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African Aviation News

947K views 4K replies 324 participants last post by  Elba_BXL 
#1 ·


Hi guys,
Thought I'd start a thread for news on Africa's rapidly growing aviation sector.

First bit of news:

Easyjet to fly to Africa
Low cost airline Easyjet is to start a daily flight to Marrakech, Morocco from London-Gatwick. It'll be the airline's first destination outside of Europe.
 
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#104 ·
Girma Advises Against 'Tit-for-Tat'

Ethiopian Airlines .v. Kenya Airways



The Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Airlines, Girma Wake, gave two pieces of advice to the Ethiopian authorities and members of the media during a press conference at the Sheraton on Saturday, October 28.

"Two wrongs do not make a right," answered Girma, when asked whether he wants retaliation by the Ethiopian government to what their counterparts have done in banning his airline from flying from Nairobi to African destinations such as Entebbe (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda) and Bujumbura (Burundi).
Oracle Content & Collaboration

A bilateral agreement entered between Ethiopia and Kenya, and regional trade pact among all Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states require them to open their skies to airlines of each other countries. Ethiopian had for years picked up passengers from Nairobi and flown them to destinations of these East African nations. Nevertheless, three weeks ago, the Kenyan Ministry of Transport prohibited Ethiopia's flagship airline from flying anywhere else in Africa but Addis Abeba.

Kenyan officials were reciprocating for an Ethiopian ban on Kenyan Airways taking its passengers from Addis Abeba to Dubai and Jeddah.

"As far as I am concerned, these places are out of Africa," Girma told reporters, cautioning them not to "play this up out of proportion".

"We are not at war with the Kenyan Airways. Neither are our countries. It is only that the Kenyan authorities were misled by someone in the competition," Girma said.

He told reporters that Kenyan Airways is operating a flight from Addis to Djibouti, while his management has reserved from advising Ethiopian authorities to deny permits when they have applied for another destination from Addis Abeba. Recalling how Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt and South Africa were the African nations that were pushing for more liberalized airline transport in Africa, Girma said he believes "the move will hurt Kenya more than anyone else."

Girma said he had talked to the Kenyan authorities following the ban and they did admit their mistakes.

"They said that they would reply in 10 days," Girma told reporters. "But, it's been three weeks now. I have still not heard anything from them."

Whether or not they respond or lift the ban, Girma said he is not interested to replay in kind.

"We oppose their decision not so much because we depend on the flight traffics going from Nairobi to these countries, but because principles need to be upheld," Girma said. "And we will under no circumstances stop Kenyan from flying to Djibouti or other African destinations from Addis Abeba."

He said African airlines who close their doors on others cannot ask others to open theirs. Although Girma believes that this was hardly a war between the two airlines or countries, he looked forward to the situation being eased.
 
#105 ·
It is a shame but a couple of bad incidents can't damagean industry permanently, As Borishade said the government is moving in the right direction although they are far from the destination. The guy is the right guy for the job so he shouldn't quit because a couple of stupid airlines are flying coffins.peace
 
#106 ·
I beg to differ.

The man should resign immediately for the simple reason of unprofessionalism.

You don't accuse a dead pilot of negligence before an investigation has even started. This points to insecurity and lack of intelligence.

Besides, his aviation reforms clearly failed (4 crashes in one year) and the airport and the runways are in despicable state.
 
#107 ·
FIRST CHINA-AFRICAN FLIGHT TO BE INAUGURATED SOON: IT WILL BE FLOWN BETWEEN bEIJING AND LAGOS AND THE AIRLINE IS "CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES"


La Chine annonce sa première liaison aérienne entièrement chinoise avec l'Afrique (Beijing-Lagos)
(CRI 02/11/2006)


La China Southern Airlines va assurer des vols de passagers entre Beijing et Lagos, la première liaison entre la Chine et l'Afrique réalisée par des appareils chinois, a annoncé mercredi la compagnie aérienne.

Des Airbus A330 emprunteront cette nouvelle route entre la capitale chinoise et le centre économique et industriel du Nigéria.

Les avions décolleront à 23h40 tous les lundis, mercredis et samedis et atterriront à 11h10 heure locale.

Pour les professionnels, cette nouvelle liaison répond aux besoins créés par les relations croissantes entre la Chine et l'Afrique, tant sur le plan économique que diplomatique, et elle facilitera le développement commun des économies des deux parties.

L'annonce de la China Southern Airlines intervient à trois jours du Sommet de Beijing pour le Forum de coopération Chine- Afrique qui se déroulera les 4 et 5 novembre.

Sur le thème "Amitié, paix, coopération et développement", le Sommet de Beijing est le plus grand rassemblement de dirigeants chinois et africains jamais organisé depuis l'établissement des relations diplomatiques sino-africaines dans les années 1950.

Le commerce sino-africain devrait atteindre plus de 50 milliards de dollars cette année, soit près de cinq fois le volume de 2000.


La Chine encourage ses entreprises à investir en Afrique

La Chine encourage ses entreprises puissantes et fiables à investir en Afrique pour l'aider à développer l'économie locale.

En 2005, la Chine a mis en place 98 nouvelles entreprises avec un investissement direct de 280 millions de dollars. Cet investissement a totalisé 148 millions de dollars au premier semestre de cette année, a-t-on appris de sources officielles.

La Chine a placé dans 49 pays africains 1,18 milliard de dollars fin 2005 dans les secteurs du commerce, du traitement de produits agricoles, de l'exploitation de ressources et les transports, a annoncé le ministère chinois du Commerce.

Lors du sommet du forum de coopération sino-africaine qui se tiendra les 4 et 5 novembre à Beijing, la Chine annoncera de nouvelles approches visant à doper le développement socio- économique commun en Chine et en Afrique, a indiqué Wei Jianguo, vice-ministre chinois du Commerce. Fin


© Copyright CRI
 
#108 ·
Once again i have to disagree with you, because although the reason why the aviation industry is deteriorated is because of the negligence of the gov
the recent incidents have been totally private and based on the part of persitently erratic carriers, the government has been and is investining in a lot of money into the industry, they have raised the minimum requirements needed for airline carriers both international and domestic, the gov has invested in new airport facilities and have proposed world class maintanance facilites, no other African country has invested more money recently into the aviation history(i can say this without reserach, for it is so obvious), i think the problem with the industry is not standards or negligence right now but corruption, so what the gov hasn't done is tackle and excersise punishments to these corrupt with the full power of the gov anything else was done prompto :)
 
#110 ·
African airports need $200bn for upgrade
November 8, 2006

Cape Town - African nations need to invest between $150 billion (R1.1 trillion) and $200 billion in their airports to bring them up to international standards, according to the African Development Bank.

Africa had about 117 international airports, 500 national airports and more than 1 000 other airfields, said Mandla Gantsho, the bank's vice-president of infrastructure and regional co-operation.

"Most of them were constructed in the 1960s and have been poorly maintained," he said yesterday at the Airports Council International (ACI) annual conference in Cape Town.

"There would need to be a significant increase in funding for the sector's infrastructure."

The African Development Bank has invested about $75 million in African airports, helping to fund construction of airports in countries such as Morocco and Ethiopia.

The ACI, an industry body, estimates that Africa's air transport industry is worth about $11 billion a year, while related tourism businesses contribute a further $45.5 billion.

The continent attracted just 1.5 percent of global air cargo and 4 percent of passengers each year, Gantsho said.

At its 16th world assembly, held in Cape Town yesterday, the ACI adopted a resolution that airports around the world call on governments to shoulder more of the financial burden of beefing up airport security and harmonise restrictions on carry-on items that are affecting airports' retail revenue.
 
#111 ·
KQ unveils Sh500m hangar
By Kimathi Njoka

Kenya Airways has unveiled a Sh500 million hangar designed to service its long-haul Boeing 777-200 ER fleet.

