Dubai to cancel fees imposed on airline agents and offices

Dubai is to cancel fees imposed on airline agents and offices, in a resolution issued by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.

In the Resolution No. (32) of 2022 it “cancels fees levied on airline agents and their branches, and airline offices operating in the emirate, which were imposed pursuant to regulations issued on 12th March 1985 and Resolution No. (4) of 1998.”

The new Resolution is effective from its date of its issuance and will be published in the Official Gazette.

The move by Sheikh Hamdan will support the travel industry which has suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent downturn in tourism.

However, travel has started to rebound from the impact of the Covid pandemic, and Emirates airline is preparing for its busiest period yet.

The UAE’s flagship airline is expecting more than 550,000 travellers to fly out from the UAE between June and July on more than 2,400 weekly network-wide departures.

The airline has continued to add flights and frequencies where possible as it ramps up its summer schedule.

Emirates will be operating at close to 80 percent of its pre-pandemic capacity, or more than one million weekly seats, this summer, to serve demand.

Daily booking volumes are accelerating as summer holidays draw closer, and Emirates is urging customers who haven’t planned their holidays or made travel arrangements to get ahead and book now to ensure they are able to travel on their preferred dates and flights.

This year, travellers from the UAE will be heading to Emirates’ six UK destinations, Cairo, Amman, Emirates’ nine Indian points, Manila and Beirut.

Leisure travel traffic from the UAE will also be at an all-time high, with scores of travellers, mainly families and couples, making their way to Bangkok, Istanbul, Vienna, Zurich, Nice, Phuket, Singapore, Oslo, Kuala Lumpur, Brisbane and the west coast of the US for extended summer holidays.

Source: Arabian Business

The Lufthansa Group Model Offers Opportunity For African Airlines

As SAA and Kenya Airways make plans for a new pan-African airline, AviaDev Africa plays host to the discussions of opportunity and inspiration.

One of the biggest stories of African aviation this year is the tie-up between leading international carrier Kenya Airways and the rebirthed flagship airline South African Airways. Signed in November, the Strategic Partnership Framework anticipates improving profitability and bolstering financial strength for both airlines.

While details on the exact shape and size of this partnership remain to be seen, the venture is intended to provide strength in scale. Both carriers have lost traffic to African juggernaut Ethiopian Airlines, with Kenya posting a loss of $130.5 million in 2021. The story of SAA is well known, but with private investors now holding a majority stake, there is much hope for a better future.

Since the partnership agreement was firmed up, the two airlines have struck out in search of investors to support the new venture. They have also launched a headhunt for more airlines to join the cause, specifically seeking a third partner in the West Africa region, most likely from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana or Senegal.

This new airline group intends to unveil itself in 2023. But what will it look like, what will it be called, and will it work? Speaking at today’s AviaDev Africa conference, Simon Newton-Smith, Chief Operating Office for South African Airways, shed some more light on the plans for this new pan-African airline, and might have just found himself a new airline partner.

The Lufthansa model is applicable for Africa

Simon, although new to South African Airways, is an old hand in the aviation world. Among his previous appointments, he was a Vice President at Virgin Atlantic for a decade and a half, during which time the airline launched its joint venture with Delta. Harking back to those days, he provided us with some color on what we can expect from the new KQ/SAA venture.

“This is a model that exists around the world. And the most successful models that I’ve seen leverage the local brands, and the distribution of those brands in the home markets. I was fortunate enough to work within the Virgin Atlantic/Delta Air Lines joint venture, Virgin didn’t become Delta and Delta didn’t become Virgin. They both got unique strengths, and the goal is to leverage that.”

With this in mind, Simon anticipates both SAA and Kenya Airways retaining their own branding, Both have strong images and customers who are emotionally attached to those brands, so why would they want to change that? Any other airlines joining the venture would also retain their own identity. This is something that has not been tried in Africa in quite such a way in the past, but something we’re pretty familiar with in Europe.

