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African Aviation News

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#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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#153 ·
Angola to Host Regional Boeing Maintenance Centre

Luanda, 11/11/2006 - Angola`s capital, Luanda, will host a regional sustenance centre of Boeing , led by Angolan airline(TAAG), said Saturday, in Luanda, the US multi-national Commercial director, João Miguel Santos.

The official told reporters at international airport "4 de Fevereiro", during a reception ceremony of freshly purchased aircrafts by Angolan government, that the project was under study.

"We are starting a more serious study of viability with TAAG, to take this centre to a successful end", stressed.

The projects include assessment of Angola`s airports assembling of high tech infrastructures belonging to TAAG, aircraft maintenance and regular training of staff.

The six recently bought new TAAG aeroplanes, from US Boeing company, arrived Saturday in Luanda.

The Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos Saturday cut a ribbon, at "4 de Fevereiro" International Airport, symbolising the reception of six aircrafts in the presence of government members, diplomatic body accredited to Angola and public in general.

Nov 15, 14:28
Source:Angop
 
#155 ·
Coast (Kenya) gets two new airlines

Story by MAZERA NDURYA
Publication Date: 12/27/2006

Charter flights to Coast will increase following the entry of two new British airlines.

Some airlines have also made plans to increase their flights coming in from Europe from weekly to daily to meet the increasing demand of tourists visiting Kenya’s coast, said Mr Yatich Kangugo, the manager at Moi International Airport.

“At least 30 charter flights are landing at the airport in Mombasa every week since the beginning of the December festive season,” he said.

Thompson and My Travel operating Boeing 767 and Airbus 330-200 with a capacity of up to 260 passengers have joined airlines such as African Safari and Air Italy.

Swelled numbers

Others are local airlines Kenya Airways, East African Air Safaris, Jetlink, Flight 540 and Air Kenya.

The trend would continue even after the holidays, for the world cross country championships, when about 100,000 visitors are expected to use the airport.

The number of passengers has increased by about seven per cent, while the aircraft arrivals have gone up by 16.2 per cent, Mr Kangugo said.

“We expect the figure to increase up to about 19 per cent by the end of this month because there are some airlines that have showed interest in plying the route,” he said.

The Italian Consul in Malindi, Mr Roberto Macri said the number of Italian tourists to the Coast had risen from 25,000 last year to 30,000 this year.

Italian tourists

“The number would be much bigger if the Malindi airport was upgraded to handle larger flights,” he said.
 
#156 ·
Kenya Airways to add three Embraer 170s to fleet

Embraer announced that Kenya Airways has chosen to add the EMBRAER 170 to its current fleet, continuing its network expansion. The airline, based in Nairobi, Kenya, will operate three EMBRAER 170 jets under an operating lease with GE Commercial Aviation Services’ (GECAS) existing orders. There will be no changes in Embraer’s orderbook due to this announcement.

Delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled to the second quarter of 2007, when the airline celebrates its 30th anniversary. The company intends to deploy the aircraft in its growing domestic market, replacing turboprops, and on some of its significant medium-haul routes. The aircraft will be configured in a comfortable single-class 72-passenger layout with a 32-inch pitch (81 cm).

Embraer already delivered more than 1020 commercial jet aircraft from both the E-Jets and the ERJ-145 families, which are currently flying with more than 70 airlines in 43 countries around the world.

Kenya Airways serves more than 2 million passengers, annually, with the largest network in Africa. The carrier is going through an aggressive expansion program. Its network currently includes such new additions as Bamako, Dakar, Maputo, Istanbul, and Guangzhou, in China. The airline recently launched flights to Paris and to Comoros and Mayotte. The thrice-weekly flights to Paris complement the 17 weekly flights to London and Amsterdam and the regular schedules to select destinations in Asia, including Dubai, Mumbai, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.
 
#157 ·
Qatar Airways to fly to Dar es Salaam next week

Qatar Airways will next week start flying to Tanzania to boost its East African network.

The four-times-a week flight from Doha, which starts on January 9, will see Qatar Airways spreading its wings by adding its second route in the region after that to Kenya.

The airline’s chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker told The East-African from Doha, Qatar, that the Dar es Salaam route joins the airline’s rapidly growing international network.

Mr Al Baker said the route will be operated with an Airbus A319 aircraft in a two-class configuration of eight seats in business class and 102 seats in economy.

“With the addition of Dar es Salaam, Qatar Airways’ global reach will extend to 71 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Far East,” he said adding that the Dar es Salaam route is expected to be popular with tourists from around the world.

Qatar Airways has a five-star ranking for service excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency.

The airline operates a modern fleet of 49 all-Airbus aircraft, which will more than double in size to 110 jets by 2015. Qatar Airways is one of the launch customers of the twin-deck Airbus A380 “super jumbos.”

