Qatar Airways has made refund payments totalling over $1 billion since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March.

The $1.2 billion figure covers over 600,000 passengers, with 96 per cent of refund requests since March now having been processed.

The carrier said that it is currently processing all new refunds back to the original form of payment in less than 30 days.

Qatar Airways also said that 36 per cent of passengers had chosen alternatives to refunds, including exchanging tickets for future travel vouchers, or swapping tickets for Q Miles.

At the height of the crisis the airline said it was getting over 10,000 refund requests per day, leading it to increase automation capabilities (allowing customers to request refunds and travel vouchers online), and redeploying staff from other areas of the business including cabin crew and ground services.

Consumers’ association Which? recently reported that several UK airlines are failing to refund passengers in the timesframes agreed with the Civil Aviation Authority, singling out Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic and Tui and calling on the government “to give the CAA the clout to effectively hold airlines to account”.

Commenting on the news the group’s CEO Akbar Al Baker said:

“With the impact of Covid-19 on global travel, passengers have had to change their plans at short notice and it has been difficult for them to plan ahead with any certainty. What they want and deserve are flexibility and reliability, and in Qatar Airways we hope they find an airline they can trust.

“The amount we have paid out in refunds has undoubtedly had an impact on our bottom line, but it is our duty to do the right thing by our customers and trade partners and as an airline we are strong enough to mitigate the impact of this.”

Source: https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/08/20/qatar-airways-pays-out-1-2-billion-in-refunds/

 

Weekend air fares to Kenya’s South Coast region have gone up since the resumption of flights last month signalling high demand from passengers seeking to travel to one of favourite tourist destinations as other routes grapple with low numbers

Airlines are charging between Sh8,900 and Sh5,900 for a one way ticket to Ukunda, making it one of the most expensive routes locally.

For instance, Jambojet is charging Sh8,900 for a one way ticket this Friday for a morning flight to Ukunda with only eight seats left, while the midday flight is going at Sh6,900 and the evening one at Sh5,900.

Skyward Express is charging between Sh6,950 and Sh5,950 for a seat to the coastal city with Safarilink asking for Sh6,500 to the same destination.

At this price to Ukunda, the budget carrier is charging more than what Kenya Airways is levying for a one way ticket to Mombasa with a seat going at as low as Sh4,845.

The fares to other destinations such as Eldoret and Kisumu have remained low at Sh4,500 with the North Rift town seeing fares as low as Sh3,900.

Generally air ticket prices in most of the routes have been cheap because of low demand for flying as Kenyans still reel from the effects of the Covid-19.

When the airlines resumed local flights last month, Jambojet on average charged Sh4,800 for a one way ticket to Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu while Fly 540 was charging Sh4,540 on the same routes.

Jambojet said last week it is flying with half seats empty since the resumption of flights on July 15, keeping the prices of air tickets low.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/counties/Weekend-air-fares-rise-on-coast-tourism-demand/4003142-5610270-tiaaie/index.html

 

Kenya is looking beyond the challenges posed by Covid-19 as it seeks to position the country as a top cruise tourism destination globally.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said cruise ship sector will bounce back once Covid-19 pandemic is contained.

Like almost every sector of the economy, tourism has been adversely affected by the effects of the pandemic. Kenya’s Sh1.3 billion cruise ship terminal is lying idle at the Port of Mombasa with six cruise ships which were expected to call this year cancelled due to the disease.

KPA principal communication officer Hajji Masemo said the prospects of the country’s cruise tourism look bright, noting that the agency is collaborating with the Cruise Africa, an association that incorporates the Indian Ocean, to market cruise tourism.

He said for Kenya to tap the full potential of the sector, the Port of Mombasa needs a “home vessel”.

“This means the ship will be domiciled here, start her journeys from Mombasa to other destinations,” he said.

The cruise sector, Mr Masemo added is one of the fastest growing maritime segments in the world.

“It is growing at an average of 20 percent (save for coronavirus times). We are keen to grow this industry as part of exploiting sustainable blue economy,” said Mr Masemo.

Currently, Kenya has more than 400 crew members on aboard vessels globally.

“We are optimistic that despite the pandemic, we can still get cruises to Kenya. But after the pandemic we will have many ships calling at our terminal,” said Mr Masemo.

