NEW AMADEUS RESEARCH REVEALS TRAVEL INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION PACE TO ACCELERATE

New global research from Amadeus has revealed a strong appetite for investment across the travel sector in 2024.

The Travel Technology Investment Trends research, which looks at eight sectors across the end-to-end journey in 10 markets – found that nearly all (91%) travel companies surveyed said that they expect ‘moderate to aggressive’ increases in investment in their organisations this year, while two thirds (67%) of senior decision-makers in the sector expect to increase investment specifically in technology this year when compared to spend in 2023.

Airports lead the way with an average percentage increase of 17%, followed by corporate travel managers with 15% and hotels on 14%. Airlines were fourth with a 13% increase, followed by travel agencies and travel payments on 13% and 12% respectively.

Smarter retailing, personalisation and driving digital efficiency are the top priorities for 2024 as full-service airlines expect to see an 18% increase in revenue from switching to modern retailing and are said to be optimistic that the transition to ‘Offer & Order’ will take place within the next four years.

NDC will be the top technology for implementation by leisure travel agents over the next 12 months as 40% of the agents surveyed said this is their focus.

In total, 60% of airports expect to roll-out biometrics across the complete airport experience in the next five years, including check-in, bag-drop, lounge and boarding.

In the hospitality sector, 85% of respondents anticipate personalization could help them to deliver more than 5% growth in incremental revenue.

It found that a third of corporate travel managers said its organizations intend to digitize the complete end-to-end expense management process over the coming 12 months, while a travel payments leaders confirmed its organizations are planning to better manage global payments flows by implementing payments orchestration in the next 12 months.

Decius Valmorbida, president, travel of Amadeus, said: “The findings match our on-the-ground experience with customers – every area of the travel industry is increasing investment in digital transformation. It’s crucial this spending delivers maximum impact and improves the traveler experience across the travel ecosystem.

“Existing technologies, such as biometrics, are already helping to make trips more contextualized and relevant.

“At the same time, the emergence of Generative AI promises to increase the pace of change still further. Travelers will experience significant improvement to the on-trip experience in the coming years, with commitment, investment and collaboration across the ecosystem combining to make travel work better.”    

Francisco Pérez-Lozao Rüter, president, hospitality of Amadeus, added: “We know that the right technology is the key to connecting and unlocking the value of our travel ecosystem. Hoteliers, airlines and the whole sector are right to be ambitious about the next generation of technology that we are building together.

Travel providers can see huge potential for a better customer experience as well as significant growth and control if they get their investment strategies right now. We can see clear ambition and commitment to evolution from this research and are excited to be at the forefront of this journey with our customers.”

The survey which was conducted online in Q4 of 2023 found the Top priority technologies for 2024 to be machine learning, data analytics, digital payments, digitalisation and cloud computing.

By 2029, respondents said their most important technologies will still be machine learning but this time it will be followed by Generative AI.

Cloud computing shoots to third most important, from last in 2024, followed by digital payments and data analytics as their smallest priority.

The results of Travel Technology Investment Trends will be launched in Extended Reality in an Amadeus Lounge created in collaboration with Amadeus’ strategic partner Accenture.

During the first half of this year 2024, Amadeus will release in-depth reports examining each sector explored in the research.

Source: Travolution

Lufthansa Group and United Airlines to turn Brussels into US-Africa hub.

According to reports that have appeared in German media, Lufthansa Group and its Star Alliance partner United Airlines are working on a project to boost air connectivity between the US and Africa by way of Brussels Zaventem airport (BRU).

As yet few details are known about their plans, although German aviation news site aero.de has quoted Lufthansa’s CEO Carsten Spohr stating that the scope of the project is going to be significant and that it will involve Brussels Airlines, the group’s Belgian subsidiary. 

Brussels Airlines currently serves 18 destinations across Africa. Like its predecessor, Sabena, Brussels Airlines has traditionally been a major player in the Europe-Africa market, linking the Belgian capital to multiple destinations across the continent.

Spohr reportedly claimed that, after a period of retrenchment, the time has come to boost Brussels Airlines African business again. This is also in line with what Brussels Airlines’ CEO, Dorothea von Boxberg, told Dutch airlines news site Luchtvaartnieuws.nl in an interview in February 2024, outlining the plan to strengthen the role of Brussels as an Africa-focused hub.

