22 generic top level domain names including .COM .ORG .NET .GOV .INT .AERO .MUSEUM .CAT .INFO .ASIA .NAME .TRAVEL .COOP .XXX .BIZ .PRO .EDU .JOBS .MOBI .TEL . These generic or global Top level domains are normally targeted at global audiences and not restricted to any country although in some cases, they can be sponsored and may be restricted to certain user groups or communities. For example, .AERO is a sponsored generic Top Level Domain name for the aviation community that is operated by SITA and was created for companies, organizations, associations, government agencies, and individuals in aviation-related fields. All the two letter codes(IATA airline designators) in the .aero namespace are reserved for airlines for example www.kq.aero is reserved for Kenya Airways, www.et.aero for Ethiopian Airlines, www.8u.aero for Afriqiyah Airways, www.hm.aero for Air Seychelles and so on. Some of the airlines actively using .aero domain names include Afriqiyah Airways with website hosted www.afriqiyah.aero.
In addition, the travel industry also has another travel related domain name .TRAVEL which is targeted at travel and tourism related websites.
Many airlines however use .COM domain names to express their identities online. A look at the current airline websites shows that the vast majority of these airlines prefers hosting their primary content on .COM domain names to express their global outlook and then defensively registering hundreds of other domain names in order to ward off cybersquatters and prevent the misuse of their marks in the domain names. African airlines have been classic victims of cybersquatters. A quick look at African Airlines' domain names reveals widespread abuses of the system. For example, Kenya Airways does not own www.kenyaairways.com which has been grabbed by a cybersquatter; www.southafricanairways.com is registered and parked by cybersquatter forcing South African Airways to use www.flysaa.com; while TAAG owns www.taag.com, the domain www.taagangola.com is registered by cybersquatters and is being offered for sale at exorbitant prices; www.airuganda.com is registered and parked and offers users irrelevant PPC ads while the airline, like Kenya Airways, is forced to use a hyphenated domain name www.air-uganda.com. Normally cybersquatters will offer these domains to airlines at very high prices.
While a Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy(UDRP) exist in many domain registries to resolve disputes where a brand feels its rights have been infringed upon, the cost is quite steep. Filing a UDRP case with the World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO) which handles most of these cases can cost upwards of $3000. In many cases, an airline finds that its trademark rights has been abused across multiple Top Level Domains or the name is registered in various forms with hyphens, with suffixes or prefixes resulting in multiple instances of abuse. In some cases, you can have as much as 30 instances of abuse of an airline's rights to a certain mark. With cost of $3000 per UDRP case, it can cost an airline as much as $100,000 to reclaim all its trademark rights in the entire domain namespace. Money that could better be spent elsewhere in upgrading the airlines' products and services, especially for the cash strapped airlines in Africa.
So in many cases the cybersquatters win and the airlines end up losing lots of money and traffic that is directed to third party websites. Airlines have an eCommerce challenge, especially in the 21st Century as business moves online, particularly in the emerging markets. Airlines will have to build more robust eCommerce friendly platforms to sell more tickets without passing through middlemen. An estimated 4% of airlines' operating costs goes towards paying online travel agencies who sell tickets on behalf of the airlines. This accounts for what's normally known as distribution costs. The online travel agencies have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in building a global ticket distribution infrastructure which airlines cannot match.
While the airlines cannot eliminate these OTAs completely, they can reduce the middleman fees by selling more tickets via their websites' booking engines. To do that, they need a more robust eCommerce experience and platforms; to build this experience, they will need a Domain name system where the rights can be assured.
More protections needed in the existing domain namespace
Currently, airlines cannot be assured of cheaper rights protection mechanisms in the existing generic Top Level domains of .COM .ORG .NET .INFO and the rest as no policy development process have been initiated by ICANN to rapidly address abuses in these domain namespaces. The costs will also remain quite steep since in many cases, the disputes are handled by international arbiters who charge very steep costs. So abuses of trademark rights will continue in these existing gTLDs unless ICANN policy development experts come up with rapid and cheaper option to address abuses in these existing domain namespaces.
New gTLDs for airlines?
The new generic Top Level domain program has been developed under a rigorous policy development process that has addressed most of the shortcomings of the existing gTLDs. Of particular importance are sunrise policies that can provide airlines an opportunity to protect their marks before the domains become available to the general public. In addition, the new generic Top level domain program has incorporated rapid suspension procedures for clear cases of abuse, cheaper dispute resolution that can cost as little as $300 and a Trademark Clearing house database that airlines can join to claim their marks and safeguard it against future abuses. But do airlines need new gTLDs? I don't think so.
Why airlines do not need new Top Level Domain names
Brand recognition: Many airlines have already built great brand recognition for their products under the existing gTLDs particularly the .COM or .AERO. Rebranding the airlines' operations under a new .airline(dotairline) new gTLD will only confuse customers already used to the existing airline.com or aiirline.aerro domain names.
Customers are not concerned about what a domain name an airline has but how easily they can access services on the website, how fast it loads, is the website trusted? Many consumers are not sophisticated enough to search an airlines services online strictly based on a TLD search, for example search site:.airlineTLD
Consumers search for an airline's services by searching on Google, Bing, Yandex or Baidu; or if they have to, they will type in the URL of the airline's domain name that they are used to and is currently existing. So introducing a new TLD adds no value to the airlines' existing brand image, recognition or ease of navigating the airlines' products on the world wide web.
Will be underutilized: Airlines normally have a central domain name and perhaps a few country based domains for their various operations in different countries. In addition, an airline's services and products are normally hosted on various pages on the main website under the primary .COM or .AERO domain. Adding a Top Level Domain to host the airlines' various services which can be hosted on the various pages in the existing Top Level Domains is clearly a waste of the cyberspace and an unnecessary expense. Existing TLDs are adequate for the "narrow" scope of airline operations. An airline TLD that utilizes something like 50-300 domains for the airline's operations and costs over $50,000 per year to operate is a criminal waste.
Cost and requirements of operating airline Domain Name Registry: Clearly, you already have enough headache in staffing and operating your IT and eCommerce Departments. You have your digital marketing team, search engine marketing team, GDS management team, information security team, airline domain portfolio management team, hardware and software maintenance team, social media team ad infinitum. Why complicate your life by adding the complex domain registry to your IT headache which comes with its own set of hardware, software, technical specialist and admins plus annual fees to ICANN?
So far, the Scandinavian Airline(SAS) is probably the only airline that has applied for a new gTLD and it's already running into problems and is likely to face some objections along the way, an extra and unnecessary cost. For airlines, please stick to your existing TLDs or move over to .AERO if you need a domain rebranding. You can also use .TRAVEL to brand your holiday products.
Airlines: Managing the new gTLDs environment
Given that there possibly could be over 500 new gTLDs being launched by early 2013 following the evaluation and delegation by ICANN, airlines need to present a common front via IATA or ICAO and with the help of SITA demand/negotiate permanent protections at a one off low cost or no cost at all of their trademark rights across all the new gTLDs.
It will be costly for airlines to protect their marks across over 500 new gTLDs given the losses airlines are already facing in the gloomy economic environment and the rising costs of maintaining the information systems infrastructure. I think an intervention by IATA on behalf of the airlines following the negotiations by the new gTLDs future registry operators can resolve these fears. IATA and ICAO can take advantage of the comment period from May this year and through the Government Advisory Committee to extract some assurances, pledges and concessions from new gTLD applicants.
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Cheapest Airlines in 2011
Posted: February 6, 2012, 8:27 am by nero
eDreams is one of the leading global online travel agencies and a major player in the European travel market.eDreams compiled data from several million flight bookings made through its website in 2011. Focusing on short-haul flights, the Online Travel Agency only included bookings for flights of under 1000 miles. To get the 50 rankings, they summed up the miles flown by all customers on a given airline, before adding up all the individual prices paid for the flights. The total amount paid (all inclusive) was then divided by the total distance flown to get a price per 100 miles.
Price per 100 Miles is an alternative way to compare airlines by price. Consider that different airlines fly different routes, which makes direct comparisons difficult. However, this is an indicator of the overall pricing policy of the airline and is an objective value that allows for comparison and ranking.
In Africa, the Cheapest Airlines in 2011unsurprisingly based in the continent's two major key travel tourist markets South Africa and Morocco and these include:- Fly Mango(South Africa) 11.01 (Price in EUR per 100 miles)
- Air Arabia Maroc(Morocco) 11.92 (Price in EUR per 100 miles)
- Jet4You(Morocco) 13.04 (Price in EUR per 100 miles)
- Comair(South Africa) 15.75 (Price in EUR per 100 miles)
- Royal Air Maroc(Morocco) 18.79 (Price in EUR per 100 miles)
Note:Code Airline Country Price (Euros)
Per 100 Miles#1 BL Jetstar Pacific Vietnam 8.55 #2 ZB Monarch UK 9.61 #3 0B Blue Air Romania 10.43 #4 G9 Air Arabia UAE 10.71 #5 3K Jetstar Asia Singapore 10.91 #6 FR Ryanair Ireland 10.95 #7 JE Mango South Africa 11.01 #8 BY Thomson Airways UK 11.67 #9 X3 TUIfly Germany 11.77 #10 3O Air Arabia Maroc Marroco 11.92 #11 TR Tiger Airways Australia 12.02 #12 HV Transavia Netherlands 12.25 #13 W6 Wizzair Hungary 12.78 #14 8J Jet4You Morocco 13.04 #15 E3 Eagles Airlines Italy 13.35 #16 KU Kuwait Airways Kuwait 13.37 #17 JQ Jetstar Airways Australia 13.48 #18 U2 Easyjet UK 13.49 #19 DY Norwegian Norway 14.63 #20 AP Air One Italy 14.84 #21 S4 Sata International Portugal 14.91 #22 QS Smart Wings Czech Republic 15.00 #23 F9 Frontier Airlines US 15.24 #24 ZI Aigle Azur France 15.48 #25 TP TAP Portugal Portugal 15.52 #26 MN Comair South Afrika 15.75 #27 IV Wind Jet Italy 15.76 #28 VY Vueling Spain 16.25 #29 HG Niki Austria 16.66 #30 LA LAN Chile 16.70 #31 LS Jet2 UK 17.08 #32 XW Sky Express Russia 17.28 #33 EI Aer Lingus Ireland 17.41 #34 U6 Ural Airlines Russia 17.44 #35 SE XL Airways France 17.48 #36 FB Bulgaria Air Bulgaria 17.53 #37 PZ TAM Paraguay 17.76 #38 WW Bmibaby UK 17.77 #39 KL KLM Netherlands 17.97 #40 S2 Jet Lite India 18.19 #41 PC Pegasus Airlines Turkey 18.30 #42 SN Brussels Airlines Belgium 18.42 #43 KF Blue1 Finland 18.43 #44 JK Spanair Spain 18.46 #45 UX Air Europa Spain 18.51 #46 IB Iberia Spain 18.57 #47 LV Albanian Airlines Albania 18.62 #48 AT Royal Air Maroc Morocco 18.79 #49 UN Transaero Airlines Russia 18.88 #50 OK Czech Airlines Czech Republic 19.00
- Short Haul flights are defined as a total distance of 1000 nautical miles or less. Flights of greater distances are excluded from this study.
Below is an Infographic by eDreams on the cheapest airlines in 2011:
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Local Players will Win in the Emerging Online Travel Markets
Posted: February 6, 2012, 7:59 am by nero
I have found an interesting post on tnooz by Serge Faguet, co-founder of Ostrovok, a Russian-based hotel-focused online travel agency explaining why local players can beat global online travel market giants like Expedia, Orbotz, eDreams and others. Accroding to Serge, the pre-existing global players have the following advantages:
- Large pools of capital
- Established global supply bases appealing to BRIC consumers
- The ability to direct significant flows of global customers to BRIC hotels
- Experience developed over many years of success.
Funding: According to Serge, capital is no longer an advantage over local startups that know how to raise capital. Startups in the BRICS countries can easily raise millions wit a good product. Many investors are looking towards establishing a footprint in the BRICS, so with a good product, the money will follow.
Supply: Global supply is freely available through local and global market leaders through affiliate/lead generation programs.
Customers: Global customer flow into BRICS hotels and airlines are quite important but local customers eventually become dominant source of local demand for flights and hotel services. A second advantage is that global customers have little brand loyalty to global OTAs and will choose whatever offers the best rates. This creates room for new players to carve a niche in the online travel industry and compete with established players.
Legacy: They say on the internet, no one knows you are a dog. While some of the established OTAs have build business for 15 years, an innovative player with a unique value proposition can easily capture a good portion of the market and attract clients. Established players for example struggle with exploiting new distribution channels such as mobile and social media. Local players have the following advantages over the more established global players in the online travel market:
- Local Fulfillment
- Local Marketing
- Local Supply
Local players can leverage the following advantages in their emerging markets that global players might not be able to exploit:
Local Payment Solutions: How people make payments vary from one country to another. While the developed world has the credit card as King, markets in the developing world have broader access to other payment systems that are not integrated into the global service distribution systems. In Kenya, MPESA is King and many airlines accept MPESA along with other mobile money services as valid form of payment; In China, the country's leading online travel agency has a group of messengers who collect cash from clients have booked services with the travel agency something that might not be as feasible in the Western countries or Africa but is feasible in China's unique business culture, in Brazil, the country's and region's leading online travel agency Despegar accepts payment via installments and so on. Existing players do none of these thus losing a huge chunk of potential customers.
Local Customer Support: Customers in BRIC countries need help with telephone support and transactions, visa applications and help in trusting the internet, help with online booking and security etc. They can maintain Call Centres in the host country and handle calls from consumers and help them organize their travel. Some players like MakeMyTrip have local offices where customers who are afraid to complete large transactions for fear of fraud can visit and get help and assurance with their booking. These increase the customers' trust in the product.
Marketing:
Local Channels: Local marketing channels give online travel agencies in the emerging markets considerable advantage. While global players rely mostly on Google and Bing to drive bookings on their website, local players can leverage knowledge of local products for example Yandex in Russia, Baidu in China and other local online directories to get an advantage over global rivals.
Local Offline Marketing: Local players can rely on local offline marketing includinng targeted TV ads that resonate with local audiences, newspaper adverts, brochure marketing in local corporate markets and more; resources that global players cannot mobilize in multiple local markets.
Local Culture Focus: Local Online Travel players speak the language and understand the local cultures of the markets that they serve, as a result, they are able to leverage this to build stronger relationships and understanding of their local market and client travel needs.
Supply:
Local Focus: Local Online travel agencies can build local relationships with travel providers in the local market and also due to the their understanding of the local players, they are able to lead in terms of the breadth of coverage of the local travel providers and also in offering more competitive rates for local travel providers than global travel agencies.
Local Travel Solutions: By being responsive to the needs of local travel providers, local travel agencies can deliver superior results.An example given by Serge is of China's CTrip and eLong "which work with hotels in an on-request fax-based way, as well as via an extranet, and even today approximately 40% of Ctrip’s bookings are done this way."
What determines which local players will win?
According to Serge, the following factors will lead to the success of the Online Travel Agencies in the emerging markets:
- Prior knowledge of the local market in executive teams: Having executives with local experience for example will help bring more suppliers to the local travel solution.
- Technical engineering ability on the team: Build a strong team with rich engineering talent. Technology is always the bottleneck of many tech companies and it's crucial to have an engineering talent to drive research, innovation and product development and improvement in your organization.
- Ability to raise capital on the team. Online travel agencies require injection of millions of dollars to compete against established players in the market. Ability to raise that capital from local and foreign sources will be crucial to success.
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Time for an African Online Travel Agency?
Posted: February 5, 2012, 9:44 pm by nero
It it time for an African Opodo? Opodo, a Pan European online travel agency, was founded by nine European airlines in 2000 to sell cheap flights, hotel accommodation and car hire.The travel portal was launched to provide cheapest offers for flights to, from and within Europe as well as complementary products for travelers.
Although Opodo hoped to completely dominate the market in Europe by heading off the Lastminute.com and Expedia duopoly, it found an established market already carved by these players that had traditionally dominated the European Online Travel Market since their establishment during the .COM boom years. In 2011, two European investments giants acquired and merged Opodo with eDreams and GoVoyages thus creating a giant online agency to oust Expedia from the top position in the online travel markets in Europe. The dominant online travel agencies in Europe are owned by European companies.
This trend is repeated in the emerging markets including India, Brazil, China and Russia where the rapidly emerging or dominant OTAs are companies from within those emerging markets. In India for example, the online travel agency MakeMyTrip controls almost 10% of the market offering bookings for air tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, hotel bookings and accommodations, car hire, international and domestic holiday packages, visa services, B2B services. In Russia, Ostrovok, an online travel agency launched last year with a $13 million start-up funding, is now the fastest growing online travel company in the country, with a focus on hotel booking. Before the launch of Ostrovok, Russia was probably one of the major global economies without an established online travel solution. Amongst the investors in the start-up include former ICANN Chair Esther Dyson, Expedia, Tripit amongst others. Brazil's Despegar is fast becoming a market leader in Brazil and Latin America. In China Qunar is a major local player in the online travel industry together with ctrip. So why not Africa? And why not now?
There are many reasons why African airlines and travel entrepreneurs should join forces and create a local product or products spread across the various African travel markets. While in the past African internet users relied on offline agencies' offices due to poor internet access and lack of awareness of online travel options, the recent deeper penetration of the internet and adoption of eCommerce solutions and online payment systems means that more Africans are already buying tickets online and this trend is expected to grow exponentially as African consumers become more sophisticated in the next few years with the exponential growth of the internet.
The numbers in Africa are now looking good for airlines on the continent, while African airlines account for only 20% of the intercontinental flights, they dominate their intra African traffic. Flights between African countries is completely dominated by the big African carriers Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways, EgyptAir, Royal Air Maroc amongst others. In addition, more professionally run car rental and booking services are emerging that can be integrated into global distribution systems and sold via online travel agencies. Many Africans still line up in long queues to pay for bus services, train services and these are sectors that can be completely integrated into the online booking experience. No one would understand these more than an African player with deep knowledge of the services provided in each of the African countries.
In addition, local online travel industries are likely to integrate payment systems that are widely available to African travelers but are not necessarily accepted by the international players such as Expedia, Priceline and others. For example, mobile payments for flights are not accessible in these global platforms but local players can easily integrate these payment modes into their systems. Not many Africans have access to credit cards or debit cards but almost all will have access to mobile money; these are some of the advantages that local online travel agencies can wield over international players in order to build a Pan African online travel market.
The airlines rely on Online Travel Agencies to cut down on distribution of costs since (offline)agencies cut deeply into airline revenues and in the maze of the internet, an airline cannot rely on its website alone to distribute tickets so it must use countless channels on the web as distribution channels. Some of these distribution channels include Expedia, Lastminute.com, Orbitz, eDreams, Travelocity. It would make sense if African airlines could launch a "local" Pan African product through which they could offer tickets for sale at a slightly lower cost while also reining in middlemen fees which account for 4% of their revenues thus increase their profitability in this way in the long term. I think a cooperative effort backed by Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways amongst other players can have a good shot at success.
As the web infrastructure continues to grow on the continent, more Africans will be buying their tickets on the internet, and airlines must start thinking where those consumers will buy the tickets. The success of home grown online travel agencies in emerging markets like India, Brazil, China and Russia has shown that the global players in the industry have no idea/no interest on how to compete in the emerging markets. A Pan African Online travel portal might just break through and eventually come to dominate the market in Africa, giving Africans a more familiar feel and cutting the costs for African airlines.
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AFRAA Africa Wings Magazine: African Aviation Outlook
Posted: February 5, 2012, 5:59 pm by nero
African Airlines Association, AFRAA, has radically improved its communication strategy in the last few months through the revamping of the organization's website to make it even more navigable and user friendly. The previous website was full of blank pages and broken links giving users a horrendous experience when finding information on African aviation.
The organization has also incorporated social media in communications, and offers better experience through digital magazines instead of the old horrendous PDFs. You can follow the AFRAA CEO Elijah Chingosho on Twitter at @chingosho or follow AFRAA on @AfricanAirlines.
Highlights from the Africa Wings Magazine:
Foreign DependenceIntra-African Trade is a mere 10% total exports compared to trade within the Association of South East Asian Nations(ASEAN) 60%, or North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) which accounts for 56% of total exports. This lack of economic diversification explains the high volatility of African trade and consequently the poor Intra Africa air transport development.
The resilience of Africa in 2011 will be heavily tested with the increase in food prices. Volatile fuel costs, instability in North Africa and the Middle East and the sovereign debt crisis in the developed countries creates risks for a renewed downturn. The limited integration of African economies into the global economy proved a blessing in disguise in helping the African economies weather the storm of the global recession of the last three years. Most countries in Africa now have a stronger a macroeconomic position.
In Africa the boom-bust cycle of private financial inflows was less marked due to high share Sub Saharan Africa of FDI over other more volatile forms of private capital.
Growing Population and Middle Class Africa has a population of 1.05 billion and by 2050, 25% of the global population will be African. By 2050, the Population of Sub Saharan Africa will be 3.4 billion with Nigeria becoming the world's third most popular nation with a population of 433 million. Africa's middle class is also growing as first as its population. In the last 10 years, six of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world were in Africa according to the Economist. In the next five years DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia will grow at an average of 7.2% annually.
Africa has become an emerging market with a relatively high return on investments. By 2030, Africa will have a 300 million strong middle class tat will spend $2.2 trillion per year, amounting to about 3% of global consumption according to the African Development Bank.
Doing Business in Africa: Africa's wealth
Africa has 90% of World's platinum, 50% of the world's gold, 70% of the world's cotton, and 30% of te world's diamond reserves according to the African Business Magazine. Chinese companies are doing business with every of Africa's 54 countries. Trade between China and Africa will almost triple to $300 billion by 2015 according to stats from Standard Bank South Africa. Companies from India and Brazil are increasingly pursuing commercial interests in Africa. The EU nations are also increasingly renegotiating contracts in Africa as their traditional dominance of the African business slips away to new competitors.
Implications for Air TransportThe above developments bode well for the African aviation industry. With large middle class and poorly developed road and rail infrastructure, African aviation will increasingly play a big role in socioeconomic development and regional integration. Africans are turning more and more to air travel as disposable income improve and speed becomes of essence amongst the business community and Africa's growing entrepreneurs.As a result, Africa's air transport will sustain a 6.1% growth in 2011 and keep the growth rate or above the historical trend through 2030.
Direct Foreign Investment, growing urbanization and rising incomes will continue to spur higher domestic demand for consumer goods and air transport. Intra Africa air travel, which is currently 20% of the total air travel is set to grow significantly to support the fast expanding regional trade which is just 10% at the moment. Regional trade blocs SADC, EAC, COMESA, ECOWAS are working harder to eliminate trade barriers and increase cross border trade, investments and move goods and people.
As China and India continue to be major trading partners of African countries, traffic between Africa and Asia will continue to grow. Projections are that travel between Africa and Asia will grow t 8.1% annually over the next 20 years to 2030. The Africa-Asia Travel market will be the fast intercontinental air travel growth region and therefore African carriers would need to focus resources in developing their Asian networks before the Asian carriers their operations Westwards into Africa.
Competition: Foreign Carriers Control 82% of African market
The huge untapped African aviation market has not escaped the attention of foreign carriers who are looking for growth markets to deploy their extra capacity. Many foreign carriers are strategically positioning themselves in various markets in Africa to take advantage of anticipated traffic boom and exploit the weakness of African carriers. During the financial crisis of 2008/2009, many non-African operators deployed their excess capacity on African routes. In 2010 as in earlier years, non African carriers commanded the biggest market share of 82% of all intercontinental traffic to/from Africa as compared to 18% by African airlines. The market share of African airlines in the last three years has dropped from 20% to the current 18%.
On Intra African routes, the competitive landscape is radically different with EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc and South African Airways being the dominant players. Well-timed connecting flights between East and West Africa are improving passenger travel time and inconvenience. Though flights availability is improving, West and Central Africa remain the regions with least number of direct flights between cities. The absence of an effective hub airport in the region accounts for this.
Commercial Partnerships and alliancesOne way African carriers can be more competitive on intercontinental routes is for them to establish stronger intra-Africa networks that feed passengers to gateway(hub) cities and facilitate better connections. Already some patterns are beginning to form in this regard. Ethiopian Airlines is a strategic partner of ASKY. It also provides technical support to Air Nigeria and other airlines. Over 90 Commercial partnership arrangements currently exist among AFRAA member airlines.
On the global scale, South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir are now members of global airline alliance Star Alliance, Kenya Airways is a member of Sky Team while South Africa's Comair is a member of OneWorld alliance.
TourismIn 2010, there were 48.8 million International Tourist arrivals in Africa with North Africa receiving an estimated 18.7 million tourists and Sub Saharan Africa receiving 30.2 million tourists. Africa achieved 6.5% growth in tourism, with the FIFA World Cup in South Africa no doubt playing a crucial role.
Next: Serialization on African Airline Performance from the AFRAA report. You can read the full AFRAA report below:
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Terminal Illness: JKIA on Frommers' 12 Worst Airports in the World
Posted: February 5, 2012, 12:20 pm by nero
JKIA has had its share of problems in the last few years and now a travel website has given it a rather an unflattering review calling it a "third world construction site."
In a post appropriately titled "Terminal Illness", online travel guidebook website Frommers has classified Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi(NBO) amongst the 10 Worst Airports in the World. According to Frommers,
Some airports deserve special condemnation, though. In some cases, they deserve to be literally condemned. Assembling this top 10 list of misfits I scanned professional surveys and delay statistics and asked my frequent-traveler friends to come up with the ten airports where you'd least like to spend an extra hour.
JKIA
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ranks 7th on the list. Frommers says this on JKIA:Nairobi's airport, which aspires to be an international hub, was built to support about 2.5 million passengers and now averages about double that. As a result, the Kenyan government announced plans to expand the airport. That was in 2005. They aren't done yet.
I've been to JKIA, and it reinforces all of the stupid stereotypes about Africa that you wish weren't true. It's hot, ugly, dirty and confusing, full of touts and scam artists and perpetually overcrowded. African airports don't have to be like this, of course: the Marrakesh airport is one of the most beautiful in the world, and Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo airport is at least efficient.
The Kenyan government says construction on a new terminal will begin in January. Perhaps someday, the Nairobi airport improvement project will be finished. Until then, this Third World construction site remains a place for travelers to avoid.