He spoke after Kenya made its first ship crew change when six Kenyan and a Zimbabwean aboard a Holland America cruise ship arrived in Mombasa after spending six months in the ship due to Covid-19.

The seven disembarked from Ms Westerdam, the Dutch flagged ship at six nautical miles off the Mombasa Port, just a month after Kenya agreed to the new international measures to open up borders to facilitate seafarers’ repatriation.

The seven had to undergo medical checks before they were allowed to disembark from the ship.

Ms Westerdam, one of the Holland America’s largest cruise ship which was sailing from Port Klang, Malaysia had on board about 300 crew from different countries among them Tanzania, Ghana and South Africa which were also in the process of repatriation.

On July Kenya accepted seafarers’ crew change through Port of Mombasa joining other 13 port states in the world.

Kenya Maritime Authority official Luke Samba said the more than 400 Kenyans were aboard different ships when countries locked their borders. Since July, plans to return them home after completing their contracts are underway.

Some 400,000 seafarers are affected on land or on ships with about 10,000 currently trapped onboard ships across the globe due to the continuing imposition of travel restrictions. This is according to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). It is said some 200,000 seafarers are urgently waiting to leave their ships since their contracts have expired.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/shipping/Kenya-sees-bright-cruise-tourism-prospects/4003122-5610728-po4lgyz/index.html

 

The government has released a list of 130 States exempted from quarantine on arrival in Kenya. 

Some of the countries include; Uganda, US (except California, Florida and Texas), Russia, Turkey, Poland, Rwanda, Cuba and Australia.

Others are: https://katakenya.org/reopening-travel-updates/

 

The list will be reviewed on a regular basis depending on the circumstances on the ground and after a comprehensive global mapping of the intensity of the disease.

All passengers arriving in the country will be required to produce a PCR based Covid-19 certificate whose test should have been done 96 hours before travel.

Kenya uses PCR tests, which directly detect the presence of an antigen, rather than the presence of the body’s immune response, or antibodies.

Some countries use antibody tests which check the blood by looking for antibodies, which may tell if one had a past infection with the virus that causes Covid-19.

Transport CS James Macharia had earlier said passengers traveling out of the country will be required to abide by Covid-19 requirements of destination countries and before boarding, airline operators are under firm instructions to check compliance.

“Passengers arriving after curfew hours shall be allowed to proceed to their hotels but must have a valid passport and boarding pass,” he said.

 

Source: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2020-08-19-kenya-releases-list-of-130-countries-exempted-from-quarantine/

 

Emirates Airline has announced it will increase its passenger services to Nairobi to daily starting August 17.

The expanded schedule will offer enhanced connectivity for Kenyan customers to Emirates’ growing destination network via Dubai.

Emirates will operate its modern Boeing 777-300ER’s between Nairobi and Dubai on flights departing Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

In a statement on Thursday, Emirates said customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors.

It noted that visitors to Dubai should hold an international travel insurance policy covering Covid-19 for the duration of their stay.

Travel restrictions

Customers are reminded that travel restrictions remain in place, and travellers will only be accepted on flights if they comply with the eligibility and entry criteria requirements of their destination countries. 

Last month, the airline said it will cover medical expenses of up to EUR 150,000 (Sh18.7m) and quarantine costs of EUR 100 per day for 14 days, should a customer be diagnosed with Covid-19 during their travel, while they are away from home.

This cover is provided by the airline, free of cost to its customers regardless of class of travel or destination.

This cover is immediately effective for customers flying on Emirates until October 31, 2020 (with the first flight to be completed on or before 31 October 2020).

It is valid for 31 days from the moment they fly the first sector of their journey.

This means Emirates customers can continue to benefit from the added assurance of this cover, even if they travel onward to another city after arriving at their Emirates destination.

 

Source: https://www.the-star.co.ke/business/2020-08-13-emirates-airline-to-increase-daily-flights-to-kenya/

 

Immigration authorities have put in place high safety standards at Dubai airports.

Tourists and visitors to Dubai will receive a special sticker on their passports that will read ‘A warm welcome to your second home.’

As Dubai prepares to welcome tourists from July 7 onwards, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) has launched the special sticker to make tourists feel at home in the emirate. The immigration authorities have also put in place high safety standards at all Dubai airports, Dubai Media Office tweeted.

