The ongoing conflict in Iran has led to mass flight delays and cancellations, disrupting the travel plans of thousands of passengers.

Following US and Israeli attacks on Iran launched on February 28, Gulf states, including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iran, Israel, and Iraq, introduced full or partial airspace closures and temporary flight restrictions. Flights have since begun to gradually resume through controlled aviation corridors in parts of the Middle East, with limited departures available from Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.

Flights to and from Dubai International Airport (DXB) gradually resumed to select destinations on Monday, March 16, following a drone-related fire that temporarily grounded flights. In a March 17 interview with CNN, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said that DXB has “facilitated the journeys of over a million passengers over the last 17 days” and that the airport is “back up to about 40-45% of normal traffic movements,” a recovery rate he credits to being able to detect and respond to threats in real-time.

Passengers are being advised to not travel to the airport unless they have been directly contacted by their airline with confirmed flights. If you’re traveling in the region, here’s what you need to know.

Which airlines have suspended flights?

Flights continue to be disrupted at Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, Bahrain International Airport, Doha’s Hamad International Airport, Kuwait International Airport, Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. Airlines are advising passengers to only travel to the airport if you are contacted directly by your carrier with a confirmed flight booking.

El Al: Beginning March 16, Israel’s flag carrier El Al began operating a total of six non-stop flights from Tel Aviv to New York designated exclusively for American citizens. “Thousands of American citizens whose flights back to the United States were canceled due to the war with Iran are currently staying in Israel,” the airline said in a statement. “EL AL will proactively contact U.S. citizens holding valid EL AL flight tickets whose flights were canceled and have not yet been reassigned, and will offer them placement on these dedicated flights at no additional cost.” All US citizens in Israel in need of recovery flights should complete this form, whether or not they have already purchased a ticket.

Emirates: Emirates is back to operating a reduced flight schedule after a brief pause in flights due to a drone related fire at DXB on March 16. “If your travel plans have been affected, we’ll do our best to rebook you on the next available Emirates flight. This applies to most disrupted tickets, including journeys connecting beyond Dubai,” the airline said in the most recent update on its website.

Etihad Airways: Etihad has resumed operating with a limited schedule to 70 destinations that is in place until March 19. Tickets are now on sale via the Etihad website to several destinations across the globe, with additional destinations set to be added as conditions permit. These flights will run in addition to special repatriation flights for stranded passengers. Passengers with Etihad flight tickets issued on or before February 28, 2026 for travel scheduled up to March 10, 2026 may change their booking without a rebooking fee on Etihad-operated flights departing up to March 31, 2026.

Qatar Airways: Qatar Airways has announced a limited number of flights to and from Doha after Qatar Civil Aviation Authority authorized “limited operating corridors.” The flights are scheduled for March 17 and 18 with a range of international departures and destinations, including Cairo, Casablanca, New York, Frankfurt, Madrid, London and Mumbai. For the full list of routes, see the Qatar Airways website. The temporary schedule is being offered to “passengers who have been affected by the current disruption, and to help them reunite with family and friends as quickly and safely as possible” and “do not constitute a confirmation of the resumption of scheduled commercial operations,” the airline advised.

Flydubai: Flydubai “is gradually resuming its operations with a reduced schedule” after the fire at DXB on March 16. “Some scheduled flights have been affected by the temporary suspension of operations,” the airline wrote in a statement. “We are contacting customers who have been impacted to notify them if their flight has been canceled or rescheduled.”

Oman Air: Oman’s state-owned flag carrier has canceled flights to and from Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad, and Khasab until Sunday, March 22, when the airline says another update will be provided.

Air Arabia: Air Arabia has started operating a limited number of flights to and from the UAE through March 22, subject to operational and regulatory approvals. Destinations on the updated line-up include Vienna, Athens, Cairo, Kathmandu, Muscat, Islamabad, Jeddah and Bangkok, and the full list can be viewed and booked on the Air Arabia website.

Air India: Air India and Air India Express canceled all flights to and from Dubai on Tuesday, March 17. The airline has begun operating a limited number of flights from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Salalah. The majority of these flights are being run on an ad-hoc basis, and are not following the airline’s regular schedule. Flights to Jeddah and Muscat are running as scheduled, per the airline’s latest update.

IndiGo: Indian carrier IndiGo has temporarily suspended its flights to Doha, Kuwait City, Sharjah, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah until Saturday, March 28. On March 16, the airline said on X that “as per the latest update issued by Dubai Airport authorities, landing permissions for aircraft operating into DXB have been suspended until further notice in view of the prevailing situation in the region.”

British Airways: British Airways canceled all flights between London Heathrow and Amman, Bahrain, Dubai, and Tel Aviv up to and including May 31. Its Doha route will be reinstated at the end of April. Its daily flight between London and Abu Dhabi has been suspended until later this year. “We’re keeping the situation under constant review and are in touch with our customers to offer them a range of options,” the airline said in an update on Monday, March 16.

Gulf Air: Gulf Air flights from Bahrain remain indefinitely suspended while Bahraini airspace remains closed. However, passengers can now book flights from Dammam to Frankfurt, Nairobi, London, Mumbai, and Bangkok for travel until March 28, 2026,” the airline said. “Transport between Bahrain and Dammam will be arranged for passengers with confirmed tickets.”

Lufthansa: German carrier Lufthansa has ⁠suspended ⁠all flights to ​and from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Amman, and Erbil until Saturday, March 28; flights to and from Tel Aviv until Thursday, April 2; and flights to Tehran until Monday, April 30.

Virgin Atlantic: British carrier Virgin Atlantic has suspended its seasonal flight route from London to Dubai for the rest of the winter (the route was originally scheduled to run until March 28) and paused its flights to Riyadh until March 25. In a March 11 statement the British carrier said it expects “to have returned all customers who are away from home by early next week” and will be reaching out directly to impacted customers to discuss the options available to them. No new updates have been posted since.

KLM: Dutch airline KLM has canceled all flights to Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam through Saturday, March 28. “Passengers whose flights have been canceled will be notified and can rebook their tickets free of charge or request a refund via My Trip,” the airline said in a statement issued on Thursday, March 12. “KLM remains available for the repatriation of stranded travelers. This is coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

SalamAir: Oman’s SalamAir is offering flights between Fujairah International Airport and Muscat, with connecting journeys to Lucknow, Calicut, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Karachi and Cairo. Tickets should be purchased directly from the airline’s website or an authorized travel agency. Flights to Iraq, Lebanon and Iran are suspended until April 30, while flights to Kuwait, Sharjah, Doha and Dammam are set to resume on March 31.

Kuwait Airways: Commercial arrivals and departures at Kuwait International Airport (KWI) are currently on hold. Kuwaiti citizens with existing bookings with the airline are being flown to Jeddah as part of an emergency repatriation plan. From Saudi Arabia, passengers are required to complete the final leg of their journey to Kuwait by land.

Air Canada: Air Canada has canceled all flights to Dubai through March 28 and suspended service to Tel Aviv through May 2. Passengers with flights booked through March 15 to Abu Dhabi (AUH), Amman (AMM), Beirut (BEY), Dammam (DMM), and Erbil (EBL) can change their trip to another date between now and March 31, 2026.

Which countries have closed their airspace?

The United Arab Emirates has partially reopened its airspace after a drone related fire on Monday, March 16. Dubai Airports, the authority that oversees both Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), are operating a small number of flights. Passengers are urged to not go to the airport unless they have been directly contacted by their airline about rebooking.

Qatar has partially reopened its airspace to allow a limited number of repatriation flights to take place; however, scheduled commercial flights remain temporarily suspended.

Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Bahrain have all closed their airspace. Kuwait also closed its airspace following a drone attack on its airport reported on February 28.

According to the US Department of State, Saudi Arabia‘s airspace is open with commercial flights currently operating out of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran. However, travelers should anticipate “frequent air traffic restrictions to address continued missile and drone threats,” the US embassy said in a March 17 travel alert, which may lead to flight cancellations and delays.

Which destinations are impacted?

The impact has widened to include major regional hubs and key transit corridors:

• Tel Aviv: Israeli airspace remains heavily restricted, with many international carriers continuing to suspend services or pause routes.
• Dubai and Abu Dhabi: UAE airspace has partially reopened, with a limited number of flights operating from Dubai International (DXB), Dubai World Central (DWC) and Zayed International Airport (AUH). Services remain selective and passengers are being contacted directly by airlines if booked on operating flights.
• Iran and Iraq: Airspace remains closed or largely avoided by international airlines, with most carriers continuing to reroute around both countries.
• Kuwait: Airspace remains closed and commercial operations at Kuwait International Airport are suspended following a drone strike that damaged Terminal 1.
• Doha: Qatari airspace remains closed; however, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority has approved limited operating corridors for repatriation flights.
• Bahrain: Bahraini airspace remains closed as mandated by the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority.

How will this impact my flight?

Travelers should expect a range of practical disruptions, including:

Technical stops: Particularly on low-cost carriers, with unscheduled fuel stops in southern Europe

Flight cancellations: While airspace is closed, airlines have no choice but to ground flights

Schedule shifts: If and when flights resume, expect there to be a knock-on impact on flight schedules as airlines scramble to get passengers back in the air

Rerouting delays: longer flight durations even on services that remain operational

Airlines are offering refunds and flexible rebooking options, though policies vary by carrier.

Source: cntraveler.com

Kenya Airways (KQ), the national carrier of Kenya, has officially entered into a strategic interline partnership agreement with CemAir (5Z), a prominent regional airline in South Africa, to greatly boost connectivity in Africa. This partnership will greatly boost the operations of Kenya Airways, as the airline will be able to offer seamless travel from South Africa to other destinations in Africa. This partnership will make Kenya Airways the best regional airline in Africa.

The interline partnership agreement between the two airlines will allow Kenya Airways passengers to fly to various destinations offered by CemAir, including domestic routes in South Africa and regional routes such as Maun, Victoria Falls, and Harare. On the other hand, CemAir passengers will be able to fly to various destinations offered by Kenya Airways, including Dar es Salaam, Addis Ababa, Entebbe, Accra, and Abidjan, among others.

Strengthening Travel Connectivity in Africa’s Expanding Market

The agreement reflects the growing importance of increased connectivity in Africa’s aviation market, where regional airlines are collaborating to provide more travel options and improved access to key destinations. By offering single-ticket itineraries and coordinated connections, Kenya Airways and CemAir are helping to drive forward the growth of African travel connectivity, reducing friction for passengers traveling between different regions of the continent.

In recent years, Africa’s aviation sector has seen significant expansion, with increasing demand for both business and leisure travel. As more travelers seek to explore multiple African destinations on a single trip, partnerships like this one between Kenya Airways and CemAir are critical in meeting that demand, enhancing accessibility and convenience for passengers.

New Horizons for South African and East African Travel

The partnership will provide direct access from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Kenya Airways’ extensive African network, offering travelers a broader range of connections across the continent. For CemAir passengers, this partnership opens up new options for exploring East Africa, while Kenya Airways customers gain easier access to South African destinations and regional travel hubs in Southern Africa.

For business travelers, increased connectivity means smoother travel for meetings, conferences, and industry events across both regions. For tourists, this agreement offers more options to explore the diverse cultures, landscapes, and experiences that Africa has to offer. As a result, this partnership contributes to the broader growth of travel and tourism across the continent, reinforcing the significance of air travel as a catalyst for economic development.

Enhancing Africa’s Role in the Global Travel Market

By expanding its regional connectivity, Kenya Airways is also positioning itself as a key player in Africa’s growing role in the global travel market. As a hub for travel across East Africa, Kenya Airways is strengthening its ability to link the African continent with the rest of the world. With more seamless connections to Southern Africa, West Africa, and Central Africa, Kenya Airways is reinforcing its strategy to connect Africa with key global markets, attracting both business and leisure travelers.

This agreement with CemAir is part of Kenya Airways’ larger strategy to expand its network through strategic partnerships. By focusing on increased connectivity, Kenya Airways is meeting the growing demand for cross-border travel and ensuring that Africa remains an accessible and competitive destination on the global stage.

A Stronger Future for African Airlines and Travelers

The collaboration between Kenya Airways and CemAir also signals the potential for greater collaboration among African airlines in the future. As the continent’s aviation market continues to expand, the need for interline agreements and partnerships will only increase, allowing airlines to create stronger networks that benefit regional economies, tourism growth, and local industries.

Passengers will benefit from a more integrated travel network across the continent, with increased flight options, coordinated schedules, and easier access to destinations that were previously harder to reach. This growth in connectivity is not only a boon for travelers but also a significant step toward building a more cohesive and integrated African air transport system.

A New Era of Travel Connectivity for Africa

The interline agreement between Kenya Airways and CemAir is an important milestone in the journey toward improving connectivity for the people of Africa. The agreement provides passengers with the opportunity to reach new destinations without having to face the hassle of traveling. Therefore, the partnership is an improvement for the African air transport industry, and Kenya Airways and CemAir are pioneers in the quest for the growth of the African air transport industry.

With the emergence of new strategic partnerships in the continent, the future of the African air transport industry is bright. The connectivity between East and South Africa is an important factor that will boost the growth of the continent. It will be easier for tourists to visit the continent, thereby boosting the tourism industry.

Source: travelandtourworld.com

For decades, the story of African tourism was often told through the lens of individual nations competing for a slice of the global traveler’s pie. In 2026, that narrative has shifted dramatically. As of March 19, 2026, South Africa has officially aligned its strategic weight with a powerful coalition including Kenya, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Nigeria, Mauritius, and Tunisia to shape a unified future for the continent’s travel industry.

This isn’t just a series of marketing campaigns; it is a fundamental restructuring of how 54 nations view their borders, their skies, and their natural heritage. From the peaks of the Atlas Mountains to the savannahs of the Maasai Mara and the urban pulse of Johannesburg, Africa is finally rebranding itself as a single, accessible, and high-tech destination.

The Power of the “United Front”

The latest updates from the continental tourism summit highlight a pivotal change: collaboration over competition. South Africa’s inclusion in this elite group of tourism “shapers” signifies a commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) principles, specifically applied to the movement of people.

Leading the charge are South Africa and Kenya, who have pioneered reciprocal visa-free entry, a move that has already seen a 25% surge in intra-African travel in the first quarter of 2026. By removing the “paperwork wall,” these nations are proving that the biggest growth market for African tourism is, in fact, Africans themselves.

Morocco and Egypt: The Mediterranean Anchors

While the south focuses on accessibility, the north is redefining “Luxury with a Conscience.” Morocco and Egypt have reported record-breaking numbers for early 2026, fueled by massive investments in eco-resorts and archaeological preservation.

Morocco’s “Green Marrakesh” initiative has become the blueprint for urban sustainable tourism, while Egypt’s completed Grand Egyptian Museum has integrated AI-driven visitor management to prevent over-tourism. These nations are no longer just showing off history; they are using 2026 technology to ensure that history survives for another millennium.

The Digital Nomad Revolution: Mauritius and Tunisia

One of the most human-centric shifts in 2026 is the rise of the “Work-from-Africa” movement. Mauritius and Tunisiahave emerged as global leaders in the digital nomad space.

By offering specialized one-year residency permits and high-speed satellite internet corridors in coastal towns, these countries are attracting a new generation of travelers who stay longer and integrate deeper into local communities. This isn’t just “hit-and-run” tourism; it’s a lifestyle choice that is funneling consistent revenue into local grocery stores, cafes, and co-working spaces rather than just large international hotel chains.

Nigeria and Zimbabwe: Infrastructure and Hidden Gems

Nigeria continues to leverage its cultural exports—Afrobeats, film, and fashion—to drive “ancillary tourism.” Travelers are no longer just coming to Lagos for business; they are staying for the festivals and the creative energy of a nation that defines global pop culture.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is witnessing a renaissance in wildlife tourism. By focusing on community-led conservation, in which local villages share in the profits of safari lodges, Zimbabwe has increased its rhino populations while lifting thousands of families out of poverty. It is a human-first approach to nature that is resonating with the “conscious traveler” of 2026.

The 2026 Technology Leap

The report highlights three key technological pillars that are unifying these diverse nations:

The Unified African E-Visa: A pilot program involving twelve nations (including Kenya and South Africa) that allows travelers to apply for one permit to visit multiple countries.

Electric Aviation: Several short-haul routes between Nairobi and Entebbe, and Cape Town and Gaborone, are now being serviced by electric “puddle jumpers,” reducing the carbon footprint of regional travel.

Blockchain for Heritage: Using digital ledgers to track and verify “fair trade” souvenirs, ensuring that when a traveler buys a carving in Zimbabwe or a textile in Ghana, the artisan receives the majority of the payment.

A Human Perspective: Why This Matters

Beyond the statistics and the diplomatic handshakes, this shift is about the people on the ground. It’s about the tour guide in Cairo who can now easily take a training course in Cape Town. It’s about the Nigerian entrepreneur who can open a boutique hotel in Kenya without months of bureaucratic red tape.

The “Future of African Tourism” is no longer about beckoning the world to come and see “the wild.” It is about inviting the world to participate in a thriving, modern, and interconnected society.

Looking Ahead

As we move further into 2026, the challenges remain—climate change and global economic fluctuations are ever-present. However, with the “Big Eight” (South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Nigeria, Mauritius, and Tunisia) pulling in the same direction, the continent is no longer at the mercy of global travel trends. It is setting them.

Africa is no longer the “last frontier” of tourism. It is the new leader.

Source: travelandtourworld.com

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its Long‑Term Demand Projections (LTDP) for air travel, showing that global air passenger demand is expected to more than double by 2050.

Under the mid‑range scenario, demand is forecast to reach 20.8 trillion revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), based on a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% (2024-2050) from the 9 trillion RPKs seen in 2024.
A higher growth scenario would see a 3.3% CAGR with passenger demand reaching 21.9 trillion RPKs in 2050. A lower growth scenario would see 2.9% CAGR with passenger demand reaching 19.5 trillion RPKs by 2050.
The different scenarios are driven by alternative modeling of long-term economic growth, populations, aviation fuel price trends, the global energy transition, and air transport supply-side capacity development.

“The outlook for air travel is positive. People want to travel and, under all our modeled scenarios, the demand to fly is expected to more than double by mid-century. That is good news for global economic and social development because aviation growth will catalyze opportunities, including jobs, around the world. Our Long-Term Demand report gives governments, industry, and energy suppliers a robust basis for long‑term planning. It underscores the need for policy frameworks to support key success enablers such as efficient infrastructure development, market access facilitation, regulatory harmonization, and an effective clean energy transition,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Regional Outlook: Growth Concentrated in Emerging Markets

The pace of growth will be uneven across regions, reflecting differences in demographics, market maturity, economic development, and connectivity potential. Under the mid‑range scenario, Asia‑Pacific and Africa are expected to be the fastest‑growing regions over 2024-2050, with CAGRs of 3.8% and 3.6% respectively. Europe and North America are projected to grow more slowly, at 2.5% and 2.8%.

The LTDP identifies the fastest‑growing markets as intra‑Africa (4.9%), Africa–Asia‑Pacific (4.5%), Asia‑Pacific–Middle East (3.9%), intra‑Asia‑Pacific (3.9%), and Africa–North America (3.8%), highlighting the importance of investment in aviation infrastructure and regulatory frameworks in developing regions. By contrast, several Europe‑centered markets are among the slowest growing.

Two long-term trends identified in the report are worth noting:

The LTDP confirms that the COVID‑19 pandemic caused a permanent structural shift in global aviation demand. Unlike previous crises, the unprecedented collapse in RPK has created a persistent gap that is not expected to converge back to the pre-pandemic GDP-aligned trend by 2050, even under the high‑growth scenario.
While long‑term demand remains robust, the growth rate is moderating gradually. Historical analysis shows that average annual growth slowed from 6.1% CAGR between 1972 and 1998, to 4.5% CAGR between 1998 and 2024. The central scenario for 2024-2050 projects a further slowing to 3.1% CAGR. This gradual moderation reflects market maturity rather than weakening demand, as absolute passenger numbers continue to rise significantly.

Factors Impacting on the Model

IATA’s proprietary model used by the LTDP is based on a comprehensive global econometric model built on the best available data from international institutions and IATA’s own DDS demand database. The unique dataset compiled for this work comprises more than half a million observations across around 41,000 directional country pairs over 14 years from 2011 to 2024. The LTDP model incorporates population, employment, flight frequencies, and aircraft size at the country level. The most significant demand driver is real GDP (Gross

Domestic Product) per capita, adjusted for PPP (Purchasing Power Parity). Long-term country-specific economic projections are obtained from the publicly available OECD global long-run economic scenarios. The LTDP scenarios are also linked to scenarios for how the evolution of the global energy transition may impact long-term demand. The model’s projection performance has been validated against historical data and shows an average prediction accuracy of 98% at the industry level.

Source: breakingtravelnews.com

ASKY Airlines is positioning itself for stronger Pan-African leadership and gradual intercontinental expansion as the carrier looks to strengthen connectivity across the continent.

In an interview with VoyagesAfriq, Commercial Director Dovéne Tevi Benissan said the airline’s long-term vision is to build ASKY into a leading African connectivity hub while maintaining strong operational discipline and service reliability.

From its base in Lomé, the airline is working to reinforce its dominance in West and Central Africa while positioning the Togolese capital as a strategic gateway linking the continent to global markets. The strategy focuses on expanding regional connectivity, improving service consistency and strengthening the airline’s commercial performance.

ASKY’s growth plans are supported by its long-standing partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, which provides technical expertise, operational support and access to a broader network spanning more than 140 destinations worldwide. The collaboration has enabled ASKY to build a strong multi-destination network across Africa while maintaining high operational standards.

Benissan said the airline’s commercial philosophy balances profitability with customer satisfaction, stressing that safety and reliability remain non-negotiable. “Safety is the absolute foundation of our business. Every decision—from scheduling to aircraft deployment—is filtered through that lens,” he noted.

Fleet development will play a central role in the airline’s next phase of growth. Over the next decade, ASKY plans to harmonise and gradually expand its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, increasing frequency on high-demand routes while opening select new destinations. Two additional Boeing 737 aircraft are expected to join the fleet in 2026, with two more planned for 2027 to support capacity expansion.

Beyond Africa, the airline is also studying potential intercontinental opportunities, particularly in Europe. Cities such as Paris, Lisbon and Madrid are among destinations under consideration as ASKY evaluates the feasibility of launching long-haul services in the future.

At the same time, the carrier is investing in operational resilience, strengthening collaboration with airports, ground handlers and regulators to minimise disruptions and ensure reliable service delivery across its network.

For Benissan, the airline’s mission extends beyond business performance. “ASKY is not just about moving people,” he said. “It is about facilitating Africa’s progress by connecting cities, markets and communities across the continent.”

As the airline expands its network and modernises operations, ASKY aims to reinforce its role as a key driver of regional connectivity and economic integration across Africa.

In today’s digital travel economy, booking a flight or holiday package can take only a few clicks, but behind that convenience lies a growing vulnerability. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting the travel industry, exploiting online booking systems, digital wallets, and mobile payment platforms to steal billions of dollars each year from travellers and businesses alike.

Globally, payment fraud has become one of the fastest-growing threats to the travel sector. Industry research estimates that travel-related fraud losses now exceed $21 billion annually, driven by schemes such as stolen credit card transactions, fake booking websites, account takeovers, and phishing attacks. At the consumer level, analysts project that travellers could lose more than $13 billion to scams, highlighting the scale of a problem that continues to evolve as digital payments become the norm.

Against this backdrop, travel industry leaders, fintech innovators, and regulators will gather in Nairobi this week for the Kenya Travel Industry Payments Summit (KTRIPS) 2026, a forum aimed at strengthening fraud prevention and safeguarding digital transactions across the sector.

Organised by the Kenya Association of Travel Agents, the two-day summit will take place March 25, 2026, at the PrideInn Azure Hotel in Westlands under the theme “Risk-Proofing Travel Agencies: Effective Fraud Management in the Digital Payment Era.” The event will bring together travel agencies, airlines, financial institutions, fintech providers, and cybersecurity experts to examine the growing threat of payment fraud and explore strategies to counter it.

The urgency of the discussions reflects the scale of the challenge. As global travel increasingly moves online, with digital bookings now accounting for a majority of travel transactions, the sector has become a prime target for cybercriminals. Fraud schemes range from stolen payment credentials used to purchase airline tickets to identity theft, loyalty-programme account takeovers, and sophisticated phishing campaigns designed to capture travellers’ financial data.

Seasonal spikes in travel demand can further increase exposure. Studies show that fraud attempts in the travel sector can rise by nearly 30 percent during peak travel periods, when the surge in transactions creates opportunities for criminals to exploit gaps in payment verification systems.

For Kenya’s travel industry, which continues to grow with rising ticket sales, tour packages, and inbound tourism, the stakes are particularly high. Payment fraud not only leads to financial losses through chargebacks and cancelled bookings but can also damage customer trust and business reputations in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Dr. Joseph Kithitu, Chairman of the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA), says strengthening payment security has become critical as the industry embraces digital commerce.

“For any business transaction to be complete, someone has to pay the other,” he said, noting that secure payment systems are fundamental to the sustainability of modern travel businesses. “As the industry shifts rapidly toward digital platforms, we must ensure those payment channels remain secure, reliable, and trusted by both travellers and service providers.”

Previous editions of the KTRIPS forum focused largely on innovations transforming travel payments, from digital wallets to real-time settlement systems. This year’s summit, however, marks a shift toward defensive strategies, reflecting growing concern about the rising sophistication of financial fraud.

The programme will feature keynote presentations analysing global fraud trends and their implications for African travel markets, alongside expert panel discussions and practical case studies examining real-world fraud scenarios.

Participants are expected to examine solutions such as artificial intelligence-driven fraud detection, real-time transaction monitoring, advanced authentication protocols, and automated risk-management systems designed to flag suspicious activity without disrupting legitimate transactions.

Financial institutions, fintech firms, regulators, and travel professionals will also share insights on how to strengthen industry collaboration, improve fraud intelligence-sharing, and build more resilient payment ecosystems.

According to Dr. Kithitu, collective action will be key to protecting the future of travel commerce.

“Fraud is becoming more sophisticated and more organised, and addressing it requires a coordinated response from the entire ecosystem,” he said. “By bringing together travel agencies, banks, technology providers, and regulators, KTRIPS provides a platform where we can develop practical solutions that protect both businesses and travellers.”

As digital transactions continue to reshape the global travel landscape, the discussions in Nairobi are expected to play an important role in defining how the industry strengthens its defences against fraud.

For travel businesses navigating an increasingly digital marketplace, secure payments are no longer just a technical concern; they have become a cornerstone of customer trust and long-term industry resilience.

As the sun dipped over the Indian Ocean and the evening call to prayer echoed across Mombasa, travel professionals gathered at the Sapphire Hotel for an event that symbolised something bigger than a training session. It was a quiet but powerful signal of how Kenya’s travel industry continues to strengthen partnerships, invest in agent capacity and expand its footprint along the Coast.

