The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) held a successful webinar with travel agents in Kenya and Rwanda on Thursday last week following a partnership agreement signed in January 2021 with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), East African Tourism Platform (EATP) and Rwanda Chamber of Tourism (RCT) to promote business and leisure travel in the East African Region.

The webinar was aimed at sensitizing travel agents on destination Rwanda and promotion of awareness of the #VisitRwanda campaign. The webinar highlighted the various opportunities available in Rwanda for business, leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) travel.

As EAC countries begin to resume normalcy, there is need for travel agents to rebuild their businesses that have been hit hard by COVID-19, and travel within the region is a critical starting point.

Mr. Mohamed Wanyoike, the chairperson for the Kenya Association of Travel Agents and a passionate proponent of intra-regional travel, said that the East African market is critical to Kenyan travel agents’ rebuilding process. In this context, he urged Kenyan travel agents to establish B2B linkages with their Rwandan counterparts and come up with creative travel packages that will spur regional travel.

“I encourage you to continue to focus on the opportunities in the Rwandan market, and encourage travellers to venture out to spectacular regional destinations in Rwanda,” he said.

He also emphasized that travellers in the Post Covid-19 era will be keen on security, wellness, and comfort and said that the three aspects that must be maintained in order to revive the spirit of travel in a post-COVID-19 situation. “These aspects will be a benchmark to gain the confidence of the domestic and regional traveller in order to revitalize travel,” stated Mr Wanyoike.

He urged all the regional stakeholders, business travel actors, as well as the travel industry to also be cognizant of the travel health protocols both in Kenya and Rwanda and the entire EAC, as strict adherence will be key restarting the travel industry.

Mr Wanyoike’s sentiments mirror the findings of the Travellers Readiness to Travel Post Covid-19 Survey that was conducted by KATA in partnership with the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre. The survey, that sought to gather insights on the travel habits of travelers, and how travel has been impacted by Covid-19, showed that 65 percent of travellers are willing and ready to start domestic travel with 34 percent willing to travel regionally.

This means that the efforts of KATA and its partners in boosting regional travel is a realistic expectation of the travel trend in the near future. KATA has been keen on creating partnerships that will enable her members establish business linkages and aid in the resumption of travel.

Following the successful webinar, KATA and her partners will be hosting subsequent B2B engagement sessions with travel agents from both countries that will go a long way in deepening business engagements among the agents. The Association will later conduct familiarization trips for her members to Rwanda to facilitate the much-needed destination knowledge and experience.

Robert Okumu, Country Manager RwandAir said that the airline will be sponsoring familiarisation trips into Rwanda for the travel agents in Kenya with a view of giving them an opportunity to experience the Business and Leisure travel products in Rwanda. He also said that they will be offering and competitive holiday packages and experience ahead of Easter Holidays for the Kenyan public to visit and explore the beauty, serenity and tranquility of Rwandan destinations.

Addis Ababa | Ethiopian Airlines has partnered with UNICEF to become its global distributor in the transportation of vaccines and other life-saving supplies. In a statement to the press, Ethiopian committed to prioritize the transportation of the life-saving supplies while ensuring measures such as temperature control, security and freight capacity are adhered to. 

This partnership follows the formation of the UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative between UNICEF and leading global airlines to support the COVAX Facility, a global solution to the COVID-19 pandemic that ensures participating countries have fair access to vaccines, regardless of their income level.

Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, lauded the partnership as a great move towards ensuring the safe, timely and efficient transportation of life-saving supplies globally, thereby supporting access to essential services for children and families. 

That Ethiopian was among the airlines selected by UNICEF comes as no surprise. The African Carrier has been working round the clock since the outbreak of the pandemic to ramp up its cargo capacity and deliver PPEs and other medical supplies around the world.

As countries began placing orders and administering COVID-19 vaccines, the big question that emerged was “who will handle the logistical nightmare that is transportation and distribution of the vaccines especially in Africa?”. But Ethiopian had demonstrated a remarkable agility in its response to the increased cargo demand in the wake of the pandemic.

The Airline reconfigured 25 passenger aircraft into freighters using its own internal MRO capabilities besides deploying all its 12 dedicated cargo aircrafts. By ramping up its cargo handling capacity, Ethiopian became the obvious preferred logistics partner for Africa (with Addis Ababa as its distribution hub) by the Jack Ma foundation, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) and the African CDC.

The carrier also operated more than 360 charter flights to transport PPE and other supplies to more than 100 countries across Africa, Europe, US and Asia.