Do you agree with Frommers' drab review of JKIA?
Here is Frommers' 10 Worst Airports:
- Chicago Midway Airport
- "Paris" Beauvais Airport, France
- Newark Airport Terminal B
- LaGuardia Airport US Airways Terminal, New York City
- Amman Queen Alia Airport
- Paris -- Charles de Gaulle Airport, Terminal 3
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi
- Moscow Sheremtyevo Airport Terminal B/C, Russia
- Manila Airport Terminal 1, Philippines
- JFK Airport Terminal 3, New York City
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Social Media and Travel: KLM launches Meet and Seat Program
Posted: February 4, 2012, 10:18 am by nero
KLM has finally launched its Meet and Seat program that will allow passengers to choose their seat mates before their intercontinental flights in what KLM calls the first truly social seating system for airlines. The system will match customer’s social profiles with those having similar profiles or interests. After booking your flight, you can view other passengers' LinkedIn and Facebook profiles by logging into the system with either of them. What the system has done is integrate LinkedIn and Facebook into the flight booking process to enable you connect with people of shared interests. You can choose which interests you would like to share for example First Name, Second Name, University, Company you work for, Interests, Reason for travel, languages spoken and then you will be able to view other passengers' profiles.
The system has generated debate no doubt as it's a controversial system and there are ethical and privacy considerations involved . There are people who have wholly welcomed the idea for very practical and understandable reasons in that it gives them an opportunity to meet and network with people with whom they genuinely share similar interests. If you're traveling to an internet conference in Beijing for example and it's your first time to the city, chances are that there are other passengers on the same flight going to the same conference so it can be easier to connect, get to know each other and help each other in finding your way around the city. In that way, KLM's Meet and Seat can be useful but I think you must give the passenger seat mate an opportunity to know you before the flight by for example connecting with them on LinkedIn or adding them on Facebook and saying someting like Hi, I met you via KLM's Seat and Meet, mind sharing a seat with me? since Meet and Seat can be reserved 90 days to 48 hours before the flight. 3 months to 2 days is definitely sufficient time to build a good off flight experience and friendship. Otherwise, adding people "secretly" and then ambushing them during a flight looks kinda creepy.
What Meet and Seat will look like. Photo Courtesy Simpliflying
This system reminds of another KLM/Air France social media initiative, FLYBlueClubAfrica, previously called KLMClubAfrica that enabled KLM passengers flying in and out of Africa to meet and network and build business relationships. KLM definitely wants its passengers to be one big KLM family :)
I'm yet to learn more about KLM's Meat and Seat, I have not tried it out but I have watched the wonderfully made YouTube Video which I have embedded above. Does the system for example notify the "other" person that I have selected them as a seat mate? What if I select a seat mate and then "they" select another seat mate? These are some of the "operational hitches" that I hope the system has addressed.
Strangers rarely interact in a flight apart from a few brief niceties although in some cases you can "strike gold". As someone commented when the story first came to the fore last year, "The best seatmate is one who keeps their mouth shut. Last week was on a plane for ten hours and the guy next to me never said a word - wonderful traveling companion and I hope to meet him again ". So when you are selecting a seat mate, you are definitely looking forward to a great chat and networking during the long flight, what if you "travel partner" has other plans, like listening to music or reading a book in the duration of the flight? In that case, KLM's Meet and Seat might create some "social problems" :). Shared interests does not necessarily mean shared personalities. But I think the 3 month to 48 hours Meet and Seat reservation should give you sufficient time to know how enthusiastic or comfortable your inflight friend is to be sitting next to you.
Then there is the issue of privacy. Who views my "private or personal" information? Well of course that information is already online and public either on LinkedIn or Facebook but doesn't this system allow for stalking? Passengers will only have access to those profiles of the other passengers who sign into the Meet and Seat system. So whoever is in the Meet and Seat system wants to be found. In that case, the question of "privacy" violation may not arise and am sure that's included somewhere in the TOS of the KLM's Meet and Seat program. Well, that's the logical conclusion since there is no way that KLM will integrate LinkedIn and Facebook profiles of all those who fly with them without their permissions.
The last controversy with KLM's Meet and Seat is what I consider to be ethical considerations/issues. Some people will end up avoiding those that they consider too fat(especially in societies where being fat is frowned upon), those they consider not beautiful enough(whatever their definitions of beauty maybe), those that are different from them(read race) and many other social considerations that our consumerist society look up to, to define how we live our lives and travel. Every well meaning system can be abused. Some may however not consider these as abuses, but a way to optimize their travel experience.
KLM's Meet and Seat is definitely an interesting and controversial system but it's something you can choose to opt out of if you are not comfortable with it. It will be interesting to see how enthusiastically passengers will embrace this travel social media innovation. For me, when traveling alone, I wouldn't want my travel experience to be that scripted. The few times I have traveled, I have enjoyed meeting complete random strangers and they all turned out to be very wonderful travel companions, whether talkative or quiet. The next time am traveling, if I do it with KLM, I will however use the system to check whether people I know are also on the flight :)
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The 15 Busiest Airports in Africa
Posted: February 4, 2012, 3:31 am by nero
African aviation is entering its golden age as the continent's once ailing airlines spring back to life and the air travel market experiences robust growth. In many African countries, plans are now underway to revive defunct national carriers while African and foreign entrepreneurs are busy launching new carriers.
As the initiatives to put more planes on the runways of Africa get underway, the African travel market is growing in leaps and bounds.
The growth in the travel market has been fueled by the steady growth of African economies in the last few years which has sustained an aviation market driven mostly by business passengers traveling across the continent; Airbus has predicted that African economies will grow by 6.5% between now and 2020 and this is a very bright future outlook for the continent. With steady economic growth also comes the continued expansion of the African middle class and the increased demand for international and regional travel by this burgeoning middle class. Other factors driving the development and growth of Africa's travel market include growth in tourism in the traditional tourist hotspots of Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Seychelles, Mauritius, Botswana, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tunisia. Strengthening of trade and commercial partnerships between African countries is also contributing to the rapid growth of the travel market. While in the past, trade and commercial relations were forged between African countries and European countries, today they are forged between African partner states.
You are likely to find today's African businesspeople strutting the streets of Nairobi, Johannesburg, Lagos or Tunis building inter African business partnerships.
Increased investments by local entrepreneurs in aviation startups has also contributed to the growth of the market, particularly in Northern, Eastern and Southern Africa.
African Aviation megacities
Airbus predicts that Africa will have 6 Aviation Megacities by the year 2030. An Aviation Megacity is a location that handles more than 10,000 long-haul passengers each day. Currently, Johannesburg is the only Aviation Megacity on the continent. So who could be the future contenders? Which are the busiest airports in Africa?
- OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg South Africa: O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) in Johannesburg is the air transport hub of Southern Africa and the busiest airports in Africa, catering for more than 18 million passengers each year. It's the busiest airport in Africa and the second busiest in the Africa-Middle East region after the Dubai International Airport. ORTIA has capacity to handle 28 million passengers. The airport was once called Jan Smuts International Airport in the dark ages of apartheid but was renamed to Johannesburg International Airport in 1994 before being renamed again in 2006 after the great South African anti-apartheid hero. The airport has the longest runway in Africa and is commonly referred as the "Gateway to South Africa." ORTIA employs an estimated 18,000 people through the various companies servicing the airport. The airport, like many others in South Africa is managed by a private company, Airports Company of South Africa(ACSA) and is one of the best managed airports in Africa. The airport plays an important role in the economy of Gauteng Province South Africa biggest economy.
OR Tambo International Airport During the Dark Days of apartheid when it was known as Jan Smuts Airport. Note the old livery of South African Airways
OR Tambo International Airport today
2.Cairo International Airport(CAI), Cairo Egypt; Cairo International Airport was once the busiest airport in Africa until it was overtaken by OR Tambo in 1996. It's now the second busiest airport in Africa and handles an estimated 16 million passengers every year. Over 65 airlines use the Cairo International Airport. The airport is managed privately by Frankfurt's Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide-Fraport AG, a concession that is set to expire this year. CAI is the Gateway into Egypt.
Cairo International Airport: Africa's Second Busiest Airport
3. Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport(SSH), Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt : Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport is Africa's third busiest Airport. The airport is located in 18 kilometers (11 miles) northeast from the city of Sharm El Sheikh. The airport serves the major recreation area of Egypt including dozens of hotels along the Red Sea. The airport is located in the heart of the resort area of the Red Sea Coast. The Egyptian Airport handles an estimated 8.7 million passengers every year.
Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport Egypt Africa's third busiest Airport
4.Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town South Africa: Cape Town International Airport is Africa’s fourth busiest airport. It is also Africa’s premier tourist and VIP destination and has established a reputation as Africa’s premier international award-winning airport. In 2010 the Airport catered for an estimated 8 million passengers.
5.Hurghada International Airport(HGR), Hurghada Egypt : Hurghada International Airport is Africa's fifth busiest airport and is located in the city of Hurghada in the Red Sea Riviera. Hurghada Airport serves the tourist market, mainly leisure travelers from Europe.Hurghada is a major resort destination for European tourists.
Hurghada International Airport, Hurghada Egypt
6. Mohammed V International Airport(CMN), Casablanca Morocco: Catering for an estimated 7.2 million passengers, Mohammed V International Airport is the sixth busiest in Africa. The Airport was named after the late Sultan Mohammed V of Morocco. The airport is also the hub of flag carrier Royal Air Maroc, budget airline Jet4you, Air Arabia Maroc and Regional Air Lines.
Mohammed V International Airport
7.Murtala Muhammed International Airport(LOS), Lagos Nigeria: MMIA is Africa's seventh busiest airport and was originally known as Lagos International Airport. In 1970, it was renamed after a former Nigerian head of state Murtala Muhammed. In 2010 the airport catered for 6.3 million passengers making it Africa's 7th busiest airport. The Airport is privately managed by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited.
Murtala Muhammed International Airport
8.Jomo Kenyatta International Airport(NBO), Nairobi Kenya: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is Africa's eighth busiest airport and the largest and busiest airport in the East and Central Africa. The airport, along with other airports in Kenya are managed by the Kenya Airports Authority. In 2010, the airport catered for 5.5 million passengers. JKIA is the hub for the Kenya's national carrier Kenya Airways, together with Fky540 and Jetlink. Currently the airport caters for an estimated 7 million passengers annually and could be ranked the 6th largest in Africa if data from other airports become available. The Kenyan government is currently planning an expansion programme that will see the JKIA airport's capacity increased to 20 million passengers, making it one of the largest airports in Africa. The airport was constructed in 1958 to handle 2.5 million passengers but has overstretched its capacity with the current 7 million passengers per year.
9. Houari Boumedienne Airport(ALG), Algiers Algeria Algeria's International Airport is Africa's 9th busiest airport. The airport is also called Algiers Airport and played an important role during WWII. The airport handled an estimated 4.5 million passengers in 2009. No data is available for 2010 and 2011.
Houari Boumediene International Airport
10. King Shaka International Airport, Durban South Africa: The King Shaka International Airport was opened in May 2010, one month before the World Cup in South Africa. Handling an estimated 4.7 million passengers in 2010, KSIA has contributed immensely to the economy of Durban and the greater Kwa Zulu Natal. Also known as La Mercy, the airport has opened South Africa's city of Durban to international flights. Before its construction in the run up to the World Cup, Durban was the only major South African city without an aviation infrastructure to accommodate international flights. The airport is three times bigger than the Durban International Airport that it replaced.
King Shaka International Airport, Durban. Also called La Mercy
11.Tunis-Carthage International Airport, Tunis Tunisia(TUN): Carthage Airport is Africa's 11th busiest Airport named after the ancient city of Carthage. In 2010, the Airport catered for some 4.6 million passengers. Ground handling at the airport is provided by Tunisair Handling, a 100% subsidiary of Tunisair, and security services are provided by the Tunisian Police and the Customs. Tunis-Carthage International Airport is the hub of TunisAir, Tunisia's national airline.
Tunis-Carthage International Airport
12.Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport(ABV), Abuja Nigeria: The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is located in Abuja and is Africa's 12th busiest airport. The airport catered for some 3.9 million passengers in 2010. The airport is managed by Abuja Gateway Consortium which signed a $101million 25 year concession with the Abuja government in a contract that includes the construction of an airport hotel, private car parks, shopping malls and a bonded warehouse, totaling USD50 million, during its first five years.
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja Nigeria
13. Bole International Airport(ADD), Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa is Africa's 13th busiest airport and the main hub of Ethiopian Airlines. In 2010, the Airport catered for approximately 3.8 million passengers. The airport is the main hub of Ethiopian Airlines and is the third largest airport in Africa by area size. The airport also has one of the longest runways in Africa. The airport was estimated to be serving 6 million passengers in 2011 although no concrete data is available. The Airport was formerly known as Haile Selassie I International Airport and still retains the ICAO code HAAB.
The Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
14. Marrakech-Menara Airport(RAK), Marrakech Morocco: This is the best and most beautiful airport in Africa with modern and Islamic architecture fusing together to form a classic.Designed by a team of architects led by Casablanca-based E2A Architecture and completed in 2008, the structure is formed of massive concrete rhombuses. This muscular approach is softened by the exquisite arabesque patterns on the building's glass skin, which cast complex, ever-changing shadows on the terminal's floors.
This is an international Airport serving the city of Marrakech and an international facility that receives flights mainly from tourists flying from Europe for holidays in Morocco. In 2010, the airport handled an estimated 3.44 million passengers and is the second busiest in Morocco after Mohammed V International Airport. The Marrakech-Menara Terminal 1 is ranked amongst the top 10 terminals globally by Frommers and it also ranked one of the best airports in the world by Travel and Leisure Magazine. This futuristic airport is served by some of Europe's leading commercial airlines and airline charters as Morocco is one of the top destinations for European tourists.Marrakech-Menara Airport
The airport is also one of the greenest with 72 photovoltaic pyramids generating power on the roof.The Marrakech-Menara Airport is ranked the best Airport in Africa and amongst the best 10 airports in the world by Travel and Leisure Magazine
Some of the airlines serving Marrakech-Menara Airport include Air France, Air Méditerranée, Binter Canarias, bmi, British Airways, Corendon Dutch Airlines, Brussels Airlines, easyJet, easyJet Switzerland, Europe Airpost, Hello, Air Nostrum, Jet4You, JetAirFly, Luxair, Vueling Airlines amongst others.
15 Monastir-Habib Bourguiba International Airport(MIR), Monastir Tunisia: Monastir is the 15th busiest airport in Africa. In 2010, the airport handled some 3.40 million passengers. The airport serves as the main airport for the city of Sousse and Monastir. It also serves many charter airlines to many resorts around Tunisia. Handling and ground services at the airport are provided by Nouvelair. The airport has seen reduced operations due to the opening of Enfidha Airport and some airlines have moved operations from Monastir to the new Enfidha Airport.
Monastir-Habib Bourguiba International Airport(MIR), Tunisia
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UK is the largest Online Travel Market in Europe
Posted: February 3, 2012, 8:04 pm by nero
UK the Largest Online Travel Market in Europe
In the Online Travel Market, not all countries in Europe were created equal according to a new Research data released by Phocus. Online leisure/unmanaged business travel share of the total travel market varies significantly by country, with the U.K. leading the pack, and Spain and Italy lagging far behind, according to PhoCusWright's European Online Travel Overview Seventh Edition..
The U.K. (47%) overtook Scandinavia (46%) in online travel penetration by a small margin in 2010. However, the size of the U.K.'s total travel market makes it by far the largest online market in Europe, comprising 28% of total European online leisure/unmanaged business travel gross bookings in 2010 (see figure). By 2013, its share of Europe's total online travel market will shrink to 26% as smaller markets experience rapid online growth and larger markets mature.
At the other end of the spectrum, Italy and Spain – smaller travel markets with low online travel penetration – will comprise just 5% and 7%, respectively, of European online leisure/unmanaged business bookings by 2013. Growth in these two markets continues to be inhibited by economic uncertainty, lower levels of Internet access, and the presence of dominant offline travel distribution networks.
Read More
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Another Antonov "Flying Coffin" Crashes in the DR Congo
Posted: February 2, 2012, 5:15 am by nero
An official in the Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province reported that an Antonov 28 Cargo plane operated by the aviation charter company TRACEP Congo Aviation crashed in the forests shortly before landing and all the five passengers on board are presumed dead.
Laban Kyalangalilwa, the minister in charge of transportation in South Kivu province, said on Tuesday the plane took off from the city of Bukavu's Bukavu-Kamenbe Airport at 07:45 on Monday and was due to land at Namoya Airstrip in the town of Namoya an hour later. The plane never arrived. He said a second plane was sent to survey the route, and they found what looked like the debris of the Antonov about 10km away from the Namoya runway. He said that there were at least five people on board. He could not confirm whether any had survived, but said that it was unlikely given the degree of debris at the crash site.
The DRC has experienced its fair share of aviation accidents and fatal incidents due to the prevalence of old poorly maintained and unairworthy aircraft, most of them of the Soviet era or acquired from other airlines and aviation companies. Due to the poor road and rail network, many mining companies in the Congo use aircraft to transport workers and minerals and most of these are used aircraft acquired from other aviation companies. The country is a dumping ground for used aircraft. It will take some time for the DRC to a construct a modern civil aviation infrastructure and phase out its notorious "flying coffins".
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Airlines Grappling with Cybersecurity Threats
Posted: February 2, 2012, 4:48 am by nero
Electronic data exchange is becoming a huge part of airline operations as many airlines shift transactions online to cut on costs. Many airlines are also launching online eCommerce website wheres travelers can purchase anything from frequent flyer miles to luxury items, hotel bookings, car bookings and exclusive tour offers in exotic resorts and many more.
But lurking behind these innovative business models and services is the shadow of cyberthreats and online credit card fraud.
According to the 2010 Deloitte Airline Fraud Report, the scale of credit card fraud increased rapidly in the years between 2006 and 2009, driven largely by the tremendous growth in online bookings. Today's traveler is likely to book their ticket on online travel agencies like Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz, Travelstart or on airline websites' booking engines. Given that many users are purchasing tickets online for the first time or are not well attuned to the existing cyberthreats and online fraud, cybercriminals are shoving their way into the online booking business to take advantage of naive customers and lax airline online security systems.Cybersecurity: Airlines lost $1.4 billion in 2010 to online credit card fraud
On average, an airline loses a whopping $2.4 million per year to fraud. Almost half of the airlines surveyed said that fraud associated with e-commerce and the Internet had increased between 2008 and 2009. Some 35% noted an increase in card fraud associated with point of sale or handheld devices, and 22% noted an increase in the number of attempts to breach IT security and firewalls.
Today's traveler and travel is never complete without sophisticated devices such smartphones, iPads, laptops, netbooks and bluetooth enabled devices which make our travel experience lot more bearable. Sadly these are also the softest targets for cybercriminals who may attack from airport lounges; attacks include identity theft, rogue Wi-Fi hotspots to new wirelessly-accessible e-passports. Some airports provide free Wi-Fi services but it's extremely difficult for a traveler to tell the difference of free Wi-Fi from a rogue free, set up to steal client information.
As more African travelers take to the skies, African banks must install extra layers of security authentication in the debit cards and credit cards beyond the information displayed on the card which is normally sufficient for a transaction.
How airlines lose money to cybercriminals
Airlines lose money to cybercriminals mainly through hacking incidents and attempts to breach its security walls. Hacking groups and networks can compromise an airline's information security wall and in the process steal sensitive credit card information from the airline and its customers. Negative perceptions on the security of an airline's website and the subsequent loss of trust in the airline's security systems can also drive customers to book their flights with more trusted agents such as online travel agencies thus adding extra expenses to the airline and loss of business and also exposing the travelers to even greater online threats. Recently the website of the Israeli airline was disrupted by a Saudi hacking network although in this case, no sensitive financial or flight information was stolen from the airline but the airline was forced to take its website down as a result of the attack thus disrupting its online operations.
Although credit card fraud is regarded as a serious risk by most airlines, the Deloitte Report found that only about 50% of the airlines had a formal system in place to track this fraud.
The weakness is being addressed, however. The new 2011 Cybersource Airline Fraud Survey found that in 2010, airlines lost a total of $1.4 billion due to online credit card fraud perpetrated through their websites, representing 0.9% of total worldwide online ticket sales. But these figures were 31% better than the findings from the previous survey in 2008.
Airlines are doing everything they can to address the problem of credit card fraud, and to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS), a security standard developed in 2006 by the major international payment schemes to provide protection to their cardholders. Any organization that processes, stores or transmits cardholder data is required to comply with these standards.
Low Cost Airlines at Greatest Risk of Credit Card Fraud
Further work on the issue will progress matters even more. In particular, there is a need to assist airlines that have less experience of online sales. These tend to suffer from the highest rates of fraud as a percentage of sales. Low-fare airlines have the lowest rates of fraud, probably because of their online savvy and increased awareness that every cent counts.
Credit card fraud: Countermeasures by IATA
IATA does not collect statistics on online fraud, but is active in this area. It has developed the Perseuss program, which offers a secure platform where airlines can legally share information about known fraudulent activity. The data can be matched with airline sales data, such as e-mail addresses or IP addresses, to identify suspect transactions. Perseuss is a subscription service, and more than 60 airlines are now involved to various degrees.
“Some airlines have recouped the annual cost of Perseuss in just a few months,” says Christophe Kato, IATA’s Project Manager for the Perseuss program. “We don’t offer this service to make a profit. The value is to the community of users, and what they can bring to the table through their meetings and new relationships.”
IATA has also developed its own PCI-DSS program, which secures and protects BSP sales via agencies. Whenever a credit card is used, airlines must ensure their systems are in line with PCI-DSS.
“IATA plays a significant role in trying to prevent cyber credit card crime,” says Kato. “Ensuring that PCI-DSS is correctly implemented means the risk can be passed from the airline to the merchant.”
Detecting fraud is another important area. Some airlines use automated systems to do this; others tend to do larger numbers of manual checks. “It is really a question of trying to spot anything that is suspicious,” says Kato. “It is not an exact science. Some airlines have in-house fraud analysts, while others outsource to specialist companies. Risk scores can be applied to each transaction, and those with the largest risk scores can then be given manual checks.”
The terrorist cyberthreats to airlines
Terrorists don't just blow up planes, they also perpetuate terror on the airlines through the internet. A case in point is the recent hacking of an Israeli airline website by a Saudi Group.
Greater cyberthreats with new generation of aircraft
Losing money is one thing; losing lives is something else again. Cyber terrorism poses especially serious challenges for airlines that will be taking delivery of the new generation of aircraft. In some cases, it may even require airlines to rethink the structure of their security and IT divisions.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has identified cyber terrorism as a distinct threat to the aviation industry that needs attention. On 17 November 2010, a new ICAO Recommended Practice related to cyber threats was adopted and became applicable on 1 July 2011. It suggests that each ICAO Contracting State should develop measures to protect information and communication technology systems used for civil aviation purposes from interference that could jeopardize the safety of civil aviation. Vulnerability assessments relating to cyber security are recommended, with the objective of evaluating the efficiency of mitigation measures and identifying vulnerabilities from a threat-based perspective.
Chamindra Lenawa of Air Astana says the airline has a resilient system with several layers of defense. “Our main servers are at our operational hub in Almaty, but we have the core operational structure replicated on an offline copy in Astana,” Lenawa notes. “As for the data itself, we also have hot‑standby systems, which replicate the data of critical systems in the form of regular snapshots so that if for any reason the data becomes corrupted, we have standby systems that can be activated quickly.”
Cyber terrorism’s increasing threat to airlines has been enhanced by globalization and the ubiquity of the Internet. An attack on an airline’s IT systems can be regarded as cyber terrorism if it brings down or paralyzes any critical system. But this can extend to the more frightening possibility that it could actually cause damage to an aircraft.
“Many future efficiency gains will be based on network connectivity and electronic data exchange,” says Ken Dunlap, IATA’s Director of Security. “The new generation of aircraft will be much more interactive in terms of automated electronic data exchange than the present generation of aircraft. These new aircraft are being discussed as ‘all-electric’ models. It is not only the primary fly-by-wire flight controls; they will have a whole range of systems operating electronically, and data will be updated automatically in real time, rather than the static updating that takes place today.”
Ensuring that this data is transferred between the ground and aircraft securely is the challenge airlines must address. It is essential that all stakeholders in the civil aviation industry work together to ensure there are no glitches.
The movies come to life
“This is a relatively new concern for airlines,” says Pascal Andrei, Director of Aircraft Security at Airbus. “Conventional security threats, such as bombs, disruptive passengers, smuggled baggage, and cargo are already being managed effectively, although these are constantly evolving. Now airlines must learn to manage cyber threats.”
Cybersecurity: With new generation aircraft and the threats of cyber terrorism, future terrorists may not need to blow themselves up to inflict terror in the aviation industry
In the film Die Hard 2, an aircraft’s systems were fooled by cyber hackers into thinking it was flying 200 feet higher than it actually was, through resetting the instrument landing system.
Andrei says this is no longer merely a fictional scenario. “It is not just a matter of ensuring that the channels of data transmission are secure, but also of ensuring that the information transmitted through those channels is correct. Aircraft have to rely on external data coming into the aircraft. If that information is not correct, it could jeopardize the safety of the flight.”
Manufacturers deliver aircraft with security features embedded, but once the aircraft has been delivered, it is the responsibility of the airline to maintain that level of security throughout the life of the aircraft.
“Airlines need to understand the threat evolution associated with new IT technologies,” says Andrei. “These new technologies can be taken hostage. Airlines need to know what they need to do to protect and maintain the level of security on the aircraft itself, which is the last line of defense.
“With more and more open systems and electronic connections between the various stakeholders in the air transport industry, the risks are increasing,” he adds. “All applications have potential bugs, and this, coupled with the interconnectivity between the aircraft and the ground, creates the challenge.”
Opening the doors
The aircraft manufacturers have already started a dialogue with airlines about these matters, but much more needs to be done to bring other stakeholders into the discussions. Airbus’s annual Aircraft Security Users Panel (ASUP) meetings have been running—strictly behind closed doors—for several years now, bringing together the heads of security at airlines with Airbus. This year, for the first time, Boeing was invited to attend the ASUP meeting, and Andrei says that next year Bombardier and Embraer will also be invited.
Boeing understands the importance of collaborative efforts and is itself part of industry groups, such as the US Department of Transportation’s Rapid Response Team. “We are working with everyone in the aviation industry to develop recommendations for common industry-wide security standards,” says Toby Bright, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Executive Vice President of Sales. “We have no competitors when it comes to safety and security, only colleagues.”