“If you look at what the Lufthansa Group has achieved in Europe – these are airlines that, 20 years ago, figured out that they had to come together to be effective and efficient. They’ve done that really well. The Lufthansa Group is collective of multiple European brands, and there is absolutely a foundation for that model in Africa.”

The other thing Lufthansa does well is its segmentation, catering to all traveler markets. While SWISS, Brussels, Austrian and Lufthansa offer full-service options and business travel perks, Eurowings is one of the few low-cost offshoots from a full-service airline that has actually been a success. And now, long-haul low-cost is being tackled through the new Eurowings Discover brand.

How can this be replicated in Africa? Kenya Airways and SAA are both full-service airlines, offering valuable connectivity in long-haul leisure and business markets. But when it comes to that shorter haul, lower-cost travel, there’s a gap to be filled.

Is Air Botswana Africa’s answer to Eurowings?

Also, on the panel at AviaDev Africa was Getaneh WoldeMichael, Commercial Director of Air Botswana, who noted,

“Air Botswana is an airline that has been here for over 33 years. It has remained with the route network it is serving today, more or less, for all of those years.”

An airline that is not growing is not in a strong position, and WoldeMichael firmly believes that the route network should be grown. But justifying the need to go to further away destinations and launch new routes can be difficult.

Air Botswana has struggled to get into the black, running at a loss for more than a decade. It is 100% government-owned, despite efforts to privatize it several times in the past. It is around a year into a three-year strategic recovery plan, and privatization is on the table once more. But something else is on the table too, and that’s deeper partnership working, as WoldeMichael noted,

“Alliance partnerships are required to fill that gap [in the route network]. As you all know, Lufthansa came up with a new arm called Eurowings, which targets tourist destinations. There is no answer from Africa for that – Air Botswana would be very happy to be part of such a response.”

Before the panel closed, Simon Newtown-Smith beautifully illustrated the situation facing African airlines,

“Frankly, a lot of loss-making Airlines on this continent need to come together in some shape or form to have a sensible conversation with institutional investors … you can have a very different conversation with a good plan about connecting a continent that has got a runway of 10, 20, 30 years … that is the conversation need to have not a conversation about two aeroplanes for next year. That’s not going to work.”

Turning to WoldeMichael, Newton-Smith added, “We need to start talking soon.” Could Air Botswana become the next addition to the KQ/SAA pan-African alliance? While that remains to be seen, right there is a demonstration of the power of getting back together in person and the positive outcomes it can bring.

Source: Simple Flying

The UK Launches A 22 Point Plan To Tackle Air Travel Disruption

Travel Disruption

The UK government has announced a new plan to address travel disruption in the aviation industry. The 22-point plan aims to avoid a repeat of the problems seen across UK airports over the past few months.

UK tackles aviation travel disruption

In response to the severe travel disruption across the UK this year, particularly over the busy Easter period, the UK government has launched a series of measures to support the aviation industry and passengers.

The joint initiative from the Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) aims to “minimize disruption in the aviation sector and protect passengers if it does happen.”

Staff shortages and rising travel demand caught many airlines and airports unaware, leading to long delays and thousands of canceled flights.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said,

“The 22 measures we’ve published today set out what we’re doing to support the industry. It’s now on airports and airlines to commit to running the flights they’ve promised or cancel them with plenty of time to spare, so we can avoid the kind of scenes we saw at Easter and half-term.”

The 22-point plan

As laid out on the UK government website, the 22-point plan is split into three broad categories – industry support, passenger support, and recruitment and training support.

Key takeaways from the plan include:

Industry Support

  • New regulations on airport slots, including an “amnesty” to hand back slots that can’t be fulfilled.
  • Weekly committees, including a Strategic Risk Group and Summer Resilience Group.
  • Weekly updates on schedule viability to ensure airline schedules can be fulfilled.