With four aircraft on order and scheduled for delivery from 2009 to coincide with the opening of the New Doha International Airport, a state-of-the-art facility being built on reclaimed land, corporate communications manager Salam Al Shawa said the airline will be offering passengers from key markets across Europe, Middle East and Asia convenient connections through Doha to and from Dar es Salaam.
 
#158 · (Edited)
Virgin Atlantic to start price war on London - Nairobi route

The entry of Britain’s second largest airline, Virgin Atlantic, on the London-Nairobi route starting this year, has elicited mixed reactions in the Kenya travel and tourism industry, with predictions ranging from reduced fares and convenience for travellers to loss of or reduction of commissions for travel agencies.

The airline will operate a 240-seater Airbus 340-300 offering 34 upper classg, 35 premium economy seats and 171 economy on its daily flights from Heathrow to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Sources in the travel industry say they are anticipating a price war by Virgin Atlantic — famed for its rock bottom prices and dubbed “the people’s airline” — as it seeks to break the dominance of Kenya Airways and British Airways, the only two airlines currently operating direct daily flights on the Nairobi-London route.

Other airlines operating the Nairobi-London route are Swiss Air, Sabena, South African Airways Ethiopian Airways and Qatar through their home bases. Virgin has had to fight fierce pricing battles with BA over control of Britain’s travel market and the war is expected to spill over into Kenya.

“We are expecting a price war that will cut the cost of travel, which is beneficial to travellers. But there are many factors that determine the eventual rate and it is difficult to say how low the price will go,” said Nital Modasia, a sales and marketing executive with Bunson Travel.

She said Virgin Atlantic will give travellers and travel agents an option, which is good for competition.

Currently, Kenya Airways and BA are charging $699 exclusive of taxes, with a special promotion fare of $449 minus taxes. Sabena and Swiss Air currently offer the cheapest rate on the route, but both are indirect flights through Brussels and Zurich respectively. Sources in the travel market predict that Virgin Atlantic could force the fares down to $400. But industry sources say that most fares have conditions such as minimum stay or duration of the ticket that determines their real value, which the customer has to consider when buying a ticket.

A source in the airline industry however allayed fears of a fierce price war, saying the Nairobi-London route is still under serviced and there may be no need for undercutting by the few airlines.

But recent history indicates that undercutting is a norm for every new entry into a major route. “It was the case when Qatar Airlines entered the market and even on domestic routes when Fly540, a no-frills airline, launched the Nairobi-Mombasa route,” said Narendra Thakrar, managing director of Travel Plaza.

However, some travel agents are saying the entry of Virgin Airline and others into the Kenyan market is not necessarily good news for them. They are predicting that the growing competition in the local travel sector could push some of them out of business.

Efforts to contact Peter Karanja, chairman of the Kenya Air Travel Association (KATA), were fruitless.

“Our commission rates are set on the price of the ticket and lower prices will reduce our earnings and possibly push many of us out of business,” said a manager at a major travel firm in Nairobi. He said the current commission rate is $50 per ticket and he expects it to drop to $20 with the introduction of lower ticket prices.

He also cited the growth of e-ticketing that allows travellers to buy tickets directly from airlines as one development that has cut earnings for travel agencies. Reduced flying prices will only compound their loss. “We have no idea how low Virgin Atlantic airline will go, but history from other routes it flies is worrisome,” he said.

Mr Thakrar said the entry of the airline into the Kenyan market will offer more connections for travellers from Kenya and the region and will expand the scope of international travel in the region.

“Virgin’s vast network will obviously offer greater convenience to travellers who have had to endure long delays at overseas airports as they wait for connections to various destinations,” he said.

He added that the airline will be of particular importance to Kenya’s tourism because of its connection with the US tourist market, whichlacks direct flights to Kenya.

In a joint statement by Virgin and the Kenya Tourist Board last week, Sir Richard Branson, the owner of Virgin, said that the airline is attracted to Nairobi by its hub status in East Africa.

“Around 500,000 people fly to Nairobi each year to enjoy the scenery and wildlife,” he said.

The UK is Kenya’s biggest tourist market contributing 20 per cent of total arrivals, and the entry of Virgin is expected to boost the existing travel business.

“The Virgin brand has a strong following and its daily flights will offer quality service for the top end tourist segment we are trying to attract,” said KTB chairman Jake Grieves-Cook.

In another development in the Kenyan aviation industry, Wilson airport-based Phoenix Aviation Ltd, a chArter and aircraft maintenace company, recently took delivery of an additional Beechcraft King Air200.

The aircraft is equipped with a cargo pod that provides additional load capacity. The twin-engined prop jet aircgraft will be used for charter and medical evacuation with capacity for two patients, one nurse and a doctor. It also has a cabin for up to 10 passengers.

Managing director Sati Reel said, Phoenix Aviation has an arrangement with the Amref Flying Doctor Service for the provision of around the clock medivac srvices within Africa and Europe. Having the ability to land and to take off from short landing strips, the Beechcraft King Air fleet is used for rescue missions.”