The general thrust of this plan seems to be to facilitate the channeling of traffic between this extensive African network and Transatlantic flights operated by United Airlines, and possibly Air Canada, which is also a Star Alliance member.

As of March 2024, United Airlines operates daily flights to Brussels from three of its US hubs, New York-Newark (EWR), Washington-Dulles (IAD) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD). Brussels Airlines, in turn, flies daily to New York-JFK.

Source: Aerotime

Open skies could earn EAC $200 million annually: study.

Airspace liberalisation between five East African Community member countries of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi could result in an additional 46,320 jobs and $202.1 million (approx: Rwf 164.5 billion) annually in GDP, according to a study on the economic impact of liberalisation.

Airspace liberalisation between five East African Community member countries of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi could result in an additional 46,320 jobs and $202.1 million (approx: Rwf 164.5 billion) annually in GDP, according to a study on the economic impact of liberalisation.The September 2016 policy briefing by the East African Business Council (EABC) and the East Africa Research Fund (EARF) says a substantial body of research has repeatedly found that aviation liberalisation has led to increased traffic volumes, greater connectivity and choice, and lower fares.“Quantitative analysis, based on data from East Africa, provided robust and compelling evidence that liberalisation leads to 9% lower average fares and a 41% increase in frequencies, which in turn stimulate passenger demand,” the study said.

The EABC Executive Director Lilian Awinja, last week, informed members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) that the business community is “very concerned” about the  high cost of air transport attributed to the slow pace of liberalisation .She said flight costs, both passengers and cargo, are high and thus contributing to a high cost of doing business.Awinja said: “Despite the commitments of Partner States at the international level, and the integration efforts through the Common Market at the regional level involving liberalisation of services, the EAC domestic air transport sector remains over-protected.”This over-protection, she explained, translates into less accessible and unaffordable air transport at the expense of potential users.Also worrisome, Awinja said, is the time it takes to move around the region by air.

The apex body of regional businesses and corporates carried out a study on the costs and benefits of open skies and is set to provide more details on the issue during a validation workshop in April.Richard Ndahiro, a Uganda-based regional financial services professional, told The New Times that: “Air tickets in EAC are prohibitively expensive; it costs $15 to travel by bus from Kigali to Kampala, and $300 by air. One is painfully forced to sit on a bus for a 10-hour journey, instead of a 45 minute flight.”“A road passenger travelling to Kampala has to forego two days of travel, considering the return trip. The Entebbe-Nairobi flight of 50 minutes is almost the cost of flying to Dubai,” Ndahiro said, adding that the latter costs $500 on an Emirates flight. Disregarding possible connecting flights, Entebbe is nearly 2,300 miles away from Dubai while Entebbe is “a stone throw away” from Nairobi.“We are slowly moving away from an era where essential services like communication, and banking were priced to become elitist. Why not air transport? With the right pricing, passengers will opt to fly than endure long road trips.”Concerned by his nearly 10-hour flight from Arusha, in Tanzania to Kigali, Daniel Kidega, the EALA Speaker, promised the Assembly will help push for things to get better. He said the Assembly will bring to task the Council of Ministers, the bloc’s central decision-making and governing organ, to explain what the EAC Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) is doing to domesticate the region’s airspace.

The EABC is appealing for adoption and operationalisation of the EAC air transport regulations by all Partner States to be expedited. It requests that harmonisation of regulatory fees and charges be done in the region in order to have a level playing field, and urges countries to provide national treatment to EAC national air operators, passengers and cargo in all the countries.Eunice Muhoro, a Kenyan trader, told The New Times that, recently, increased demand for air cargo services within east Africa has been witnessed and there was a shortage to intercity or inter-regional air capacity to move fruits and vegetables for export.She explained that there is need to have 10-20 tonne freighters to handle consolidated cargo in the region “hence the need to implement the Fifth Freedom among Partner States to minimise air transport costs and increase flights’ turnaround.”Fifth freedom is the right to carry passengers from one’s own country to a second country, and from that country to a third country, and so on. Muhoro said: “This is the time to transform our region into a global asset, reduce transport costs, grow our economy, and significantly improve quality of life for our citizens, making east Africa truly the place to live, work, raise families and do business.”Neglected, under-researched, under-exploited. A joint UK Department for International Development (DfID)-EAC research proposal on the costs and benefits of ