Aviation: ASKY Airlines Receives Best Airline in West Africa 2024 Award at 7th Accra Weizo, Ghana

ASKY Airlines has been recognized as the Best Airline in West Africa for 2024.

This prestigious award was presented to the Managing Director – Mr. Esayas Hailu during the 7th edition of Accra Weizo organized by Akwaaba African Travel Market and Ghana Tourism Authority on the 28th of June 2024, at the Accra City Hotel in Ghana.

This award acknowledges the airline’s remarkable performance, strategic growth plans, and significant contributions to regional integration and trade development within the region. Additionally, it highlights that ASKY Airlines flies to more West African capitals than any other airline in the region.

The award is based on ASKY’s outstanding performance in the aviation sector over the past year, considering factors such as frequency, destinations covered, fleet type, on-time performance, customer service, and network coverage in West Africa.

The Balafon Awards of Excellence is an annual event organized to recognize pioneers and top players in the industry within the ECOWAS region. It has been received by several deserving individuals and corporate bodies across West Africa.

Mr. Esayas Hailu, Managing Director of ASKY Airlines, stated, “To ensure cheaper airfares on the continent and enhance air movement within Africa, especially West Africa, all the barriers militating against the seamless movement of people should be eliminated by the continent’s governments. We call on African governments to emulate their European counterparts by opening their borders more to the traveling public.”

This award is a testament to ASKY Airlines’ commitment to excellence and its dedication to enhancing connectivity and promoting economic growth within West Africa.

Source:   ATQ News.   

Eldoret, Mogadishu & Maputo – More Routes, More Connections For Kenya Airways Guests

KQ JFK

Kenya Airways has reopened 3 routes this year in a bid to offer customers destinations options.

KQ resumed operations to Mogadishu in February, Eldoret in March and Maputo in June. The three routes are expected to offer KQ guests direct flights to the three destinations, providing travelers with more options and convenience.

Reopening of these routes furthers KQs commitments to connect Africa to the world and the world to Africa. The schedules are conveniently timed for the business traveler as well as the leisure traveler. This means guests travelling to and from these three routes can also travel to the rest of the KQ network via Nairobi.

Guests traveling on this route can expect:

1. Professional & delightful onboard services- The Kenya Airways friendly crew will be at hand to receive guests and ensure a delightful experience while onboard.

2. Ample baggage allowance- Customers’ first bag is free of charge with a provision of up to 23kgs for economy class and 32kgs for business class, with additional space available in the overhead bins for one carry-on bag.

3. Comfortable travel – Kenya Airways will operate the Embraer E190 on this route providing customers with a spacious and comfortable travel experience.

Please see the schedules for booking customers:

ELDORET: As low as ksh. 6,900 one way

MOGADISHU: as low as USD 250 one way

MAPUTO: as low as USD 873 for a return trip

Offering travel insurance just makes business sense.

Travel Insurance

In recent years, the travel industry has faced unprecedented challenges, exposing vulnerabilities. The pandemic was a wake-up call, underscoring the importance of being prepared for unexpected disruptions.

Last month’s CrowdStrike outage, which led to widespread flight cancellations and delays for several major airlines, reminded us of the unpredictability of events that may impact travel. These disruptions can turn a dream vacation into a stressful ordeal and have led me to conclude that every advisor should be offering travel protection to their clients.

As advisors, it’s our responsibility to use our experience to educate clients. We know firsthand that emergency can completely screw up the most carefully planned trip. Travel protection is designed to help clients during unexpected situations, whether a medical emergency, a natural disaster or something bizarre like the CrowdStrike incident.

Offering travel protection can ease these challenges, making an advisor’s job less stressful and helping manage client expectations more effectively. If, for example, a client’s flight is canceled due to weather or technical issues and they miss the first night of their hotel stay, the hotel may not offer a refund. Several advisors sought advice from colleagues on Facebook over this very issue in the aftermath of the CrowdStrike outage.

Without travel protection, the client was responsible for these costs, often leading to frustration and complaints misdirected at advisors. If travel insurance had not been offered, traveler frustration may not be completely misplaced. Some insurance policies cover these costs, diffusing the situation before it escalates. (Be sure to read the fine print! Not all travel insurance policies are the same.)

When a client has adequate travel protection, the burden to resolve issues shifts from advisors to the insurance provider. Whether it’s rebooking flights, covering additional hotel stays or compensating for lost luggage, travel insurance (depending on policy details) takes care of these problems, resulting in fewer stressful phone calls, less time spent negotiating with service providers and a smoother experience for clients.