The company further said depending on client requirements, the normal high density seating can be replaced with luxury executive seats and table for four passengers.
 
#159 ·
Kenya to spend $230m on upgrading of major airports

Investors in Kenya’s tourism industry are positioning themselves for a boom as the government commences an ambitious multimillion dollar project to rehabilitate infrastructure.

At the unveiling of the $3 million expansion and sprucing up of the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, key officials in the Ministry of Transport said the project was part of a five-year plan that will see all major travel facilities in the country upgraded to international standards.

Kenya Airport Authority managing director George Muhoho said the government was going to spend about $230 million over the five year period to upgrade all airports to international standards.

Although the rehabilitation of the Moi International Airport is targeted at the 2007 Mombasa International Cross Country Championship, the general growth in tourist numbers is expected to yield up to 500,000 more passengers passing through the airport annually.

The total figure is there-fore expected to increase to 2 million passengers annually from the current 1.5 million.

“Over the past four years, the Moi International Airport has experienced unprecedented growth in passenger traffic of about 35 per cent, from 860,000 in 2000 to 1.16 million in 2005.

“At the same time, there has been a growth in cargo from 6,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes over the same period,” said Mr Muhoho.

The growth in passenger numbers, the director said, can be attributed to the strong recovery of the tourism sector, a trend that is projected to continue, hence the need for preparedness.

Mr Muhoho said other airports set to benefit from the major face-lift are Jomo Kenyatta International, Kisumu and Eldoret International and the smaller Malindi and Wilson airports.

Players in the tourism industry at the Kenya Coast have been calling for the expansion of the Malindi airport to boost the number of European tourists flying directly into the town.

Italian tourists alone are expected to hit the 25,000 mark annually up from the current 15,000, once rehabilitation and expansion of the Malindi airport, estimated to cost about $1 million, is completed.

Likewise, the government had set aside billions of shillings for the rehabilitation of major roads including the Nairobi–Mombasa highway, which leads to Coastal resorts, marine and game parks.

Work on the Mombasa–Malindi road is also set to begin following the allocation of about $3.5 million in the current financial year. Also earmarked for rehabilitation is the Mombasa–Diani road on the South Coast, which leads to one of the leading tourist hubs in Kenya.

Meanwhile, hoteliers are planning expansion to tap the growing numbers of tourists, whose numbers had surpassed the 1 million mark by early last December, going by statistics from the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB).

The manager of Club Temple Point Resort in Malindi, Isaac Rodrot, said investors were looking for more land for expansion. “If we get land, we will certainly expand our facilities, because the figures are overwhelming, forcing us to turn down many tourists because we do not have space,” he said.

“The interest in Kenya as a tourist destination has increased considerably in international market and this has led to increasing numbers of tourists who want to visit the country,” said Mr Rodrot, who manages the 100-room hotel, a popular spot with Italian tourists.

Mr Rodrot attributed the good business to a vigorous and sustained marketing of Kenya by the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB). “Disasters like the tsunami that hit South Asia in December 2004 also favoured us but there is greater need to develop the facilities so that when the affected countries recover, we shall still command the market,” he said.

KTB managing director Ongong’a Achieng said efforts by the government to invest in the rehabilitation and improvement of infrastructure will boost Kenya’s image in the face of competition from neighbouring countries.

“Things are looking up in the industry. We are expecting to record over $1 billion in earnings for 2006, up from about $600 million the previous year, but for us to sustain the trend, there is a need to critically look at the infrastructure,” he said.

Players in the industry have been up in arms over the poor state of the road network and airports, electricity and water supply among other infrastructure since it hampered efforts to market Kenya as a leading tourist destination.

At one point, the Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers, (KAHC) had threatened to withhold taxes due to the government and use the funds to rehabilitate the infrastructure.

A senior KAHC official, Mohamed Hersi, said the government was too slow in meeting its obligations to improve roads leading to key attractions such as game parks and beach resorts. thus threatening the industry’s revival from a major slump that hit it in the 1990s.

Tourism and Wildlife Minister Morris Dzoro said recently that the government was luring international investors to develop tourism facilities to cope with the increasing number of tourists.

He said the campaign was yielding fruit following the entry of a Canadian hotel chain that was already developing hotels in the country.

“We are optimistic that the campaign to market Kenya as a leading tourist destination will bear fruits and more investors will be coming because the government has given incentives,” he added.

Mr Dzoro said the government was now encouraging the development of ecotourism because it attracted high premium tourists.

“Ecotourism is the way to go because it attracts high spenders like celebrities and top business executives who are interested in nature and Kenya is heading towards that direction,” he said.
 
#160 ·
China Southern Begins Beijing/Lagos Service; Nation's Largest Airline Starts '07 With First-Ever Africa/Sino Route

1/1/2007
LAGOS, Nigeria, Jan 01, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE)

China Southern Airlines, (NYSE:ZNH) (HKSE:1055) (SHA:600029) - www.cs-air.com/en - with the largest and most technically advanced aircraft fleet in The People's Republic of China, today launched the first ever air service between The People's Republic of China and Africa.