How foreign tourists in Dubai can avoid Covid-19 quarantine

 

Visitors are advised to undergo a PCR test with a maximum validity of four days (96 hours) ahead of the date of departure to prove that they are Covid-negative. Tourists with Covid-negative certificates may enter Dubai and explore the city without having to undergo a quarantine or isolation period.

Dubai airports gear up to welcome tourists

If visitors cannot provide proof, they will need to undergo a PCR test once they land at the Dubai airport. Visitors and tourists must hold a valid health insurance before entering the country. It is also mandatory to fill the ‘Health Declaration Form’ prior to embarking upon the journey.

Source: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai/special-passport-stickers-to-welcome-tourists-to-dubai–

Imagine Mr. Ronald walks into a travel agency with a special request: He urgently needs to go to Japan for business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To visit his company’s plants in the various Japanese cities, he will need to take many different flights on board various airlines in Africa, the Middle East and the Far East. A trip of this nature could pose a challenge for any travel agent! While it is not a problem to find and book available flights in the GDS, issuing the tickets might be a different story as many of these airlines may not be connected to their local payment system (BSP). Often, local airlines are not even participating in the GDS and therefore, their flight schedules, routes and prices are not visible. Is there a simple and time-efficient solution to find the best travel plan for this client? 

This is a perfect example of how Hahn Air provides a “win-win-win” solution to travel agents, airlines and customers. The number one ticketing expert has been offering support with its services for more than 20 years. There is a reason why over 100,000 agencies in 190 markets and more than 350 partner airlines trust in Hahn Air’s services.

Simplicity is key

If travel agents cannot issue an airline ticket after completing a booking, they can simply select Hahn Air as the validating carrier and issue the flight on the Hahn Air HR-169 ticket. Why? Because Hahn Air is an IATA airline with an unparalleled network of partner airlines. It has been specialising in distribution services for other airlines since 1999; its partner carriers can make their flights available to travel agents via its leading ticketing database. With over 350 carriers to choose from, there are plenty of options, even when planning a complicated trip around the world.

Unparalleled network

Hahn Air has even more to offer. With its H1-Air and X1-Air products, it connects travel agents with airlines that would normally not be available in the GDS at all. Under the codes H1 and X1, travel agents can find the services of 90 additional airlines that typically do not have a GDS contract of their own. They can simply be issued on the HR-169 ticket as well.

The Hahn Air Quick Check

With all the choices available, there is a very easy way to find out which carriers or a combination of carriers can be issued on the Hahn Air HR-169 ticket in each market. Travel agents can simply use the Quick Check tool on www.hahnair.com.

Round the clock support

Travel agents today face a lot of complexity when booking a ticket. Whether it is an issue with the GDS or a question about the airline’s services, the Hahn Air Service Desk offers support with all ticketing enquiries 24 hours a day and seven days a week at service@hahnair.com.

Free insolvency protection

Now, imagine that the customer has received his travel plan. With the HR-169 ticket, he can rest assured that even in the event that one of the carriers becomes insolvent, he will get his money back for the unused part of the ticket. Why? Because Hahn Air is the only provider in the industry to offer complimentary ticket protection. Since the introduction of Securtix^® in 2010, over 41 Million passengers have enjoyed the security of Hahn Air’s insolvency protection.  

More than a ticket

In the end, Mr. Ronald will enjoy a smooth trip. He might not even be aware that his journey is facilitated through Hahn Air – just like the millions of passengers that travel with the HR-169 document. “We are strictly a B2B company and do not target travellers directly”, says Candy Kasonkomona, Regional Vice President Southern, Eastern & Central West Africa, Agency Distribution. “However, for Hahn Air’s travel agent partners, we hope that our services make all the difference in the world.”

To learn more about Hahn Air’s products and services, KATA members will join Kimberley Long, Vice President Agency Distribution and Candy Kasonkomona, Regional Vice President Southern, Eastern & Central West Africa, Agency Distribution on Tuesday, August 18^th 2020 in an exclusive KATA Online Industry Meeting.

 

Budget carrier Jambojet has received approval to fly between cities in Kenya without stopping at its hub in Nairobi and also expand into cargo business.

The carrier had sought permission from Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to fly directly from Mombasa to Kisumu and from Kisumu to Eldoret- Malindi-Lamu without stopping in Nairobi.

Jambojet acting chief executive officer Ndegwa Karanja said they sought permission to carry conventional cargo within and outside the country where the carrier currently flies.