Ultimately, offering travel protection is about more than just providing a service; it’s about enhancing your professional reputation and protecting your business. When clients see that you’ve gone the extra mile to ensure their trip is covered, it builds trust and confidence in your expertise. By making travel protection a standard part of your service, you not only safeguard your clients’ travel investments but also protect yourself and your business from unnecessary complications.

Clients can’t be forced to take out coverage, but they should understand the risks of traveling without it. If a client decides not to purchase insurance, I require them to sign a waiver acknowledging that insurance was offered and that they declined. This waiver states that the client accepts full responsibility if their travel plans are altered due to unforeseen circumstances.

Here’s the liability waiver I have my client’s sign:

I decline the offer to purchase travel protection/trip insurance through [name of agency]. I understand that I am solely responsible for any cancellation penalties and out-of-pocket expenses incurred. I will also make my own separate travel, medical and any other provisions in the event of an emergency while I am traveling. I also understand that I am not protected from loss in the event of any travel vendor, travel supplier or any travel-related operator defaults. This waiver confirms that I voluntarily decline travel insurance and travel protection insurance for the trip described above. I understand I am solely liable for all airline fees, supplier fees and agency fees that may apply, and I hereby release [name of agency] and its agents from any and all liability related to the trip described above.

Nine times out of 10, after I present my clients with the waiver, they decide to purchase the travel protection.

Source:   Travel Weekly.   

Africa Tourism Leadership Forum 2024 set to chart a new path for intra-Africa travel, tourism & investments.

The Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF) 2024 is scheduled to take place from September 3rd to 6th at the Gaborone International Conference Centre, Grand Palm, in Gaborone, Botswana.

This year’s theme, “Charting a New Path Forward for Intra-Africa Travel, Tourism & Investments,” reflects the forum’s commitment to fostering sustainable growth and collaboration across Africa’s travel, tourism, and investment sectors.

ATLF is a premier Pan-African dialogue platform that brings together influential stakeholders from the travel, tourism, hospitality, and aviation sectors. The forum serves as a unique opportunity for industry leaders to network, share insights, and develop strategies to boost intra-Africa travel and tourism, thereby enhancing the brand equity of “Destination Africa.”

The 2024 edition of ATLF will focus on three thematic areas: Sustainable & Inclusive Tourism, Boosting Intra-Africa Travel, and Driving Economic Growth. These themes are designed to ensure that tourism development benefits all stakeholders, especially local communities, and contributes to the continent’s economic integration and growth.

The ATLF Awards, a highlight of the forum, will recognize and celebrate innovation, excellence, and transformative initiatives pioneered by Africans, for Africans, in Africa. Attendees will have access to investment opportunities, innovation showcases, and educational sessions led by industry experts.

As Kwakye Donkor, CEO, aptly puts it, “The future of African tourism lies in our ability to chart a new path forward, one that prioritizes sustainability, inclusivity, and collaboration. ATLF 2024 is poised to be a transformative dialogue that will shape the future of African travel, tourism, and investments.”

Building on the success of ATLF 2023, which saw over 500 participants, including thought-leaders, media, travel trade, industry practitioners, hoteliers, policymakers, and renowned experts, ATLF 2024 promises to be an even more impactful event.

The forum will feature insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and practical sessions on topics such as:

– Sustainable & Inclusive Tourism

– Boosting Intra-Africa Travel

– Driving Economic Growth

– Investment opportunities in tourism and hospitality

– Educational sessions led by industry experts

Join us at ATLF 2024 to be part of a movement that will drive sustainable growth and collaboration across Africa’s travel, tourism, and investment sectors.

Source: Voyages Afriq.  

Uganda, Kenya in bid to promote complementary tourism

In Summary

  • The 9th to 21st November conference shall:
  • Strengthen synergies between key tourism players from Uganda and the Kenya coastal region;
  • address barriers and challenges to the partnership between Uganda and Kenya Coast.
  • Explore investment opportunities in the tourism sector in Uganda.
  • Allow participants to experience the tourism products in each of the two destinations so that they are better equipped to promote them.

The Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference is an annual event organized by the Consulate General of Uganda in conjunction with tourism stakeholders in Uganda and the Kenya Coast.

The conference aims to consolidate networks, synergies, and diversity to maximize the tourism potential between Uganda and Kenya’s coastal regions.