With the commissioning of the shed, KQ will now maintain its fleet locally — a development expected to net huge savings for the airline.

Currently KQ’s heavy maintenance service is done in Europe. KQ managing director Mr Titus Naikuni said besides maintaining the KQ fleet, the hangar will also be used to service other carriers in Nairobi.

Currently, KQ has three long range Boeing 777 planes, a fourth one is expected in February next year.

In a statement, the company said the facility would also be used to service the six Boeing 787 Dreamliners expected between 2010 and 2012.

Vice-President Moody Awori officially opened the hangar on Wednesday in the company of representatives from Boeing Company, Singapore Air Leasing Enterprises and aviation industry players in the region.

Also received at the occasion was the first of three new generation Boeing 737-800 planes, leased from the Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprises.

The Boeing 737-800 is a medium-range aircraft that will replace the three aging Boeing 737-200, which have served KQ’s regional routes for the last 20 years.

Once the three aircraft are delivered by next month, KQ will have an active all modern Boeing fleet of 21 aircrafts.

The Boeing 737-800 carries 145 passengers compared to the 116 available on the Boeing 737-200 and a bigger cargo capacity of 44 cubic metres.

Boeing 787 Dreamliners expected in 2010 are equipped with a Heads-Up Display system that projects key navigational data directly in front of pilots, allowing for safer operation in difficult weather conditions or problematic navigational terrain.
 
#114 ·


Kenya Airways boosts Fleet with the latest Boeing model
10th November 2006

Kenya Airways has received the first of the three modern aircraft it is leasing to boost its fleet.

The Boeing 737-800, one of the latest models in the aviation industry, was received on Wednesday night at a ceremony presided over by Vice-President Moody Awori.

The plane is designed to carry 145 passengers, 16 in the executive class and 129 in the economy class.

It was delivered by Singapole Aircraft Leasing Enterprise, one of the largest leasing firms in Asia. The planes will be leased for eight years.

The company's head of corporate communications, Mr Sean Lee, said the remaining two aircraft would be delivered at the end of the month and mid December respectively.

Mr Lee said Kenya Airways was the first airline in sub-Saharan Africa to acquire the new model noting it was headed to become the leading airline in the continent.

The VP also inaugurated a multi-million-shilling hangar at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Mr Awori described the Sh560 million hangar as a major milestone in the company’s history.

He said the two developments would open the country to the rest of the world, promote tourism and create employment.

Mr Awori commended KQ management, saying since its privatisation 10 years ago, many people had benefited from it.

"I am impressed to learn that at the moment, Kenya Airways employs more than 3,500 Kenyans directly and many others indirectly. This is in addition to having turned over an impressive Sh63 billion during the last financial year," he said and asked the airline to open more routes to boost tourism.

The VP assured the company that the Government would continue to support expansion, citing refurbishment of JKIA, which was recently inaugurated by President Kibaki.

The airline's chief executive officer, Mr Titus Naikuni, said the hangar would not only improve maintenance services but also make Nairobi the hub of Africa.

 
#115 ·


Kenya Airways unveils Sh500m Hangar
10th November 2006

Kenya Airways has unveiled a Sh500 million hangar designed to service its long-haul Boeing 777-200 ER fleet.

With the commissioning of the shed, KQ will now maintain its fleet locally — a development expected to net huge savings for the airline.

Currently KQ’s heavy maintenance service is done in Europe. KQ managing director Mr Titus Naikuni said besides maintaining the KQ fleet, the hangar will also be used to service other carriers in Nairobi.

Currently, KQ has three long range Boeing 777 planes, a fourth one is expected in February next year.

In a statement, the company said the facility would also be used to service the six Boeing 787 Dreamliners expected between 2010 and 2012.

Vice-President Moody Awori officially opened the hangar on Wednesday in the company of representatives from Boeing Company, Singapore Air Leasing Enterprises and aviation industry players in the region.