“With the approval we shall now do conventional cargo that will basically involve the belly freight as at the moment we are not in position to acquire a dedicated cargo flight,” said Mr Ndegwa.

The carrier is also seeking permission to expand its existing international destinations from where they fly at the moment and they have got approval from the regulator to fly directly from Mombasa-Kigali-Mombasa, Mombasa-Entebbe-Mombasa and Mombasa- Dar es Salaam-Mombasa.

Other international routes include Mombasa- Dar es Salaam- Zanzibar-Mombasa, JKIA-Entebbe—Goma-Entebbe-JKIA and JKIA-Kigali-Bujumbura-JKIA.

KCAA had sought public opinion in June before giving approval to Jambojet, which at the moment flies to two international routes in Kigali and Entebbe.

The approval comes at a time when the aviation industry is in turmoil following the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 that saw airlines around the world grounded.

The flights have resumed but Jambojet is yet to start international flights because of strict health guidelines issued by Rwanda and Uganda.

Mr Ndegwa said that apart from the stringent measures, the demand for flying is still low at the moment.

“We have not yet made a decision on when to resume international flights as the demand has remained low since the services resumed,” he said.

The carrier has been expanding its fleet and last year acquired four new aircraft as it sought to expand to regional countries.

The airline will use aircraft B737, implying that the carrier plans to acquire a new high capacity aircraft for regional routes. It will also deploy DHC8 and ATR72 based at the JKIA and Mombasa, as some of its airplanes based at the coastal city.

The Nairobi- Kigali route began in November last year while the Entebbe route started in 2018.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/companies/Jambojet-gets-nod-for-direct-Kisumu-to-Mombasa-flights/4003102-5606456-bebva7/index.html

 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that Muhammad Albakri, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East (AME) will be appointed Senior Vice President for Customer, Financial and Digital Services (CFDS), based in Geneva.

The appointment becomes effective on March 1, 2021. At that time Aleks Popovich, who currently holds the position, will retire.

“Over the past 16 years Aleks has driven some of the most critical elements of IATA’s operations, while leading major transformational projects for the airline industry.

“This includes IATA’s financial settlement products, which securely processed $457 billion of industry money in 2019, during a time of tremendous innovation in financial technology.

“And he delivered critical flagship programs that continue to change the industry—introducing cost-effective self-service options under the banner of Simplifying the Business, enabling airline retailing with New Distribution Capability (NDC), and streamlining decades of legacy processes with ONE Order.

“Aleks leaves behind a great team with a clear focus on customer service that will continue to drive critical changes under the capable leadership of Muhammad,” said IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac.

Albakri joined IATA in January 2017 after more than a decade in the leadership team of Saudi Arabian Airlines where he successfully fulfilled the roles of Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President for Transformation.

At IATA, Albakri has been an agent of change, transforming the Africa and Middle East regional team to better serve member needs and pioneering the work of IATA’s Digital Transformation Advisory Council.

“Muhammad is well prepared to guide the development of IATA’s commercial offerings, settlement services and digital leadership. In normal times, these are critical functions—even more so in the middle of an industry crisis,” said de Juniac.

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/08/07/albakri-appointed-iata-senior-vp/

The iconic Emirates A380 will begin serving travelers on flights to Toronto starting 16 August. The airline has so far resumed Airbus A380 operations to Amsterdam, Cairo, Paris, London Heathrow and Guangzhou (8 August) – taking its A380 network to six cities. The Emirates A380 experience remains a favorite among travelers for its spacious and comfortable cabins and the airline will continue to gradually expand its deployment in line with market demand and operational approvals.

Customers can fly the Emirates A380 from Dubai to Toronto five times a week. Flights can be booked online or via travel agents. Emirates flight EK 241 will depart Dubai at 9:10 and arrive in Toronto at 15:05 local time. The return flight, EK 242 will depart Toronto at 21:45 and arrive in Dubai at 18:30 local time, the following day.

With safety as a priority, Emirates is gradually expanding its passenger services to 70 cities in August, returning to over 50% of its pre-pandemic destination network. Passengers travelling between the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific can enjoy safe and convenient connections via Dubai. Customers from Emirates’ network can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors.

COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.

Source: https://www.eturbonews.com/578520/dubai-to-toronto-again-on-emirates-a380/