The Skyward Airlines Training and Iftar Dinner, hosted in collaboration with the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA), brought together travel agents, the airline representatives and industry partners for an evening that combined professional development with networking during the holy month of Ramadan.

While the programme itself was modest in size, its significance reflected a broader shift in the Kenyan travel sector, one where collaboration between airlines and travel agents is increasingly becoming the backbone of industry growth.

The session began with a focused training workshop on Skyward Airlines’ new booking portal, designed to equip travel agents with practical knowledge on how to navigate the platform more efficiently. For many agents operating in the Coast region, the training offered an opportunity to deepen their understanding of airline distribution systems while improving the speed and accuracy of flight bookings.

In an industry where technology continues to reshape the way travel products are sold and managed, such training sessions are becoming essential. Airlines are introducing increasingly sophisticated booking systems, and agents must constantly update their skills to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Skyward Airlines’ new booking portal is part of this broader digital transformation, aimed at simplifying the booking process for travel professionals while improving service delivery to passengers. By providing agents with hands-on exposure to the system, the training ensured participants left not only with theoretical knowledge but also practical confidence in using the platform.

Beyond the technical training, the event also highlighted the growing role of the Coast region in Kenya’s travel ecosystem. Traditionally associated primarily with leisure tourism, the region is increasingly becoming an important hub for travel trade engagement, training and industry networking.

For KATA, expanding its activities beyond Nairobi and strengthening engagement with agents across the country is a key priority. The association has in recent years intensified its presence in regional markets, recognising that travel agents operating outside the capital play a vital role in connecting local travellers to domestic and international destinations.

The Mombasa event reflected this commitment. By bringing together agents from across the Coast region, the training created an environment where professionals could exchange insights, discuss emerging industry trends and explore new business opportunities.

Events like this also strengthen the relationship between airlines and travel agents, a partnership that remains central to the travel distribution chain despite the growth of online booking platforms.

While digital platforms have made it easier for travellers to book flights directly, travel agents continue to play a crucial role in managing complex itineraries, corporate travel, group bookings and specialised travel services. For airlines such as Skyward, maintaining strong relationships with the agent community remains an important strategy for expanding market reach.

The evening’s second session, the Iftar dinner, provided an opportunity for a more relaxed exchange of ideas. As guests broke their fast together, conversations moved beyond booking systems and sales tools to broader discussions about the future of the travel industry.

Networking during such gatherings often proves just as valuable as formal training sessions. Relationships formed in these spaces frequently lead to new collaborations, partnerships and business opportunities.

For travel agents operating in a competitive market, these interactions can open doors to new airline partnerships, better understanding of travel products and stronger industry networks.

The choice to hold the event during Ramadan also added a meaningful cultural dimension to the gathering. The shared Iftar meal created a moment of reflection and community, reinforcing the values of partnership and mutual support that underpin the travel industry.

For KATA, such engagements are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the professional capacity of Kenya’s travel agents while building a more connected and resilient industry.

As the travel sector continues to recover and expand following global disruptions in recent years, industry players are increasingly recognising the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Training programmes, airline partnerships and regional networking events are becoming critical tools for ensuring that agents remain equipped to meet evolving traveller demands.

The Coast region, with its dynamic tourism market and growing population of travel professionals, represents a key frontier for this growth. By hosting training and networking events in Mombasa, KATA and its partners are helping ensure that agents outside the capital remain fully integrated into the national travel ecosystem.

The success of the Skyward Airlines training and Iftar gathering therefore goes beyond the evening’s programme. It reflects the continued strengthening of partnerships that sustain Kenya’s travel industry, partnerships between airlines and agents, between national associations and regional professionals, and between technology and human expertise.

As guests departed the Sapphire Hotel after the evening’s networking session, the conversations continued in small groups in the hotel lobby and parking area, a familiar sign that the industry thrives not only on formal presentations but also on the relationships built around them.

For Kenya’s travel sector, those relationships remain one of its most valuable assets. And along the Coast, they are continuing to grow stronger.

Every March, the quiet lakeside town of Naivasha transforms into the epicentre of one of the world’s toughest motorsport spectacles, the WRC Safari Rally. What was once simply a legendary motorsport challenge has rapidly evolved into one of Kenya’s most powerful tourism and economic catalysts. Beyond the roar of engines and clouds of Rift Valley dust lies a multi-billion-shilling tourism opportunity, one that travel agencies and tour operators are only beginning to fully exploit.

In raw numbers, the rally’s economic footprint is striking. Government estimates indicate the event generates over Sh63.3 billion in total economic value, with more than Sh24.7 billion linked directly to job creation and business activity across sectors such as tourism, hospitality, transport, and retail.

For a sporting event that runs for only four days, the economic multiplier effect is extraordinary.

The rally attracts more than 100,000 spectators and participants, with some editions drawing even larger crowds as the event gains global traction again since returning to the World Rally Championship calendar in 2021.

More recent estimates suggest hundreds of thousands of spectators, with reports indicating up to 400,000 people attending across three days, representing over 40 nationalities.

For tourism strategists, these numbers translate into a powerful narrative: sports tourism can deliver the same scale of visitor flows typically associated with major festivals or peak safari seasons.

The ripple effect across the hospitality industry is immediate and visible. Hotels around Lake Naivasha routinely report 100 percent occupancy during the rally weekend, forcing visitors to spill over into neighbouring towns such as Nakuru, Elementaita, and even Nairobi.

Resorts along Moi South Lake Road, a corridor that hosts some of the region’s most popular lodges, experience demand spikes months in advance as rally fans secure accommodation early.