Also received at the occasion was the first of three new generation Boeing 737-800 planes, leased from the Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprises.

The Boeing 737-800 is a medium-range aircraft that will replace the three aging Boeing 737-200, which have served KQ’s regional routes for the last 20 years.

Once the three aircraft are delivered by next month, KQ will have an active all modern Boeing fleet of 21 aircrafts.

The Boeing 737-800 carries 145 passengers compared to the 116 available on the Boeing 737-200 and a bigger cargo capacity of 44 cubic metres.

Boeing 787 Dreamliners expected in 2010 are equipped with a Heads-Up Display system that projects key navigational data directly in front of pilots, allowing for safer operation in difficult weather conditions or problematic navigational terrain.
 
#116 ·
New airline 'Fly540' takes to Kenyan skies on November 24

A new airline will be taking to the skies in two weeks

Fly540 will be introducing flights between Nairobi and Mombasa from November 24 with a choice of four fares. A press statement released by a publicity firm on behalf of the airline said return fares will cost from Sh 5,540.

The airline which starts operation with two 48 seater planes will have two return flights between Nairobi and Mombasa daily.

Daily flights to Malindi and Lamu are also planned.

The Chief Operations officer, Mr Neil Smith, said the airline will provide "a friendly and reliable service for cost conscious passengers".

He said they had chosen Kenya for their business because it was the ideal place as the strong economy drives a higher demand for both domestic and regional travel.

"Nairobi is the most appropriate hub for services in the East African region and we are optimistic about the steady expansion of Fly540," he said.

He also announced that passengers will be able to book their tickets on-line.
 
#119 ·
Angola: Aeroplanes Purchased From Boeing Arrive Saturday in Angola



Angola Press Agency (Luanda)

November 9, 2006
Posted to the web November 9, 2006

Seattle

Three of the initially six Boeing aeroplanes bought by the Angolan government will leave Seattle city, United States of America (USA), on Thursday to arrive in Luanda on Saturday morning.

The three Boeings that will land in the country´s capital, Luanda, whose handing over official ceremony happens this Thursday, are of the type 737-700. The other Boeings are 777-200 ER, and are expected to arrive Saturday.

For the effect, an Angolan delegation led by the Transports deputy ministry, Hélder Preza, is in Seattle since Tuesday, comprising also the national carrier "TAAG" administration council chairman, Nelson Martins.

The aeroplane 737-700 with the capacity to fly six to seven hours and to carry 120 passengers, is capable of flying in the whole country and region, for example going to Sal city, Cape Verde, without stopping.

The 777-200 ER has the capacity to fly more than 13 consecutive hours and carry 250 to 400 passengers
 
#121 ·


Victoria International Airlines starts flights to Nairobi and Johannesburg

Uganda's revamped national carrier, Victoria International Airlines, has been cleared by Kenyan and South African air transport regulators to fly to Nairobi and Johannesburg.


Victoria's will see an additional 13 flights a week between Entebbe and Nairobi.

Combined with Kenya Airways' 27 flights, travellers will now have a choice of six departures out of Entebbe five days a week, although this will mainly apply to passengers terminating their journeys in Nairobi.

The approval of the Ugandan carrier's application comes against the continued denial of landing rights to Ethiopian Airlines, which in June applied to operate a single daily flight to Nairobi out of Entebbe.

"It has been easy for us to get approvals because we are a national carrier and we did not challenge the status quo by demanding that Kenya Airways withdraw any of its services," Victoria commercial manager Declan Peppard told The EastAfrican.

The Ugandan government owns a 25 per cent equity in Victoria, with the rest of the stock being held by South African and Swiss investors.

According to a schedule released last week, the carrier will also be flying four times a week to Juba in Southern Sudan and thrice a week to Johannesburg.

Except for Monday, when neither South African Airways nor Victoria flies out of Entebbe, there will be the option of a direct flight to Johannesburg six days a week.