Passenger Support

  • A new Aviation Passenger Charter offering guidance on the rights and responsibilities of an air passenger.
  • Reviewing current airline practices on passenger care, compensation and legal responsibility.
  • Strengthening consumer protection, including expanding the CAA’s enforcement powers and written warnings to airports and airlines.

Recruitment and Training Support

  • Legal changes to enable airlines and airports to train and deploy staff more quickly.
  • Building partnerships with colleges and universities to attract interest in aviation.
  • Launching the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS) backed by £161 million in grants.

Aviation Minister Robert Courts said,

“The action we’ve taken to support airlines and airports isn’t just about minimizing disruption this summer, but helping the sector recruit the staff it needs for the long term. I look forward to continuing to support them in this effort where we can.”

Consumer group Which? responds

In June, Simple Flying reported on UK consumer rights group Which? warning that the government’s proposals on passenger compensation will weaken passenger rights.

Which? has responded to the government’s new 22-point plan, reiterating its belief that the CAA should be granted the power to directly fine airlines.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said,

“The shameful scenes at UK airports show why passengers need their rights to be strengthened and enforced by a strong regulator and compensation regime. The government should give the CAA powers to fine airlines directly when they flout the law, and drop plans to cut passenger compensation for delayed and cancelled domestic flights.”

Source: Simple Flying

Heathrow flight cancellations cause queues and ‘chaos’

Heathrow flight cancellations

Passengers have complained of queues and “total chaos” at Heathrow after the airport asked airlines to remove 30 flights from Thursday’s schedule.

The UK’s largest airport asked airlines to cut the flights because it was expecting more passenger numbers than it can currently cope with.

Some passengers did not know that their flights were cancelled until they arrived at the airport.

Heathrow said the cancellations were necessary for safety.

Travel writer and broadcaster Andy Mossack tweeted that there was “total chaos” and “zero customer service” at the airport on Thursday morning.

Mr Mossack, who was due to fly to Geneva at 08:25am, told the BBC he was told of the cancellation via an email about 6.00am which he didn’t see until he arrived at the airport.

“There are no flights to Geneva until Sunday or Monday. So I’ve had to come home”.

Terminal 5 was “awful… there were hundreds of people there. Some sleeping on the floor”.

Another passenger tweeted that terminal 5 was a “disgraceful shambles” after he arrived on Thursday morning to find his flight cancelled.

PA reported that one passenger, Andrew Douglas, said he had spent four hours in queues to find out at check-in that his flight had been cancelled with no prior notifications.

Other travellers complained of poor customer service and a lack of help when trying to rebook their flights.

A Heathrow spokesman said: “We will work with airlines to get affected passengers rebooked onto other flights outside of the peak so that as many as possible can get away, and we apologise for the impact this has on travel plans.

“We are working hard to ensure everyone has a smooth journey through Heathrow this summer, and the most important thing is to make sure that all service providers at the airport have enough resources to meet demand.”

A spokesman from British Airways, one of the airlines affected, said: “As a result of Heathrow’s requirement for all airlines to reduce their schedules, we’ve made a small number of cancellations.”

The airline said it was in contact with affected customers to “apologise, advise them of their consumer rights and offer them alternative options, including a refund or rebooking.”

Virgin Atlantic said one of their Heathrow to New York return services had been cut in each direction, while Air France, KLM, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus, Brussels Airlines and Air Canada are also affected.

Meanwhile, the government is calling on the industry to run “realistic” summer schedules and alert passengers to any flight changes as “early as possible” to minimise disruption.

“It’s now on airports and airlines to commit to running the flights they’ve promised or cancel them with plenty of time to spare so we can avoid the kind of scenes we saw at Easter and half term,” said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

Among the 22 measures the Department for Transport introduced on Thursday is a plan to give airlines a short window to hand back plane parking slots for the rest of the summer season.

This is aimed to help manage capacity at the busiest airports.

Earlier this month, around 5,000 people were hit by Heathrow cancellations because of technical issues affecting baggage.