For hoteliers, the rally has become one of the most reliable annual revenue events in the tourism calendar.

But the benefits extend far beyond hotel rooms.

Local restaurants, butcheries, petrol stations, and small traders experience dramatic spikes in sales during the rally week. Business owners report revenues rising by as much as 80 percent, as thousands of spectators descend on the town and surrounding rally stages.

From boda boda riders ferrying fans between spectator stages to farmers supplying food vendors, the event triggers a broad micro-economy that spreads income across the entire local value chain.

At a national level, the rally also acts as a powerful marketing engine. The global television and digital coverage associated with the World Rally Championship delivers media publicity valued at about Sh8 billion, showcasing Kenya’s landscapes and tourism attractions to millions of viewers worldwide.

Few marketing campaigns could replicate this scale of international exposure.

This exposure is particularly valuable because the rally is staged within one of Kenya’s most scenic tourism corridors.

The rally routes pass through landscapes near Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate National Park, the Aberdare ranges, and other iconic Rift Valley attractions. These locations, broadcast globally during the event, effectively turn the rally into a moving tourism advertisement for Kenya’s wilderness experiences.

The tourism industry has already begun capitalising on this visibility. The Kenya Tourism Board is actively using the rally to position the country as a sports tourism destination, combining motorsport with safari, beach, and cultural experiences.

Regional tourism markets are responding strongly to this strategy.

In 2025, East African countries alone contributed over 568,000 visitors to Kenya, with Uganda accounting for 238,595 arrivals, Tanzania 212,365, Rwanda 72,094, and the Democratic Republic of Congo 45,210.

Events such as the Safari Rally provide a compelling reason for these travellers to cross borders for short tourism trips.

For travel agents, this presents a largely untapped opportunity.

While accommodation providers and event organisers have capitalised on the rally’s popularity, structured travel packages around the event remain relatively limited compared to global sports tourism markets such as Formula One or the Dakar Rally.

Yet the ingredients for successful sports tourism packages are already present.

First is the audience scale. With over 10,000 regional visitors expected annually from neighbouring countries alone, the rally offers a ready-made inbound tourism market looking for travel experiences around the event.

Second is the duration of stay. Rally fans typically arrive several days before the event and often remain afterwards to explore nearby attractions. Tourism officials note that many visitors extend their trips beyond Naivasha to destinations such as the Kenyan coast or national parks.

For travel agents, this behaviour creates opportunities to design multi-destination itineraries combining rally attendance with wildlife safaris, lake excursions and coastal holidays.

Third is the experiential nature of the rally itself.

Unlike stadium sports where spectators remain in fixed seats, rally fans travel between stages scattered across vast landscapes. This requires transportation logistics, local guides, accommodation coordination and sometimes camping arrangements — all services that travel agencies are well positioned to organise.

In mature sports tourism markets, these needs are packaged into structured products: rally tours, spectator safaris, VIP viewing experiences and photography expeditions.

Kenya’s travel industry could replicate these models around the Safari Rally.

For example, a four-day rally package could include airport transfers from Nairobi, accommodation in Naivasha, guided access to key spectator stages, evening entertainment and excursions to nearby parks such as Hell’s Gate.

Extending the itinerary by three or four additional days could incorporate Lake Nakuru National Park or Maasai Mara safaris, converting a rally weekend into a full tourism circuit.

Such packages could significantly increase visitor spending per traveller.

The economic potential becomes clearer when considering the rally’s short duration.

Estimates suggest the event injects at least Sh6 billion into the Kenyan economy in just four days, supporting more than 24,700 jobs across tourism, hospitality, and related sectors.

Expanding travel packages around the rally could push these numbers even higher by extending visitor stays and diversifying tourism activities.

Infrastructure investment is also following the rally’s growth.

Since the event returned to the global championship calendar in 2021, Naivasha has witnessed increased investment in hospitality infrastructure, serviced apartments, petrol stations, and retail outlets designed to cater to rising visitor numbers.

Economists view such investments as evidence of how large sporting events can permanently reshape regional economies.

For Kenya’s tourism sector, the Safari Rally is proving that motorsport can become a powerful economic driver alongside traditional safari tourism.

Yet the long-term success of sports tourism depends on how effectively industry players build structured travel products around such events.

Travel agencies, therefore, sit at the centre of the next phase of growth.

By integrating motorsport experiences with wildlife tourism, cultural excursions, and coastal holidays, agencies can convert the rally from a four-day spectacle into a multi-week tourism pipeline.

The engines roaring across the Rift Valley are therefore doing more than thrilling motorsport fans.

They are accelerating a new frontier in Kenya’s tourism economy — one where sports, adventure, and travel converge.

And for the travel industry, the message is clear: the Safari Rally is not just a race.

It is a business opportunity moving at full speed.

“You know we can just book directly, right?”

Every travel agent has heard that line. Sometimes it comes casually, sometimes it arrives like a warning shot before negotiations begin. It’s the modern traveler’s way of saying: prove why I need you.

Yet behind the calm replies, fast searches, and polished itineraries lies one of the most misunderstood professions in the travel industry. Travel agents are planners, negotiators, problem-solvers, therapists, crisis managers, and occasionally magicians. They work in a world where every booking carries urgency, every traveler believes their trip is the most important one happening today, and every flight delay becomes a personal emergency. To understand the life of a travel agent, imagine a profession where your workday begins with optimism and ends with twenty browser tabs open, two ringing phones, a traveler texting from an airport lounge, and an airline website that refuses to load. Welcome to the invisible marathon.