While highlighting its readiness for the distribution of Covid-19 vaccine across Africa and the rest of the world, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services, in November 2020, announced the launch of a cold chain air freight that will be equipped with a temperature control system that monitors the cabin’s temperature in real-time.

So far, almost all vaccine candidates available need ultra-cold temperatures to transport or store.

Ethiopian Airlines has the largest cargo terminal in Africa, with an annual capacity of 1 million tonnes. The facility now comprises of a 54,000sqm Pharma Wing that has been outfitted with compartmentalized cold storage facilities with temperature between -23°C to 25°C. The Pharma Wing also comes with dedicated cool dollies, a dedicated pharma team, and lease/handling for Envirotainer and DoKaSCH-TS containers.

“We have invested heavily in our cargo capabilities and launched a new cold chain cargo transport equipped with simultaneous cabin temperature controlling system to efficiently distribute life-saving supplies across the world and we will discharge the global mission,” said Mr. GebreMariam.

Last month, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo was fated as the Best Cargo Airline in Africa at the 36th Air Cargo News Awards.

Qatar Airways is set to increase Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg frequencies from March.

The airline said in a statement that it has “applied unrivalled knowledge of global passenger flows and booking trends” to rebuild its South Africa network.

By March 2021, Qatar will operate 28 weekly flights from South Africa.

The airline will operate seven weekly flights from Cape Town, which begin on March 1. It has already increased its weekly flights from Durban (3) and Johannesburg (18).

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said South Africa is a top market for the airline.

“We continue to demonstrate our commitment to the region by adding new routes and steadily increasing frequencies across the continent.

“As global travel recovers in 2021, we look forward to further expanding our network and offering more connections to and from Africa via the best airport in the Middle East, Hamad International Airport (HIA), to our global network of over 120 destinations,” he said.

South African Tourism chief executive Sisa Ntshona said the news demonstrates that South Africa has put measures in place for safe travel during Covid-19.

“We are delighted at the confidence shown by Qatar Airways by increasing its air capacity to South Africa in these challenging times.

“This increase demonstrates to the world that South Africa has put the necessary measures in place to ensure that it is safe for travel in the Covid-19 environment.

“Air access is important for South Africa, as we to look to recovery post-Covid.

“Qatar Airways has an extensive global network that links travellers via Doha from our source markets.

“As we embark on our tourism recovery strategy, having airlines such as Qatar Airways play a supporting role by increasing its capacity will go a long way in assisting us to regain the international arrival numbers,” Ntshona said.

Qatar Airways has become the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star Covid-19 Airline Safety Rating by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax.

This follows HIA’s recent success as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star Covid-19 Airport Safety Rating.

Source: IOL

The Covid-19 vaccine is being rolled out at an precedented pace in human history. The world will be a safer place thanks to this, when millions of people gather in Dubai during the Dubai Expo 2020 this year, said a top official.

Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, said: “The rollout of Covid-19 vaccine globally is unprecedented in human history, a testament to human ability and human progress and also to human dignity.

“It is also happening at an astonishing pace, facilitated by the huge strides forward that travel and transport infrastructure has achieved in recent months.”

The UAE on Tuesday announced that over 40 per cent of the country’s population has received the vaccine.

Globally, 176 million shots have been administered in different countries, with Israel and the UAE leading when it comes to doses per 100 population.

Al Hashemi praised the role played by the UAE airlines and other government bodies in delivering Covid-19 vaccines to different parts of the world.

“Earlier this month, an Emirates plane touched down in Johannesburg, bringing with it South Africa’s first consignment of Coivid-19 vaccination – a historic moment in the country’s fight against the pandemic. And that story is being repeated on every continent,” she said.

In Abu Dhabi, the Hope Consortium is leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of Etihad Cargo and Abu Dhabi Ports Company to deliver billions of vaccine doses around the world by the end of this year,” she said during the Expo Talks – Travel and Connectivity webinar held on Tuesday.

UAE top donor

“Furthermore, we are proud of delivering more foreign aid per capita than any other nation because that means we are making a real difference in corners of the globe. That is what we do, because that’s who we are.

“Every time one of those doses makes its way into the arms of the recipient, this marks a victory not just for medical science, but for our shared commitment to human life and societal progress,” she added.

“And when millions of people from all corners of the globe gather in Dubai this October, it will be safer and healthy and fully immersed in the culture and wonders of the countries from all reaches of the globe,” she said.

Source: Khaleej Times

A major winter storm is impacting travel from Texas to the Northeast, causing widespread snowfall and ice that has forced thousands of flight delays and cancellations over the holiday weekend.