Before that, tens of thousands of passengers had been affected by disruption at UK airports and flight cancellations during the week of the Platinum Jubilee and half-term holidays.

The disruption was caused by several factors, but staff shortages have left the aviation industry struggling to cope with resurgent demand.

Last week when Heathrow made a similar move, it was for a different reason – because of the knock-on impact of a technical problem with baggage.

This time, it’s linked to staffing; it realised more passengers were going to come through the airport the next morning than it has capacity for right now.

But why was the decision only announced on the afternoon of the day before?

The airport says it’s seeing increasing numbers of last-minute bookings following cancellations or disruption at other airports – and this is pushing up passenger demand. Thirteen percent more passengers were booked to fly today than Thursday last week.

Heathrow says it’s constantly talking to airlines, working with them to make sure the right amount of airline, airport and ground handling resources are in place to cope with the number of flights operating.

Gatwick has already announced it’s limiting flight numbers for July and August. Heathrow hasn’t done that, but points out that since Gatwick’s announcement, the government has announced a one-off “amnesty” on airport slot rules, and airlines are expected to use this to cut more flights to try to make schedules more resilient.

Source: BBC

How to plan a stopover in Dubai

stopover in Dubai

As the world’s busiest airport, Dubai International (DXB) might be a sight in itself, but there’s a whole world of wonder waiting outside its doors. Whether you’re staying for a few hours or overnight, plan ahead to find out everything you need to know to make your stopover in Dubai as smooth as possible.

First off, how do I book a stopover?

Adding a break in your journey in Dubai couldn’t be simpler. If you’re flying with Emirates Airline, you can easily book a stopover in Dubai and they will take care of everything, starting with a meet and greet at the airport to 24-hour check-in, tours, excursions and more. Once you’ve purchased your flight, you’ll need to contact your local Emirates office or travel agent to make the arrangements. They will also help with visas if required.

Additionally, there are a number of local travel agents who can assist with your stopover, hassle-free. Talk to them about adding a break in your journey to Dubai and arranging your visa. To be eligible for a transit visa, travellers must have a confirmed hotel booking for the duration of their stay, as well as a confirmed flight ticket departing from Dubai, within the duration of their transit.

I’ve just arrived – can I still book?

If you’ve just arrived and want to explore Dubai before heading to your next destination, you can do that too. Travellers can apply for transit visas directly at the airport, subject to immigration approval and security clearance.

Alternatively, Emirates offers special ‘Stopovers on Arrival’ packages that are on sale exclusively at the ‘Hotels & Visas for Dubai’ desk at Dubai International. You’ll find it in the Arrivals area, prior to Passport Control/Immigration.

Do I need a visa to visit Dubai?

Visitors from most countries are allocated a 30-day visit visa on arrival to Dubai, which is free and stamped on your passport at immigration. Find out if you’re eligible by contacting your local travel agent or the nearest UAE Embassy.

For shorter stays, consider a stopover or a transit visa, which is available for most passport holders for a duration of 48 to 96 hours. Applications can be made easily through travel agents and airlines. Please contact your local travel agent for up-to-date information and to apply for visas in advance.

How can I get connected when I land in Dubai?

Whether you’re looking for places to visit or simply want to get in touch with your friends and family, you can log on to the internet with ease at Dubai International (DXB) or Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) thanks to the airport ‘WOW-Fi’ network, which is fast, free and convenient.

When on your stopover, don’t forget to request your complimentary SIM card at the immigration counter. Available to all Dubai tourists, these cards are preloaded with minutes and data, and can be easily topped up for the entire duration of your stay. 

How long does it take to get to and from the airport?

Dubai International is conveniently located in the centre of the city. Generally it takes anywhere from 15 to 35 minutes to get to most places in the city, depending on where you’re going. A trip to Downtown Dubai is usually around 15 minutes in a car, while Dubai Marina is around 30 minutes from the airport. Old Dubai is around 15 minutes in a taxi.