The event includes excursions at the Kenya Coast and a family trip to Uganda, as well as business-to-business sessions to enable participants from both countries to meet and interact.

The expected outcomes of the conference include increased tourist arrivals and investments in the tourism sectors, joint tourism packages, and increased traffic on the Entebbe-Mombasa route operated by Uganda Airlines.

it will also help map/ work out a strategy for joint promotion of trade  between Uganda and Kenya Coast and enhance awareness about the complementarity between the two destinations and the tourism products they offer.

During a media briefing at the Ministry of foregn affairs in kampala,the Commissioner, Human Resource, Ministry of foregn affairs Mr Herbert Kiguuli and the  Consul General of Uganda to Mombasa Ambassador Paul Mukumbya tell the public that the conference shall also  assess the progress made in the cooperation between Uganda and Kenya Coast since the last two conferences.

This will provide a platform for B2B networking, learning and information sharing;and also  equip the key tourism players from Uganda and the Kenya coastal region with firsthand experiences of key tourism attractions so that they are in a better position.

Source: Capital Radio

NDC offers confuse clients, frustrate agents

A recent Travel News poll showed that 5% of agents book NDC via airline direct websites, 10% utilise a third-party platform (eg Thomalex), 15% book NDC via the GDS interface and 10% book a combination of all these options. 

But an alarming 60% of agents said they are not using NDC at all.

According to its 2024 Modern Retailing Report, Travelport research shows that NDC and website-direct offers are at odds with the consumer experience and that 58% of users are struggling to compare new products and additional offers available through NDC.

In 2022, Iata said of Modern Airline Retailing: “Our aim is to create value for travellers by meeting their needs. We know that passengers want a seamless digital experience.”

The NDC-powered displays of fares on many airlines’ websites mean that a vast number of fares are displayed. The fares represent the unbundling of standard fares and the rebundling of their elements into a variety of different offers. It’s somewhat bewildering and confusing for consumers, who could end up paying more for their fare than they bargained for.

A leisure client interviewed by Travel News said he received a quote from his travel agent to fly to Lisbon. “We were out with friends and they said I should book direct online as the airline website is always cheaper than agents offer. I went on to the website of the airline that my agent had quoted me on to have a look and the fares were indeed cheaper than she had quoted us.

“I put the same dates and flight details in on the same airline, got the cheaper rate and paid for the tickets, having compared apples with apples. The terms and conditions and different booking options were confusing at best.

“I have subsequently discovered that I booked the cheapest flights without baggage, and I cannot change my dates or get any refund on the tickets. Baggage is purchasable as an addition to the airfare and there were about seven different options and related prices for various fares that affect changes and refunds.

“Airline website offerings are a nightmare. There is so much more content to wade through; they have become more trouble than they are worth.”

Travelport CEO, Greg Webb, spoke to Travel News about solutions the GDS is developing to address the complexities of booking NDC.

 “Travelport’s role in the increasingly complex travel industry is to take millions of pieces of disparate information and make it simple for both travel agencies and providers to understand, search, sell and service. We believe AI and machine learning are powerful tools to do just that. The Travelport Content Curation Layer product will allow travel agencies to provide travellers with the right range of normalised, enriched, bookable content at speed, via a single search screen. Used for all content sources (LCC, EDIFACT, NDC, hotel, car, etc). The CCL allows agents to compare apples to oranges in an apples-to-apples way.

“Our travel agency partners know their travellers well, and Content Optimizer gives agencies the ability to set their own rules and customise the type of results that are prioritised.”

The Travelport report explains that because NDC content is implemented differently by every airline, the reality is the buyer is often forced to deal with NDC, whether they know it or not. 

To travellers, NDC looks like an overwhelming set of content on every airline’s website, along with different rules for changes on every offer, along with system incompatibilities, such as the offering of long-haul flights from South Africa to Europe, the US or Asia without the inclusion of baggage. It’s hard to believe this feels like a satisfactory modern retailing experience for the consumer. 

The same can be said for the travel agent’s experience when working with NDC. They often see duplicated content on the screen, or must open multiple tabs to compare like-for-like products. 

Added Webb: “For agencies and travellers alike, the explosion of choice is causing on-screen clutter, slower searches, and confusion.”

Travelport’s new Content Curation Layer and Content Optimizer was designed to unlock smarter searches in one place with clearer and more standardised results from all sources, said Webb.