"Nigeria is playing an increasingly important role in the international community," said Mr. Liu Shaoyong, Chairman, China Southern Airlines. Mr. Liu made his comments at the welcoming ceremony today at Lagos' Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

Mr. Liu added that, "China's second largest trading partner and exporting country in Africa, Nigeria is of great importance to China. The Beijing-Dubai-Lagos route launched today is the first ever air service to Africa launched by China Southern. It is also the only China-Africa air service available in the Chinese civil aviation industry and it will surely open up a new gateway of communication and cooperation between China and Nigeria."

Offering passengers an intermediary stop between China and Africa in Dubai, China Southern's new service features the airline's Airbus A330 aircraft, with China Southern's Premium Business Class mini-pod, flat bed seating.

Outbound flights will depart Beijing every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; return flight departing Lagos on every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday with arrival at Beijing on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday:

CZ331 Beijing 2340 0430+1 Dubai 0610 1110 Lagos (Local Time)

CZ332 Lagos 1330 0030+1 Dubai 0200 1345 Beijing (Local Time)

Bilateral trade between China and Africa has an average growth rate of 23.6%. Nigeria has become one of China's important trading partners in Africa.

Lagos' Murtala Mohammed International Airport (IATA: LOS, ICAO: DNMM) is located in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, and is the major airport serving the city of Lagos, southwestern Nigeria and the entire nation. It was named after former Nigerian military head of state Murtala Ramat Mohammed. The international terminal was modeled after Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

Murtala Mohammed International Airport consists of an International and a brand new domestic terminal, located about 1km from each other. Both terminals share the same two runways.

Recent years have seen substantial improvements at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Malfunctioning and non-operational infrastructure such as air conditioning and luggage belts have been entirely repaired. The entire airport has been cleaned, and many new restaurants and duty-free stores have opened. Bilateral Air Services Agreements signed between Nigeria and other countries are being revived and new ones signed. Airlines expected to begin or have begun operation to Lagos include Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc and Malaysia Airlines.

The largest airline in The People's Republic of China for the past 28 years, China Southern Airlines - www.cs-air.com/en - connects more than 80 cities around the globe. Major business and vacation destinations served in China include: Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuhan and as well as International service, including: Amsterdam, Bangkok, Fukuoka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Moscow, Osaka, Paris, Penang, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

For China Southern Airlines reservations and information, please contact your local travel agent.

SOURCE: China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines Mr. Jeff Ruffolo, Senior Advisor, +1-714-532-2054 Ruffolopr@hotmail.com Skype: JeffRuffolo
Copyright Business Wire 2007
 
#161 ·
Fly540 to maintain low fares policy

Low cost airline to start Nairobi - Kisumu route on 12 January

Fly540 top officials have confirmed the carrier’s long-term policy of providing cheap air fares within Kenya and in the region will be maintained.

Operation’s Director, Mr Nick Ooko, said they will offer low fares on all flights regardless of the season. Fly540 will launch two daily flights from Nairobi to Kisumu with effect from January 12.

"In line with other low cost carriers around the world, we advise customers to book early and pay in good time to secure seats," he said.

Ooko said the airline would break-even despite offering affordable rates to customers in comparison to its competitors. "We have begun on a clean sheet. The other companies operate on historical costs which is why we will give them a run for their money," Ooko said.

He talked to The Standard in Kisumu when he made a courtesy call to Nyanza Provincial Commissioner Mr Paul Olandoon Thursday.

Fly540’s return charges are the lowest compared to those of East African Safari Air Express (Easax) and Kenya Airways (KQ). The new company will charge Sh6, 540 return plus taxes while Easax charges Sh6, 450 one way, while KQ charges Sh7, 055 one way including taxes.

Fly540 Chief Operating Officer Mr Niel Steffen said the company would break even if customers using its ATR42s were few. "The planes are efficient, suitable for short trips and are environment friendly," Steffen said.

"In the beginning customers may think it’s impossible, but we are out to beat the notion," he said.

The affordable costs, the officials said were arrived after removing luxuries like beer, and other foods served on the other flights.

Olando said the airline’s entry to the Nairobi-Kisumu would offer customers alternatives and overcome the problem of missing in flights due to overbooking. "Competition is healthy," he said.

Ooko said they will open up offices in Kisumu and at the airport to popularise its brand in Western Kenya.

The carrier has two aircrafts, while plans are underway to introduce a third aircraft next month.

Ooko said they were considering expanding their operations to the East African region, Sudan and South Africa.
 
#162 ·
Nigeria: FAAN and Julius Berger sign contract for construction of International Port Harcourt Airport

Businessdayonline Monday, Dec 25, 2006

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigerian (FAAN) and the Julius Berger Plc Nigeria have finally agreed on the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

Already, the management of Julius Berger Nigeria has signed the contract for the rehabilitation work and may move into the site this week for excavation.

The Director of Airport Operations, Mr. John Eze Nwankwo said the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed that FAAN and Julius Berger have signed the contract for the rehabilitation of the airport and noted that skeletal work will commence this month as the contracting firm promised to move in its equipment this week.

Mr. Eze Nwankuro explaining that the contract covers the excarration and reconstruction of an additional runway, taxiways, expansion of the apron (tarmac), complete renovation and modernisation of the terminal building.

Sources said the management decided to settle for Julius Berger because of its excellent performance in the past.

It would be recalled that the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa was shut down for flight operations following an alleged fire outbreak on August 18th at the powerhouse of the airport and also the dilapidated runway.

Although, the closure did not go down well with many Nigerians, the Airport Authorities since they requested to do anything to reopen the airport.
 
#163 ·
Qatar Airways touches down in Dar es Salaam

Qatar Airways has celebrated the launch of its first new route of 2007 with its inaugural flight to Tanzania touching down in the country’s commercial capital of Dar es Salaam. Government, airport and media officials were out in force at Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere International Airport to receive QR544 from Doha with the airline’s Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker and a high-level delegation from Qatar onboard.

Qatar Airways’ CEO Akbar Al Baker was joined by Tanzania’s Honourable Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Development, Andrew Chenge and Honourable Minister for Tourism and Natural Resources, Jumanne Maghembe for the official cake-cutting ceremony at the airport.

Dar es Salaam is the first of nine new routes planned by Qatar Airways during 2007. Al Baker said Dar es Salaam was a key city in the airline’s strategy to build a stronger network of destinations across the African continent.

“I am absolutely delighted to see a Qatar Airways aircraft land in Tanzania for the first time to a wonderful and colourful welcome reception,” he said.

“On behalf of Qatar Airways, I would like to thank the government, airport and Tanzania Tourism Board for their efforts in making this route a reality today and I am sure social and commercial ties between our two countries of Qatar and Tanzania will be strengthened with the success of this route. Tanzania is a strategically important country for Qatar Airways as we build our operations across Africa and provide our passengers with greater choice and a wider network of destinations with our award-winning Five Star service.” Addressing the media, he added: “There is strong traffic between both Europe and the Indian sub continent to east Africa and we, at Qatar Airways, look forward to facilitating travel via Doha for the tens of thousands of passengers a year who fly to and from your wonderful country here in Tanzania.”

“Africa presents huge opportunities and we see this region as a growth area for Qatar Airways. Dar es Salaam is one of the premier business destinations in Africa and the gateway to fantastic holiday retreats such as Mount Kilimanjaro and many game reserves. We expect Dar es Salaam to be a highly popular route with tourists from around the world. All indications show from intensive analysis and research that this will be a highly successful route,” emphasized Baker.

“Dar es Salaam is our 71st route and the first of what promises to be yet another exciting year for Qatar Airways with plenty of wonderful new routes planned during the course of 2007.”


Qatar Airways’ African network currently covers Casablanca, Algiers, Tunis, Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Khartoum, Tripoli, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Nairobi. Lagos joins the network in the first quarter of 2007.

Al Baker added that 2007 would be a year of massive expansion in frequencies, routes and fleet size for the airline.

“This is a year of huge celebration. We have come a long way since our relaunch in 1997 when we operated a handful of aircraft to a handful of routes. Now, in our 10th anniversary year, we have exciting new destinations joining Qatar Airways’ growing family of routes, together with more flights on existing routes to give passengers more choice, and brand new Airbus and Boeing aircraft joining the fleet. We take delivery of the first of our Boeing 777s towards the end of 2007.”
 
#164 ·
Ecoairlines targets Africa’s $11bn aviation market

A pan-West African private sector airlines is in the works, aiming for a significant cut of the $11.3 billion per annum African aviation market.

Going by the name Ecoairlines, the incipient airline is being promoted by private sector interests within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with Togo-based bank, Banque Atlantique, in the forefront.

Speaking at a technical session for stakeholders in Lome, Togo, Kofi Egbeto, the project director, lamented that whereas West Africa contributed a very significant percentage to Africa’s air traffic, an overwhelming portion of the revenue generated from the region went elsewhere, mostly outside Africa. This is as a result of the very weak presence of African operators in the airline industry since the liquidation of Air Afrique that was owned by nine West African and three Central African countries in 2001.

In a presentation to the session, Lufthansa Consulting which is the technical partner to the project, said that whereas the number of airlines globally is expected to double in the next 18 to 20 years, Africa still remained on the margins, showing little prospects for change.

Of the 72 airlines serving the West African sub-region, Lufthansa Consulting said, 38 percent are IATA airlines, and within this bracket are only three west African airlines.