As of Monday morning, airports in eastern Texas, including Dallas/Fort Worth International and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental, continue to be hit hard by Winter Storm Uri, canceling hundreds of flights due to the inclement weather conditions. IAH was even forced to close its airfield.

Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines canceled all flights to and from St. Louis on Sunday and scrapped more flights on Monday.

“We did cancel the remaining flights at STL today to avoid passengers and airplanes being stranded as we track the winter storm that’s impacting a number of our airports,” the airline said in a statement.

According to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com, airports in Chicago, Denver and Nashville are also being heavily impacted by the wintry weather Monday, reporting dozens of flight cancellations. As of 9:30 a.m. ET Monday, the website is reporting more than 2,800 flight cancellations nationwide.

“Snow, possibly heavy at times, may fall Monday from eastern Texas into parts of northern Louisiana, Arkansas, the mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys and southern Great Lakes. Some snowfall or ice will expand as far east as the Northeast,” according to Weather.com. “Freezing rain and sleet will occur just to the east of the area of snow from southern and central Louisiana to the Tennessee Valley and the central Appalachians. The ice will make travel dangerous and could also damage trees and knock out power in some areas.”

The storm is expected to finish up in the Northeast on Tuesday, bringing snow and ice to parts of upstate New York and into western and northern New England but only rain to the busy I-95 corridor.

Major airlines, including American, Delta, United, Southwest, Frontier and JetBlue have issued waivers so passengers in affected areas can avoid traveling and becoming stranded without penalty.

As always, travelers impacted by the latest winter storm are encouraged to check their flight status with their airline prior to arriving at the airport and are advised to leave themselves extra time to reach the airport as roadways may be hazardous.

Source: Travel Pulse

ABUJA – Abuja resident Joseph Abba wished to honeymoon with his wife in the United States after their wedding in 2018.

He readied their documents and applied for a visa but says his visa was denied, even though he met the basic requirements.

“As an applicant, the pain of being refused, even when you know you’re qualified, is something else,” Abba said. “Having known the already concluded decisions even before going for the interview, it’s a discouragement on the applicant.”

Nigeria was one of several African nations included in the travel bans imposed by former U.S. president Donald Trump. As a result, travel between Nigeria and the U.S. became almost impossible.

The Trump administration said the restrictions were imposed because of terrorism concerns, saying the countries on the list did not meet minimum security standards.

But critics like Abba doubt security issues were the real reason.

Trump was highly criticized in his early days in office for derogatory comments about Africa countries.

“Nigeria is not the only country in the world that is having insecurity as a problem. Insecurity is just like the pandemic, it’s a global problem,” Abba said.

On his first day in office, Trump’s successor, Joe Biden, signed 17 executive orders, including one that overturned the travel restrictions.

Nigerian business owners like Taiwo Charles, who runs a travel agency in Abuja, welcomed the move.

“It’s a big relief for entrepreneurs like me, especially in the travel industry, who can now begin to see so many opportunities coming up and then begin to enjoy the benefits of influx between Nigeria and America,” Charles said.

With travel made easier once again, Nigerians like Abba said they will begin to visit the United States again, and travel companies are expecting to see a rise in revenue.

Source: VOA News

The Additional Director General of the India Ministry of Tourism, Ms. Rupinder Brar, said that technology will be a game-changer for the travel start-up industry and government is ready to support new ideas and collaborate with start-ups.

Addressing a webinar on “Travel Start-up Accelerator Series – Towards A Self-Reliant India,” organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Ms. Brar said that COVID-19 will accelerate the digital transformation in the India travel and tourism industry that will lead to innovative, creative, and out of the box thinking. “We cannot miss out on the software product opportunity that lies in front of India, and this is the time for start-ups to ‘Make in India’ and for the world,” she added.

Ms. Brar stated that as travel restrictions are easing, both the government and industry are coming up with ideas to implement minimum or no-contact set up. “E-visa seems to be the way forward which can act as a supporting tool for the promotional campaigns run by the governments. This will also help in recognizing a tourist destination as a safe destination,” she said.

Highlighting the global competition in the tourism industry, Ms. Brar said: “Adopting digital technology provides the best opportunity for the tourism industry to cement their position in the Indian economy. There has never been a better time for the industry to use it and make themselves globally competitive.”

The slow easing of international travel restrictions in the future will result in intense competition as countries will target the same markets. This calls for an aggressive strategy focusing on the intense use of technology, noted Ms. Brar. 