In October 2011, at the IATA AVSEC conference, a panel discussion highlighted the importance of bringing more stakeholders into these sorts of talk. “Airlines, OEMs, airport operators, and air navigation service providers all need to be fully aware of the challenge of providing accurate information within secure communication channels,” says IATA’s Dunlap.
“Five years ago, I was spending most of my time on the physical aspects of airline security,” he continues. “Now I am spending the majority of my time on technology and data exchange issues. Whether it involves airport or aircraft security, the focus now encompasses the integrity of the data stream in addition to the physical aspects of the systems.”
This new outlook is why airlines may need to rethink their security and IT divisions. The way forward will blend a diverse mix of skills.
Dunlap says that airlines must optimize their organizations to provide secure electronic communications, not only for ground‑based systems, but also for electronic data exchange between their ground systems, airport systems, air navigation systems, and their aircraft.
“Does this come under the responsibility of the IT division or the Security division?” he asks. “Airlines are already dealing with these questions today.”
The answers are vital to the future of the industry.
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Kenyan leaders to launch Kisumu International Airport
Posted: February 1, 2012, 6:36 pm by nero
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga will today launch the Kisumu International Airport after a major three year refurbishment project. The airport was earlier scheduled for the big launch in December last year, as reported on this blog but the launch was rescheduled to Thursday 2nd February 2012.
The airport's new facilities will include a modern apron, a terminal building and access roads as well as a car parking lot that can accommodate up to 1500 cars. The airport upgrade project was undertaken by the Chinese Overseas Engineering Company and was launched on July 25, 2009 by the same two leaders.
The upgrade project involved the extension of the airport runway from the previous 2km to 3.3km to accommodate larger aircraft. The airport will handle Boeing 767s, Airbus 310 and 300, bigger aircraft which could previously not land or take off on the shorter runway. The apron area is also being enlarged and this, according to the airport manager, will allow cargo aircraft to land in Kisumu.A section of the Kisumu International Airport
With the upgrades, Kisumu is now open to international air traffic and the government will now be able to grant landing rights to international airlines which will have expressed an interest in servicing the route. Currently, Kisumu handles only domestic flights and is serviced by three domestic airlines. Kenya Airways has already deployed the Embraer 190 on the route with a capacity of 96 passengers.
Kisumu, pitfalls and opportunities
The launch of the Kisumu International Airport has definitely given the lakeside city an infrastructural boost but the hard part is in attracting business to the Kisumu Airport by airport management authorities and the city council authorities. Air traffic in Kenya is still very tourist driven and Kisumu still is not a major tourist attraction due to lack of investments in the region's tourism/hospitality infrastructure. The shores of the lakes are largely underdeveloped and the city has a few bed spaces hence cannot handle a major influx of tourists and visitors, or host major conferences or events without facing a crisis in hotel and accommodation. The city will need to put its act together.
In some way, the cart has come before the horse in Kisumu and investors in the region will have to work day and night to create new opportunities for the optimum utilization of the airport in order to boost growth in the city's and the wider Western Kenya region's economy. The expansion of the Kisumu Airport alone will not draw in investors and tourists but the city's value proposition will do that.Kisumu International Airport
People will not just travel to Kisumu because there's an International Airport. Kisumu must offer potential investors and tourists some value be it in beautiful scenery, excellent hospitality facilities and quality services, more tour facilities beyond just "the Obama magic". Areas such as cruising on the lake are underexploited or unexplored altogether. Perhaps Kisumu can also draw some lessons from Bujumbura and Entebbe on building world class tourist resorts on lakeshores.
There are huge opportunities in hosting regional conferences for the larger East African community, conferences on Lake Victoria and other environmental causes, sports tourism, fish exports, flower farming but these will require concerted investment efforts by the Kisumu business community.
While the commercial potential of Kisumu's International Airport is currently very limited, the airport can make in innovative services what it lacks in passenger traffic and number of flights by investing in the retail side of the airport business through services such as airport Wifi, retail and duty free shops, restaurants, supermarkets for some extra ancillary revenue. Innovative thinking, both from the business community and the airport management will be key to making Kisumu a success.
Kisumu Entebbe Flights could be feasible
Kisumu sits at a strategic location in the East African Community and as Kenya's gateway to the Central Africa. This could work to its advantage if for example in the future, the EAC can establish some administrative functions in Kisumu. It's proximity to Uganda and Central Africa means Kisumu is a major transit city for many Ugandans, Rwandans , Burundians and Congolese and even tourists traveling to the Central Africa. Given the brisk business between Kisumu and Uganda and the large presence of the Ugandan community in Kisumu, Kisumu-Entebbe Flights could be feasible. Potential also exists in Kisumu-Mombasa non stop flights.
The Kenyan government is in an ongoing crash program to modernize its aviation infrastructure in order for the country to become even more competitive that's seen it launch various airport upgrade projects. For Kisumu, the task of building a competitive regional economy has just began.
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Meridiana Fly Flight Attendants Protest the Imposition of size in new Uniforms
Posted: February 1, 2012, 12:40 pm by nero
Meridiana Fly hostesses have rebelled against the imposition by the Italian airline of uniforms carrying only size 40 and 42, and the new obligation not to gain weight.
The Italian media reported that the company's flight attendants have written a protest letter to the Aga Khan, billionaire spiritual leader of the Ismailis, who owns the airline through his Aga Khan Development Network, denouncing what they described as "gender discrimination and that the new uniforms offend the dignity of women. "
Maybe Meridian Fly Stewardess new uniform are something like this. Or this below:
Fly Meridiana has subsidiaries in Africa including Air Uganda, Air Mali and Air Burkina.Meridiana Fly stewardess new Uniform could be something like these? Cristina Ceolin, the designer at the centre of the controversy donated this uniform design to Alitalia a few years back
A few days ago, the flight attendants received their new uniforms, which have been designed by ex-model Cristina Ceolin, wife of the CEO of Meridiana Fly Giuseppe Gentile, and found with surprise that they were exclusively of the size 40 and 42, and also with very short miniskirt with a large side opening.
According to Lucilla Vanzi, one of the flight attendants' union representatives, along with the new uniforms also came new rules of procedure which does not tolerate "the weight gains, unless they are justified for reasons of health, certified by a doctor."
The letter further explains that the average age of Meridiana flight attendants is 42 years and therefore the application of these regulations and these "miniuniforms" are something "unacceptable for ethical issues, the rights of workers and also by physical reasons. "
Flight attendants say the company has justified these new measures to "improve the attractiveness" of the airline flight attendants in the minds of the travelers.
The letter has more than 400 signatures, including those of fellow flight attendants who have joined in solidarity to protest.
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Cramer Ball is New Air Seychelles CEO
Posted: February 1, 2012, 12:08 pm by nero
Barely four months into his tenure as CEO of Air Seychelles, former Kenya Airways COO Bram Stellar has been replaced as CEO of Air Seychelles by former Etihad Airways Regional Manager for Asia Pacific and Australasia Mr Cramer Ball. Several other Etihad Airways executives have been forwarded to Air seychelles to restructure the airline including Shelley Cole, a former Etihad Airways Regional Finance Manager for Asia Pacific who will now assume her new role as Air Seychelles CFO.
Etihad Airways paid $20million in January 2012 for a 40% stake in Air Seychelles.
As to the fate of Bram Stellar, Wolfgang H Thome reports:
No word could be received inspite of repeated efforts on the fate of Mr. Bram Stellar, who had only joined Air Seychelles as Chief Executive in October last year and who embarked in an immediate cost-saving programme and cutting down of the airlines routes, first dropping Singapore and then in a bombshell announcement phasing out all European destinations like London, Paris, Milan and Rome. Bram came from Kenya Airways, where he served a second spell as highly respected Chief Operating Officer.
Here is the latest PR announcement on the appointment of Cramer Ball as Air Seychelles CEO:
According to the latest news from the Islands, the Seychelles Minister Joel Morgan, responsible for Transport in the Government of Seychelles, and Mr James Hogan, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, have announced that the appointment of Cramer Ball as Chief Executive Officer, with effect from February 1, 2012 under the management contract that it has with Etihad Airways, its new strategic partner.
The Minister stated that the President of Seychelles, President James Michel has welcomed the arrival of a strong management team from Etihad to orient Air Seychelles on a robust and secure footing, in order to position it for future development to serve Seychelles’ tourism industry internationally.
Mr Ball, who was formerly Etihad Airways Regional General Manager Asia Pacific South and Australasia, has been seconded to the Seychelles national carrier as part of the restructuring for Air Seychelles which will be implemented jointly with Etihad Airways.
With a wealth of broad-based industry experience, which encompasses both commercial and financial areas of the business, Mr Ball is a highly respected aviation professional.
Before joining Etihad Airways, in a career spanning two decades, he held senior management positions at Gulf Air, Qantas, Kendell Airlines and Ansett Australia/Air New Zealand.
Commenting on his new role, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ball said: “This is a very exciting point in the development of the airline. The recently announced strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, backed by the 40 per cent stake the UAE national carrier has taken, will allow us to consolidate our position as a brand leader on the routes we serve.
“Air Seychelles will work closely with Etihad Airways to leverage synergies and create efficiencies that will reduce costs and maximise yields. We will also look to implement strategies that will benefit the economy and support the tourism industry of the Seychelles as a whole.”
Shelley Cole has also been seconded to Air Seychelles to take on the position of Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Prior to joining Air Seychelles, Ms Cole, who is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, was Etihad Airways Regional Finance Manager Asia Pacific, and has also held positions at Shell International Ltd in London and Caltex in Sydney.
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African Route Expansion: South African Airways launches Point Noire Flights
Posted: February 1, 2012, 11:53 am by nero
South African Airways recently introduced flights to Point Noire in the Congo in line with its Central African expansion strategy. South African is currently on an African expansion program with a focus on Central Africa that has also seen the airline launch flights to Kigali in Rwanda and Bujumbura in Burundi.
SAA will now be servicing 21 cities on the continent with the commencement of this Point Noire service.
Pointe Noire is the economic capital of the Congo and is SAA’s fourth new destination on the continent this financial year (2011-2012), joining Ndola (Zambia), Kigali (Rwanda) and Bujumbura (Burundi) as the airline’s most recent additions to its expansive route network in Africa.
Pointe Noire is also the second-largest city in the Congo, after the capital - Brazzaville, and the main commercial centre of the country. Pointe Noire is the centre of the oil industry in the Congo, which is one of the main oil-producers in Central Africa.
Many South African carriers are now looking for new expansion opportunities in other African countries following the brutal competition in the domestic aviation market.
Pointe Noire will be served twice a week, with a narrow body aircraft, the Airbus A319. These aircraft offer 120 seats - 95 Economy and 25 in Business Class.
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South African Airways launches Flights to Beijing
Posted: February 1, 2012, 11:43 am by nero
For the first time in its 78 year history, South African Airways has launched flights to China. South African Airways will be servicing the Chinese capital, Beijing with three weekly flighs on an Airbus A340-600 long-haul aircraft . The flights will be departing Johannesburg on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for a 15 hour non stop flight tothe Chinese capital.
The launch of the Beijing flights follows a strengthening in ties between South Africa and Beijing. South Africa is China's largest trading partner on the African continent and also a partner in the BRICS bloc that also includes Brazil, Russia and China.
South Africa sees the launch of the Johannesburg-Beijing flights as establishing JNB as a hub connecting the other BRICS countries, particularly Brazil. Chinese airlines have not been quite as enthusiastic as their government in following the money trail into Africa. Many South Africans however feel their country is increasingly falling under the influence of Beijing in a partnership that's unfairly skewed towards the latter.
But for South African Airways, after 78 years of being shut off from China, it's an historic moment to savour. Africa's most awarded airline can finally fly to Beijing with love.
South African Airways: To Beijing with Love
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Deadlock over Maldives $25 Airport Development Charge
Posted: February 1, 2012, 10:58 am by nero
Less than a year into its concession agreement with the government of Maldives, India's infrastructure giant GMR Infrastructure is running into fierce opposition particularly from law makers, the Courts and the traveling public over its introduction of the $25 Airport Development Charge that went into force last month.
The giant Infrastructure firm won a tender from the Mauritius government in 2010 to build, operate, modernise and expand the Mahe's Ibrahim Nasir International Airport Airport for a period of 25 years, during which the firm is supposed to pay the Maldivian government an estimated $520 million.
The company planned to collect the $25 from the one million passengers departing on international flights from Mahe INIA International Airport for a period of 25 years to raise $625 million for the development of the nation's airport infratructure but a Civil Court in Maldives blocked the fee on the grounds that it is essentially the same as a pre-existing Airport Services Charge (ASC) of US$18 for foreigners and US$12 for locals above two years of age. The decision was appealed by the government in the High Court to honour its Contractual obligations with GMR.Mahe's Ibrahim Nasir International Airport Airport
The airport infrastructure company has raised a debt of $358million from the Singaporean branch of Axis Bank to construct a $400 million airport in Mauritius, touted as the single largest FDI in the idyllic Island to date.
Many Maldivians are wary of the new bosses at the airport over the $25 ADC that will be paid locally, separate from the ticket fee, before boarding the airplane. GMR introduced the separate ADC charges after IATA disallowed the inclusion of the fee in the ticket prices.
Privatization of airports is something many African governments are likely to confront in the near future. Airports were spared in the spate of privatizations that swept through Africa in the 1990s and early 21st Century and almost all African governments still retain full control of their airports. But given the state of management of some airports in Africa, privatization is definitely inevitable, and expect it to be more messy than this unless the public oversight bodies are more vigilant.
GMR also built and is currently operating the Istanbul Airport in Turkey. The company is also bidding for airport development and modernization projects in Brazil, Croatia. The company also operates India's Hyderabadand New Delhi Airports.
For Maldivians traveling abroad and tourists flying out of the country,getting from the sunny side of life just got costlier.
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Fly540 Introduces Jet Flights to Kisumu
Posted: January 31, 2012, 6:41 am by nero
LOW cost airline Fly540 has introduced jet aircraft on the Kisumu - Nairobi route as part of its plan to expand and reach a wider market. The airline officially announced plans to introduce jet flights in all its destinations as parts of its new expansion strategy.
The introduction of the jet flights will replace the turbo propeller aircraft previously used by the airline on the route and will enable Fly540 meet the increased customer demand in other regional and domestic routes. Fly540 is Kenya's only low cost carrier and early this month, the Lonrho group and Easy Jet Founder Stelios, took full control of the airline.
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Racism in Kenyan Tourism: Kenyans Denied Access to Flavio Briatore Resort
Posted: January 31, 2012, 6:36 am by nero
Post republished from Wolfgang H Thome blog
The tourism industry in Kenya, both private and public sector, are investigating claims made over the Christmas and New Year period, when African Kenyans went public on Twitter and Facebook, narrating experiences of being denied access to hotels and resorts and in one case being asked to leave from Flavio Briatore's Billionaire Resort in Malindi.
At the time did Mohamed Hersi, General Manager of the Sarova Whitesands Resort, make a few visits to the places mentioned in his capacity as an elected representative of the tourism industry, and found to his disdain that he too was denied access to some resorts for not being booked or having come without making prior arrangements with management.
While most resorts, hotels and safari lodges and camps in Kenya, and East Africa as a whole, treat ANY guest as a valued guest, there seem to be exceptions to this rule, and the now closed African Safari Club was most notorious for discriminating against local Kenyan visitors attempting to come into their maximum security facilities as one stakeholder from Mombasa put it at the time trying to spend their money on drinks and food.
It is Kenyas declared policy to achieve a 50 : 50 ratio in a few years between domestic and foreign tourists, something which will hopefully compel a few errant hotels and resorts to open their doors to any and all visitors coming in, as incidentally mandated by their terms and conditions of business, licensed by government, unless they are operating as a private members club, which was not the case in any of the incidents reported.
Most disturbing at the time when the tweets and FB posts were flying around en masse, were reports that African kids had been ushered to other pools leaving the main pools for the wagenis or foreign tourists, which if found correct investigations are still ongoing would amount to a clear case of racism, based on the colour of ones skin and not the colour of the money in their wallets. Such management has no place in todays East Africa and should be told to pack and go, while the owners ought to be taken to court to face charges for violating license conditions and for racism.
Post Courtesy
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AviaAssist Foundations Calls for Nomination for the African Aviator Award
Posted: January 29, 2012, 11:46 am by nero
The London-based AviAssist Foundation has called for nominations for the African Aviator Award, a statement said on Saturday.
The statement stated that the prestigious African Aviator Award was aimed at rewarding safety champions and promote entry of Africans in the aviation industry.
It will include a trip to the awarding event, US$500 in cash and a hand-lettered citation.African Aviator Award to Promote Entry of Africans into the Aviation Industry
"Everyday, thousands of professionals in Africa contribute to making commercial aviation the safest form of transportation,"the statement said.
"They do so not because they expect special recognition. They think safety and act in ways that promote safety because they know the aviation industry depends on it, and because it is the right thing to do."
It said aggregate data for the entire continent masks the gains from their professionalism and the role of safety champions among them.
The statement said that AviAssist Foundation could not salute all these men and women individually, "although it pays tribute to them through its work".
"From 2012 onwards, the AviAssist Foundation will single out individuals or teams that have made especially outstanding contributions to risk reduction, often during long periods or entire careers and award the African Aviator Award," AviAssist Director Tom Kok, said.
He disclosed that each year, the AviAssist Foundation will select a particular aviation profession as the focus for the award.
For 2012, the selected profession for the award is Air Traffic Management/Control in its widest sense, with the award being offered in co-operation with the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), Kok stated.
The recipient of this prestigious international award will be selected by an independent selection board from among candidates nominated by aviation professionals and organizations worldwide.
The winner of the 2012 award will be selected from the nominations.
The deadline for nominations for the African Aviator award is September 1, 2012.
The award will be presented during an award dinner and awards ceremony at the 2012 CANSO Global ATM Safety Conference in Cape Town, South Africa on 29 October-2 November, in front of an audience of industry leaders and colleagues.
The 2012 award was instituted by the AviAssist Foundation in co-operation with the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation CANSO with sponsoring from among others CANSO, ATNS South Africa and KLM Airlines
Read More on African Aviator Award
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Qatar Airways opens new Premium Lounge at London Heathrow
Posted: January 27, 2012, 12:18 pm by nero
Qatar Airways has opened its new Premium Lounge at London Heathrow, reinforcing the importance of one of the airline’s busiest routes.
The Premium Lounge at Terminal 4 is the airline’s first dedicated facility for First and Business Class passengers outside its Doha hub.
The carrier currently operates the award-winning Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport, exclusively for use by passengers travelling in First or Business Class.
The opening marks the start of another busy year for the carrier, with the launch of new routes, as well as additional capacity on the London Heathrow – Doha route, which was stepped up from four to five flights a day from March 25th.
Following a landmark year in 2011, which saw Qatar Airways introduce 15 new destinations to its network and win the coveted World Travel Awards, the airline’s new Heathrow lounge is set to become the benchmark for international airport lounges.
Qatar Airways Premium Lounge at London Heathrow
Designed to resemble a boutique hotel or private member’s club rather than a conventional airport lounge, the new Qatar Airways Premium Lounge at Heathrow has been created to provide the ultimate in luxury and Five-Star service.
Qatar Airways recruited lounge staff from Five Star hotels and restaurants to work in the theatre-style Global Brasserie kitchen, innovative Delicatessen, and elegant Signature Martini bar.
The lounge also includes private shower facilities, with heated floors and mirrors, hotel-style towels and luxury brand toiletries and amenities.
Business and leisure travellers can stay connected with free Wi-Fi throughout the lounge, discreet power sockets at every seat and a business centre that includes PCs and printers.
Qatar Airways Premium Lounge at London Heathrow
Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said that the new lounge reflected the importance of extending the airline’s award-winning service beyond the signature Premium Terminal in Doha.
“London has long been one of our best-performing routes, so Heathrow was an obvious choice for our first Premium Lounge outside Doha,” he said.
“With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place this summer, the international spotlight will be on the British capital and we look forward to the increase in capacity and welcoming more premium travellers on our high demand services to London.
“The lounge is the latest development in our expanding global network and will enable both loyal customers and those travelling with us for the first time, to take full advantage of the high levels of service we provide.”
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Seychelles government and Etihad Airways team up in new strategic partnership in Air Seychelles Ltd
Posted: January 26, 2012, 8:38 am by nero
The Government of Seychelles and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding wherein Etihad will invest to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Air Seychelles Ltd as part of a strategic partnership alliance initiative between Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways.
The deal was announced today by Joel Morgan, Seychelles Minister of Home Affairs, Environment, Transport and Energy and James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways.
Etihad Airways’ investment of USD 20 million will be matched by an equal capital injection from the Government of Seychelles. In addition, Etihad Airways will also provide a shareholder’s loan of USD 25 million to meet working capital requirements and support network development.
Mr Morgan said: “This is a game-changing strategic partnership for us, establishing Air Seychelles on a sustainable growth trajectory and offering a realistic way forward for long-term commercial growth.”
“The partnership simultaneously provides international presence, strategic penetration and a bright future for our national carrier.”
“The aviation industry is under enormous pressure right now, with small airlines especially vulnerable to global economic instability and ongoing oil price volatility. In this context, consolidation offers the best possible solution for Air Seychelles. This agreement will allow Air Seychelles to share the benefits of the visionary strategy of one of the world’s leading airlines and leverage its economies of scale and synergies.”
Mr Hogan said: “This deal is consistent with our approach to expansion, which relies on the strength of strategic partnerships across the globe. The investment in the national carrier of Seychelles is a natural next step towards growing our operations in the increasingly important leisure markets of the Indian Ocean and Africa.
“The Seychelles is a renowned leisure destination and its tourism industry is surging, as indicated by record-setting visitor numbers for the island nation in 2011. There is a need for greater connectivity to support this tourism boom, and both Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways are well-positioned to leverage that demand into substantial commercial growth.
The integration of the networks will give Air Seychelles greater opportunity to tap into key tourism feeder markets across Europe – such as Germany, France, Italy and the UK – where Etihad Airways’ presence is strong and growing.”
Asia, and more specifically China, is increasingly important to the Seychelles national economy. Apart from the Seychelles strategic geographic significance as a stepping stone between China and Africa, the island nation is also an important trading partner for Chinese business and an increasingly popular leisure destination for significant numbers of Chinese travellers.
The agreement, which is the first of its kind in Africa, makes for provision for a five-year management contract for Etihad Airways which will see the implementation of strategic measures to encourage Air Seychelles’ long-term commercial growth.
Importantly, the partnership will offer unprecedented career development opportunities and access to Etihad Airways state-of-the-art training academy and facilities in Abu Dhabi for Seychellois aviation professionals.
Etihad Airways has achieved a high level of success in encouraging and facilitating the professional growth and increased presence of nationals in the organisation following the implementation of its localisation program, and will support a similar knowledge and skill transfer for Seychellois within Air Seychelles.
Another important element of the agreement gives Air Seychelles office presence in Etihad Airways offices across the Etihad Airways network. This means vastly improved marketing possibilities for the country and its national carrier.
Finally, the new partnership will further drive consolidation of key functions, resulting in significant cost savings and process optimisation.
Also under the partnership:
- Etihad Airways will seek to increase frequency of flights between Abu Dhabi and Mahé from four per week to daily, as well as providing new services to the islands;
- Etihad Airways will work in conjunction with Air Seychelles to develop a renewed fleet and network growth plan for the island-based carrier;
- The airlines will sign a comprehensive codeshare agreement to include Etihad Airways-marketed flights across Air Seychelles’ network and Air Seychelles-marketed flights to Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways destinations across Europe, the Middle East, the GCC, Asia and Australia.
- Etihad Guest and Seychelles Bonus, the airlines’ frequent flyer programs, will be integrated to include mileage earning and redemption on each other’s flights.
This agreement is Etihad Airways’ second equity investment, following its December 2011 announcement that it would increase its stake in airberlin to 29.21 per cent, making it the single biggest shareholder in Europe’s sixth largest airline.
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South African Air Force to Continue using Standby Aircraft for President Zuma
Posted: January 25, 2012, 1:01 pm by nero
The SA Air Force has stuck to its guns on the use of standby planes when President Jacob Zuma travels abroad.
"The SAAF will continue to act responsibly by providing a plan B with standby abroad, especially for time critical and very important missions," it said in a statement on Wednesday.
Defending its decision to charter two standby planes for Zuma's recent trip to the United States, the SAAF added: "[This will be done] to ensure the president's on time and [has] safe transportation to destinations."
Zuma attended a UN Security Council meeting two weeks ago. After this meeting, Zuma had to return to South Africa immediately for another "important commitment", SAAF said.
According to weekend media reports, a SAA Boeing A340-200 shadowed Zuma's Boeing business jet Inkwazi as far as Las Palmas, Canary Islands, on Zuma's outbound leg to New York.
A second aircraft, a chartered Bombardier Global Express, was on standby in New York and followed the presidential jet back to South Africa at the conclusion of Zuma’s visit.Inkwazi: South African Presidential jet
SAAF said its mandate was to ensure an efficient and safe flight service to the president and his deputy, to avoid any possible embarrassment to the country.
"Departure and arrival times for the entire mission were critically important and standby aircraft in South Africa simply would not have sufficed, taken into consideration the reaction time required over the long distance in this case, over-flight clearance etc."
There were fears the aircraft could have "unforeseen technical difficulties", it said.
The Inkwazi had been in Switzerland for several months for a major service. Upon its return to South Africa, it was used extensively for training flights to ensure all possible "snags" were fixed.
"Any slightest possible glitch had to be avoided and thus a plan B was put in place, albeit the standby aircraft."
The incident riled opposition parties and raised questions about the costs of such arrangements.
On Wednesday, the SAAF said "fresh" crew were made available to take over in a bid to avoid pilot fatigue.
"The aircraft does not have a special rest area facility on board for standby crew and thus could not be accommodated on board," it said.
"A standby crew in South Africa would not have sufficed, due to critical time constraints and reaction time."
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Why the Airlines are Bankrupt (INFOGRAPHIC)
Posted: January 24, 2012, 6:33 pm by nero
FrugalDad.com has put up an awesome Infographic on why airlines charge high fees for their services and at the end of the year, make very large losses. Yet another reason to invest your money elsewhere, but at least in Africa, aviation is booming, so some airlines in this region will continue making marginal profits.