Reviewing the state of the aviation industry in West Africa, the consultants said that Nigeria was by far the dominant market, with 46 percent of passenger capacity. But it however described the country as a domestic island.

Virgin Nigeria, the consultants say, is currently the dominant airline in the region in terms of frequency of flights.

Other notable regional airlines include Air Senegal and Air Ivoire.

Egbeto said that the coming of Ecoairlines will complement the work being done by these airlines, and that collaboration more than competition shall be the mode of operation.

Besides the commercial motive, Ecoairlines hopes to serve a social function. Egbeto pointed out that it is often easier to travel from West Africa to European cities than to other West African cities.

Ecoairlines, he says, plans to reverse this. The competition that the incipient airlines hopes to bring, will also bring down the cost of air travel in the region.

A return ticket from Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) to Lome (Togo), costs as much as $600 for a flight time of about 45 minutes. Some airlines charge about the same amount for the six hour flight between Lagos and London.

Ecoairlines hopes to become the leading airline in West Africa and beyond. It plans to operate with a modern fleet which will help ensure safety.

This is against the background of the analysis of the consultants which shows that Africa has the oldest airline fleet amongst the regions of the world. Africa’s 728 registered aircraft have an average age of 18 years each.

The privately owned and operated airline shall serve the west and central African regions, and will have a strong West African identity. It hopes to play in the league of Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, South African Airways and Tunisair, which are the prime African airlines at the moment.

Presently, the airline industry in Africa accounts for about 470,000 jobs and contributes some $11.3 billion to Africa’s GDP.
 
#165 ·
Kenya slated to become an international aviation hub

16 January 2007, by Evans Wafula in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has launched a grand USD1.23 billion (Ksh9 billion) expansion programme for the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which will see the facility transform into Africa’s preferred aviation hub. Expansion of the facility is expected to roll out in three phases, up to 2009, with areas planned for expansion being the construction of a new apron, taxiways, and an extended fuel hydrant system similar to the modern Unit 4 terminal at Heathrow and an ultra modern three-storey car park.

Upon completion of the expansion programme, JKIA will compare to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, receive International Civil Aviation Organisation’s and the United States Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Category One rating, enabling the national carrier Kenya Airways to have direct flights to the US.
The amount of cargo flowing through the airport rose from 192,300 tonnes in 2004 to 220,900 tonnes in 2005, while the number of passengers had hit a high of 4.4 million by 2006, says Kenya Airports Authority managing director.

In terms of output, the increasing outflows have meant an improved revenue base of up to USD75 million by 2005, but lesser accommodation space, which was initially built for a capacity of about 2.5 million passengers a year. “This is an opportunity that we cannot afford to lose”, said KAA managing director, George Muhoho. “We want the expansion to be complete as fast as possible.”
Collaboration between Kenya Airways, and partners like KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, Precission Air, Northwest Airlines, and Rwanda Air, will see a significant increase in the volume of freight handled by the airport, added the KAA managing director.

The expected entry of Virgin Atlantic in early 2007 for London-Nairobi route will also boost freight and passenger numbers that the airport is able to handle.
Passenger Traffic is expected to climb steadily after the completion of the project, with the figures now in excess of 4.4 million passengers a year, to become Africa's busiest airport. JKIA's greatest success lies in its commercial transformation.

According to Hugh Fraser, Kenya Airways commercial director, expansion of JKIA is a clear indication of the country’s increasing competitiveness as a fleet destination and the growing confidence of Kenya as an international transit point. “This is a signal that Kenya Airways can benchmark itself with other international aviation hubs,” he said.
KAA has already signed one of the renovation contracts with a Chinese company, Wu Yi Company, amounting to USD37.2 million.
Of the total USD120 million total sum needed for the renovation, USD 9.2 million will be provided by the World Bank, while KAA has set aside USD46.2 million. The balance, according to Muhoho, will be outsourced from local financial institutions or through a bond issue.

JKIA’s expansion and improvement also means that Kenya is spearheaded to meet the International Air Transport Association (IATA) e-ticketing targets by end of 2007. Kenya is among three African countries including South Africa and Zimbabwe, whose aviation industries are on course to embracing electronic ticketing fully by end of 2007, said IATA director-general Giovanni Bisignani.
 
#182 ·


Passenger Traffic is expected to climb steadily after the completion of the project, with the figures now in excess of 4.4 million passengers a year, to become Africa's busiest airport. JKIA's greatest success lies in its commercial transformation.


ermm...no i dnt fink nairobi's airport is gonna becum africa's busiest:eek:hno:
i mean.. joburg's is 4 times bussier and its growin faster aswell..so yeah
 
#166 ·
Finally got some pics from Air Arik, a recently established private airline in Nigeria. The airline´s management said in a an interview that they also plan to add wide-bodied aircraft to their fleet soon. Arik Air is the vision of Sir J.I.A Arumemi-Johnson, a leading and well respected Nigerian businessman who understands the need for efficiency and quality of service in business to succeed.:)





they also ordered a couple of brand new Canadian Bombadier CRJ-900 jetliners. (photo was taken on test flight in Montreal/Canada)





For more info visit their website: http://www.arikjobs.com/
 
#167 ·
Nigeria set to get night flights



It is not clear whether Nigerians would feel safe flying at night
Scheduled night flights are now possible between the Nigerian capital, Abuja and Lagos after the installation of new radar equipment, officials say.
"For the first time in the history of Nigerian aviation, we have been able to attain 24-hour radar coverage in Lagos and Abuja," a spokesman said.