The flights to Juba have been positioned to tap into traffic from Nairobi to Southern Sudan as they are a continuation of the morning return leg from Nairobi.

Mr Peppard says further that same-day return journeys will be possible for business people with the return flight departing Juba at 5.10 pm.

Victoria is competing directly on pricing with an economy class return ticket to Nairobi, that costs $138 return, Johannesburg $338 and Juba $278, fares Mr Peppard said are not just promotional but will remain in place.

Victoria's offer represents savings of 25 and 35 per cent on competitor's economy fare offers to Johannesburg and Nairobi respectively.

There was no immediate response to these fare offers by other carriers although fares on the Entebbe-Nairobi sector had in the recent past reached a peak of $409 as demand surged in the absence of capacity and competition on the route.

Analysts said in the absence of a code-share agreement with Kenya Airways, which would allow Victoria to sell onward destinations through Nairobi, the carrier has no option but to position itself to snatch the point-to-point traffic between Entebbe and the Kenyan capital.

The only difficulty for Kenya Airways would be loss of leverage to influence its competitor's pricing policy, whereas a code-share would have bound both operators to agreed minimum fares on all sectors where they compete.

Kenya Airways will hold out because of its global network, which accounts for 70 per cent of its traffic originating from Entebbe, but particularly vulnerable will be its 5 am departure and 10 pm return leg trips, which same-day return travellers to Nairobi have been using as they now have the option of departing at 7 am, returning at 8.45 pm.

Mr Peppard said plans to launch a service between Entebbe and Mombasa were being re-evaluated and the service will most likely be launched as a tie-up with a Kenyan operator from Nairobi. Also planned are flights to Lusaka.

On the Juba route, Victoria faces competition from Uganda's domestic operators Eagle Air and Royal Daisy Airlines. It is offering a fare price of $278 return against the prevailing $440.

Victoria's fleet will initially comprise two Boeing 737-200s, leased from South African aircraft leasing firm Avstar.

Uganda has not had a national airline since the liquidation of Uganda Airlines in early 2001. Several local or partly locally-owned airlines such as Alliance Air, Africa-One and East African Airlines have tried but failed to fill the domestic carrier vacuum over the past couple of years.
 
#123 ·
Kisumu Airport (Kenya) set for Sh2.6 billion facelift, and upgrade to International Status

Kenya Airways will not resume flights to Kisumu despite the airport management and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority insisting that the runway is safe for take off and landing.

The national carrier withdrew from the route, one of its busiest locally, early this month. It said the runway was potholed and dangerous.

But the Kenya Airports Authority denied the claim, as the other airline serving the route, East African Airlines, increased the number of its flights there.

A Nation team that visited the airport last week was told by acting airport manager Leonard Rinchuni that civil aviation authority director-general Chris Kuto toured the facility on November 9 and agreed that the condition of the runway did not warrant suspension of flights by Kenya Airways (KA).

"Our maintenance team has carried out repairs on the runway whenever defects occur. Therefore KA' allegations should be treated as baseless. Operations are going on as usual," said Mr Rinchuni.

KA's chief executive Mr Titus Naikuni has said that the Kisumu Airport runway is dangerous for both landing and takeoff.

Announcing the suspension, he said flights to Kisumu would resume only after repairs on the runway had been completed. The airport has not had Kenya Airways flights for the past 13 days.

Yesterday, an official from the KA office in Kisumu said the flights remain suspended until further notice. The official said the runway was still in a bad condition.

"Our CEO (Naikuni) will make a comprehensive statement once the repairs have been done. As at now, our flights will remain grounded."

Mr Rinchuni's assertion that the runway is in good shape left it unclear whether repairs were effected before or after KA' withdrawal.

Mr Kuto, who was accompanied during the tour by the authority’s chairman, Mr Charles Wako, denied allegations that there was loose murram on the runway.