 Source: Travel News

Ethiopian Airlines Elevates Passenger Experience with TSA PreCheck® Enrolment

Press Release – Ethiopian Airlines Elevates Passenger Experience with TSA PreCheck® Enrolment-The program offers passengers premium services to experience smoother security screening without removing shoes, laptops, liquids, belts, and light jackets.

Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest aviation group in Africa is delighted to announce its partnership with the United States (US) Transport Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck® program.

The program allows Ethiopian Airlines’ customers traveling out of USA to have a better air travel experience with a more seamless, secure, and comfortable security screening solution as they can keep their shoes, belts and light jackets on, and their laptops and 3-1-1 liquids in their bags while passing through the dedicated TSA PreCheck screening lanes.

The 3-1-1 liquids rule is a TSA regulation that allows passengers to carry liquids, gels, and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters each. All such containers should be placed in a single, quart-sized bag, with one bag permitted per passenger. This rule streamlines the security process and ensures a quicker passage through airport checkpoints.

Regarding the partnership Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said, “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our 25-year history of service to and from the United States, enhancing the travel experience for our esteemed passengers through expedited security screening.” He added, “Our integration into the TSA PreCheck® program is more than just an added convenience; it is a reflection of our dedication to providing a superior travel experience.”

Through TSA PreCheck, customers can enjoy streamlined security processes and expedited security screening. This will help our passengers to have more control over how they comfortably spend their time and benefit from a secure air travel system. TSA PreCheck® passengers wait less than 10 minutes in dedicated lanes at airport checkpoints nationwide.

Ethiopian Airlines now offers this expedited service to its customers traveling from five key destinations in the USA: Atlanta, Chicago, Newark, New York, and Washington. Our valued customers who are U.S. citizens, U.S. Nationals or lawful permanent residents of the United States, may benefit from enrolling in the TSA PreCheck Application Program through one of TSA’s three authorized enrollment providers.

For more information, please visit the following websites: https://corporate.ethiopianairlines.com/Press-release-open-page/ethiopian-airlines-elevates-passenger-experience-with-tsa-precheck-enrolment

https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/aa/tsa-prechek

www.tsa.gov/precheck

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is one of the fastest-growing airlines brand globally and the continent’s largest airline brand. In its seventy-eight years of successful operations, Ethiopian has become the continent’s leading carrier, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian’s fleet category consists of ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900 and Bombardier Dash 8-400 double cabin.

Ethiopian is also pursuing multi-hub strategy through hubs in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines and in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways. Having achieved its strategic plan (Vision 2025) ahead of time, Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan Vision 2035 that will see it become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world.

Ethiopian has been champion in various coveted awards including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for seven consecutive years among others. The airline has been a Star Alliance member since 2011 and has been registering more than threefold growth in the past 10 years.

For more at: www.ethiopianairlines.com   

Contacts

Nairobi City Office

Bruce House Muindi Mbingu Street

Email

nbores@ethiopianairlines.com

nbocto@ethiopianairlines.com

Tel

 +254 701223493/+254 701223970/+254 723786649

24 hours Toll free: +254 20 3892349

Uncovering the Secrets Behind Dubai’s Thriving Tourism

Dubai continues to thrive as a top tourist destination, outpacing rival Middle Eastern locations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which are also ramping up their tourism infrastructure. From Jan to Jun 2024, Dubai saw at least 9 million international overnight visitors coming into the city, marking a 9% increase in the first half of 2023.

Official data from the local tourism board

Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) reveals that this growth trajectory sets Dubai on course for a record year in 2024, potentially surpassing more than 17 million international visitors recorded in 2023. Dubai also saw an increase in hotel capacity with new openings such as The Lana, Dorchester Collection’s first Middle East property, and SIRO One Za’abeel, Dubai’s first fitness hotel. Official data has shown that the city’s hotels maintained a robust average occupancy rate of 78.7%, slightly higher than in the first half of 2023.

Hotel industry performance

Occupied room nights grew by 3%, totalling 21.35 million at the end of the first half of 2024, compared to 20.73 million in the first half of 2023. Additionally, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose to AED558 (US$152), a 4% increase from the same period last year, while Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) climbed 6%, from AED415 (US$113) to AED439.

New attractions a contributing factor

A key attraction contributing to this surge is Real Madrid World at Dubai Parks and Resorts, the world’s first theme park operating under the banner of the Spanish football club, which opened in the first half of the year.