You can also hop onto the Dubai Metro directly from the airport. Trains run approximately every 10 minutes direct from Terminal 1 and 3, from 5am to midnight (please note timings vary on weekends). Fares start at AED2 and smart public transport cards known as Nol, can be purchased at the stations. Most metro stations are connected to the public bus network as well.

What are the quickest transport options?

Local taxis are the most convenient option for quick trips and are now fitted with free Wi-Fi, so you can check your flight times while on the go. You can also easily hire an Uber taxi or use the local car ride-hailing service, Careem, which offers competitive rates and comfortable vehicles.

Is it worth leaving the airport if I only have a few hours?

Yes, absolutely. As well as being in close proximity to Old Dubai, the city’s most historic area, the airport is only a 15-minute drive to some of the city’s top attractions, including the Burj KhalifaThe Dubai Mall and Dubai Canal, making a two-hour round trip entirely achievable (and not overly expensive).

If I’m in town overnight, where should I stay?

Located in the centre of Downtown Dubai and a stone’s throw from the Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, Rove Downtown Dubai is an affordable option with a hip vibe. As well as being central, it’s a good place to explore the city on foot, with a short taxi ride taking you to the historic districts of Dubai or the upmarket gallery and restaurant precinct, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

What should I wear?

The UAE is a Muslim country and it’s advised to dress modestly and wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders, especially when visiting the malls and religious and cultural sites. Layers are a good option and lightweight fabrics are essential in summer. If you’re spending time outdoors, a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must.

What can I do with my luggage?

Those planning a short stopover can store their bags in the ‘left luggage’ facilities at Terminal 1 or 3. It costs from just AED35 (US$10) per bag for 12 hours, and can be used by both arriving and departing passengers.

What language do most people speak in Dubai?

English is the most widely-spoken language in Dubai, due to the melting pot of cultures that live here. It’s good to brush up on some basic Arabic phrases to get an appreciation of the culture, but taxi drivers, wait staff, shop assistants and customer service people most often speak English.

Source: Visit Dubai

Rwanda: End of an Era – Govt Phases Out Machine Readable Passports

Machine readable passports have finally been phased out and will no longer be recognised as valid travel documents in Rwanda.

According to an official announcement from the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE), the development took effect from June 28, 2022.

“The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration would like to remind the general public that the Rwanda Machine Readable Passport (old passport) has been phased out and ceased to be recognised as a travel document with effect from June 28,” the announcement read.

All Rwandans who wish to travel to countries where a passport is needed, are required to have the new Rwanda East Africa Passport (EAC) e-Passport.

However, returning citizens with valid Machine-Readable Passports will be allowed to return to Rwanda.

In June 2019, the DGIE started the issuance of the e-Passports, a move that other East African countries including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have also embarked on.

An agreement between EAC member states targets that machine-readable passports are phased out within two years from the date of issuing of the first e-Passports.

In this respect, Rwanda’s first deadline for the phase-out was June 27 last year.

However, with the global Covid-19 pandemic that led to lockdowns in several countries, the Rwandan Communities Abroad could not travel to the nearest Embassy to provide biometric data due to travel restrictions.

As a result, Rwanda extended the phase-out deadline for one year, until June 27, 2022.

In an earlier interview with The New Times, Lynder Nkuranga, the Director General of the DGIE highlighted some of the advantages of the e-Passport, including the fact that it raises the level of trust for Rwandans traveling since it is considered as the world standard travel document.

“Countries can authenticate and confirm the issuing authority of the e-Passport. E-Passport forgery is close to zero because of the embedded chip that contains biometric data of the bearer,” she said.

She referred to the e-Passport as a secure digital travel document that can be digitally verified by other countries.

“The portrait and names written on the chip can be verified to confirm that the holder of the passport is the person whom he or she claims to be.”

The document is also looked at as a step forward in the fight against cross-border crimes including terrorism since it uses advanced technology that ensures that travel documents are used by the legitimate persons and authorities.