The Director of Travel, BFSI, Classifieds, Gaming, Telco & Payments for Google India, Ms. Roma Datta, said digital adoption by consumers has increased in the past few months, and travel start-ups must leverage the opportunities in digitization.

“Understanding the changing needs of the travelers; reinventing, reimagining, and being relevant are key factors for travel start-ups. COVID-19 has taught India to be ‘Atmanirbhar [self-reliant],’ and several start-ups will emerge from this adversity by seeking inspiration from the global market,” said Ms. Datta.

The Co-Chairman of the FICCI Travel Technology Committee & Thought Leader, Mr. Ashish Kumar, said that companies need to focus on innovation which is the key for sustained growth. Travel companies and businesses must promote their safety protocols and encourage travelers to also keep sustainability in mind, he added.

The Co-Chairman of the FICCI Travel Technology Committee & Co-Founder TBO Group, and Managing Director of the Nijhawan Group, Mr. Ankush Nijhawan, said that the new travel companies are extremely talented but require mentorship to take the next step. He also urged the government to support and boost the start-up sector in India. 

The Secretary General of FICCI, Mr. Dilip Chenoy, said that start-up as a concept challenges the existing business models, markets, and thought process and brings in disruption. “During the pandemic, we must identify the start-ups and help them accelerate. This is a time to create a new experience which is safe, secure, and generates a growth paradigm for the industry,” he added.

The webinar was moderated by Mr. Kartik Sharma, Board Member of the Start-Up Mentor Board.

Source: https://www.eturbonews.com/823370/technology-will-be-game-changer-for-travel-start-ups/

Kenya Airways (KQ) is celebrating one year since making its maiden flight from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi to John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York on 29^th October 2018.

The Kenyan national carrier marked a milestone with the introduction of direct flights to New York City exactly a year ago, a move that was welcomed by many.

Statistics indicate that the flight has made about 594 hauls and flew at least 105, 000 passengers.

Kenya Airways CEO Mr. Sebastian Mikosz said that they have been operating daily during the peak season and five days a week during the off-peak season. The USA is one of the many top tourists’ source market.

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) lauded KQ for the milestone and indicating that their clients have had great experiences on the flights.

The Scott Travel Group Managing Director Ms. Tracy Scott congratulated the airline adding that her clients are happy with the flights.

“It is great for Kenya and I can see it having a progressive positive impact on our ties and trading with the US, and on Kenya’s continued standing as a global player.  As a Brit, who feels sad about looming Brexit, I think it’s great that Kenya is forging closer ties with the US and other countries, and that Kenya Airways is pushing to expand its network in this way.” Ms. Scott said.

Mr. Patrick Kamanga, MD of Deans Travel Centre also lauded the airline. He however urged KQ to consider partnerships with other airlines in the US to allow an easier commute for travellers.

“This is the best thing that KQ ever did but unfortunately without plan, we still are unable to sell to other points in the USA. Not all Kenyans are traveling to JFK. KQ are yet to set up proper agreements with Delta or other airlines forcing us to issue two separate tickets when one wants to fly to a point outside JFK. Rate becomes too high!” he stated.

To mark this milestone, Mr. Mikosz said that they are offering a 30% discount on all their destinations.

Low-cost carrier Jambojet will start flying to Rwanda and Somalia next month with the opening of ticket sales.

The latest routes by the airline, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways, will mark the second and third international destinations that the carrier flies to regionally after Entebbe.

The airline says it seeks to enable more passengers to fly affordably and reliably from its hub in Nairobi.

“Our entry into the two markets is part of our regional expansion programme and brings to three the total number of routes we operate on the continent with the exception of those we fly to on behalf of Kenya Airways,” said Jambojet chief executive officer Allan Kilavuka.

The budget airline says customers can book flights through existing distribution channels, including its website, sales offices, call centre and travel agents.

The airline will have daily flights to Kigali and Mogadishu.

The one hour Nairobi-Kigali route will begin on November 25 at 2:35PM and from Kigali at 4:15PM with a promotional fare of Sh11,240.

The Nairobi-Mogadishu route will operate from November 24, departing Nairobi at 06:00AM to arrive at 08:45. The fare will start from Sh24,470 one way.

Jambojet currently flies to five local destinations and to Entebbe, Uganda from its hub in Nairobi.

Recently, Jambojet acquired a brand new De Havilland Dash 8-Q400 aircraft, a first of four that are expected this year, to boost the airline’s capacity as it eyes more regional destinations.

Our Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/companies/Jambojet-Mogadishu-Kigali-flights/4003102-5328992-f35sq3z/index.html