"Everyone, including all our clients, appreciate the work done by the authority's civil engineering maintenance team. They patch up potholes every time they occur. Safety of passengers is paramount," Mr Kuto’s said.

The matter of Kisumu Airport was raised in Parliament on Tuesday when Transport assistant minister Cecily Mbarire said normal operations would resume after repairs are completed in three weeks.

A Sh17 million tender has already been awarded and the contractor was supposed to be on the site yesterday (Monday), Ms Mbarire told Parliament.

Passengers interviewed at the airport said the ban by Kenya Airways was not fair, but asked airport authorities to speed up repairs to guarantee their safety.

Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) chief executive officer Andrew Otieno expressed dissatisfaction with the manner the matter was being handled. He urged the airport to speed up repairs of the runway, which he said was suspect.

"KA's action is reasonable, bearing in mind the safety of its passengers. But the management should have given an earlier warning to its regular customers, said Mr Otieno.

A Swedish tourist who identified herself as Boska said she was happy to have arrived in Kisumu on time, flying with East African Airlines after her KA flight was cancelled.

American tourists Jonathan Lane and Mark Haustead urged the government to refurbish the airport, but added that its current condition is ‘just fine’.

Mr Rinchuni said KA's decision to cancel flights was ill advised and appealed to the management to reconsider it.

East African airline has recorded increased bookings following KA's withdrawal from the route.

"Our airlines have been fully booked since the ban took effect. The clientele is advised to book in advance to avoid disappointments," said Ms Caroline Mayoya of Eagle Airlinks, a subsidiary of the airline.

The airline has two return flights daily, except on Fridays when it has three, with a capacity of 70 to 80 passengers each.

The airline is yet to increase its flights on the route, as announced by station manager James Waweru two weeks ago after news of KA's withdrawal.

Mr Waweru allayed fears over passengers safety, saying: "We have no problem with the state of the runway. It has little shortcomings, but our flights are designed to operate in such conditions."

Meanwhile, a major expansion project is coming up for the airport, located to the North West of Kisumu town.

The project is set to begin in March next year, and will see Kisumu upgraded to an international airport.

Shillings 2.6 billion has been set aside for it. The design for the new-look airport was to have been completed two months ago by Netherlands Airports Consultant Company (NACO).

Terminal buildings will be expanded and the runway increased to 3.2km, from the current 2.1km, to accommodate bigger aircraft such as the Boeing 767.

Currently, the airport can accommodate only smaller aircraft, with the largest being the 85-seater.

A new control tower and a terminal with separate lounges for arrivals and departures form part of the upgrade.

Others include perimeter fencing and lighting, installation of security screening, baggage, access control and other equipment, purchase of fire fighting equipment and supply of security and communication equipment.

Facilities will be upgraded to accommodate more passenger and cargo traffic. Currently, local fish and flowers are transported to Nairobi by road, resulting in heavy losses in time, spoilage and costs.

Expansion of the airport is also expected to boost tourism in Nyanza, Western and parts of Rift Valley provinces.

The project is funded jointly by the Kenyan Government and the World Bank, through its Northern Corridor Development Programme. The latter will provide more than Sh300 million ($3.9 million) of the total cost.

The rest of the funding will be provided by Kenya Airports Authority.

An upgrade airport will boost KAA's revenue base. Currently, the airport collects more than Sh40 million a year in landing fees. The income is expected to triple with the introduction of cargo handling facilities.
 
#124 · (Edited)
Air Zimbabwe introduces second flight to China




Zimbabwe's national carrier, Air Zimbabwe, is to launch a second regular flight to China as it hopes to cash in on Harare's policy of strengthening relations with Beijing, an official said.

"The flight will come as a second frequency in our China operation," Chris Kwenda, Air Zimbabwe's regional manager for China was quoted as saying in the state-controlled Herald newspaper.

"We will launch it mid-January. The plane will be flying to Guangzhou which is of high economic importance to China.

"Guangzhou is China's industrial hub and it is the number one producing region in terms of China's outbound tourism and there is potential business for Zimbabwe there."