Rwandans abroad can apply for both the national identity cards and e-Passports via the Irembo portal.

The development assists Rwandans living in foreign countries to get their East African e-Passports.

The applicants’ biometric data is captured from the nearest Rwandan Embassy and be used for the processing of both ID card and e-Passport.

How much does it cost?

There are several categories of e-Passports. An ordinary one for minors valid for two-years costs Rwf25,000, while that of 5 years (with 50 pages) costs Rwf75,000.

An ordinary 10-year passport with 66 pages, costs Rwf100,000, a service passport with a 5-year validity costs Rwf15,000, and a diplomatic passport costs Rwf50,000.

Source: New Times Rwanda

ACI forecasts significant increase in global passenger traffic during 2022

global passenger traffic

The Airports Council International (ACI) says global passenger traffic in 2022 will be significantly higher than during the previous two years due to the relaxation of travel restrictions and returning confidence in air travel. 

Global passenger traffic is expected to reach 77% of COVID-19 pandemic levels, with 7.1 billion passengers travelling through airports in 2022. The positive trends in 2022 will be driven by global domestic passenger traffic.  

However, ACI warned that much uncertainty still surrounds the air travel recovery, “especially in the medium to long term” due to geopolitical conflicts, higher inflation, the risk of economic downturn, supply chain bottlenecks, labor shortages and potential new outbreaks.  

According to the organization, global domestic passenger traffic is forecasted to reach pre-pandemic levels in late 2023, while global international passenger traffic is expected to reach pre-COVID levels in the second half of 2024. This is hampered by a sluggish recovery in Asia-Pacific and a slower recovery in global international travel. 

“With the combination of ‘vacation deprivation’ and an upsurge in confidence in air travel provided by increased vaccination rates and safety measures, the relaxation of travel restrictions will help boost the propensity for air travel and fuel the industry’s recovery,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said. 

“With many countries taking steps towards the return to a certain normality, lifting almost all the health measures and travel restrictions, we expect a jump in air travel demand in the second half of 2022,” de Oliveira added. 

Source:  Aerotime Hub

Refusing To Pay: Nigeria Owes Foreign Airlines $450 Million

Twelve African countries have collectively blocked airlines from repatriating US$1 billion to their home countries, and Africa is responsible for 67% of airlines’ blocked funds globally. One country stands out – as of May 2022, Nigeria was hanging onto $450 million in funds belonging to foreign airlines, and one of the consequences is flights to that country cost six or seven times more than flights to comparable flights. And the amount Nigeria is holding onto is increasing weekly.

IATA wants to resolve the issue of blocked funds

Speaking at IATA 2022 in Doha, Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said resolving the issue of blocked funds was a key priority for IATA. Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa and the world’s tenth-largest oil exporter with a population exceeding 200 million – it’s not a market many airlines can easily ignore.

Qatar Airways, Delta Air Lines, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Turkish Airlines number among the high-profile foreign airlines flying into Nigeria. While they pocket the fares sold to passengers in markets outside Nigeria, collecting monies from fares sold to passengers in Nigeria is a trickier issue. Emirates boss Tim Clark has previously highlighted the issues his airline faces regarding Nigeria’s recalcitrance.

Mr Alawadh says ongoing problems with blocked funds are extremely damaging to the airline industry. “This is sad to see that one country almost contributes about 25% of global funds. Some countries have reasons you can understand for not releasing our cash, political reasons, and economic reasons, but releasing blocked funds has been one of our priorities.”

Africa accounts for the lion’s share of global blocked funds

Elsewhere in Africa, Zimbabwe is holding onto around $100 million, Algeria about $96 million, Eritrea has around $79 million belonging to foreign carriers, and Ethiopia is retaining about $75 million. Mr Alawdh says IATA doesn’t always know the exact reasons why Nigeria and other countries retain funds belonging to foreign airlines. Still, he does say it is often a question of priorities set by governments and central banks. When there is a limited pool of capital, including hard currencies, to go around, there is tough competition for what money is available.