Nigeria has experienced a series of tragic plane crashes leading to about 300 deaths in less than two years.

Officials could not locate the wreckage of one plane for almost 24 hours.

The plane crashed in a small village in south-western Ogun State, in October 2005, killing all 117 passengers and crew.

"All that will now be a thing of the past," Bayo Oladeji of the Nigerian federal aviation ministry told the BBC News website.

"In the past, there was radar coverage of only about 15km radius in both airports and even this was only for three or four hours a day," Mr Oladeji says.

"But now, it's 24 hours and this mean we are able to monitor every single plane flying between Lagos and Abuja 24 hours a day."

The new radar equipment, aviation officials say, covers 65 nautical miles from Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and 40 nautical miles from Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Mr Oladeji says the radar equipment will be extended to other airports across the country.
Source, BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6302423.stm
 
#168 · (Edited)
Picture of Nigeria's new domestic airliner (Nicon Arways)
The Airline was formed out of the now defunct EAS Airlines, The airline will supossedly become Nigeria's biggest domestic airline and may even venture into the intertanional field



Website: http://www.niconairways.com/
 
#170 ·
Tbite, it is unbelievable that Nicon Airways fly with those all old cranky Boeing 737-200 jetliners, can´t they buy some more modern jets like A320 or A319 or Boeing 737-700 or 800´s?? Indian businessmen are doing that , why not Nigerians???? Why do Nigerian investors only satisfy themselves with old planes the West doesn´t want to fly anymore and shortly after we can all read in the papers that Nigerian planes continue to crash!!! It frustrates...
 
#172 ·
Tbite, it is unbelievable that Nicon Airways fly with those all old cranky Boeing 737-200 jetliners, can´t they buy some more modern jets like A320 or A319 or Boeing 737-700 or 800´s?? Indian businessmen are doing that , why not Nigerians???? Why do Nigerian investors only satisfy themselves with old planes the West doesn´t want to fly anymore and shortly after we can all read in the papers that Nigerian planes continue to crash!!! It frustrates...
Thats known as a greedy approach.

But i agree with you that they should opt for better planes, and consider long term benefits to short terms.
 
#171 ·
yeah it is indeed fustrating but what can I say
 
#173 ·
Though you guys may be interested in this. Africa's 25 busiest airports and comparisons with 2004. Figures are for Nov'06-Oct'07. The figure in brackets indicates the airports position in 2004 and the % growth is from 2004 to current. Note the impressive growth at Marrackech and Luanda. Also very strong growth at Accra, Port Elizabeth, Addis Ababa, Durban and Casablanca. Generally Africa has seen growth levels significantly above the global average.


1 (1) Johannesburg....17 035 000......11.0%
2 (2) Cairo...............10 657 000......11.8%
3 (3) Cape Town........7 068 000......17.4%
4 (4) Sharm el Sheikh..4 930 000........7.4%
5 (7) Casablanca........4 861 000.......27.8%
6 (5) Hurghada..........4 705 000.........2.8%
7 (6) Nairobi..............4 417 000.......10.4%
8 (9) Monastir...........4 232 000........15.4%
9 (12) Durban............3 916 000.......26.1%
10 (8) Lagos..............3 804 000........2.9%
11 (10) Tunis..............3 693 000.......7.1%
12 (11) Algiers............3 440 000.......3.2%
13 (17) Marrackech......2 539 000......52.3%
14 (13) Jerba..............2 446 000........9.2%
15 (16) Mauritius.........2 199 000........6.8%
16 (19) Addis Ababa.....2 152 000.......35.9%
17 (14) Abuja..............2 016 000.......-9.7%
18 (15) Luxor..............2 014 000.......-5.2%
19 (18) St Denis..........1 409 000......-11.8%
20 (23) Port Elizabeth...1 386 000........31.9%
21 (22) Agadir.............1 318 000........13.6%
22 (24) Dar es Salaam..1 211 000........19.8%
23 (26) Mombasa.........1 176 000........20.5%
24 (31) Luanda............1 070 000........44.0%
25 (29) Accra..............1 061 000........31.6%
 
#178 ·
But I'm sure the airports will recover and maybe even climb to new heights
 
#179 ·
Kano, P'Harcourt airports to get 24-hour radar coverage
By Wole Shadare

EFFORTS to make the nation's airspace safer have intensified as indications emerged that the 24-hour radar service now enjoyed at the Lagos and Abuja airports would soon be extended to two other international airports - Kano and Port Harcourt.