The southern city of Guangzhou, once known as Canton, lies next to the former British colony of Hong Kong and is regarded as the gateway to China by virtue of its location at the mouth of the Pearl river.

China is becoming an increasingly important destination for Zimbabwe as a result of burgeoning economic ties between Harare and Beijing.

Air Zimbabwe launched its maiden flight to Beijing nearly two years ago.

"So far we have witnessed an increase in both passenger and cargo volumes," Kwenda was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the China International Travel Mart in Shanghai.

Isolated by Western governments over the political crisis in Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe has looked to foster new relations with Asian countries such as China and Malaysia as part of a so-called "Look East" policy.

The government said in September that it had acquired six more jet fighters from China while Zimbabwe's national airliner took delivery last year of three MA60 passenger planes from the Chinese state-owned AVIC aircraft manufacturer.
 
#125 ·
Namibia: Air Namibia Launches Third Flight to Luanda


The Namibian (Windhoek)

November 21, 2006
Posted to the web November 21, 2006



AIR Namibia has announced that it will increase its service between Windhoek and Luanda to three flights a week from November 27.

The flights will be on Monday, Friday and Sunday.

The first flight between Windhoek and the Angolan capital was launched in 1992, and according to Air Namibia spokesman Ellison Hijarunguru, the route has grown popular with business and leisure travellers.

"This route should provide a great success and we will continue to be committed to further expansion within the region and look forward to offering even more in the near future," said Hijarunguru.
 
#126 ·


Kenya Airways planning to fly cargo planes
24th November 2006

Kenya Airways (KQ) plans to introduce dedicated cargo planes on selected regional routes.

The airline’s Commercial Director, Mr Hugh Fraser, said the move would boost cargo haulage capacity on routes serviced by the Boeing 737 series.

"Where we fly the 737s, we are constrained with space for passenger baggage. We are evaluating the possibilities of introducing small dedicated freighters to destinations in the region," said Mr Fraser.

On Thursday, KQ officials said these routes include Entebbe, Dar es salaam, Burundi, Kigali, Zambia and Malawi.

Part of the evaluation will involve assessing cargo potential to and from Nairobi. KQ has previously operated freight charters to Zanzibar, Mwanza, and Bujumbura on ad hoc basis.

Fraser was speaking in Comoros soon after the airline inaugurated its maiden flight to the Archipelago, which consists of Comoros and Mayotte.

The islands are situated between Northern Madagascar and Northern Mozambique. The main commodity exported from the islands is Vanilla, and they wholly dependent on imports of goods and commodities like fruits and vegetables shipped in by traders from mainland Africa.

The Comoros and Mayotte route comes two weeks after the launch of direct flights to Paris, France, on October 26.

KQ is the seventh airline to serve the two Islands and the only one from mainland Africa. Other Indian Ocean islands airlines serve the islands from Mauritius, Re-Union and Madagascar.

"We feel that with the right connections, we can take business from the French speaking Indian Ocean islands to France and all over Europe," said Fraser.
 
#127 ·


Paris Offers Kenya Airways Smooth Landing to Lucrative European Market
November 20, 2006

It is 6.30am on a Friday and the skies over Paris are beginning to light up.

We are on the Kenya Airways' maiden flight to France's premier airport, named after its wartime President, Charles De Gaulle, and are preparing for touchdown after a more than eight-hour flight from Nairobi.

Passengers - clutching onto bouquets and certificates, tokens for flying the inaugural flight - are delighted to land in this famed city of romance, fashion, gastronomy and arts.

Paris, the French capital, is one of the most visited cities in the world. It receives more than 30 million visitors a year, a pale comparison to Kenya's slightly more than one million visitors.

The new Paris route will enable Kenya Airways tap the southern Europe and the US travel markets. It will also offer customers in Eastern and Central Africa the option of direct flights to France as well as connecting to other destinations. Of interest are southern European countries such as Spain and Portugal.