A throw back to the years before 1978, American aviation was highly regulated including fares, schedules and routes. The only American airline that could fly international was PanAm and airlines then had to compete purely on services. With the deregulation came in new players and competitors and many airlines soon went under or filed for bankruptcy.
Airlines are also losing cash, lots of it, through Online Travel Agencies like Priceline, Orbitz, Expedia, Opodo. American Airlines alone paid 4% of their operating expenses to OTAs or an estimated $976million in 2010. Learn more on why your favorite airline filed for bankruptcy below:
Source: http://frugaldad.com
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South African President Zuma travels with two "shadow jets"
Posted: January 22, 2012, 2:56 pm by nero
The issue of travel by Presidents in Africa is always a source of hot debate. Many will not fly commercial(even if their national carriers fly to the destinations of state visit. Is a first class cabin "too low" for an African President?) and prefer commandeering national airlines, many buy business jets for their travel while some use charter services, all three options on the sweat and toil and of taxpayers.
Recently, South African President flew to the United States with two back-up aircraft used to "shadow" the President's Boeing Business Jet ("Inkwazi"). The two back-up aircraft were used as backup in case mechanical failures were experienced by the presidential jet. The South African authorities are also busy shopping for additional business jets for use by the President and his VP.
The government justifies this expense as a consequence of South Africa's increasing international obligations and stature in the world. According to South African Airforce Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano, the requirements(for international travel) had changed vastly since 1994 when the SAAF had only operated two aircraft for VIP transport to a limited number of international engagements. He pointed out that South Africa had considerably more international obligations as far afield as Australia and the United States. Being able to get leaders to high-profile engagements on time was a matter of national prestige.The Inkwazi: South African Presidential Jet. Are more business jets necessary for South African leaders?
The question now becomes, should President Zuma be making all these international trips? What's the value add to the South African economy and society? Could a foreign Minister not undertake some of these roles? It's question South Africans will have to ask their government, especially if domestic economic and social conditions are not moving in congruence with South Africa's new "international standing".
Perhaps, it's time to adopt fiscal responsibility and move away from the vestiges of the past...perhaps borrow a lesson from David Cameron, leader of much more developed and richer country with even bigger international obligations, who traveled to South Africa on a scheduled commercial flight during his state visit.
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Ethiopian Airlines to become the largest Airline in Africa by 2025
Posted: December 18, 2011, 6:31 am by nero
Ethiopian Airlines is one of the largest and most profitable carriers in Africa. It has 34 aircraft on order, including 10 B787-8s with a network of 56 international destinations and 17 codeshare partners.
It's a Star Alliance member and in 2010 had an operating profit of ETB1.6 billion (USD92 million). Ethiopian has forged a successful path for its expansion plans and has come a long way since its beginnings as a joint venture between the Ethiopian Government and Trans World Airlines.
The carrier has set an ambitious, but realistic, 15-year strategic plan that includes becoming the single largest airline in Africa. It intends to generate revenues of ETB171 billion (USD10 billion) per year, acquire a fleet of 70 aircraft and improve its Skytrax customer service ranking from three to four stars.
If successful, the plan would make Ethiopian Airlines the largest and most profitable carrier in Africa.Ethiopian Airlines’ 15-year strategic plan
Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Ethiopian AirlinesThe largest on-order fleet in Africa, both passenger and freighterThe African launch customer for the B787-8 made its order in 2006 and originally planned to have the aircraft in service by Jun-2010 on the Guangzhou route. However, like many of Boeing’s B787 customers, the Dreamliner delays have left Ethiopian behind on expansion plans. The carrier currently has 36 aircraft on order, the most of any African carrier.Measure Current Goal Revenue USD1.6 billion p/a USD10 billion p/a In service fleet 47 70 “modern” aircraft SkyTrax Customer service rating 3 4
In 2010, Ethiopian placed its largest order to date – 12 A350-900s, due for delivery between 2016 and 2019. The order was designed to give Boeing a wake-up call – implying that its long-time African operator was unhappy with the delays, and that it was prepared to look elsewhere for new aircraft. Despite the apparent threat, Ethiopian Airlines reaffirmed its Boeing order and is expecting its first B787-8 between 12-Mar-2012 and 15-Jun-2014, not Jan-2012 as originally thought. Ethiopian stated the new aircraft, both the B787-8s and the A350-900s, would be used to complement and replace its existing fleet, with the A350s to be deployed on services to the Far East and the Americas, and the B787-8s likely to replace B767s and B757s.
Ethiopian’s freight network supports the country’s trade relationsA strong point in Ethiopian Airlines’ portfolio is its substantial freight operation, with a dedicated cargo fleet of five aircraft and four B777-200LRFs on order. Cargo and freight services accounted for 17% of its total 2010 revenue. The carrier serves more than 40 destinations in its freight network through dedicated freighters and belly space on passenger aircraft.
Ethiopian Airlines’ dedicated freight networkSource: Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopia’s largest trade partners are the European Union, China, the US, Saudi Arabia and India. Ethiopian Airlines operates a dedicated cargo network to all those countries bar China and the US, although belly capacity, codeshare partners and sea links enable trade to these countries to remain strong. Ethiopia’s trade with other African countries is relatively weak, with Sudan, Tunisia and South Africa the only countries being a top 20 trading partner.
Ethiopia’s major trade partners: 2010Source: IMF (DoTS)Ethiopian will give Star Alliance three main bases in AfricaEthiopian recently joined the Star Alliance, an event that coincided with the B787 Dream Tour of Ethiopia. Ethiopian, mentored by Lufthansa, joined fellow African Star Alliance members South African Airways and EgyptAir, as the alliance extends its coverage to all but the west and centre of the continent. In the lead-up to the approval, Ethiopian Airlines established codeshare agreements with several key Star Alliance members, the latest being Singapore Airlines, and the most important being founding members SAS and Lufthansa.
Ethiopian Airlines’ codeshare partners: 2011
Bold= Non-Star Alliance memberAirline Since Region Air China Dec-2007 Asia Pacific Air India n/a Asia Pacific Air Nigeria n/a West Africa Asiana Airlines Mar-2003 Asia Pacific bmi Jul-2000 Europe Brussels Airlines Dec-2009 Europe Egypt Air Jul-2008 North Africa Gulf Air n/a Middle East Kuwait Airways n/a Middle East LAM n/a East Africa Lufthansa May-1997 F Europe RwandAir n/a Central Africa SAS May-1997 F Europe Saudi Arabian Airlines n/a Middle East Singapore Airlines 01-Apr-2000 Asia Pacific South African Airways Apr-2006 Southern Africa Turkish Airlines Apr-2008 Europe
Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Star Alliance
Ethiopian’s entry into Star Alliance means the global airline group will have three main bases in Africa – Addis Ababa, Johannesburg and Cairo. Ethiopian hopes Star Alliance membership will significantly boost Addis Ababa International Airport’s role as a prominent African gateway, boosting revenues, reputation and presence.
Most seats in Africa are unaligned, Star next bestSkyTeam occupies a relatively strong presence in Africa through Air France-KLM and Kenya Airways. Air France and KLM have each built networks on the continent based around their longstanding colonial linkages. While leading Star member Lufthansa does not have the same historical ties as Air France and KLM, it does have fellow alliance members in the north, south and now the east of the country. Star made a point of recruiting strategic partners that spread across the continent, to complement the more than 50% of Star members that operate to Africa.
Africa seats capacity by alliance (before Ethiopian Airlines’ official joining of Star Alliance): 31-Oct-2011 to 06-Nov-2011Source: CAPA – Centre for AviationWithin Star, EgyptAir provides a most challenging partner for Ethiopian Airlines. Both EgyptAir and Ethiopian serve a handful of destinations in the Asia Pacific including Beijing, Guangzhou, Bangkok and Mumbai, aiming to feed in traffic from the African continent. Star will benefit from Ethiopian’s African network as it is more established than the Egyptian flag carrier, particularly in West Africa, while EgyptAir is much stronger in North Africa. Each carrier serves points in the Middle East – Kuwait, Bahrain, Riyadh, Beirut, Tel Aviv, Jeddah, Sana’a and Muscat – creating considerable overlap in Star’s Middle Eastern network and, again, in their respective goals for feeding beyond traffic from Africa.
Limitations and benefits in Ethiopian’s networkEthiopian serves many of the mineral-rich African countries, offering valuable additions to Star’s network. These include the Democratic Republic of the Congo (gold and diamonds), Namibia (via codeshare – lead, zinc, diamonds), Botswana (diamonds) and South Africa (iron, oil). Ethiopian also serves fast growing African economies, such as Rwanda, Ghana, Angola, Kenya and Nigeria.
A sub-region missing from Ethiopian’s network is northern Africa, where it offers service only to Cairo – already well covered by EgyptAir. Important gaps in its network include the oil- and iron-rich countries of Libya and Morocco in North Africa, each better covered by EgyptAir – which serves one destination each in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and two in Libya – with the natural advantage of serving multiple destinations within Egypt. But together Ethiopian and EgyptAir have Africa covered for Star.
Ethiopian competes with Middle Eastern carriers on air link to ChinaEthiopian was the first foreign airline to operate into China more than 30 years ago. At that time a political link, it has proven a valuable and longstanding connection into the Asian powerhouse. Times have changed however; though Ethiopian may have been safe from competition 30 years ago, this is no longer the case and Middle Eastern carriers are rapidly expanding alternative links between the region’s oil- and mineral-rich countries and China. Eight Middle Eastern carriers now operate between China and the Middle East including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, El Al, Mahan Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Yemen Airways and Iran Air.
Top 12 carriers operating between the Middle East and China
by seats per week: 31-Oct-2011 to 06-Nov-2011Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation
Only two airlines operate third and fourth freedom services between Eastern Africa and China – Ethiopian Airlines and Air Mauritius – offering approximately 9500 seats per week combined. Emirates, however, offers considerably more than 12,000 seats per week from Dubai to China, with numerous connections on to the Middle Kingdom, which is three times more than Ethiopian’s offering to China. Middle Eastern carriers provide a convenient, one-stop link between multiple points in both Africa and China that rivals the offering of many African carriers, with their multiple stops and limited capacity and frequency.
The Gulf airlines are also achieving major capacity share on routes to Europe. While a similar number of airlines operate Middle East-China and East Africa-China, the importance lies in the number of seats on offer. Emirates, the second largest carrier to operate between Africa and Europe, offers more than 88,000 seats per week, while Air France, the largest carrier to operate between Europe and East Africa, offers just 7,000.
Neighbouring Kenya Airways is a strong competitorDespite the competition coming from the northeast, Ethiopian Airlines’ most direct source of competition is found closer to home, by way of SkyTeam member Kenya Airways. Kenya’s flag carrier is another leading African carrier with aggressive expansion plans. The airline aims to serve “every African country by 2013” and is making steady progress towards that goal, including a rights issue scheduled for Nov-2011 designed to give the carrier a major cash injection. Kenya Airways’ operating profit surged in FY2011, up 73.9% from a dismal 2010 result, suggesting the carrier is back on track to achieve profitability. Kenya Airways is expected to report its 1H2011 financial results on 03-Nov-2011.
Ethiopian Airlines v Kenya Airways: Nov-2011
Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and InnovataEthiopian Airlines benefits from government protectionismOne significant factor that contributes to Ethiopian Airlines’ success is its major capacity share at Addis Ababa is due to the Ethiopian Government’s restrictions on foreign airline access. Ethiopian Airlines holds a near-monopoly on domestic routes, where it competes with just one other Ethiopian-registered carrier, Trans Nation Airways, which has one aircraft in service and none on order.Ethiopian Airlines Kenya Airways Aircraft in service 47 36 Aircraft on order 36 21 B787-8s on order 10 9 Dedicated cargo aircraft in service 5 0 Dedicated cargo aircraft on order 2 1 African destinations 32 45 International destinations (Africa and beyond) 56 56 Global airline alliance Expected Star Alliance SkyTeam Codeshare partners 17 14
Addis Ababa Bole Airport capacity, seats, per week by carrier: 31-Oct-2011 to 06-Nov-2011Source: CAPA – Centre for AviationEthiopia has proven one of the least LCC-friendly markets. Full service carriers account for no less than 99% of capacity at the airport, with flydubai the only LCC to operate into Ethiopia, operating a three-times weekly B737-800 service from Dubai.
Ethiopia capacity share, seats, by carrier type: 31-Oct-2011 to 06-Nov-2011Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation
Protective policies do little to help Addis Ababa’s aspirations to become a large hub, so its future remains inextricably linked to the flag carrier’s growth plans. The result is, paradoxically, to make Ethiopian more exposed to competition from the Gulf carriers’ services into Ethiopia and other African ports. As long as Ethiopian shoulders all of the hub development, so the airport’s attraction limits the flag carrier’s potential to on-carry traffic from other airlines.
Outlook promising but expansion alone is not enoughEthiopian Airlines has been consistently profitable over the past four years and is likely to see future profitability as its expansion plans are rolled out. Freight, although sensitive to market fluctuations, remains a strong point. Ethiopian has experienced considerable success with its network and sees it as a future revenue generator.
Liberalisation must surely spread across Africa, but Ethiopian – more than almost any other airline in the region – has the opportunity to restructure in time to meet the new challenges this brings. So long as it continues to expand rapidly, this revitalisation process will be made easier – provided it is addressed as a key priority. Expansion alone will not suffice.
Background informationEthiopian Airlines’ Africa and Middle East route mapSource: Ethiopian Airlines
EgyptAir’s Africa and Middle East route mapSource: Skyscanner
Post courtesy Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation
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Star Alliance reaffirms position as strongest alliance in Africa with Ethiopian and potentially ASKY
Posted: December 18, 2011, 5:46 am by nero
Star Alliance has further cemented its position as the leading alliance in Africa after Ethiopian Airlines officially became a member on 13-Dec-2011. Ethiopian, which has been working on joining Star since being accepted as a new member in Sep-2010, becomes the third African carrier in Star following South African Airways (SAA) and EgyptAir. Ethiopian’s membership significantly boosts Star’s presence on the continent, adding 23 African destinations to the Star Alliance network. Four of the top five African carriers are now aligned, and three of these four are in Star.
Overall the African continent remains largely unaligned. But Star is currently not looking to recruit another African carrier. Instead Star is looking forward to Ethiopian subsidiary ASKY later joining the alliance. Togo-based ASKY would improve Star’s connections in West Africa, the alliance’s weakest region within Africa. Ethiopian gives Star a stronghold in East Africa and Africa overall as Ethiopian has the largest African network among any African carrier, with 40 destinations. Star is already strong in southern Africa, where SAA is based, while EgyptAir is based in North Africa.
With Ethiopian formally joining, Star's share of total capacity in Africa has increased by nearly 5 percentage points, from 22.1% to 26.8%. Star is by far the largest alliance in the region.
SkyTeam now accounts for 9.6% capacity in Africa thanks largely to local member Kenya Airways as well as the African networks of Air France, KLM and Delta Air Lines. oneworld (including oneworld affiliates) has just 6.8% of the total capacity in Africa, making it the least represented of the three global alliances.
oneworld is only represented locally in Africa by Comair, which operates a British Airways franchise in South Africa. Unaligned carriers still account for 56.8% of capacity in Africa, a high figure compared to other regions.
The impact of Ethiopian’s Star membership is biggest in East Africa. Star has now taken over from SkyTeam as the largest alliance in East Africa, increasing its share of capacity from 5.7% to 28.7%. SkyTeam has 22.4% of the capacity in the region followed by oneworld, with only 1.5%.
Africa: The Continent of the Future
Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht said adding Ethiopian represents “a large step forward in completing our Africa strategy”. He said with three big hubs in Africa, Star has succeeded in its task to create an efficient travel system for all of Africa and “bring Africa to the world”.
Star Alliance now has three main bases in Africa - Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (through SAA), Cairo International Airport (through EgyptAir) and Addis Ababa Bole Airport (the home of Ethiopian Airlines). The addition of Ethiopian and the Addis Ababa hub means Star carriers now serve Africa with over 750 daily flights to over 110 destinations in 48 countries.
Mr Albrecht says offering a wider choice of flights to, from and within Africa than other alliances is particularly important because Africa is “a region of the world in which air travel is enjoying steady growth rates”. He called Africa “the continent of the future”.
Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht said adding Ethiopian represents “a large step forward in completing our Africa strategy”. He said with three big hubs in Africa, Star has succeeded in its task to create an efficient travel system for all of Africa and “bring Africa to the world”.
Star Alliance now has three main bases in Africa - Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (through SAA), Cairo International Airport (through EgyptAir) and Addis Ababa Bole Airport (the home of Ethiopian Airlines). The addition of Ethiopian and the Addis Ababa hub means Star carriers now serve Africa with over 750 daily flights to over 110 destinations in 48 countries.
Mr Albrecht says offering a wider choice of flights to, from and within Africa than other alliances is particularly important because Africa is “a region of the world in which air travel is enjoying steady growth rates”. He called Africa “the continent of the future”.
ASKY likely to join Ethiopian in StarSpeaking to CAPA after the 13-Dec-2011 joining ceremony in Addis Abba, Mr Albrecht says Star does not see a need to add a fourth African member. Instead the alliance’s recruitment efforts are now focused on Russia, India and China. Star is still not represented in Russia or India, two important growth markets. In China Mr Albrecht believes new members beyond Air China and incoming member Shenzhen Airlines would be beneficial.
Mr Albrecht acknowledges Star is still relatively weak in West Africa but believes Ethiopian can fill this void. Ethiopian already serves several destinations in West Africa and has ambitious plans to grow ASKY, a Togo-based subsidiary which launched services at the beginning of last year. According to Innovata data, ASKY already serves 18 destinations, primarily in West Africa.
Mr Albrecht, whose decade-long tenure as Star CEO ends later this week as he has already started a new job as CEO of Austrian Airlines, says the alliance has not yet considered adding ASKY as a member. But as ASKY grows adding Sky would “make sense”.
Otherwise, West Africa lacks suitable candidates that meet Star’s standards. Mr Albrecht says Star was impressed with Ethiopian’s high standards, including its training and maintenance standards, and expects Ethiopian will bring those standards to West Africa with ASKY.
Star to help Ethiopian pursue rapid and profitable growthEthiopian Airlines hopes its Star Alliance membership will significantly boost its hub’s role as a prominent African gateway, boosting revenues, reputation and presence.
Speaking at Ethiopian’s joining ceremony, Ethiopian CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said joining Star is an important pillar to its 15-year business plan, known as Vision 2025. He says Star specifically will help Ethiopian implement its cost savings initiative and advance its multi-hub strategy in Africa, paving the way for “fast, profitable and sustainable growth”.
Ethiopian is already one of the world’s fastest growing carriers and plans to pursue further rapid growth, driven partially by its membership in Star, over the next 14 years. Mr Gebremariam says by 2025 Ethiopian plans to generate revenues of USD10 billion, across seven business groups, and carry 18 million passengers. The carrier expects to have 120 aircraft in service by 2025 and a network of 90 international destinations.
Ethiopian currently operates a fleet of 47 aircraft and a passenger network of 62 international destinations, including 40 within Africa. The 47 aircraft include six freighters which are used to operate dedicated freighter service to 24 destinations, including 15 in Africa. Ethiopian plans to continue to pursue rapid growth of its cargo business and is planning an expansion of its cargo terminal in Addis Abba. Ethiopian is also planning to expand its maintenance and training facilities as well as build a new headquarters over the next several years.
Ethiopian needs to order about 60 additional aircraft to meet growth planAs Ethiopian only has 32 aircraft on firm order (include 12 A350s, 10 787s and eight 737-800s) and plans to replace about 20 of its current aircraft over the next decade, additional orders for approximately 60 aircraft are needed to meet its Vision 2025. As CAPA reported earlier this week, Ethiopian is now looking to exercise several options for 787s. Ethiopian will become Africa’s first 787 operator in 2Q2012 and will use the new type partially to expand its Asian network, where it sees huge opportunity for growth.
See related article: Ethiopian eyes 787 service to Hong Kong and new Asian services as Africa-Asia market booms.
While Ethiopian plans to add several new destinations, particularly in Africa and Asia, it will use Star partners to help expand its offline network. Ethiopian already codeshares with 17 carriers, 10 of which are also in Star – BMI, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, SAA, Turkish, Air China, Asiana, EgyptAir and SIA. Ethiopian plans to expand its codeshare partnerships with several of these carriers as well as implement new codeshares with some of the nearly 20 Star carriers it currently does not codeshare with.
Star increases presence in Ethiopia by over 19 foldAddis Ababa is now served by only three other Star members - EgyptAir, Lufthansa and Turkish. By joining Star Alliance, Ethiopian has increased Star's capacity share in Ethiopia by over 19 fold, from 4.5% to 88.5%.
The second largest alliance in Ethiopia is now SkyTeam (2.0%) although unaligned carriers make up the country’s second largest capacity share. The SkyTeam alliance is represented by Kenya Airways, who serves Addis Ababa with approximately 2,000 seats per week. oneworld does not have any service to Ethiopia.
Ethiopia total capacity, seats share by alliance: before and after Ethiopian's Star membership Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Innovata
NB: Each alliance is not represented by the same colour in each graph.Addis Ababa BoleAirport total capacity, seats share by alliance: before and after Ethiopian's Star membership Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and Innovata
Ethiopian Airlines currently operates approximately 115,000 seats per week at Addis Ababa, accounting for 83% of total capacity at the airport. Emirates, the second largest carrier, offers just 7,220 seats per week.
Addis Ababa Bole Airport capacity, seats per week, by carrier: 12-Dec-2011 to 18-Dec-2011Source: CAPA – Centre for Aviation and InnovataEthiopia has very low LCC penetration, with just 0.8% of total capacity being held by an LCC (in this case, FlyDubai). Liberalisation has always been a contentious issue across the African continent including in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines, because of its recent financial success and membershiop in Star, is in good position to meet any challenges future liberalisation may bring if the Ethiopian Government is willing to open Ethiopia’s sky to more international operators.
Ethiopian Airlines’ network is a valuable addition to Star Alliance as it serves many of the mineral-rich African countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (gold and diamonds), Botswana (diamonds), South Africa (iron and oil), Namibia (via codeshare- lead, zinc, diamonds) and Angola (oil). It also serves Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria – some of Africa’s fastest growing economies.
Ethiopian has a dedicated freight network like no other in Africa. Overall Ethiopian's African network is one of the most developed in Africa and is extremely valuable to Star, especially as air traffic on the continent is expected to increase in the years to come.
Its network does however have some limitations. Ethiopian’s coverage of Northern Africa is weak, which, luckily for Star, is already well covered by EgyptAir.
Important destinations missing from Ethiopian’s African network include Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. EgyptAir serves all these destinations but has a weaker East and West African network. Therefore the Ethiopian and EgyptAir networks are highly complimentery. There is only small amount of cross-over between Ethiopian Airlines and EgyptAir’s networks, with both carriers serving Dubai, Khartoum, Nairobi, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi and Lagos. Together, Ethiopian Airlines and EgyptAir have Africa covered for Star.
Ethiopian Airlines African route mapSource: Ethiopian AirlinesBackground informationStar Alliance, the largest of the three major alliances, now has 28 members. This will grow to 30 in 2Q2012, when Copa and Avianca-TACA are added as new members. Shenzhen is slated to become Star's 31st member in late 2012.
Global Alliances members
Article Courtesy: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation
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Ethiopian to use B787 Dreamliner in the Hong Kong and new Asian services as Africa-Asia market booms
Posted: December 18, 2011, 5:29 am by nero
Article Courtesy: Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation
Ethiopian will become the first carrier in Africa and Europe to operate 787s when it takes the delivery of its first 787-8 in 2Q2012.
Ethiopian Airlines will further strengthen itself in the nascent but rapidly growing Africa-Asia market by using its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners to open new routes – potentially in China, Malaysia and Singapore – reduce costs and align its overall fleet strategy to better serve existing Asian destinations. The geography of Ethiopian's hub in Addis Ababa allows the carrier to offer as efficient or more efficient connections than those through Middle East hubs. Ethiopian's African network is also unrivaled in the number of destinations served, and the booming times are seeing Ethiopian consider exercising 787 options and accelerating deliveries, slots permitting. Elsewhere in its route network, whose capacity is growing at 30% a year, Ethiopian next year will commence services to Toronto and in 2013 will increase capacity to Washington Dulles by deploying 777-300ERs.
Ethiopian will become the first carrier in Africa and Europe to operate 787s when it takes the delivery of its first 787-8 in 2Q2012.The 787 last week made its African debut, with a demonstration aircraft in Addis Abba that coincided with a ceremony celebrating Ethiopian joining the Star Alliance.
Ethiopian had planned to first deploy its 787 – most previously expected in Jan-2012 – to Guangzhou, as CAPA reported in Jun-2011. Ethiopian CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told CAPA yesterday that Guangzhou is still an option for the carrier’s first 787 but Ethiopian is also now looking at using its first 787 to serve Hong Kong. He says Ethiopian is also evaluating three potential Asian routes which could be launched with the 787: Chongqing in China, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Singapore.
787 better suited to Hong Kong's lower demandGuangzhou may not end up receiving Ethiopian's 787 on a regular basis because demand is now so strong from Guangzhou a larger aircraft is needed. Guangzhou had been served daily via Bangkok with 767-300ERs and the intention was to upgrade the route to non-stop once the first 787 was delivered. But Mr Gebremariam said Ethiopian decided to instead upgrade Guangzhou in Oct-2011 to non-stop using the 777-200LR, which seats 321 in two classes. Ethiopian's 767-300ER typically seats 234 while its 787-8 will seat 270 (24 in business and 246 in economy), giving the 777-200LR a 50 seat advantage – as well as greater cargo capacity, critical on the route to Guangzhou, China's manufacturing heartland.
Ethiopian has seen higher demand from mainland China than Hong Kong.Mr Gebremariam says Guangzhou is switching back this week to the 767 via Bangkok but says demand is generally sufficient to support the 777-200LR. While Guangzhou could still see the 787 instead of the 777-200LR during certain times of the year, Mr Gebremariam foresees the 787 used more regularly to Hong Kong because Ethiopian has seen higher demand from mainland China than Hong Kong.
Ethiopian now serves Hong Kong with four weekly 767-300ER flights via Bangkok. Mr Gebremariam says these will be upgraded to non-stop, likely in 2Q2012, after the first 787 is delivered.