The hint was dropped by the Minister of State for Air Transportation, Femi Fani-Kayode, through his Special Assistant, Bayo Oladeji.

The project in both airports, he added, would begin between March and April this year.

The move is coming barely a week after the Lagos and Abuja airport radars were completed to provide 24-hour air coverage.

Funds, he explained, were being sourced for the project, which he said was enormous.

The Port-Harcourt and Kano International airports lack functional radar and are regarded as airports with huge traffic outside the ones in Lagos and Abuja.

Radars at airports across the country have been described as obsolete, often giving inaccurate readings, thus necessitating the call for the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON).

TRACON is to provide main surveillance radar coverage to Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Kano and five remote sites at Obubra, Maiduguri , Sokoto, Ilorin and Bebi.

The project was conceived 10 years ago by the Federal Government to make the country's airspace safer for civil aviation traffic, while the primary radar assists the Nigerian Air Force with its surveillance of the country's skies.

TRACON, as proposed for Nigeria, is a turnkey project with integrated long range communications system and aeronautical information service and facilities. But the project has suffered several delays related to administration and finance.

Thrice, the contract had been amended with the cost, including the schedule of payment, renegotiated by the various chief executives of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). The immediate past chief executive also reviewed the project on assumption of office. All the amendments were reportedly done without recourse to due process.

The TRACON project was suspended after the government had already paid over N4 billion to Thales, a French firm for the over 70 million euro project.

Only recently, an interim report of a committee set up by the Minister of Air Transportation queried the inflation of the project to N1.6 billion, and faulted the process of the contract's award as well as the propriety of equipment being sought.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article06
 
#180 ·
Great News:)
 
#181 ·
SkyTeam pact to raise Kenya Airways status

Story by NATION Correspondent
Publication Date: 2007/02/03


Kenya Airways has signed an agreement with SkyTeam, the global airline alliance.

The move indicates that the airline is on track for Official Associate Airline status.

Kenya Airways managing director Titus Naikuni said the airline was certain to benefit from the expertise of all SkyTeam carriers as well as from greater global recognition and SkyTeam’s worldwide network.

The agreement outlines the carrier’s commitment to meet SkyTeam’s standards before it can be recognised as official associate airline. The programme allows SkyTeam to build a broader network and provide travellers with access to additional regions of the world.

Beneficial

KLM Royal Airlines senior vice-president for alliances, Mr Hans de Roos said: “Having African representation will be beneficial to the alliance as passengers travelling to and from this area will have access via SkyTeam”. He was speaking during the signing ceremony in Nairobi yesterday.

KLM owns a 26 per cent stake in Kenya Airways, while the Government controls 23 per cent. The rest of the shares are held by individuals.

SkyTeam offers its 373 million annual passengers a worldwide system of nearly 15,000 daily flights covering 728 destinations.

SkyTeam steering committee chairman Dominique Patry said its associate airline programme illustrates the alliance strategy to develop a global network, with particular emphasis on certain markets.
 
#183 ·
Future bright for African airlines, says expert

Story by NATION Reporter
Publication Date: 2007/02/10


Africa will be the next centre of growth for the airline industry, a travel expert has said.

Mr Mike Gray, the president of Uniglobe Travel, a worldwide tour and travel franchise, said opportunities for growth were enormous in the continent and between it and emerging economies of India, China and Brazil.

Mr Gray, however, said proper policies that attract investment in the airline industry must be put in place for accelerated growth in the sector.

Speaking at a function, held at Tamarind Restaurant on Thursday night, Mr Gray said there was a need for airlines to create more routes and open up new destinations in the continent.

“There are far too few routes in the continent compared to Europe and North America which are almost saturated,” he said.

The official said a chunk of revenue in the airline industry in the developed countries was generated within their respective continents due to numerous flights.

“The frequency of flights between various destinations is very high in Europe and North America compared to Africa and there is need to find ways of boosting air travel in Africa,” said Mr Gray, who heads the franchise’s sub-Saharan Africa office.

The members of Uniglobe in Kenya are Charleston, Speedbird, Holiday Bazaar, Let’s go Travel, Northline, Silverbird, Fleet Travel and Falcon, boasting a workforce of more than 160 workers.

Under the franchise, the tour and travel companies are expected to implement uniform standards aimed at improving services.

Mr Gray said travel and tour firms must ensure they hired qualified personnel as the industry was highly dependent on trained manpower.

Customer service

“Technology is advancing at a fast rate and companies must ensure they have the latest software to stay ahead of competition and provide the best customer service,” he said.

The official said members of a franchise could pool resources together to come up with quality software and minimise production costs.

He said travel companies must stop charging commissions for airline bookings saying the advent of on-line booking had revolutionised the industry.
 
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