Kenya Airways Managing Director Mr Titus Naikuni says Paris will act as an alternative hub. It will complement the traditional London and Amsterdam connections.

Since most US tourists connect through France, Paris will offer the airline a base to tap this lucrative market. US arrivals to Kenya have been on a steady increase, growing by 13 per cent in the first nine months of the year.

Paris also offers the airline - which last year became the first in sub-Saharan Africa to win the IOSA certification for safety standards - an opportunity to increase its share of the lucrative European route, which accounts for 94 per cent of revenues from international routes.

Ms Greta Swings, the Kenya Airways manager for France, told The Standard in Paris that the response from the travel industry had been positive and sales were growing steadily since the October 28 inaugural flight. The carrier flies three times a week to Paris. The new flight is also expected to spur bilateral trade between Kenya and France.

According to the French Embassy in Nairobi, last year's total value of trade between the two countries stood at Sh18 billion, out of which France exported Sh9.8 billion worth of goods to Kenya, and imported Sh8.6 billion.

The writer and KTN business reporter Yusuf Ali at Arc de Triomphe, a monument erected to celebrate Napoleon Bonaparte's conquests.

The horticulture and agriculture industries are expected to benefit from the additional cargo capacity, thereby supplementing the traditional Amsterdam route. Tourism is looking up too. The Kenyan Embassy in Paris hopes that it will bring better tidings given the additional capacity on this route.

Earlier, tourists and businessmen travelling to Kenya and the region had to connect through other destinations or use expensive charter flights.

Said the Kenyan Ambassador to France, Ms Raychelle Omamo: "Many tourists have been using Crossair (a budget operator now a fully-fledged airline). Now Kenya Airways is going to give them an alternative".

Also available to tourists is the KLM route to Nairobi via Amsterdam.

"Past complaints by tourists and businessmen have been about their inability to access Nairobi and the region directly, but with the new KQ flights, this will be a thing of the past," said Omamo.

The envoy said while the number of tourists from France had gone below 30,000 per year following terror threats, recent efforts by the Kenya Tourist Board had paid off and the numbers were now edging towards 42,000. These numbers are expected to grow by a further 20 per cent following aggressive campaigns.

Kenya Airways' 10-year-old partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was evident again, ensuring a smooth landing in Paris for the Kenyan flag carrier. KLM merged with Air France in May 2004 to create Air France-KLM.

The Kenyan airline has continued to post impressive financial results, reporting a pre-tax profit of Sh6.9 billion in the year ending March 31, 2006, on a turnover of Sh52.8 billion, a 25 per cent increase over the previous year.

Mrs Greta Swings, the Kenya Airways manager for France during the interview at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Up to June 2006 Kenya Airways, which flies to 35 destinations worldwide, had a strong passenger growth of 12 per cent on all routes.

It carried more than 2.5 million passengers during the year and has acquired a Boeing 737-800 aircraft as part of its modernisation programme. It expects two similar aircraft this year to replace three ageing B327-200.

Said Naikuni: "By bringing in this new generation aircraft, we expect to offer our passengers more space in addition to (increasing) capacity on the local and regional routes.

"We will also be able to ferry more cargo within the rapidly expanding trade routes in West and Central Africa".

In the past three years, Kenya Airways has acquired three Boeing 777 and expects one more by February. The carrier has also placed a firm order for six new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, to be delivered between 2010 and 2012.

Already, the airline has unveiled a modern hangar to service the B777 fleet, which were previously handled in Europe. It plans to invite other carriers to use the facility, therefore providing an additional revenue stream.

The airline, voted the Best African Airline for five consecutive years by African Aviation magazine, has a codes-share agreement with Turkish Airlines, which - together with Special Prorate Agreement - offers both companies a better access to each other's network. It flies to Istanbul twice a week.

The airline continues to grow wings everyday. Its latest destinations are two Indian Ocean Islands, Comoros and Mayotte.
 
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