The cruise sector has also played a significant role in boosting tourism. During the 2023/2024 winter season from Oct to Apr, Dubai welcomed over 132 ship calls between Mina Rashid and Dubai Harbour, a number expected to rise. Dubai has also partnered with regional maritime and tourism authorities to form the Cruise Arabia alliance, promoting the Arabian Gulf as a strategic point and premier cruise ship destination globally.

With a solid performance in the first half of 2024 and continuous enhancements in attractions and infrastructure, Dubai is well-positioned to set new tourism records by the end of the year, reinforcing its status as a leading global destination for tourists around the world.

Source:   Tripzilla

Kenya Airways and Safaricom forge tech partnership for aviation innovation

Kenya Airways (KQ) has signed a partnership with Safaricom aimed at driving innovations that will enhance the airline’s operational efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity, and elevate the customer experience.

Kenya Airways and Safaricom will focus on enhancing connectivity, in-flight Wi-Fi, Infrastructure Inspection, Security Surveillance, loyalty programs, data science, software development, and aviation innovation in areas such as agriculture.

Commenting on the partnership, Fredrick Kitunga, Chief Information and Data Officer at Kenya Airways said: “Kenya Airways collaboration with Safaricom is a testament to the power of co-creation. By harnessing our combined expertise, we are not only addressing today’s challenges but also laying the groundwork for sustainable growth, enhanced connectivity, and transformative innovations that will benefit our customers and communities for years to come.”

The companies will also collaborate in developing and implementing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for warehousing, baggage tracking, aircraft materials and ULD, to cover tracking, location, reconciliation and stock taking.

Representing Safaricom, Cynthia Kropac, Head of Business noted, “This Memorandum of Understanding solidifies our commitment to providing a transformative experience for our customers, connecting people in new and innovative ways. By leveraging our respective strengths—Kenya Airways in providing safe journeys and Safaricom in cutting-edge communications and technology—we ensure that our customers remain seamlessly connected throughout their travels.”

Kenya Airways’ Fahari Innovation Hub is a one‐of‐a‐kind center of aviation innovation excellence in Africa that facilitates creative and collaborative ways of providing much‐needed solutions to business problems. The Hub is a centre for strategic innovation management offering opportunities for cocreation, networking, research, and learning; and is a springboard for new ideas and innovations that help communities and continent face current and future challenges.

Kenya Airways (KQ) is Kenya’s national carrier and a leading African airline. It flies to 45 destinations worldwide, 37 of which are in Africa, connecting over 5 million passengers and over 70,000 Tons of cargo annually through the Hub at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Source:   ATTA  

ASKY Founder and Chairman Honored.

Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors at ASKY, Mr. Gervais Koffi Gbondjide DJONDO, has been honored with an award at the 2024 BOMA Africa Awards held in Accra, Ghana recently.

The award recognises DJONDO’s “indomitable spirit, passionate dedication, and relentless pursuit of Africa’s integration and prosperity goals, in line with Agenda 2063,” as inscribed on the trophy. Under the theme “From the Africa We Want to the Africa We Build,” the 2024 edition of BOMA of Africa celebrated personalities with radical ideas and actions driving Africa forward. “We are incredibly honored that DJONDO has been recognised for his outstanding contributions to Africa,” commented Chief Executive Officer of ASKY, Mr. Esayas Woldemariam HAILU on a Press release shared by ASKY.

About ASKY

ASKY, The Pan-African Airline, is a 100% privately owned airline created by regional banking institutions in Africa that includes The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), The West African Development Bank (BOAD) and ECOBANK Group (ETI) in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.

ASKY is a commercial company under private law and is managed by experienced African aviation professionals, with Ethiopian airlines as its strategic partner.

ASKY currently operates a fleet of fourteen (14) aircraft: nine (09) Boeing 737-800s and Two (2) Boeing 737-700s, and Three (3) Boeing 737 MAX 8, serving twenty-height (28) cities in twenty-six (26) countries within Africa and soon Pointe Noire.

ASKY’s focus is to develop a strong intra-Africa network that foster regional development, tourism, economic growth and regional integration as a major economic catalyst within the continent with its long-term goal of a sustainable business focused on profitability.

For more information, contact communication@flyasky.com, visit our website www.flyasky.com or our LinkedIn; Twitter Facebook and Instagram pages, @ASKY

ASKY Management

ASKY, The Pan African Airline

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