Africa-East Asia routes currently operated or planned
Source: CAPA - Centre for AviationFour 787s in 2012 with further orders likelyMr Gebremariam says Ethiopian is now slated to receive four 787s in 2012 with the first to be delivered in the April to June timeframe. Ethiopian currently has 10 787s on order. All are for the -8 variant with the last aircraft slated for delivery in 2014. Mr. Gebremariam says the carrier is interested in exercising options for additional 787s and accelerating its deliveries, although 787 production slots are tight. Ethiopian, which also has orders for 12 A350s and nine additional 737-800s, needs more aircraft to meet its 15-year business plan.Carrier Destination(s) Air Austral Bangkok Air Mauritius Bangalore, Chennai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, New Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore Air Zimbabwe Beijing Cathay Pacific Johannesburg Ethiopian Beijing, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Mumbai, New Delhi Hainan Luanda Jet Airways Johannesburg Kenya Airways Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Mumbai Malaysia Airlines Cape Town, Johannesburg Singapore Airlines Cape Town, Johannesburg TAAG Angola Airlines Beijing Thai Airways Johannesburg South African Airways Beijing (planned), Hong Kong, Mumbai
Mr Gebremariam says the 787 will enable Ethiopian to open new destinations while lowering its operating cost. “It is a pillar of our Vision 2025 [business plan],” he says.
Ethiopian is particularly bullish on using its 787s to expand in Asia although the type will also be used on some European routes, likely starting by the end of 2012. Ethiopian now serves three destinations in mainland China – Guangzhou, Beijing and Hangzhou – and is planning to add several Chinese cities as part of Vision 2025, likely starting with Chongqing. While new destinations in Southeast Asia and North Asia are also part of Vision 2025, China is particularly the focal point as traffic between China and Africa is expected to boom.
Consideration of Asian hub in SingaporeEthiopian is particularly interested in Singapore. Mr Gebremariam acknowledges that Addis Ababa-Singapore is a small local market but sees potential for Singapore to become Ethiopian's Asian hub. Ethiopian Airlines and Singapore Airlines began a codeshare at the beginning of last month on the Addis Ababa-Dubai-Singapore route (with Ethiopian operating Addis Ababa-Dubai and Singapore operating Dubai-Singapore). This codeshare could potentially be expanded to include Singapore Airlines and SilkAir destinations in Southeast Asia as well as destinations in China, giving Ethiopian offline access to more of Asia.
Singapore Changi is also keen to attract an East African carrier given the opportunities a Singapore-East Asia route could have in developing Singapore as a hub for broader Asia-Africa connections. Currently Changi only has one African carrier, Air Mauritius, and Singapore Airlines only serves one African country, South Africa, non-stop from Singapore (Cairo is served via Dubai). Rival hub Bangkok has been far more successful at developing African connections and has service from several African carriers including Ethiopian and Kenya Airways. While Ethiopian is also considering Kuala Lumpur, Singapore makes more sense as Singapore is a Star hub. Bangkok is also a Star hub but Ethiopian does not yet have a codeshare with Thai Airways.
As CAPA reported in June of expected rapidly growing China-Africa links:
China is a key market for the carrier as Ethiopian is ideally positioned geographically to tap into the fast growing China-Africa market. Ethiopian currently operates 26 weekly flights to four destinations in China, making it the largest carrier between China and Africa. It has already begun codesharing with Star member Air China.
Over the past decade air traffic between Africa and Asia has doubled. Africa supplies China with one-third of its fuel needs as well as notable amounts (by value) of timber, copper and diamonds, with trade between Africa and China surpassing USD100 billion in 2010.
Annual number of inter-continental seats to/from Africa: 1988-2010
Source: AirbusOf all traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometres to/from and within Asia-Pacific, Africa will have the highest annual growth rate at 8.4% through 2020, eclipsing the 7.5% of intra-Asia-Pacific traffic and 7.5% of Latin America-Asia-Pacific traffic, Airbus forecast in its 2011 market outlook.
Average annual growth of traffic to, from and within Asia-Pacific: 2011-2020
Source: AirbusAfrican travel will also eclipse the global average of traffic growth to/from and within Europe. RPKs from Africa will grow at 4.5% a year between 2011 and 2030, outpacing the 4.2% average, although Africa falls behind the Middle East, Russian Federation and Asia-Pacific.
Average annual growth of traffic to, from and within Europe: 2011-2030
Source: AirbusAfrica will account for the second-highest growth of traffic to/from and within North America, growing at 5.6% a year from 2011 to 2030.
Average annual growth of traffic to, from and within North America: 2011-2030
Source: AirbusWhile Africa's growth rates are high, the growth is based off currently low figures. Travel to/from/within Africa will be the single smallest region, representing just 3% of 2030's RPKs by Airbus estimates.
Share of world air travel by RPKs: 2030 projection
Source: AirbusAddis Ababa hubs provides strategic connectionsEthiopian's hub in Addis Ababa provides geographically convenient connections. On a sample routing from Shanghai to Johannesburg, transiting through Addis Ababa is only 21nm longer than transiting through Dubai.
Route comparison: Shanghai to Johannesburg via Dubai and Addis Ababa
Source: Greater Circle MapperRouting Distance (nm) Shanghai-Dubai 3488 Dubai-Johannesburg 3450 Total distance via Dubai 6938 Shanghai-Addis Ababa 4773 Addis Abab-Johannesburg 2187 Total distance via Addis Ababa 6960
A routing from Guangzhou to Entebbe (Kampala) is 162nm shorter through Addis than Dubai.
Route comparison: Guangzhou to Entebbe via Dubai and Addis Ababa
Source: Greater Circle MapperWhile intermediate point connection distances matter (as well as connection flight timing, which Emirates excels at with three departure banks) so too do the destinations served on the other end. Ethiopian serves 40 points in Africa compared to Kenya Airways' 44, Emirates' 21, Qatar's 14 and Etihad's 11. South African Airways, although not as strong a competitor for Asia-Africa services, has flights to 31 destinations in Africa.Routing Distance (nm) Guangzhou-Dubai 3152 Dubai-Entebbe 2010 Total distance via Dubai 5162 Guangzhou-Addis Ababa 4345 Addis Abab-Entebbe 655 Total distance via Addis Ababa 5000
Beijing a borderline route for Ethiopian after 787 performance shortfallBoeing sees the 787 as a vehicle to increase connectivity between China and Africa. Kenya Airways, which is one of four African customers for the 787 (the others are Arik Air and Royal Air Maroc), is also well positioned to tap in the booming China-Africa market.
Boeing sales director for Africa Rob Faye told CAPA following a press briefing yesterday in Addis Abba that the 787 in Africa will be used more for route development than replacing existing aircraft, pointing out that Ethiopian and Kenya are both planning to double their overall fleets over the next 10 years. The 787 demonstrator will be stopping in Kenya later this week as part of its multi-month world tour.
The 787 is geared as a 767 replacement, and Ethiopian's order of 10 787s corresponds to replacements for its 10 767-300s, but its comments to obtain additional frames support route growth. Likewise Kenya Airways has 5 767-300s in service and 9 787s on order.
“Africa is going to grow. Aviation is the catalyst to growth,” Mr Faye says, adding that without connectivity economic growth is limited.
Ethiopian is now unable to use its 767s to serve China non-stop because of the takeoff restrictions at Addis Abba, which has an altitude of over 7000ft. Hangzhou is served via Delhi and is another likely non-stop route for the 787. Ethiopian also previously served Beijing via Delhi but was able to upgrade its daily Beijing service to non-stop in May-2011 after taking delivery of its second batch of 777-200LRs.
Mr. Gebremariam says Ethiopian plans to continue using 777-200LRs on the Addis Abba-Beijing route rather than switch to 787s as he expects the carrier would have some payload limitations with the 787 to Beijing. Mr Gebremariam says Ethiopian would likely have to leave a few seats empty flying the 787 out of Addis Abba for Beijing and would also be restricted in carrying belly cargo.
Boeing, however, claims the 787-8 has the range to reach Beijing from Addis Abba, factoring in Addis Abba’s high altitude and normal 242-seat configuration. Ethiopian plans to operate its 787-8s with 246 seats in two-class configuration.
Even if Beijing ends up being a borderline route for operating the 787-8 with full payload, all of Ethiopian’s other Asian routes and all its European routes are safely within range with full payload. As a result, Mr Gebremariam does not seem to upset with the aircraft coming in with less range than originally expected.
...the range difference between the expected and actual range is very small...Mr Gebrermariam says the range difference between the expected and actual range is very small with Beijing the only affected current route. He says Korea and Japan are also now out of range but while Korea and Japan are potential routes in the carrier's long-term business plan they are currently not high priorities.
Ethiopian originally intended to use its 787s to serve the US via Europe but later decided to order five 777-200LRs to help offset the impact of the delivery delays on the 787. The first batch of two 777-200LR were delivered at the end of last year and used to upgrade Washington Dulles, which is now served non-stop on the eastbound leg. The last three 777-200LRs from Ethiopian’s order were delivered this year and used to upgrade Beijing and Guangzhou. Ethiopian also uses the 777-200LR on one of its two daily Dubai flights.
Preliminary changes to Ethiopian Airlines long-haul route network
Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation with airline reportsToronto to be launched in 2012Ethiopian was planning to begin flights this quarter to Toronto with 777-200LRs but postponed the launch of the new route. Mr Gebrermariam says Toronto is now planned to be launched in summer 2012 with two or three weekly 777-200LR flights. Like Washington DC, Toronto will be served non-stop on the eastbound leg but will stop in Rome going west.Route Status Equipment Remarks Chongqing Under consideration 787-8 Europe, general Active
Future767-300ER
787-8Guangzhou Active 777-200LR alternating with 767-300ER 787 may replace 767 during select times Hong Kong Active
Future767-300ER via Bangkok
787 direct serviceLikely first 787 destination Kuala Lumpur Under consideration 787-8 Singapore Under consideration 787-8 Toronto Future 777-200LR Washington Dullles Active
Future777-200LR
777-300ER
Ethiopian is continuing to study other potential new destinations in North America. But for now the carrier plans to focus on Washington Dulles and Toronto. Both are Star Alliance hubs which will help Ethiopian connect with the rest of North America.
Ethiopian does not plan to acquire additional 777-200LRs but Mr Gebrermariam says the carrier has committed to acquiring two 777-300ERs for delivery in 2013. He says the intention is to use the 777-300ERs to up-gauge the Washington Dulles route.
The 777-300ER has the range to be able to operate non-stop from Dulles to Addis Abba. Westbound a fuel stop will still be required but this is no disadvantage to the longer-range 777-200LR, which also needs a stop going west because of Addis Abba’s high altitude. Mr Gebrermariam says Ethiopian will keep its 777-200LRs even as the Dulles route switches over to 777-300ERs as it still has routes which are too thin for 777-300ERs and are too long for the 787.
Overall Ethiopian is a flexible carrier and will likely change multiple times its deployment of aircraft. The main focus is rapid growth and to secure as many modern widebodies as possible.
Mr Gebrermariam laments the 787s are still not coming fast enough, forcing the carrier to stick with some of its ageing 767-300ERs for longer than it wishes. He says Ethiopian this month returned one of its 767-300ERs, which leaves it with 10 of the type. But he said Ethiopian is unable to phase out any of its 767s in 2012 as it aims to continue growing capacity at a clip of 30% per year.
Ethiopian, however, is phasing out three of its seven 757s in 1H2012. Mr Gebrermariam says the 757s will be replaced by a mix of additional 737s, 787s and 767s. Ethiopian is not increasing its 767 fleet but some 767s will be freed up to replace 757s on routes to Europe and within Africa as 787s replace 767s on Asian routes.
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13 Things Your Pilot Won’t Tell You
Posted: December 17, 2011, 11:42 pm by nero
Just found this wonderful post on Reader's Digest, things your pilot will not tell you. Enjoy:
1. “The truth is, we’re exhausted. Our work rules allow us to be on duty 16 hours without a break. That’s many more hours than a truck driver. And unlike a truck driver, who can pull over at the next rest stop, we can’t pull over at the next cloud.” -Captain at a major airline
© Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Thinkstock
© Digital Vision/Thinkstock
2. “Some FAA rules don’t make sense to us either. Like the fact that when we’re at 39,000 feet going 400 miles an hour, in a plane that could hit turbulence at any minute, (flight attendants) can walk around and serve hot coffee and Chateaubriand. But when we’re on the ground on a flat piece of asphalt going five to ten miles an hour, they’ve got to be buckled in like they’re at NASCAR.” -Jack Stephan, US Airways captain based in Annapolis, Maryland, who has been flying since 1984
© Hemera/Thinkstock
3. “It’s one thing if the pilot puts the seat belt sign on for the passengers. But if he tells the flight attendants to sit down, you’d better listen. That means there’s some serious turbulence ahead.” -John Greaves, airline accident lawyer and former airline captain, Los Angeles
© Hemera/Thinkstock
4. “There’s no such thing as a water landing. It’s called crashing into the ocean.” -Pilot, South Carolina
© Hemera/Thinkstock
5. People always ask, ‘What’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you?’ I tell them it was a van ride from the Los Angeles airport to the hotel, and I’m not kidding.” -Jack Stephan
© Hemera/Thinkstock
6. “I’ve been struck by lightning twice. Most pilots have. Airplanes are built to take it. You hear a big boom and see a big flash and that’s it. You’re not going to fall out of the sky.” -Pilot for a regional carrier, Charlotte, North Carolina
© iStockphoto/Thinkstock
7. “The smoothest place to sit is often over or near the wing. The bumpiest place to sit is in the back. A plane is like a seesaw. If you’re in the middle, you don’t move as much.” -Patrick Smith
© BananaStock/Thinkstock
8. “If you’re a nervous flier, book a morning flight. The heating of the ground later causes bumpier air, and it’s much more likely to thunderstorm in the afternoon.” -Jerry Johnson, pilot, Los Angeles
© Hemera/Thinkstock
9. “People don’t understand why they can’t use their cell phones. Well, what can happen is 12 people will decide to call someone just before landing, and I can get a false reading on my instruments saying that we are higher than we really are.” -Jim Tilmon
© iStockphoto/Thinkstock
10. “Most people get sick after traveling not because of what they breathe but because of what they touch. Always assume that the tray table and the button to push the seat back have not been wiped down, though we do wipe down the lavatory.” -Patrick Smith
© David De Lossy/Valueline/Thinkstock
11. “One of our engines just failed.” What they’ll say instead: “One of our engines is indicating improperly.” (Or more likely, they’ll say nothing, and you’ll never know the difference. Most planes fly fine with one engine down.)
© iStockphoto/Thinkstock
12. Well, folks, the visibility out there is zero.” What they’ll say instead: “There’s some fog in the Washington area.”
“We miss the peanuts too.” -US Airways pilot, South Carolina
By Michelle Crouch Courtesy Reader's Digest
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Malta International Airport Timetable: From Malta, Tunis and Tripoli, summer 2011
Posted: December 16, 2011, 12:49 am by nero
Malta, the European Union's smallest member, is a tiny rocky archipelago in the center of the Mediterranean below Sicily. It is actually more southernly than the coast of North Africa, and acts as a European gateway to Libya especially.
Shown here on the Malta International Airport's summer 2011 timetable are weekly services to Tripoli, with an identical flight every day by Libyan Arab Airlines complimented by an array of daily flights from Air Malta, with a twice weekly connection on JAT which goes onward to Belgrade.
Above are four weekly services to Tunis, direct and also via Monastir on Servisair. All these operations increase during the summer months, as seen from the matrix at far right.
From Timetablist Series
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Qantas Empire Airways: Linking Australia and South Africa, 1952
Posted: December 16, 2011, 12:45 am by nero
For no particular reason, Timetablist has dusted off a series of Qantas articles.
Here is a 1952 postage commemoration, celebrating the first 'regular' linking of two of the Queen's realms, Australia and South Africa. The Qantas Empire Airways Ltd. route from Sydney crosses the antipodean vastness to Perth, then bounds westward over the Indian Ocean, refueling at the Cocos Islands, and later Mauritius, before landing on African soil at Johannesburg. The envelope is cancelled with Mauritian stamps.
From Timetablist Series
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ASKY Airlines Network, December 2011
Posted: December 16, 2011, 12:31 am by nero
A different ASKY than from a year previous: service to Banjul, Dakar and Pointe-Noire are gone, as is the underlying geography of the Gulf of Guinea. Abuja and Yaounde have been added, with Libreville beginning to seem like a focus city.
Lome-based ASKY seems to have failed at bridging the chessboard of Anglo- and Francophone capitals of West Africa, as one of the only English-speaking link is the familiar Accra-Monrovia-Freetown run, which no longer reaches up the coast to Cap Vert. A weekly flight from Monrovia to Bamako is also now absent.
Timetablist
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Air Mali Network c.2009
Posted: December 16, 2011, 12:22 am by nero
From the Air Mali website, although not up to date. A warm and stately reseau showing Air Mali's network, stretching all the way to Pointe-Noire, off the map at the extreme lower-right. Helpfully, the route lines are color coded by aircraft type, a unique feature which is somewhat cryptically keyed by the "CRJ" and "MD" legend and lower left. Ouagadougou is misspelled. Accra is the only Anglophone city served, via Abidjan.
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New high-loss airline to fly: Hellena Basket Air
Posted: December 15, 2011, 7:56 am by nero
Time for some humour:
FRESH FROM ITS POTENTIALLY SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT at destroying the world’s economy, a southern European country is next plotting to bring down the global airline industry. Newly established Hellena Basket Airlines is to offer the world’s lowest air fares from anywhere to everywhere. Advised by very creative financial firm Goldberg Socks and funded by Italian and French banks, underwritten by large German institutions, the heavily subsidised airline will drastically under-price in order to drive its competition bankrupt.
The carrier’s newly leased large widebody aircraft are configured with 40 first-class, 150 business-class and 300 non-taxpayer-class seats for the great majority of locally originating travellers who have never paid taxes. Seating in this section will be fully subsidised by the national government, using borrowed money. However, because the seats are offered at prices well below cost, this will not cost much.
Inflight entertainment systems are to be provided at excessive cost by leading suppliers Bunga Bunga Entertainment. Bunga Bunga will be available in all seats, announced CEO Silva Burlesquepanti, who until recently held an important entertainment and singles events organising position in an emerging-nation government.
Spanish air traffic controllers expressed concern that there was no suggestion of any strike activity at Hellena Basket at this stage, but offered to provide some immediately, in solidarity with any likely future action. “Obviously, by definition, the new airline’s staff will be underpaid and so industrial action becomes necessary at some stage. With our expertise in the area, we are best equipped to ensure they receive the best guidance, prior to our next strike,” said union chief Sr Labour.
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EgyptAir Training Centre's new Chief Eyeing African Airlines
Posted: December 14, 2011, 7:18 pm by nero
With more than 30 years in the industry, Amzy has been a captain on B737, A300 and B767 for the national airline. His last position held was as manager of technical research at EgyptAir.
He said he aims to extend the training business to go further into Africa and cooperate with the African airlines to provide training expertise to the ones in need and utilise the strong relationship between Egypt "and its sister African countries."
Azmy also believes EgyptAir could offer its training services to other highly growing markets such as India. The Cairo facility is fully equipped with the latest devices for cockpit crew with B777, B737Ng, A320, A340, A330 simulators while cabin crew training is provided on the CEET and CST trainers.Captain Hany Azmy has been appointed vice president for the EgyptAir Training Center and plans to see the organisation reach out to the burgeoning African airlines
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Speculation Growing Over EasyJet's Stelios Involvement on African LCC
Posted: December 14, 2011, 5:38 pm by nero
Over the past weeks was speculation growing in Eastern Africa about a potential involvement by former EasyJet’s top executive Stelios Iannou, said to consider joining hands with Lonrho to develop and implement a viable low cost carrier model for Africa, using jet aircraft to connect major cities on the continent.
While some efforts have been made in recent years to establish local LCC’s, this concept has not taken root as was expected and the financial strength of such Pan African airlines like Ethiopian or Kenya Airways have successfully held against such competition by setting fare levels on key routes to not just match their competitors but actually offer lower fares, while at the same time using their frequent flyer programmes to ensure brand loyalty through reward schemes the LCC’s do either not have or do not as effectively use.Stelios
Information obtained points to a possible signing of a deal next week, which could be held either in the UK or a select location in Africa, possibly Nairobi, as the East African aviation market could be the first to be targeted by a new airline set up.
Regional aviation stakeholders expressed surprise when contacted over this potential development and were swift to point to the cut throat operating environment which exists in the East African skies claiming almost in unison ‘this is not Europe, any newcomer will find the going here very tough, very competitive and very challenging’. Adds this correspondent in closing that this will indeed be the case, as past failures amply demonstrate, though Stelios and Lonrho combined will undoubtedly try to re-write aviation history and duplicate European successes in Africa, supported by deep pockets and a vision backed up by long experience.
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Air Uganda Hits Market with Super Package to Mombasa
Posted: December 14, 2011, 5:30 pm by nero
‘Mombasa here we come’ has to be the motto for those able to pack and go at an instant’s notice, after Air Uganda has launched their incredible offer of US Dollars 237, per person sharing, all taxes included, to fly nonstop from Entebbe to Mombasa, get airport transfers both ways and stay at the fancied Leopard Beach resort, located at the primest beach of Diani, on half board for 3 nights.
These offers do not come any better in this day and age and demand has shot through the roof it was learned from a regular source at the airline. Valid until the 18th of December, it is Christmas come early and today being Santa’s day in the old country, the gift has arrived in time to make a loved one happy.
Extra nights sell at US Dollars 70 per person, showing just how incredibly priced this offer by Air Uganda really is, considering there is a ticket to be included AND the various regulatory charges. For more information visit www.air-uganda.com or write to info@air-uganda.com and book, book and book … THE present for the entire family ahead of the Christmas season, and then home in time to celebrate under one’s own tree after soaking up some sun and fun at Kenya’s coast.
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Kenyan Aviation Stakeholders Wary of Intended Change of Laws
Posted: December 14, 2011, 5:18 pm by nero
The aviation fraternity is bracing for another fight with government, when it became known that there are plans afoot to change the laws governing the sector, including legislation governing the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Transport minister Amos Kimunya made the announcement yesterday when addressing a workshop on aviation law, but cleverly left out any specifics in regard of changes planned to the current legislation, which incidentally was only introduced in 2002, not even 10 years ago.
Aviators are swift to point to the current set of Air Service Regulations, imposed on the industry against agreements and assurances given by the KCAA to the industry that they would not be gazette before an exhaustive process of consultations over contentious clauses has been concluded but then nevertheless went ahead anyway in a cloak and dagger ambush, which took the aviation fraternity in shock and effectively destroyed any trust the industry had at the time in the CEO of KCAA.
‘We continue to fight on many areas over the applicability of certain aspects in the regulations, in particular when general aviation and leisure flying are treated like major commercial airlines. This is not right and there are many issues on requirements which if technically not available like communications from upcountry airstrips, can end a pilot in violation of regulations. We also have issues with the fees being raised dramatically, so of course, any changes to the laws governing aviation, regulating the KCAA, are of big concern to us. Our government does not understand aviation, and few of the regulatory staff are actually having experience from the private sector to fully comprehend what they are doing, how it affects safari airlines in particular. Promises of consultations are empty if our points of view go in one ear and out of the other. That process must be honest, and in the past, when we sat down and spent hundreds of hours to present our case by case issues with the regulations, it was actually dishonest, not meant to include our view point but to tick off a box the paymasters of those processes required. We have already alerted our legal brains to this development and await to get feedback from them on a range of concerns’ said a regular aviation source this morning, having been unable to respond overnight to emailed questions.
The air transport sector in Kenya has in recent years grown in leaps and bounds, with now over 7 million passengers and over 300.000 tons of air cargo being transacted across Kenya’s airports but has suffered capacity constraints by belated efforts to expand and modernize facilities in particular at the region’s primary hub, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. While Malindi and Kisumu have seen upgrades, although the runway extension in Malindi is still pending the one in Kisumu was finally concluded, Nairobi urgently requires a second runway, taxiway and aircraft parking areas, aka apron, while a new passenger terminal too is overdue. The present main terminal is during ‘rush hour’ hopelessly overcrowded and handling equipment is jostling for space when attending to incoming aircraft. In fact, Kenya Airways’ expansion plans hinge critically on these facilities coming into place on the fast track, as ‘The Pride of Africa’ seeks to expand its fleet, frequencies and destinations, across Africa and beyond, putting the Kenya Airport Authority, and the contractors, under pressure to work around the clock in three shifts to complete the new terminal and apron spaces in good time.
Watch this space for the most up to date aviation news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands.
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Nairobi Avition College Students left in the Lurch
Posted: December 14, 2011, 5:15 pm by nero
The Nairobi Aviation College, one of the privately owned institutions teaching programmes relevant to starting a career in aviation or a travel agency, found itself locked out of their premises yesterday over a long standing default with rent payments to the landlord ICDC. The school was reportedly on these premises for the past decade and industry observers consulted overnight were surprised, considering the income and cash flow for the Nairobi Aviation College with classes and courses sold out and at a pricey fee.
Hundreds of students, all reportedly paid up with school fees, were on arrival at the Uchumi House in the centre of Nairobi shocked to find office and class room equipment being moved out by auctioneers. It was impossible to establish when regular classes would resume, very likely, if at all, only next year as the equipment the institute was using is now under lock and key.
Students sitting exams too were left in panic, but it was learned that the owners of the school later on managed to get the exam venues shifted to other places, of course then being taken by very unsettled students who had prepared to sit in their own school, only to discover the eviction in process and then having to be moved. Exams under emotional stress and duress? Watch this space.
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Air Burundi Orders Chinese Built MA60 TurboProps
Posted: December 14, 2011, 5:08 pm by nero
According to a source in Bujumbura has national airline ‘Air Burundi’ now ordered two Chinese built turboprop aircraft of MA60 types, in an apparent effort to boost capacity and allow the flag carrier to fly to key neighbouring countries, like Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and even Congo under their own schedules, rather than, as is presently the case, depend almost entirely on airlines from those countries to fly into Bujumbura. While it could not be confirmed outright it is thought that China has made favourable credit terms available to Air Burundi, with the government in Bujumbura reportedly ready to guarantee any loans, in an effort to bring Chinese built aircraft into the Great Lakes region where hitherto the turboprop market is dominated by ATR, Bombardier and for the smaller types Czech built LET’s and the traditional Cessna and the Beechcraft 1900.