“Please get me the ticket by morning.” The day often begins with messages like this.

Emails trickle in overnight. Some are polite—“Hi, could you quote flights to Dubai next month?” Others arrive with the tone of someone who has already packed their bags. Then comes the optimistic one: “Do your best, flights must be full but I trust you.” Trust is the word every agent loves and fears simultaneously. Because travelers assume agents have secret doors into airline systems, hidden seats, special buttons marked “Emergency CEO Travel.” Reality is less glamorous. Agents face the same seat availability as everyone else, except they must navigate multiple airline systems, fare rules, taxes, restrictions, and volatile prices that can change faster than stock markets. While the traveler drinks morning coffee, the agent is comparing twelve flight combinations, calculating baggage allowances, checking visa restrictions, and wondering why the cheapest fare involves a six-hour layover in a city the client has never heard of. Then comes the inevitable call: “Can we leave earlier but arrive later?”

When the quote is finally ready, the agent sends it carefully formatted—flights, times, airline, fare rules.

Then the response arrives: “Take me through this quote again.” That sentence rarely means clarification. It means negotiation. “The service charge is on the high… can we negotiate that?” For travel agents, this moment feels oddly familiar—like a chef serving a carefully prepared meal only to hear someone say, “Nice dish. But can we remove the cost of cooking?” The irony is that travelers rarely see the hours behind that quote: comparing routes, confirming availability, calculating fare changes, checking cancellation policies, and sometimes calling airline help desks that sound suspiciously like they’re operating from another time zone and another decade. But negotiation is part of the job, so the agent calmly explains the fees. The traveler pauses. “Let me think about it.” The agent knows what that means. It means the traveler is now checking online.

This is the modern travel agent’s version of a chess match. The traveler opens three booking sites. The agent waits. Sometimes the traveler returns victorious: “Look! I found it cheaper online.” The agent looks at the screenshot—different airline, two stopovers, no baggage, non-refundable ticket, airport change in the middle of the night. But cheaper. Sometimes the traveler disappears completely—only to return weeks later with a familiar message: “Hi… the airline changed my flight. Can you help?” The agent smiles politely, despite the silent thought: You said you didn’t need me.

By afternoon, travel agents enter what can only be described as the crisis zone.

Flights change. Airlines cancel routes. Weather delays ripple across continents. A traveler messages from an airport: “What is this delay? Cancelled??” Another sends panic in all caps: “MY CONNECTION IS 35 MINUTES.” Then comes the angry one: “You have booked me this airline, it’s a joke. I’d have just walked into airline XYZ.” This is the moment every travel agent knows well. When flights go smoothly, the airline gets the credit. When something goes wrong, the agent becomes responsible for global aviation. Agents respond calmly. They call airlines. They rebook flights. They negotiate seat releases. They reroute passengers through cities no one originally planned to visit. To the traveler, it feels like magic. To the agent, it feels like juggling flaming suitcases.

Travel agents also deal with something airlines never see: the human stories behind trips.

A honeymoon delayed. A student flying abroad for the first time. A family rushing to attend a funeral. A business executive who cannot miss a meeting. “I can’t miss this meeting,” a traveler insists. That sentence carries weight, because agents understand that behind every itinerary is a life moment. Which is why they stay late searching for alternatives when flights vanish, why they monitor airline alerts after midnight, why they message travelers when storms threaten routes—not because it’s in the contract, but because someone’s journey matters.

Most people believe travel agents finish work at 5 p.m. In reality, evening is when the real drama begins. Airline schedule changes arrive overnight. International travelers send messages from different time zones. Emergency calls appear. “Hi, sorry to bother you… the airline says I need to change terminals.” Or the classic midnight message: “My passport expires in five months… is that okay?” Agents often respond while half-asleep, mentally calculating visa rules, because tomorrow morning the traveler expects certainty.

In the digital age, people assume travel agents exist only to issue tickets. But tickets are the smallest part of the job. The real value appears when things go wrong—when an airline cancels flights at midnight, when airports close due to storms, when visa requirements suddenly change, when travelers realize a cheap ticket comes with strict restrictions. Travel agents become navigators in the chaos. They know fare rules. They understand airline behavior. They know which routes recover faster after disruptions. And perhaps most importantly, they know who to call. In a world of automated customer service and endless hold music, that knowledge is priceless.

Travel agents develop a unique sense of humor. They laugh about the impossible requests. “Can you find me a direct flight from Nairobi to a small island with no airport?” They smile at last-minute miracles. “Hi, I need to fly tonight… business class… but at economy price.” And they quietly celebrate when a complex itinerary finally works—three countries, four airlines, zero delays. To travelers, it’s just a trip. To the agent, it’s a perfectly solved puzzle.

As the day ends, one last message arrives: “Hi, just checking… are we confirmed?” The agent checks the booking again: seats confirmed, tickets issued, everything ready. “Yes,” they reply. The traveler sleeps peacefully. The agent finally closes their laptop. But before the night ends, another notification appears. A new message. “Hi… I need a flight tomorrow morning.”

The invisible marathon continues.

Travel agents don’t just sell tickets. They absorb stress so travelers can focus on the journey. They translate airline language into human language. They fix problems travelers never even see. And while technology has changed the industry, one thing remains true: behind every smooth journey is someone who worked tirelessly to make it happen, often quietly, often invisibly, often while hearing the familiar line: “You know we can just book directly, right?”

Travel agents simply smile, because they know something most travelers only discover later. Anyone can book a flight. But when travel goes wrong, experience becomes the most valuable ticket of all.