Some countries are incrementally working to pay down amounts owed – a development IATA welcomes. Other nations like Nigeria, where the problem is escalating, are tougher to deal with. IATA’s Regional Vice President says there are multiple consequences for the airline industry. Individual airlines are out of pocket. Consequently, fares on flights to Nigeria are exponentially high to cover that portion of tickets the airlines where the airlines cannot pocket the revenue.

Kamil Alawadhi is optimistic about resolving the blocked funds problem

Retaining money belonging to airlines also discourages other airlines from serving the market, reduces connectivity, and reduces options for passengers.

“It’s been a hectic ride with Nigeria,” says Mr Alawadh. He says he’s met with the Nigerian Vice President over the matter and adds there’s awareness at the top levels of Government there that they need to address the issue. “You keep chipping away and telling them that this will damage the country down the road.”

IATA’s man in Africa and the Middle East says he’s concluded two rounds of talks with the Nigerian Government and that the third round is soon to start. Kamil Alawadhi is relatively optimistic about a solution to the long-running problem, but he cannot say how soon it will be resolved.

Source: Simple Flying

South Africa confirms first monkeypox case, not linked to travel

South Africa’s Health Minister Joe Phaahla said on Thursday that he had been notified by the country’s laboratory services that they had confirmed the first monkeypox case in South Africa.

The patient was a 30-year-old male from Johannesburg who had no travel history, “meaning that this cannot be attributed to having been acquired outside South Africa,” Phaahla told a news conference.

A process of contact tracing was underway, he added.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. It is endemic in parts of Africa, but not South Africa.

The World Health Organization will decide on Thursday whether to declare monkeypox a global health emergency. That has stirred criticism from some leading African scientists who say it has been a crisis for some African countries for years.

Source: The Star

Kenya Airways’ Fahari Aviation and EVE sign deal for up to 40 eVTOLs

Kenya Airways’ (KQ) Fahari Aviation and EVE UAM have signed a letter of intent for an order of up to 40 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles.    

The agreement involves joint studies to develop and scale the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market in Kenya and a business model for cargo drone operations, Kenya Airways said in its statement. Deliveries are expected to start in 2026. 

“Urban air mobility is the future of transport, and we are honoured to be the champions of this in the region,” said Allan Kilavuka, group managing director and chief executive officer, Kenya Airways. 

Fahari Aviation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kenya Airways focusing on the application of drone technology in training, operations, and traffic management. Fahari aims to develop maintenance distribution and design, and production of drones. 

“The journey to realize the dream of eVTOL vehicles in Kenya is on course and the partnership with EVE UAM, is a key achievement for us as part of the strategy to adopt new technologies as a growth strategy for the sustainable development of Africa,” Kilavuka added.  

EVTOL aircraft is a new technology that uses electricity to hover, take-off, and land vertically, making it easier to move within cities while avoiding traffic jams. 

Commenting on the partnership with Fahari Aviation, Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve said: “This is a new chapter of the Eve and Fahari Aviation partnership to strengthen both companies’ commitment to establishing the foundations that will sustainably support the ecosystem for urban air mobility in Kenya.” 

“Last year, we announced a collaboration to develop operational models for Fahari Aviation’s key markets, and today’s announcement confirms that it is evolving successfully,” Stein added. 

Kenya Airways subsidiaries diversify into cargo operations 

Regional low-cost airline, Jambojet, a brand of Kenya Airways, diversified into cargo operations in February 2022.  

Dubbed Kenya’s first low-cost airline, the carrier committed its Dash 8-400 passenger aircraft to operate cargo services to eight destinations within Kenya – Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa, Malindi, Ukunda, Lamu, and Goma in Eastern DRC. 

Jambojet Managing Director and CEO, Karanja Ndegwa said that with the introduction of cargo operations, the airline can focus on connectivity for the region’s coastal destinations. 

Source: Aerotime Hub