The purchase will be a boost not only to the airline’s operational capabilities but could also be a precursor to at least in part privatise the airline when the financial performance makes it possible. Watch this space.
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Are Cooperation and Mergers the Way Forward for Indian Ocean Airlines?
Posted: December 14, 2011, 5:01 pm by nero
The social media and blog sites are running hot with input of friends, staff and aficionados of Air Seychelles, who cannot bear the thought that ‘The Creole Spirit’ is to be reduced to a small regional carrier, which besides operating domestic routes between the various islands will in the end be left with probably not more than a single narrow body aircraft serving some routes to the African mainland and best to some of the neighbouring ‘vanilla islands’.
But reality is unfolding, Singapore has already been eliminated from the network and very soon will London, Milan and Rome follow before by end March the door will close on Paris too, leaving ‘HM’ as a shadow of its former self. Economic realities apart, some of which are blamed on the relentless opening of the Seychelles skies to aviation heavyweights – which however has resulted in record arrival figures for the archipelago’s tourism industry – while others blame differences in the vision and strategy of the airline’s former management, board and owners of how best to ensure the long term survival of the country’s aviation pride and joy.Air Seychelles
Similar fears are now also emerging in Mauritius, where the tourism industry has strongly lobbied for the opening of the skies over that island too, with Emirates now already at 11 weekly frequencies but reportedly, like in the Seychelles, eyeing double daily flights, and other Gulf Airlines are also strongly pushing for an ‘entry ticket’ to Mauritius. Talk has been dominating the corridors of the internet, the aviation discussion groups and blogs, that some of the airlines who are now dominating the traffic to the Seychelles, have already made fresh representations to the government in Victoria to get 5th freedom rights. This would mean to combine their flights to the archipelago with onward destinations, either other Indian Ocean islands or selected routes to the African mainland. This has in the past been rejected by the country’s Civil Aviation Authority and transport ministry, and in fact been discussed in an interview earlier in the year with the Seychelles Minister for Transport, the Hon. Joel Morgan, but while back then still fended off it now appears a foregone conclusion and emerging reality.Air Mauritius
An airline source in Mauritius openly expressed his fears that, considering Air Mauritius too is in a precarious financial position with losses incurred, they could also face a similar ‘pruning’, which would only leave Air Austral of Reunion as the one remaining major airline of the African Indian Ocean Islands, for the time being at least.
‘We had warned of this scenario and cautioned our owners of the consequences of opening the Seychelles skies to that effect, so fast and so far reaching. We got more visitors, that is true, but our national aviation sovereignty we have given up. Air Seychelles was a national strategic asset, the ONLY guarantee of connecting our islands by air in hard times. We have seen foreign airlines pull out, citing losses, lower revenues, not enough passengers before, and back then only Air Seychelles kept us connected to the world. Now, with this process cutting all intercontinental routes, this will be almost impossible to achieve should the same situation happen again. We are in contact with our colleagues in Mauritius too and they now have the same fears, that powerful political and economic interests will lead to the dismembering of that airline also. Could our governments not have explored closer cooperation, even considering a merger? We are working in many areas closely with Mauritius and this would just have been another sector in which we could have pooled out resources. Tourism marketing already combines as ‘vanilla islands’ and aviation cooperation would have been a logical extension. In this climate of economic problems around the world no one can be sure of any outcome, but to be honest, we should have at least given it a try to combine our routes, networks, stations overseas, marketing and aircraft utilization and not rushed into just giving it all away. We could have brought Air Austral into the discussions, combining the aviation expertise of three, La Reunion joining hands with Air Seychelles and Air Mauritius perhaps to give such an airline cooperation greater strength, greater reach and better negotiating power, combined routes via neighbouring islands coming from Europe or going to intercontinental destinations. Personally I feel that not all avenues to rescue Air Seychelles have been looked at or considered and that the cutting was hasty and we Seychellois have to pay the price long term. At least our staff, many of them, can find new jobs as expatriates abroad, but they really wanted to stay home, serve their national airline with pride and not see the roof come down on them’ said a regular source from the Seychelles when discussing this issue, and the question is now standing tall, where to will Air Mauritius go, will they face a similar fate, standing alone or could such have been avoided for Air Seychelles through a partnership, cooperation and even merger with other partners in the Indian Ocean island region of Africa. Fodder for thought, and there is still some time left to get such talks underway, before more hammers fall on the unprepared. Watch this space.
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Airline Crew Jobs: Gulf Airlines to absorb Air Seychelles Crew and Staff, Reducing Job Fears
Posted: December 14, 2011, 4:55 pm by nero
Etihad and Emirates are both confirmed to be holding a ‘job fair’ at the Air Seychelles headquarters at Mahe International Airport, aimed to ‘absorb’ qualified cockpit and cabin crew, but also aircraft technicians, ground personnel and key office staff, following the confirmed downsizing and restructuring of the archipelago’s national airline. Qatar Airways too is said to be ‘on board’ for the event, which will very likely see all available crews be offered new opportunities in the Gulf, as all three carriers are flying scheduled services between their hubs in Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai to the Seychelles.
Said a source close to the airline: ‘The relationship between the UAE and Seychelles is a big factor in setting up the job fair and interviews, but these airlines will also be lucky to get so many trained pilots, cabin crew and engineers in one go, with extensive job experience and plenty of flying hours. These three airlines are all expanding and all it takes for them is to give our experienced crews and technicians some conversion courses to check out on the type of aircraft they will be deployed on. None of them flies the B767 series but then the B777, or the A340 or A330 types are not too hard to learn when you already are a senior captain or senior first officer, and for the cabin crews it is really to adapt to their new aircraft type for emergency procedures and in flight service.
For us here in Seychelles it will be a sad day when our routes from Europe finally close down next year and no matter what the ‘new’ Air Seychelles will look like, and we very much want to hear from management and board what direction that will be taking, at least there are job prospects now as expatriates abroad. Some in fact may keep flying back and forth to the Seychelles, especially cabin crews and coming home will never be far for the others because there are many flights now between the Gulf and here. Some of our cockpit crew may even stay and convert to the new aircraft the company will bring in, though for them it would be a step back because one not easily goes from a wide body back to a single aisle narrow body aircraft, so that might be a challenge for the management to overcome and convince some to stay’.
Aviation observers are keenly speculating already what regional routes Air Seychelles intends to operate, besides the already existing route to Johannesburg, and what aircraft will be selected for this type of operation, very likely one of the B737NG series. As always, watch this space for emerging news from East Africa’s and the Indian Ocean Islands aviation scene.
Post Courtesy WolfGang Thome
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B787 Dreamliner in Nairobi: PHOTOS
Posted: December 14, 2011, 8:59 am by nero
Some of the photos of the B787 Dreamliner in Nairobi after it touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to a rapturous welcome from airport staff, invited guests and planespotters. I will be updating more photos throughout the day on this historic event as I get them.I can't wait to see these planes in Kenya Airways' livery! Big congratulations to Kenya Airways and the Kenyan aviation fraternity for this great milestone.
More Photos of the historic B787 landing in Kenya Available at Friends of Flight Ventures Website
Kenyan Dancers welcoming the B787 to Nairobi
Photos Courtesy: Friends of Flight ventures
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The Day of the Dreamliner! Kenya Welcomes the B787 Dreamliner
Posted: December 14, 2011, 2:25 am by nero
The 787 Dreamliner will be landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the next 30 minutes and many friends have already left for the Airport to catch a glimpse of the long awaited dream(Dreamliner) turned nightmare. I have unfortunately missed the historic event due to punishing work commitment but I will still get a chance to catch a glimpse later in the day.
I have learnt from Wolfgang's blog, lucky him(he will be in the B787 Dreamliner en route to Mombasa) that the B787 will be captained by a Kenyan Pilot and many in the aviation circles are very excited about the prospect. Even the Kenyan President, Mwai Kibaki will be at the Airport to receive the new bird which is expected to position Kenya Airways, along with Ethiopian Airlines as two of Africa's giant airlines as they seek to consolidate their positions on the African Continent. Both airlines have put in place massive expansion plans in the coming years and the delay in the delivery of the Dreamliner has been sort of an anticlimax for both carriers.
Kenya Airways has 9 B787 aircraft on order and further 4 options. A year ago, there was a famous rumour that Kenya Airways had decided to ditch its B787 plans and go head with the "French Mistress", the Airbus but these rumours proved unfounded and it seems the Pride of Africa and many aviation enthusiasts in the region will be waiting patiently for their Dreamliner.
Boeing is currently undertaking a world tour to showcase the Dreamliner to its global clients and constituencies including Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways and many more, a tour that is expected to last 6 months. According to seasoned traveler and travel writer Wolfgang Thome, this is "also a goodwill tour to make up for the delays and in the process bag a few dozen more orders, as was already announced from Etihad, one of the Gulfs leading carriers, where a deal for 10 more of the Dreamliners was inked two days ago, raising the entire order to now 41 aircraft."
A demonstration flight has been arranged for by Kenya Airways for invited VIPs and a select group of media invitees, regularly reporting about Kenya Airways{but excluding Flight Africa Blog :)}. Watch out as we bring you more coverage on this important event in the history of African aviation.
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KLM flight Offers for Asia
Posted: December 13, 2011, 3:07 am by nero
It's the festive season once more and travelers will be getting more of these offers. KLM is offering the festive season's flight offers from Nairobi to Bangkok, Tokyo and Hongkong. Don't miss the offers in KLM's Journeys of Inspiration:::
It's now easier and more affordable to combine a trip to Asia with a trip to Europe. Simply fly out via Amsterdam or Paris to your favourite European destination and then fly onwards to one of our 25 different destinations across China and East Asia.
The options are endless, you can return back via Europe or direct on Kenya airways from Guangzhou,
Hong Kong, Seoul or Bangkok to Nairobi. It could not get any easier, quicker or more convenient!
Take your pick from the colourful destinations we have selected for you with a fare combination of
Europe and Asia and start making your dream a reality - It's all in your hands.
Book now at www.klm.com
Hong Kong
from
$1,691 return incl. tax Bangkok
from
$1,691 return incl. tax Tokyo
from
$2,407 return incl. tax
Work can be republished with attribution. Email Us africadomainnames@gmail.com
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Kenya Airways Website has a brand new look!
Posted: December 11, 2011, 6:52 pm by nero
Kenya Airways has redesigned its website giving it a much cleaner and elegant look , with less clutter and links. If you combine the red hot Kenyan colours together with the clean and sleek design, then here we have a world class website. Besides, it's quite fast unlike the South Africa Airways website which caused lots of problems after an overhaul.
The Kenya Airways website reminds me of the KLM website or Emirates website. I would love to know the design company which did this, I have some projects up my sleeve :) What do you think of the new look Kenya Airways website?
Kenya Airways Website Home page
Kenya Airways Corporate Website
A much cleaner and elegant look
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Finnair relaunches retro flight in the original Silver Bird theme
Posted: December 10, 2011, 2:59 pm by nero
From Finnair blog:
Since 1923, when consul Bruno Lucander founded an upstart Finnish airline called Aero, Finnair’s approach to customers has always had a personal touch. Lucander himself sold tickets, helped passengers with luggage, and even helped pilots moor the seaborne Junkers aircraft.
By the 1950s, Aero had changed its name to Finnair while management had a little more help in the air. The airline’s state-of-the-art Silver Bird Convair aircraft, the first with a pressurized cabin, took passenger comfort to new heights. The original Convair cabins had leather armchairs in two rows, tasty meals were eaten at tables and the airline even offered passengers the use of an electric Philishave razor.
This year Finnair celebrates 88 years of quality service and peace of mind in air travel with selected retro flights in the original Silver Bird theme. This is the retro flight to Hamburg on Finland’s Independce Day, December 6, 2011. Enjoy!
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Oneworld is the best Airline Alliance of 2011
Posted: December 10, 2011, 2:47 pm by nero
American business travel magazine Global Traveler has named oneworld the best airline alliance of 2011. The honour was granted to oneworld for the second year in a row on the basis of reader research. oneworld brings together 12 of the world’s biggest and best airlines - and 20 affiliates - with more signed up to join soon.
The airline alliance is also current holder of the World Travel Awards’ 'World’s Leading Airline Alliance' title, retaining that award for the eighth year running.
oneworld’s members are American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Mexicana, Qantas, Finnair, Royal Jordanian and S7. Kingfisher, Airberlin and Malaysia Airlines will join in 2012.
The Alliance offers the market-leading range of alliance fare and sales products. It is committed to innovation to improve customer service; the winner of more international awards for airline alliances than either of its competitors and is the alliance with the strongest collective profitability record. Unfortunately, there are no Africa airline members of the oneworld alliance.
US-based Global Traveler describes itself as the "magazine for luxury business travelers".
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South African Airways to launch Kigali and Bujumbura Flights in January 2012
Posted: December 10, 2011, 2:29 pm by nero
South African Airways has added two more travel options to our African route network as part of the airline's growth plans on the continent.
Effective 17 January 2012, SAA will commence operations from Johannesburg to Kigali (Rwanda) and onwards to Bujumbura (Burundi). The return flights will operate from Bujumbura to Kigali and onwards to Johannesburg's OR Tambo International airport. These flights are now available via www.flysaa.com
SAA is focused on strengthening its intra-Africa network in line with its Africa Expansion programme. Adding even more destinations to its already extensive Africa route network will create more travel options for their customers to thriving destinations that were previously difficult to reach by air.
In addition to being the capital city of Rwanda, Kigali is also its economic, cultural and tourist transit hub. Bujumbura is Burundi's capital and largest city and is close to the country's main port, shipping coffee as its primary export.
The route between Johannesburg to Kigali and onwards to Bujumbura will be serviced three times a week by a SAA's A319 aircraft which is able to accommodate 120 passengers in a two class (business and economy) configuration.
SAA's most recent addition to its African route network was the start of flights to Ndola, Zambia on 2 October. The Ndola service is largely aligned to growth in demand from mining executives, especially those flying into South Africa from countries such as Australia.
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South African Airways to introduce Direct Services to Beijing, China in January 2012
Posted: December 10, 2011, 2:23 pm by nero
For the first time in the history of the airline, SAA will introduce direct flights to Beijing, China; from January next year.
The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart on Tuesday 31 January 2012 from Johannesburg to arrive in Beijing, China; on Wednesday 1 February 2012. These flights are now available for reservations in the global distribution system (GDS) and via SAA's website flysaa.com, the airline's on-line website.
Introducing direct flights to Beijing is in line with SAA's strategy to expand its network to Asia, the fastest growing market in the world. SAA will operate the route three times a week. The route will be served by the Airbus A340-600 aircraft, which have the capacity to operate the route directly all year round with no passenger payload restrictions. Flying time between Johannesburg and Beijing takes on average 15 hours.
Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world. The city is the country's political, cultural and educational centre and home to the headquarters for most of China's largest state-owned companies.Direct Flights to Beijing
Johannesburg - Beijing schedule:
Flight SA288
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Depart Johannesburg 08h00
Arrive Beijing 04h40*(Following day)Beijing - Johannesburg schedule:
Flight SA289
Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
Depart Beijing 06h40*
Arrive Johannesburg 15h30*(Following day)
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Jambo Jet: Yes to Kenya Airways' Low Cost Subsidiary
Posted: December 9, 2011, 1:10 am by nero
In this blog, a year ago , a colleague of mine suggested that Kenya Airways should not follow the example of South African Airways and other legacy carriers by building a low cost subsidiary focused on the regional/domestic market. This is a model that has always proved a failure as many airlines have been unable to reconcile the two business models and run profitable businesses. In many cases, LCC subsidiaries are often a hole in the bucket, hemorrhaging cash until eventually they are shut down. After a conversation with some of the industry experts, he had come to the conclusion that it's better for an airline to keep to the knitting, its full service model, instead of fumbling with the two business models and incurring some losses in tough economic times.
But now I think an LCC subsidiary would be the best thing for Kenya Airways as it will cater for the passengers in the domestic and the sub regional market while the airline focuses on its ambitious Pan African expansion strategy.
For one, regional airlines that market themselves as low cost are eating away at Kenya Airways Load Factors so it makes sense for Kenya Airways to counter the competition through an LCC strategy; to introduce a totally low cost product to compete with airlines like Fly540, Air Uganda, Jet Link, airlines which also have ambitious expansion plans of their own. The East African aviation market is becoming more competitive. A few years ago, Kenya Airways had a virtual monopoly in the Nairobi-Entebbe route, but now it has to compete with Air Uganda; Kenya Airways had to shut down some of its domestic routes in Kenya, which gave the room for Fly540 and Jetlink to fill the vacuum. So the domestic market definitely needs some development but with a different product that can offer travelers competitive pricing at par with other airlines.
A second reason, international investors are already smelling the opportunity. Stelios Haji-Ioannou,
the British airline entrepreneur and billionaire who founded the European LCC EasyJet is planning to set an LCC operation in Africa, probably in Kenya through the FastJet brand. So it's better to establish a presence in the market ahead of time before newer competitors eliminate you from the equation.
As the economic recession continues to bite, travelers are increasingly looking for cheaper travel options. Low cost is the latest fad with LCCs taking 23 out of 100 seats in the travel market globally. It therefore makes sense to build low cost consumer friendly brands early in preparation of the coming boom in the travel market in Africa. Consumers love LCCs not only because of the low costs but also their vibrant brands. I think Jambo Jet will provide Kenya Airways an opportunity to build a new vibrant airline brand that Kenyans can closely identify with to boost its image in the domestic market. Kenyans have been having issues with their favorite company :)
The old image of the national carrier with the flags and the aura of air travel is first disappearing. Consumers want small, personal and innovative brands they can easily identify with. Look at the South African LCC market and the emergence of brands like Kulula, Mango Airlines, 1Time and then recently Santaco Airlines. Look at Europe and the popularity of airlines like EasyJet or Asia and the popularity of AirAsia. For short point to point to domestic air travel, consumers want airlines that will simply take them from point A to B, without all the "unnecessary" frills that inflate the costs for nothing. Full service carriers like Kenya Airways, the flag carriers, might be considered unresponsive to customers, riddled with labour disputes and generally lack creativity. They offer the same products year in year out while LCCs have the flexibility to surprise their customers with some out of the box promotions and small innovations. So I think, for Kenya Airways, it's now time to test life on the other side of the fence.
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The B787 Dreamliner Coming to Nairobi
Posted: December 8, 2011, 4:40 pm by nero
The December schedule for the 787 Dream Tour includes six stops in Asia, Africa and the Middle East
This will be one of the big events in the aviation history in Kenya and Africa as the B787 Dreamliner will be landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in its 3 Continent World Tour for the first time and flying passengers from Nairobi to Mombasa.
The 6 month B787 Dream Tour began in China on 4th December and will go on until 11th December when the ZA003—the third 787 Dreamliner will head to Addis Ababa Ethiopia and nairobi Kenya to visit Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. A "visit" that will last at the 16th of December. From December 16th-19th the B787 Dreamliner will pay Qatar Airways a visit in Doha.
According to Randy Tinseth, Vice President, Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, "After seeing the airplane in Dubai and giving media a tour, I know people are really going to love what they see on the Dream Tour. It’s truly a stunning interior that will turn heads. "
Here are a few shots of the ZA003:
ZA003 on display at the Dubai Airshow.
Wow! Too bad I have not been invited to this :( but I will keep tabs on things from some of my popular journalist contacts via Twitter. Wolfgang H Thome below showing some of his usual enthusiasm for historic aviation milestones in East Africa::
December 14th has been set as the long awaited date, that Boeing’s new ‘wonderplane’, the B787 Dreamliner is finally making an appearance over the skies of Kenya, a harbinger of things to come when ‘The Pride of Africa’ finally can take delivery of the first of 9 firm orders – and 4 further options – come 2013.
Ordered initially several years ago, the first delivery last month to Japan’s ANA was years overdrawn and resulted in equally long delays for the East African Community’s predominant airline, Kenya Airways. The B787 is upon delivery due to replace the ageing fleet of B767 aircraft, offering substantially lower operating expenses as well as provide more capacity for passengers and cargo, while at the same time greatly enhancing the inflight experience for passengers through improved cabin pressure settings at lower altitude, greater humidity in the hitherto very dry cabin atmosphere and substantially larger windows, made possible by the use of composite materials in the manufacturing of the world’s latest wide body aircraft.
Initial feedback from passengers on the ANA B767 has confirmed, if not outright exceeded expectations and the promises made by Boeing so far have come true, for the airline as well it appears, though it is early days to draw real comparisons in operating costs for the ‘new bird’.
It was announced here a while ago that Boeing had confirmed a ‘world tour’ of the new aircraft, to show the B787 off to airlines with orders, and to promote additional sales of the new aircraft and this is now becoming reality with the clock ticking towards the morning of the 14th of December, when both Kenya Airways and Boeing will be presenting the ‘Dreamliner’ at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Invited guests from the corporate world and the regional media will be able to not just step into the plane while on the ground but also experience a flight from Nairobi to Mombasa, allowing one to judge directly what improvements the new aircraft offers over the ‘conventional’ wide bodies like the B777.e
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Inside look: The new Blaise Diagne International Airport in Senegal
Posted: December 6, 2011, 10:10 pm by nero
If you have been in Dakar recently, then you know that the Leopold Senghor International Airport is not only congested and outdated but also in a state of disrepair. The airport lobby is too small, there are hawkers just as you step out of the airport lobby, the immigration desk is a simple makeshift booth with two or three Senegalese police. In fact, my passport was processed in a wooden desk as I stood by. It's not the most comfortable of airports! But the Senegalese are not being left behind as Africa's lions power ahead. Just in the outskirts of Dakar, a new $400 million state of the art airport is being constructed. The Airport will hist Senegal's newly launched airline Senegal Airlines International and the soon to be launched Air Teranga.
Situated 40km from Dakar, the airport will handle 10 million passengers, making Senegal the true gateway not only to West Africa but to the whole African continent. Senegal sits at a strategic position by the Atlantic, close to Europe and a gateway to the Americas. Have a look at the planned Blaise Diagne International Airport , where construction is moving at a breakneck speed:
Work on the stunning new Blaise Diagne International Airport on the outskirts of Dakar is proceeding at pace.
The eye-catching airport will be the operational headquarters of the country's new flag carrier, Senegal Airlines. Built at a cost of $400 million, Blaise Diagne will eventually be able to handle 10 million passengers a year.
Lifting Senegal and West Africa to new HeightsSituated around 40 kms from Dakar, the airport will provide direct and connecting flights to Africa and the world.
Two-phase construction of Blaise Diagne International Airport now well under way
The jewel in Senegal's transport crown, Blaise Diagne International Airport (Blaise Diagne) is one of the largest and most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country's history, with the state-of-the-art facility set to become the new gateway to the nation and West Africa.
Spread over more than 2,600 hectares, the $400 million airport meets all international safety and security standards and will replace the limited capacity Lopold Sdar Senghor International Airport at Dakar-Yoff.
The old airport currently serves as the main entry and departure point for foreign visitors to Senegal, but senior public and private sector figures have expressed their satisfaction with the pace of construction work at the gleaming new airport, which, according to official forecasts, will serve as many as 5 million people per year by 2025.
Following the January 2011 launch of new government-owned aircraft operator, Senegal Airlines, the new Blaise Diagne aviation facility marks a further milestone in the nation's journey to economic prosperity and civil development.
The flag carrier will use the new airport as its main base and operational headquarters, as will sister airline Air Teranga that is due to begin operations later this year. The low-cost carrier will focus on domestic destinations across the country.
Senegalese ministers and business leaders believe the construction of a modern airport is crucial for consistent socioeconomic development and that it sends out a positive signal to international investors that Senegal is stepping up to the world stage.
President Abdoulaye Wade is confident the multi-million dollar facility will act as a powerful magnet for fresh investment from China and beyond.
"As Senegal prospers and the revitalized private sector becomes the principal employer, investor and economic actor, so our magnificent new airport and Port of Dakar will become two of the core pillars of our economy," he said."We will see soon the deployment of Senegal Airlines' networks to Europe, the Middle East and North America.
"Our ambition is to make Senegal Airlines one of the leading companies in Africa, offering the best service on all its destinations. It will be a key instrument for the development of tourism, commerce and industry and enhance the prominence of Senegal in West Africa and the continent."
Located east of the capital, close to the busy tourist beaches, Blaise Diagne is expected to become the region's leading air traffic hub, with major airlines providing direct and connecting flights to cities across Europe and the Americas.
Among the leading airlines currently offering services to Dakar from destinations around the world are: Air France, Alitalia, Iberia, TAP, Condor, SN Brussels, South African Airway and Lufthansa Cargo.
Phasing in construction
The new airport is being constructed in two phases. Work on the first phase of the project began in April 2007 and includes the construction of a runway that can handle 25,000 planes per year.
The attractive new terminal will have an annual capacity of 3 million passengers and freight capacity of 53,102 tons per year. The second development phase is a medium to long-term target that will start once Phase 1 passenger capacity is reached. The final phase comprises the building of a second runway and all related airside and non-airside facilities capable of handling 10 million passengers a year.
Creating opportunities
Designed by industry experts and financed through a combination of public and private sector funding, Blaise Diagne will be operated by a local subsidiary of German airport management company Fraport AG and its consortium partners.
Fraport was awarded the coveted 25-year contract following a highly competitive international bidding process. Subsidiary Daport SA will handle all terminal, flight, retail and real estate operations, with the airport expected to create hundreds of new jobs for local people. Of the 2,400 workers constructing the airport for leading Saudi Arabian company, SBG, at least a quarter live in villages surrounding the site, with many others residing in nearby urban areas.
"Major investment in important new infrastructure such as Blaise Diagne will turn Senegal into a major international hub from a business and tourism perspective," said Karim Wade, minister of international cooperation, air transports, infrastructures and energy (MICATTI).
"The technologically-advanced airport and comfortable and modern airline will make Senegal a major aviation force in Africa and internationally."
In order to ensure regional airports located near towns and cities can handle the arrival of new domestic carrier Air Teranga, government officials plan to upgrade several existing regional facilities and construct new airports. "We are currently in discussions with a Chinese company about the possibility of improvement works to 15 regional airports," added Minister Wade. "These important works will provide a significant boost to Senegal's domestic air transport infrastructure as we prepare for the future launch of Air Teranga."
These long-awaited airport improvement projects herald a bright new dawn for Senegal's aviation industry, with expanding ground and terminal operations backed up by the launch of Senegal Airlines. The new airline is the result of a strategic partnership with award-winning Dubai based-flag carrier Emirates. The UAE-headquartered airline recently pledged its commitment to Senegal through the launch of a non-stop route between Dakar and Dubai.
Commercial aviation operations will be further enhanced by major changes to ground maintenance procedures and improved monitoring of aircraft equipment. A new service and repair center designed to international standards has been established in Dakar to meet the increasing demands of the domestic and regional market.
"Senegalese law firm EMA Industries was established in partnership with EAS Industries to enable national and foreign operators to have a high level technical workshop for the maintenance of their aircraft," President Wade confirmed. "Along similar lines, the creation of a new aviation training center will provide civil and commercial aircraft operators with qualified technical personnel."
In November 2009, the government signed a letter of intent to buy a six-strong fleet of Airbus planes worth $750 million for Senegal Airlines. The 4 A320 family aircraft and 2 A330 planes would transport passengers to destinations on several continents.
The potential purchase provides extra evidence of the determination to establish an efficient national airline following the poor performance and eventual 2009 demise of its predecessor, Air Senegal International.
"The operational efficiency and passenger comfort offered by the Airbus fleet will enable Senegal Airlines to prosper and grow into a major player in the African aviation market and become a key partner in the economic development of our country," said Minister Wade following the signing of the potential order.
"These various initiatives will continue to be strengthened and improved so that the national aviation sector can fully play its role as a vehicle for growth and economic development engine of Senegal."
He continued: "Combined with Blaise Diagne, Senegal Airlines will allow us to showcase our beautiful and ambitious country to the world and boost tourism and business development."
Building up tourism
As part of the government's drive to diversify the economy and take advantage of Senegal's rich heritage, and natural and cultural assets, ministers are exploring ways of developing the fledgling tourism industry.
Senegal has several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Gore Island in Dakar Harbor that was used as the point for the millions of slaves shipped to the New World.
Dakar today is a vibrant and safe city that has something for people of all ages. The city is especially popular with art lovers thanks to its many galleries, artists' studios, outdoor art events and activities, museums, and festivals.
The welcoming city is also a shopping paradise and exquisite crafts produced by craftsman skilled in traditional ways are sold in markets, on the streets, and in stores.
The Port of Dakar is one of Africa's busiest ports for cruise liners, with visitors to the bustling city of 2.8 million people offered duty-free shopping and excursions to many local places of interest. Luxury hotels, golf resorts and beachside accommodations provide an ideal base for leisure activities, such as horseback riding, swimming, and aquatic sports.
With many tropical rainforests inhabited by rare flora and fauna, Senegal is eager to cash in on its natural beauty and expand the selection of eco-tourism packages available to foreign visitors.
One of its most popular eco-tourism destinations is the small archipelago called Saloum Delta Islands. Situated near the border with The Gambia, the tranquil coastal and marine park is a natural paradise teeming with bird and marine life.
"We have at least two competitive advantages in fishing and tourism, which offer huge potential to foreign investors," said President Wade. "Many Chinese enterprises are already active in Senegal's economy, and well placed to take advantage of the opportunities created by an under-developed tourism sector."
Post Courtesy China Daily
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FastJet: Stelio's EasyGroup to Establish a new Low Cost Airline in Africa
Posted: December 6, 2011, 9:39 pm by nero
There is a reason for Africa to smile; it's recent economic successes in the last 5 years are not going unnoticed and now EasyJet Founder, the British Billionaire Stelios Haji–Ioannou is planning to launch a new low cost airline in Africa under the FastJet brand. There are no details on this yet.
Mr. Haji-Ioannou's easyGroup, which runs ventures from car hire, cybercafes, hotels and gym membership, is to invest in Rubicon Diversified Investments PLC, a former software company that has now entered the aviation business and will operate the airline under the brand FastJet.Stelios
Stelios has had troubles with the airline he founded and even signed an agreement with EasyJet which compels him not establish or acquire interests in any other airline or new airline in the European Economic Zone and Switzerland for at least 5 years in return for $450,000 annually. It's a Steve Jobs like scenario where the founder becomes estranged with a company he founded or with the management of the company he founded. Stelios founded EasyJet in 1995 at the age of 28 with a loan from his shipping magnate father and the company has since grown into one if Europe's largest Low Cost Airlines.
Given that he's locked out of Europe, Africa is clearly the natural choice for Stelios. The continent's key economies are confidently powering ahead with steady growth, more Africans are crossing into the middle class status and air travel and passenger numbers are quickly picking up. Also, the low cost model is not well developed so there's a real golden opportunity in Africa. I think a low cost Pan African outfit would definitely win the market. Currently, most low cost airlines have regional focus in their operations. Fly540, the dominant player in the market services Africa with three hubs in Kenya, Angola and Ghana. South African low cost carriers mostly service South Africa and a few neighboring countries. The rest of the continent is at the mercy of the legacy carriers like Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, South African Airways, Egypt Air, and others.
According to Stelios, "Africa must now represent the final frontier of this aviation revolution which started in the U.S. in the 70s and which I was proud to have led in Europe in the 90s."
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"Umbi Umbi Club", TAAG Angola's New Loyalty Program
Posted: December 4, 2011, 9:59 pm by nero
It took me an eternity to learn about this but TAAG Angola now has a Frequent Flyer Program, it's called Umbi Umbi Club . I wonder how many people have joined now that they are launching and building it from scratch. Airlines like Kenya Airways, South African Airways, EgyptAir and Ethiopian Airlines are lucky in that they can leverage existing FF programs like Flying Blue and the various frequent flyer programmes for Star Alliance members. Any way good luck to TAAG Angola with Umbi Umbi Club!
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Abidjan International Airport: Rwandair flight faces extortion, at gunpoint
Posted: December 4, 2011, 8:42 pm by nero
I have been to Abidjan's International Airport en-route to Dakar on a Kenya Airways flight and one thing that lingered in my mind was the thought of some of the unprofessional and untrained goons who swept Ouattara to power now controlling the airport. Abidjan Airport crew looked lost and brutalized but Kenya Airways has been serving Abidjan for some time and my 45 minutes in Abidjan was without incident. However,a RwandaAir plane that landed in Abidjan recently had its fair share of trouble. Read the account by Wolfgang H Thome :::
As our RwandAir special flight made its final approach into Abidjan's international airport, the landscapes beneath were fueling my imagination of what a proper visit to the Ivory Coast might yield and what I might discover travelling along the shores and across the country in terms of scenic beauty. Tropical coastal forests gave way to palm oil plantations and then some more tropical coastal forests, as the city of Abidjan came into sight from the aircraft, which lined up for its landing.
Touchdown it was and while being redirected from the main passenger terminal to the official side of the airport, this was of no concern at the time. After all, this was a special flight with a sizeable government delegation on board, led by two of Rwandan ministers and a number of senior officials, including RwandAir CEO John Mirenge. We had all travelled to Lagos and Abuja together for the celebration of establishing regular air links between Rwanda and Nigeria and were now delivering a number of our fellow inaugural flight passengers for their second part of their journey, with us expected to then leave for Kigali again. Receiving our official delegation was swift and soon we were taxiing back to the main terminal for refueling to then commence our journey back to Rwanda.
And here the misfortunes commenced and in a way few would have expected, not the least this correspondent who thought he had by and large seen it all in his frequent travels across the continent.
RwandAir, and I say of course, does have a handling agent appointed in Abidjan, a company which takes care of ground handling, provision of equipment like stairs and crucially the refueling.
The cockpit crew, including the engineer on board, disembarked and no handling agent representative was spotted, though the information on landing time had been transmitted well ahead I could later on establish.
Instead, a band of armed soldiers approached the aircraft and demanded cash for the fuel and handling transaction, for the latter a cool 5.000 US Dollars and for the fuel they quoted an initial figure which could have bought an oil field, or else taken care of their pension for life.
RwandAir remaining senior official on board, Michael Otieno, the Corporate Communications Manager, also got involved in the ensuing argument, which swiftly turned into the ABC of African officials, Arrogant behaviour, Blackmail demands and Corruption visible for all to see. Little did he know what was in store for him, as one of the goons then put his gun on him, clearly hoping that this little persuasion would help to extract the extortionate amounts of money they demanded. Our two captains, include RwandAir Chief Pilot and the engineer who had travelled on the flight, were seen busy making phone calls as the situation threatened to get out of hand quickly and turn into a potential diplomatic incident, as the aircraft had delivered a duly invited official government delegation, only to be then ambushed and extorted and with a senior RwandAir staff held at gunpoint.
Thankfully, at that very stage a representative of the handling company finally appeared, prompting the rogue soldiers deployed at the international airport to swiftly beat a retreat, and business was then finally, an hour and a half late, conducted at agreed rates with no cash changing hands, leaving the goons in uniform clearly fuming at their misfortunes as they stood by a short distance away, seen gesturing and clearly disappointed that their scheme had failed.
The delay, amongst other consequences, could have forced our crew out of maximum permitted duty hours and as it so happened, they beat the deadline with only some bare minutes to spare. A sigh of relief went through those of us on board, who saw what had transpired and knew how close we had come to a major incident and taxiing and take off was a great relief, seeing the figures of our tormentors getting smaller in the distance, guns still strapped to their chests and gripped with both hands, and once airborne again and at initial cruising altitude Capt. Babis then narrated the story for all to hear, including the willingness of fellow passengers to bail out the aircraft and give a cash collection which would have been enough to satisfy the broad robbery attempt by some of the troops stationed at the international airport, ostensibly for protection and security, but who turned their assignment on the head and sought a ready cash dispenser, likely stealing the fuel in the process as that money would arguably not have been turned over to the fuel company, causing them a major loss too.
Fellow passengers applauded the crew involved in the incident, the other RwandAir staff on board and those willing to part with their cash reserves, but it left a sour taste, of bile and vomit in our all throats. Considering that the former hang on to the bitter end president Gbagbo is now in the Hague, facing charges by the International Criminal Court, and considering that the international community supported the claims of the now President of Ivory Coast and assisted him to turn his election victory into a move to State House, this incident puts the country to shame and it is hoped that those responsible will swiftly be identified and taken to court, and that the government of Ivory Coast will see it fit to issue a formal apology to the government of Rwanda, and to RwandAir, for the ordeal described.
Landing in Kigali was at 20 past midnight and applauded by everyone on board this special flight and the red carpet was once again rolled out and much in evidence, smiling officials, welcoming comments at immigration and customs officials generously waving all of us through. I thought home at last although technically of course my own patch is at the lake shores outside Kampala / Uganda, but home to East Africa at least it was and what a change to what we saw and experienced in West Africa.
For now though I hasten to put this story out for all to read and get a feel, what dark side our festive inaugural flight suffered at the hand of armed goons in Abidjan.
As to going back and fulfill my ambition to see that country for real and write about it, this is very unlikely now, unless the Ivory Coast tourism board would see it fit to give me a formal invitation, minders and all, but that I do not expect to happen in a month of Sundays, so do not hold your breath just yet, there will be no good news about Ivory Coast any time soon from me.
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Airlines to profit from Africa’s growth opportunities
Posted: December 4, 2011, 8:24 pm by nero
Africa has been asked to review the "complex" structure of its taxes and fees imposed by service providers to enable airlines in the continent exploit the existing growth potential.
It is believed that the duties in Africa are relatively higher in comparison to other regions and particularly when seen in light of the level of infrastructure and services available.
For instance, it is estimated that it costs 18.5 US cents per Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK) to travel in Africa as compared to 15.5 US cents in Asia, 12.3 cents in Europe and 11.0 cents in North America.
RPK is a measure of passenger’s sales volume, which can be obtained by multiplying the number of revenue passengers carried on a flight by the distance traveled by each passenger.
Industry leaders who concluded their 43rd Annual General Assembly and conference in Southern Morocco last week heard that the "excessive" charges imposed on the airlines operating in the continent and their passengers, with experts saying this has impeded airlines from realising their full potential.
The Airlines Association (Afraa), Secretary General of African Elijah Chingosho noted that cost of travel from Africa is still very high compared to other regions of the world.
He said high intra-Africa and intercontinental airfares are mainly attributed to high airport taxes and fees coupled with high fuel, insurance, aircraft financing and leasing charges experienced in the region.
"This is stifling development of air transport and compounding the many difficulties that African airlines have to surmount to be competitive and profitable," he said.
He said that the impact of high charges should be examined in light of Africa’s huge potential for growth of air transport, which by all indications is becoming one of the fastest growing regions in terms of air traffic.
New partnerships
Opening the three-day General Assembly on behalf of the Minister of Transport of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Kingdom of Morocco, Abdennebi Manar, challenged African airlines to open up their markets and brace themselves for competition.
He called upon industry stakeholders in Africa to work together and seek partnerships with each other to broaden their network as well so as to mop up traffic to compete with operators from other regions.
During the meeting the Chief Executive Officer of Air Mali Mr Abderahmane Berthe was elected President of Association and host of the 2012 AFRAA Annual General Assembly.
Welcoming delegates to the meeting, the President of AFRAA and Chairman of Royal Air Maroc, Driss Benhima, noted that air transport liberalisation is good for the continent but cautioned it can pose serious survival challenges to local airlines ill-prepared to compete in a liberalised market. He said Morocco last year attained its target of 10 million tourist arrivals due largely to the open skies agreement with the EU.
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Old Indian Law Hindering African Airlines Expansion into India
Posted: December 4, 2011, 8:20 pm by nero
India has a substantial diaspora in Africa and the trade trade ties between India and the various African countries is quite strong. Several African Airlines have been flying to India for decades amongst them Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Mauritius, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways amongst others.
India also has BASAs with at least 17 African countries and is currently on a charm offensive to strengthen its old relationship with Africa, which has in been existence since the colonial days. In fact, in the 60s, many Indians fled India to find "greener" pastures in Africa, to join an earlier generation of Indians that had come to Africa during the colonial and even pre-colonial times. It seems with the resurgence of China and China's massive investments in Africa, India would like to exploit this old comradeship to its advantage. African countries have been welcoming India and some have expressed an interest in exchanging some bilateral air services with India to allow the airlines to launch direct flights to India.
However, an old Indian law stands in the way of these African countries exploiting the rich Indian travel market. According to the law, "unless effective control and substantial ownership of an airline rests with either the Government or a national of a country from where the airline is designated, we cannot go in for exchange of flights. In the case of Africa this is becoming a problem." The problem arises because many state carriers in Africa collapsed and have been replaced by privately held airlines, which are owned by people who are not of African descent.
Case in point is Air Uganda, Air Mali and Air Burkina which are owned by the Aga Khan, Fly540 airlines which is owned by the Lonrho Group based in London and other African airlines. The law seems to have been enacted in the true spirit of the Non Aligned Movement but it seems it's hindering flights between the two countries in the new globalized economy.
Many Indians traveling in Africa normally go through the Middle East or Europe to reach their destinations. It's time for some review of old laws to reflect the realities of the 21st Century.
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Uniformfreak: Website with Historic and Current Flight Attendant Uniforms
Posted: November 20, 2011, 8:51 am by nero
Uniforum Freak probably has almost every flight attendant uniform for world's major airlines from as far as the 60s and 70s. The website is maintained by a former KLM flight attendant who eventually fell in love with airline uniforms! Some of the classics include the following on their Facebook page:
The website can be accessed here: http://www.uniformfreak.com Many uniforms for African airlines can be viewed here, including past uniforms.
Air Algerie new Uniform
Sabena Airlines Uniform
Sri Lankan Airlines Alitalia
Work can be republished with attribution. Email Us africadomainnames@gmail.com
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MeetAtTheAirport.com: New Online Dating and Social Networking Site That Connects Air Travelers At The Airport
Posted: November 20, 2011, 6:19 am by nero
Just in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday travelers, a new international dating and social network website was launched by Miami entrepreneur, Steve Pasternack, which helps travelers make connections at the airport. It’s not about connecting flights, but more like connecting people on a social level or experience. The unique social networking site, MeetAtTheAirport.com specializes in bringing together airline travelers while waiting for their flight in an airport. It is for the traveler whose flight is delayed, has connecting flights, or those who want to meet up early over drinks or coffee. The site offers profiles and photos of fellow travelers and helps match people with similar interests who will be at the same airport at the same time. The site is free to all users.
Safety is always a concern for anyone that uses any online dating or matchmaking site. But, because of the strict security precautions that are taken by all airports today, this venue has now become one of the safest places to meet someone new.
“Meeting someone new at the airport is always exciting. About eight months ago I was sitting in an airport doing nothing for several hours because of a delayed flight. I noticed how many of the people, like myself, were heading to the airport lounge with the intention of getting a drink or to possibly strike up a conversation with someone of the opposite sex. That’s when I realized how great it would be to pick up a cell phone and log into a website that specifically showed you who was in the airport with you and who was interested in meeting someone new. Some people are looking for romance, others to network for their business. The possibilities are endless.” says founder Steven Pasternack.
This online site is a new and exciting way of connecting people with one another. It is original and unique as it is a pioneer in the next trend for online social networking.
Membership is Free.
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A new wave of ‘rash decisions’ in Nigeria’s aviation industry
Posted: November 20, 2011, 4:37 am by nero
AT last, the row between the Ministry of Aviation and the United Kingdom over the controversy generated as a result of allegations that the later systematically chased a Nigerian airline out of the Abuja-London route is coming to an end.
The Nigerian flag carrier, Arik Air, had petitioned the Ministry of Aviation, alleging that British Airways ‘elbowed’ it out of the Abuja-London route; leading to the Ministry threatening to cut BA’s frequencies into Lagos to three from seven, followed by a schedule that could have made it impossible for the airline to continue with its operations to Nigeria.
The ministry called for dialogue with a view to normalizing what it said was an imbalance in the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).
British Airways, which had received so many bashes over the dispute between the two governments, had told its own side of the story that BASA is a deal between two countries and it does not any way a party to the agreement. The attack on the airline is said to be the only option left to government to arm-twist the carrier in a bid to get the attention of the British government.
Just on Tuesday, the Ministry after a meeting with the British authorities in Abuja over the face-off said it has ‘succeeded’ in getting something out of its action. This is where the action of the Ministry needs to be scrutinized and that validate the view of most people that the sector should brace up for more of such ‘actions’ that seems to have yielded little or no result.
Spokesman for the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi in a statement he sent to reporters in Abuja said, “The Nigerian government and the British authorities held high level negotiation this (Tuesday) morning. These discussions are still on going. The outcome thus far is as follows;
- With respect to the high fares charged by British Airways and the associated regional imbalance, the airline made an offer of a 20 per cent reduction in the lowest Business Class fare between Nigeria
- The Nigerian side considered this as insufficient. The Nigerian government is still very concerned about the regional price disparity. We strongly believe that this regional imbalance should be dismantled. In other words, BA should offer the same or similar fares from Nigeria to the UK, as is the case in any other equidistant destination within West Africa.
He equally stated that with respect to slot at Heathrow airport, seven slots per week from Abuja had been secured for Arik at ‘’prevailing commercial rates”, noting that these efforts will require a review of current slot allocations and additional funding.
“Towards this, FAAN is considering applying commercial slot rates for slots into Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the spirit of BASA.
Two issues stand out here and which tend to vindicate those who believed that the Ministry took decisions that is not in tandem with aviation in the modern day.
By agreeing that Arik will get slots at Heathrow at “prevailing commercial rates”, clearly shows that slots are totally different from BASA and all the intimidation from the foot soldiers from the ministry only goes to show that aviation in Nigeria is totally in reverse gear (apologies to Ijeoma Nwaogwugwu who had been vilified for her views by people who believed that their views were more superior to those who strongly felt that the minister was ill advised on how to pursue her ‘nationalistic posturing”.
One also hopes that they will be humble enough to admit that there is clear difference between BASA and slots, and that BASA does not automatically translate into having slots free of charge.
How come Arik is still going ahead to buy slots to land its Abuja flights in Heathrow at “prevailing commercial rates”.
In a civilised country, the ministry would have been asked to tender a reserved apology for misinforming the nation. What then is the essence of the parley with the British authorities if Arik would still to go London with purchased slots to Heathrow?
The only positive in the whole matter is that the government said it would also introduce slots at the Lagos airport so that airlines like BA, Lufthansa, and Virgin Atlantic Airways can pay.
One expects the ministry or the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to be more creative in their revenue generation drive, rather than the serious situation we have found ourselves.
Regrettably, it means that it had to take the current fiasco for FAAN to know that ‘slot’ could also be done here.
Slots came about because of the high usage of Heathrow. Currently Heathrow has about 98 percent capacity utilisation. What is the capacity utilisation of MMIA?
At times, one begins to question the kind of advice and advisers at the ministry’s disposal to warrant this obvious lack of strong policy to drive a sensitive sector like aviation.
The second aspect of the matter is forcing the carrier to cut down on its airfares on Business Class by 20 per cent. Now if it is wise to cut down on Business Class seats, what happens to economy class passengers? Is airlines business no longer commercialised? Why should an airline be ‘harassed’ to cut its fare in a libralised sector? Why is the ministry not asking Arik for instance to lower it own fare so all UK passengers could migrate to fly with them as a way of helping Arik.
There’s a clause that fares between both countries have “double disapproval”.
This means that before fares decisions are taken, both UK and Nigeria have to agree. It is also important to highlight a part of the BASA, which clearly states that BASA undertakes that both parties shall “within legal and practical constraints” make slots available for the airlines to operate their full entitlements. Note “legal and practical constraints”, which is obtained at Heathrow.
Heathrow has congestion constraints. Has the ministry bothered to ask why airfare from Accra to London is far cheaper than what is obtainable on Lagos-London route, the same six-hour distance? The answer is simple.
Business operations in Nigeria carry more risks than in other African countries, with cost of aviation fuel, high landing and parking charges by FAAN, said to be one of the highest in West Africa.
Has government provided the enabling environment for businesses to survive?
This agenda of the ministry could have been achieved with far more success with a strategic economic diplomacy blue print. No wonder the UK authorities called the bluff of the Ministry over so many of the arm-twisting tactics to succumb to intimidation.
When Air France’s aircraft ran unto herds of cows at Port-Harcourt Airport, six years ago, the Nigerian government looked the other way while the carrier bore the cost and huge inconvenience of having to lodge departing passengers in hotels, coupled with the provision of other allowances to them.
Aviation fuel sells for between N180 and N200 per litre; about the highest in the world, not to mention huge tax paid for parking and landing. All these are factored into the cost of airfare that is fixed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the clearinghouse for global airlines.
Post Courtesy Nigerian Guardian
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Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority fines British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways USD235 for price fixing
Posted: November 20, 2011, 4:10 am by nero
Nigeria's tough aviation Minister Stella Oduah as finally cracked the whip. The authorities in Nigeria fined British Airways and Virgin Atlantic $235 million as the dispute over landing slots and ticket prices seemed to escalate last week. The dispute between the two countries began in October after Nigeria threatened to reduce British Airways' service between London and Lagos, after the UK Government failed to allocate slots to Arik Air at London Heathrow Airport.
Flights between Britain and Nigeria almost came to a halt last week but a last minute intervention by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown ensured a 7 day grace period was allowed while negotiations were going on. on Tuesday ensured British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Nigeria's flagship airline Arik Air continue to fly from London to Lagos and Abuja.
There has been a dispute over ticket prices with Nigeria complaining of regional imbalance in air fare on BA whereby passengers traveling from Lagos/Abuja to UK pay higher fares compared to passengers traveling from Accra to the UK.
Following a series of high level negotiations the British Airways offered to reduce lowest Business Class fare between Nigeria and UK by 20%, an offer that was rejected by Nigeria. The Nigerian government considered this insufficient and was still complaining about the regional disparity in air fare. According to the Minister " We still strongly believe that this regional imbalance should be dismantled. In other words, BA should offer the same or similar fares from Nigeria to the UK as is the case in any other Equidistant destination within West Africa."
The big winner in the week had been Arik Air. Seven landing slots per week at Heathrow Airport was secured for the Nigerian airline during the negotiations.
A deal this week means all flights will continue until the end of the year when the Nigerian government wants something done about the high ticket costs on British airlines.
Nigeria's aviation ministry says British airlines charge far more to fly to Nigeria than to neighbouring Ghana, while it believes Arik Air should not have to pay high costs to land at Heathrow when Lagos airport doesn't charge those fees.
Britain has said that it can't control what private companies who control the airlines and airports charge but it is in constructive dialogue with the Nigerian government.
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Air Mauritius’ second quarter falls deep into the red as carrier hit hard by the European crisis
Posted: November 20, 2011, 3:35 am by nero
Air Mauritius’ largest markets were hit hard by the European debt crisis, resulting in a loss in its usually profitable second quarter. The airline reported a net loss in 2QFY2012 of EUR6.3 million, compared to a nearly EUR5 million profit in the same period last year. The European debt crisis that hit Mauritius’ largest markets contributed to the loss and has set the carrier up for future challenges. While Mauritius reported a small increase in tourism arrivals for Oct-2011, thanks to a new air link with China that increased Chinese tourism arrivals by 161%, tourism overall is expected to fall, placing further pressure on the carrier.
Net result slips into red in usually profitable quarter
Air Mauritius’ net loss for 2QFY2012 follows a net profit of EUR4.8 million in 2QFY2011 and a EUR2.7 million profit in 2QFY2010. The deteriorating results were driven by the European debt crisis that is occurring in the carrier’s largest markets of France, the UK and Italy. Ticket sales slumped as consumer confidence in these markets took a hit, leading to an increasing number of travellers postponing or cancelling their travel and leisure plans. The carrier’s high dependence on these markets, coupled with the ongoing issue of rising fuel costs and the volatility of currency exchange rates, led to its significant loss in the period.
Air Mauritius reported a 45% increase in fuel costs for the quarter and a 14.8% increase in overall costs. For 1HFY2012, the carrier spent EUR24.8 million on fuel, which is constantly blamed as one of the carrier’s largest hurdles to overcome.
Due to the conditions in the second quarter, Air Mauritius reported a loss of EUR17.7 million in 1HFY2012. This loss is considerably higher than the EUR6.8 million net loss posted in the same period last year. The carrier’s path to recovery, which was seen in 1HFY2011 through a smaller loss, has been hindered by its recent weak performance.
Traffic up but passenger load factor downIn anticipation of the economic slowdown, Air Mauritius attempted to shift its focus away from its European markets and increase frequencies to emerging markets such as China, India, South Africa and Australia. The carrier added more than 35,000 seats to these markets in 1QFY2012 compared to 2QFY2011, which saw its total passenger traffic rise 4.4% to 336,391 in the period. The launch of its weekly Kuala Lumpur-Shanghai Pudong service helped boost passenger numbers, and at the same time is responsible for the 161% surge in Chinese arrivals to Mauritius in Oct-2011. Air Mauritius hopes to launch the service as a non-stop route in Feb-2012 and increase to twice weekly in Oct-2012, if demand persists.
While the carrier’s shift to emerging markets is showing some benefit, it is not enough to make up for the shortcomings in the European market.
See related article: Air Mauritius improves first quarter loss and eyes full-year profit despite high fuel costs
Air Mauritius passenger numbers and load factor: 2QFY2009 to FY2012
In Sep-2011, Mauritius reported an overall drop in visitor arrivals of 0.8%. Tourists from Europe and Africa fell 1.6% and 6.7%, respectively, which is an indication of the months to come. Arrivals from Asia increased 5.3% due to the carrier’s new focus on Asian routes.
Shares plummet after financial results released
Shares plummet after financial results released
Air Mauritius’ share price remained steady over the past three months with the exception of 11-Nov-2011 when its financial results were released. Before that, Air Mauritius’ shares remained the highest among Comair, Kenya Airways and 1time.
Air Mauritius is embarking on a review of its business model in order to cope with the economic downturn and projected dip in financial and traffic results. This involves continuing its expansion into emerging markets to soften the impact of the inevitable drop in European demand.
India is Mauritius’ fastest growing trade market...
In addition to increasing its service to Shanghai, Air Mauritius is also planning to launch an extra weekly frequency on its Mumbai route in Mar-2012, which it currently serves three times weekly with A330-200 equipment. Trade relations between Mauritius and India have been improving steadily over the past years, with the country ranking as Mauritius’ second largest import partner and second largest trade partner overall. Trade between the two countries surged 13.5% from 2009 to 2010, to EUR5.6 billion for the year. Mauritius imported EUR5.5 billion worth of goods from India in 2010, an increase of 18.9% from 2009’s levels. Aside from the European Union, India is Mauritius’ fastest growing trade market.
Malaysia has the potential to become a strong market for Mauritius considering the historical, cultural and tourism ties. Both countries were governed by both Dutch and British rulers and gained their independence in the second half of the twentieth century. In terms of populations, both countries have large communities of Chinese and Indian ethnic groups. Islam, Hinduism and Christianity are significant religions in both countries.
Comparison of religious groups in Mauritius and Malaysia: 2000
Mauritius and Malaysia have a tax treaty agreement and a visa agreement – where Mauritian citizens are not required to obtain a visa to enter Malaysia and vice versa. Air Mauritius has been attempting to establish Kuala Lumpur International Airport as a hub for future expansion for some months now. The carrier operates all its Asian services through Kuala Lumpur (excluding Hong Kong and Indian destinations), however, further progress in hub establishment has been slow. In the last quarter, only one new destination to Asia (Shanghai Pudong) was launched and the carrier has not announced plans to launch any additional or new services to the region that it hopes will save it from the European crisis. Expansion into Asia looks less likely now following the carrier’s decision to reduce service to Hong Kong in Nov/Dec-2011 from three times weekly to twice weekly.
Focus on high quality tourism
Another cog in the carrier’s new business plan is likely to include a renewed focus on quality tourism. Air Mauritius’ service to Shanghai Pudong, with A330-200 equipment, is configured with 24 lie-flat business class seats and 251 economy seats. It will bring in a few high-yielding tourists, however, more first and business class services are needed to counter the effects of low arrival numbers from Europe.
Air Mauritius holds more than 50% of capacity in Mauritius...
Air Mauritius expects corporate travel to Mauritius to increase by 90% by the end of 2013 due to its impending efforts, which have not yet been officially announced. The carrier transported 1500 corporate travellers between Apr-2010 and Mar-2011, and expects this to increase by 38% to 2100 by Mar-2012, then to 4000 by Apr-2013. The carrier plans to increase its participation in the Vanilla Islands Tourism Group, and should consider increasing marketing efforts. Since Air Mauritius holds more than 50% of capacity in Mauritius, its success will directly impact the number of tourism arrivals.
Tourism, of any nature, is the backbone of the Mauritian economy. The country’s labour force by occupation falls heavily into construction and industry occupations (30%) and the trade, restaurants and hotels sector (22%). The country has a middle-of-the-road youth unemployment rate of 21.4%. To bring that down even further, job creation through the tourism industry is crucial. Overall, the country’s unemployment rate is 7.8%.
Airports handle high volumes of business class seats, although more needed
Mauritius Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (Mauritius International Airport) receives a high capacity of business class travellers, yet an extremely small number of first class travellers. The airport’s first class capacity of 0.4% falls well short of the worldwide total of 1.7%.
Mauritius International Airport schedule by class of seat (one-way weekly departing): 14-Nov-2011 to 20-Nov-2011
Other airports in the Vanilla Islands Tourism Group have high business and first class capacity, and collaboratively, the group aims to improve high-yield tourism.
Vanilla Islands Tourism Group airports' first/business/economy class seat capacity: Nov-2011
Air Mauritius believes the global downturn has “set in for the long term” and the reviewing of its business plan is the first step in trying to cope with this. While the review is a step in the right direction, its expansion into Asia has been occurring too slowly and the carrier should have started shifting its dependence from Europe well before 2008, instead of waiting until things worsened.
Air Mauritius’ neighbour, Air Seychelles, has also launched a restructuring effort as it experiences a similar phenomenon from its European market.
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Press Statement - Outcome of Negotiations between the Nigerian & British Authorities on BASA.
Posted: November 20, 2011, 3:13 am by nero
The Nigerian government and the British Authorities held high-level negotiations yesterday and this morning. These discussions are still on-going. The outcome thus far are as follows:
With respect to the high fares charged by British Airways and the associated regional imbalance, the airline made an offer of a 20% reduction in the lowest Business class fare between Nigeria and the UK.
The Nigerian side considered this as insufficient, the Nigerian government is still very concerned about the regional price disparity. We still strongly believe that this regional imbalance should be dismantled. In otherwords, BA should offer the same or similar fares from Nigeria to the UK as is the case in any other Equidistant destination within West Africa.
The British Authorities requested to be given an opportunity to carry out an independent study of the regional pricing disparity in the UK/Nigerian aviation market. We expect the conclusion of this study by the end of the year to facilitate a conclusion on the subject.
With respect to slot at Heathrow airport, seven slots per week from Abuja have been secured for Arik Air at prevailing commercial rates.
As you are aware, FAAN is renovating and upgrading their airports. These efforts will require a review of current slot allocations and additional funding.
Towards this end, FAAN is considering applying commercial slot rates for slots into Murtala Mohammed International Airport in the spirit of Bilateral Air Service Agreement.
The Nigerian flying public is advised to make choices about which airlines they fly as regards the pricing of their tickets.
Finally, the Federal Ministry of Aviation assures Nigerians that their interests with regard safety, security, comfort, service and affordability will remain our priority.
Joe Obi,
SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister of Aviation.
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The Rise of African Aviation
Posted: November 20, 2011, 2:59 am by nero
A recent piece argues that despite lacklustre safety records and incomplete liberalisation, air travel in Africa is showing signs of taking off. This does appear to be the case - we are beginning to see African airlines now competing in the long haul market (where returns are high). African airlines are acquiring new widebody airliners at a greater rate than the global airline average. Last year, 32 per cent of African airline demand was for widebodies, as against 23 per cent for the global industry. This has led to new routes. In 2006, there were only 32 weekly flights involving just eight city pairs between the whole of Africa and the USA. By last year, these figures had jumped to 67 weekly flights between 14 city pairs. And a lot of these flights were by African airlines. An area for expansion is Europe - Africa pair where European legacy carriers continue to dominate through restriction of appropriate land slots and lobbying African governments at the expense of African carriers. Unfortunately, the article does not touch on these issues - but still worth a read.
African Airlines Braced for Takeoff, Pauline Sabatini, Think Africa Press, Commentary :On July 8 2011 a Hewa Bora Airways aircraft, operated by a private Congolese company, crashed in bad weather after missing the runway at Kisangani airport, killing 127 people. Although blacklisted by the EU and the US, Hewa Bora had long been considered the best of the DRC’s airlines, but this means little in a country which holds the world record for aircraft crashes.
Events such as this add to the already tarnished image of African airlines and it is commonly agreed by industry professionals and observers that safety must be the first priority for the development of African aviation. Beyond the negative public image, surprising results and optimism characterise the African air travel sector, which is growing at well above the world average with an estimated annual growth of 6 to 7% for the next 15 years. The sector is also undergoing major changes in its regulation, just as an increasing number of players have moved in to attempt to benefit from the opportunities of this growing market. Air travel is the number one transport mode for international travel in Africa but it is still the case that 70% of the traffic between Africa and the rest of the world is carried on non-African airlines.
The main drivers in the growth of air traffic are the rise of an African middle class who travel for personal reasons, and an increase in business trips, particularly relating to the oil sector. The International Air Travel Association (IATA) reports that “increasing trade and investment links with Asia helped boost the Africa to Far East market, with growth of 17% in premium travel during the year and 21% growth in economy travel”, while the weakening links with Europe are reflecting this change in trade structure. However, growth is not guaranteed. For example, travel to North Africa has fallen in the last few months due to the continued political unrest. Royal Air Maroc, Tunisair and Afriqiyah Airways are struggling as a result.
As passenger numbers rise, airfreight also continues to grow in importance, with figures from July 2011 showing 8.4% growth from 2010. This is a considerable rise and even compares favourably with the excellent results of the Middle East. The air freight market is showing signs of renewed expansion in relation to the increasing trade with Asia, largely fostered by oil and ore exports and imports of telecommunication equipment, machinery, pharmaceuticals and manufactured goods. According to Boeing’s Market Outlook “West Africa, buoyed by foreign interest in petroleum development, shows the strongest growth on the continent”, although some concerns have emerged that the 2011 freight growth forecast may have been overestimated.
The African air travel sector started its transformation in 1999 with the signatures of 44 countries paving the way for a pan-African treaty for the liberalisation, deregulation and opening up of regional air transport markets. More than ten years later the ideals of what is now known as the Yamoussoukro Decision are still only partially achieved, and few countries have truly proven their commitment, among them Uganda and Togo.
These first steps toward an “open sky” policy in Africa were followed by positive changes: large companies took over small airlines and concentrated in main hubs before developing subsidiary companies or partnerships to create more complete networks. Partnerships, working in more isolated regions, were responsible for increasing the passenger flow to larger airports in order to benefit the main airlines. A good example is the Lomé-based Asky Airlines, launched in January 2010 and taking advantage of the liberalisation of the Togolese sector. A subsidiary company of Ethiopian Airlines, Asky now covers 19 destinations and its directors have already announced very satisfying results.
In Uganda the open policy has resulted in the continued growth of air services in both passengers and cargo: the freight sector experienced a 42.7% increase in 2011 despite the fact that the Ugandan national carrier was closed down by the government.
This strategy of opening markets has led to growth but has also had some considerable drawbacks. Small African carriers have multiplied, leading to a decrease in travel prices for passengers, which in turn has weakened airlines which have to bear unchanged high operating cost. Liberalisation has also led companies to neglect non-profitable travel lines which deprives isolated zones of air transport.
With a shortage of sub-Saharan hubs, African flights often have to stop in European airports despite a strong demand for non-stop routes between Africa and other continents. Direct intra-Africa flights between some major cities are still impossible or overpriced.
The issue of access to the air market is particularly relevant in Africa where almost one-third of countries on the continent are landlocked and road transportation is still slow and unreliable due to geographic specificities, political instabilities and a lack of infrastructures. In Nigeria, for example, air travel is by far the easiest way to go between Lagos and Abuja, in the absence of high quality, safe and fast roads or a functioning rail network. Air traffic is a potentially valuable lever for both local and international economic activities. Trade in Africa is highly sensitive to transportation cost and some reports have estimated that a 10% reduction in transport costs could increase trade by 25%.
A fast transport system is crucial for production strategies concerning perishable goods, such as the Kenyan cut flower industry. Exportation of cut flowers, mainly to Europe, represents one of the country’s largest industries and is its second biggest foreign exchange generator. Other time-sensitive and high-value exports such as exotic fruits, seafood or meat also rely heavily on fast and reliable transport at a global scale.
Despite the importance of efficiency, it is widely admitted that the current priority for a reliable air transport sector in Africa must be safety. It has been proven that “poor safety oversight results in more expensive insurance premiums and the inability to develop code sharing and other business arrangements. It also scares away potentially high-yield international customers and potential private sector investors”. African airlines have to improve on several key points such as the age of their fleets, ground level infrastructure and training and maintenance. Where infrastructure is concerned, regional differences appear between North Africa - where 60% of the airports were found to be in excellent condition by a World Bank report in 2009, and sub-Saharan Africa, where only 17% received the same score. Training is a crucial element in this, and many African airports often fail not only in the quality of their training but in their ability to retain qualified workers attracted by lucrative Middle Eastern job offers.
In countries where the road, railway and port infrastructure does not offer efficient transportation, air transport represents a great potential lever for development. Despite liberalisation policies being only partially implemented, the African air sector is showing encouraging results.
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Heavy rain causes havoc at Mwanza International Airport, Tanzania(PICTURES)
Posted: November 18, 2011, 1:30 am by nero
A four hour heavy downpour in Mwanza city in Tanzania has disrupted air travel in the city, the city's Mwanza International Airport was submerged in water as the photos below show:
A Precision Air Aircraft caught in the floods
Photos courtesy issamichuzi.blogspot.com
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Bombardier Aerospace to Establish Manufacturing Capability in Morocco
Posted: November 17, 2011, 8:31 am by nero
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco for the establishment of a manufacturing facility in Morocco. The exact site location will be announced at a later date. Bombardier Aerospace intends to invest approximately $200 million US in equipment, buildings and start-up costs over the next eight years.
Scheduled to be implemented in phases starting in 2012, Bombardier Aerospace’s new Moroccan facility will initially include sub-assembly capabilities for simple structures. The new facility is scheduled to start manufacturing in 2013. Details on the type of components to be manufactured will be finalized in the coming months.
By the end of 2020, employment at the Morocco facility is expected to reach 850 skilled and trained workers. Bombardier Aerospace anticipates that there will be no impact on its current workforce level at other sites as a result of this announcement.
“Globalization of our industry has opened up new markets and new opportunities,” said Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. “We have progressively extended our business presence around the world and we are continuing today to better serve our international customers.”
“Bombardier Aerospace is committed to a long-term relationship with the Moroccan Government to develop a world-class aerospace industry in the country,” added Mr. Hachey. “By establishing its own fully integrated manufacturing facility in Morocco, Bombardier Aerospace will serve as a catalyst for the aerospace industry in the country and will look for opportunities to share some of its knowledge and complex manufacturing processes.”
Bombardier Aerospace chose Morocco for a number of reasons: internationally competitive manufacturing costs, low shipping and transportation costs, proximity to Europe, and the commitment by the Moroccan Government to the development of the aerospace industry.
The announcement of this new manufacturing facility in Morocco was made during the Dubai Airshow 2011, where Bombardier is currently showcasing its broad spectrum of innovative products, technical expertise, and superior customer support and aircraft maintenance services. Held in the United Arab Emirates, the Dubai Airshow, the world’s third largest airshow, places an emphasis on the Middle-East, Africa, Europe and India.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, were $17.7 billion, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter@Bombardier.
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South African Airways: Johannesburg-Seychelles-Hong Kong, June 1974
Posted: November 11, 2011, 9:18 pm by nero
South Africa's state carrier alights to Hong Kong, with a stop in the Indian Ocean, commencing in 1974. The wings of SAL/SAA's classic springbok emblem beam like searchlights from its back and crown at the top of the graphic (a more ordinary version of the mark is seen on the cancellation stamp). The routing is absent from the map on the left of this first-day cover. Afrikaans is put in front of English on the envelope, two decades before the indigenous Zulu and Xhosa languages would come to prominence in a post-apartheid society.
Courtesy: The Timetablist
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Air Algérie: The African Destinations, August 2011
Posted: November 11, 2011, 9:11 pm by nero
Fast-growing, gas-fueled Algeria's spreads it influence in West Africa with flights across the Francophone Sahelian and Sub-saharan region run its state airline, Air Algérie. The destinations, if not the routings, are shown here in a shot from the airline's sleek website.
Note the spelling of Bamako ("Bamaco"), as well as the blue-dot in the middle of the desert, Tamanrasset. Despite being the country's great trans-Saharan way station, Tamanrasset's airport does not seem to have any southbound scheduled services, although more than one airline links it to Paris-Orly.
From the TimeTablist
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Royal Air Maroc: Systemwide Route Map, April 1976
Posted: November 11, 2011, 9:07 pm by nero
An astonishing vintage route map, a gem of the tremendous collection of the website Timetable Images. Its issue date of April 1976 could be guessed at from the styling alone: a shag-carpet, VW-bus interior striping of the continents that follows neither national boundaries nor time zones, but zigzags to its own groovy pattern. The coastlines of the landmass are geometrically simplified, squared-off while still showing smaller juts such as Crimea and Crete, Cornwall and Cape Cod.
This quadrangularity contrasts to the jet-black route lines. Frictionless, looping ribbons convex proudly from their true navigational path, making for easy reading on the map. Northern European Routes are pulled far out into the Atlantic; Southern European lines ply semicircles over the Sahara. Tripoli and Le Caire are linked by a fanciful arc which touches mainland Greece; Nouakchott, due north of Dakar, is connected to the Senegalese capital by a wide "C" shape.
The labels are in quintessential Microgramma typeface, both on the map and at what stands in for a legend: the spiraling emblem at the bottom left, featuring the Francophone names of the nations which Royal Air Maroc serves. Such a badge seems to be an award to mark this fantastic réseau as a classic achievement of route map graphics.
All this can be admired before even considering the routes themselves, of which there are several treasures: Lille is the sixth metropolitain city served; JFK is reached from both Casablanca and Tangier, before swooping north to terminate at Mirabel; the airline stretches as far east as Koweit.
As can be seen from previous posts, RAM has expanded rapidly across Africa in recent years, but it seems to have yet matched the graphic achievements of amazing cartograph.
Special thanks, as always, to Björn Larsson of Timetable Images for his efforts and permissions to repost.
Courtesy TimeTablist
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Zambia Airways: A Warm Welcome At Heathrow, c.1980
Posted: November 11, 2011, 8:53 pm by nero
A colorless advert is a bit of a cold way to boast of a warm welcome, and isn't best to convey the exotic colors of southern Africa. In fact, this 1980s advertisement (the models' clothing suggests that the decade had just turned) gives minimal indication of the adventuresome destination that it purports to promote.
Rather than talk wildlife or people, the bland subject at hand is ease of check-in, which is hardly a selling point for leisure travelers picking a safari stop. And while this topic and the lack of color on the print is dull enough, it is the lack of pigment in the models which is all the more displeasing. While this ad may be directed at British tourists, its strange that even the counter clerk seems not to be of African descent. On the whole, the atmosphere of the page would make one think of the drudgery of Victoria Station, not the glory of Victoria Falls.
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Zambian Airways: Domestic and Regional Routes, c.2008
Posted: November 11, 2011, 8:44 pm by nero
Via this website, showing the full-extent of the now-defunct Zambian Airways, around the height of its operation in perhaps 2008. Regional operations, apparently with two decrepit B737-200s, reached as far as Harare, Lilongwe, and Lubumbashi from Lusaka, and operated a second base at the center of the copperbelt, Ndola.
This airline is unrelated to the much older, larger, but equally moribund Zambia Airways, which used to stretch from New York to Bombay, with dozens of destinations in between.
Although descendant of an aviation enterprise stretching back to 1948, the formally-named Zambian Airway's reach and lifetime was much more limited. Having come in to the national name in 1998, in the wake of Zambia Airway's 1994 collapse, Zambian Airways itself suspended service in January 2009, which led to the government filing suit against the airline the following month. Zambia today is without a state carrier, although the privately-held Zambezi Airways reportedly covers southern Africa from Lusaka.
From the TimeTablist
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Delta Air Lines African Routes, Summer 2011
Posted: November 11, 2011, 8:38 pm by nero
It is quite revealing to juxtapose this map with its iteration from two years previous. Delta's expansion into Africa has been an unquestioned success, even if some of its plans for linking the continent have not come to pass.
Aside from the long transatlantic lines coming across the page from Atlanta and JFK, what may be most striking is the appearance of a minihub at Accra's Kotoka, with services to both American gateways, as well as onward flights to Monrovia and Abuja (indirect service to the capital via Ghana surely stings many proud Nigerians; whereas most Liberians are merely thrilled to have the US carrier at all--and revel in its recent announcement of a third weekly Atlanta connection). A third spin-off is optimistically drawn to connect Malabo, the tiny capital of the tiny, and hugely wealthy, oil-rich state of Equatorial Guinea.
Absent is the erstwhile Cape Town service, and there is no mention of Sal in Cape Verde (itself originally conceived as a minihub), nor any onward services to Nairobi and Luanda, the latter entirely excluded from the map. Johannesburg is reached by a long stretch from Atlanta, by-passing the earlier way station at Dakar-Yoff.
The Arab Spring left Cairo off Delta's system for the summer; the airline's only Middle East destination is currently Dubai, besides its connections to Ben Gurion. Amman was tried and dropped. India is still reached from Amsterdam, a legacy of the Northwest Airlines partnership with KLM.
Adapted from the Timetablist
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Amsterdam Schiphol: Arrivals Board at 15:30, 15 Minutes at a European Superhub
Posted: November 11, 2011, 8:30 pm by nero
From the TimeTablist
A busy evening at one of Europe's superhubs. The fifteen minutes from 6:30pm commences with two of KLM's non-stops from China, one from Sichuan's capital at Chengdu and one from coastal Xiamen. Over the next five minutes, a flock of flights arrives from the corners of Europe: Easyjet from Prague, Alitalia from Milan, and Lufthansa from Munich. A Transavia flight from Lisbon is followed by an airBaltic Riga arrival.
At 40 minutes past the hour, another of KLM's increasing services to East Asia, this a link to its SkyTeam Partner Korean Air's megahub at Incheon, lands concurrently with more regional, low-cost services from Spain and Britain: An Arkefly charter from Mahon, Easyjet from Gatwick and BMI Baby from Nottingham. At quarter til 7, two Air France/KLM code shares get in from Bergen and Berlin.
This brief quarter hour demonstrates the breadth and diversity of Schiphol's connections.
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Kenya Airways: The Central & West African destinations, mid-2010
Posted: November 11, 2011, 8:21 pm by nero
Still series from the TimeTablist continues, this time we travel to Kenya with a routemap showing Kenya Airways Central and West African Destinations:
This detail from the previous post shows Kenya's 13 current and 5 future Central and West African destinations, as of July 2010. All proposed routes: Bangui, Brazzaville, Kisangani, Libreville, and Ndola, have been launched as of the date of this post. The addition of dedicated routes to Brazzaville and Ndola, when nearby Kinshasa and Lubumbashi are already served, added to the addition of such secondary destinations as Bangui and Kisangani, show the thickening of Kenya's coverage and the dominance of the airline across the entire continent. The convergence of the route lines on the right-hand side of this detail indicate the vortex of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at Nairobi.
Like Delta Air Lines, its Skyteam alliance partner, Kenya Airways has established something of a regional mini-hub at Accra Kotoka, with routes connecting to Abidjan, Freetown and Monrovia-Robertsfield.
The route lines are a bit confusing: Accra-Nairobi flights do not stop in Douala (but the flight to Douala does connect at Bangui), the Abidjan route did not land in Malabo.
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Kenya Airways: The African Network, mid-2010
Posted: November 11, 2011, 8:10 pm by nero
From the Timetablist:
Kenya Airways' rapid expansion across its home continent is evident in the great breadth and depth of this route map, especially in comparison with the same article from just a year previous.
Kenya is still predominant across its home region, connecting neighboring East African cities, but with a large number of southbound routes, including a new link to Gaborone, Botswana.
Although not the focus of this and the following post, redlines reaching the page's edges show links to Europe and Asia. The three European destinations are suggested to be above the top of the page, although both Amsterdam and Paris are located on the visible portion of Europe.
The next post details the route networks which stretch across the Central and Western portions of the continent.
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New Boeing Business Jets for Zuma and Motlanthe
Posted: November 11, 2011, 8:05 pm by nero
The South African Department of Defence has issued a tender for two new VIP aircraft for President Jacob Zuma and his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe, following a problematic procurement process. It seems the President will be more focused on foreign trips to advance South Africa's foreign policy aims especially with its recent boost in international profile with membership in BRICS, IBSA and UNSC. However there's been an out cry from local media and observers with many seeing this unwanted extravagance in a country still reeling from extreme poverty.
Parallels have been drawn with Western leaders who travel commercial to save their taxpayers money while South frica would like to comandeer 3 business jets for its top leadership. It seems maybe Zuma feels it's time to match Obama's Airforce One.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the department has not yet decided whether it will lease or buy the aircraft. South Africa's Sunday Tribune says the ministry of defence turned to the Treasury to help find R1.6 billion for the new aircraft.BB Interior
BBJ
"We are going to buy a plane for the president….The new, bigger plane is going to be responsible for longer international trips such as [to] Europe and America. The current one [a Boeing Business Jet] will be used mainly for domestic regional trips so that when the one is resting, we make use of the other one because right now if the [BBJ] breaks down, we have to go out and rent a plane," he said.
In April it was announced that the South African Air Force (SAAF) would lease two Embraer Lineage 1000 VIP jets for five years from AdoAir, at a cost of US$120 million (R800 million). Then later in April it was announced that the lease plan was scrapped and the Air Force would instead on July 1 take delivery of a second Boeing Business Jet and a Bombardier Global Express XRS from ExecuJet.BBJ Concept Interior
That date came and went with no aircraft delivered. Then, on July 14 a request for quotation for a VIP transport lease was sent out to ExecuJet, SRS Aviation, Fortune Air, Interjet and AdoAir, with a return date of July 25. However, this was cancelled on August 5.
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Blah blah blah
Fish cakes
Alas a fish cake.
Yet more fish cakes
Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.
The end of the fish cakes
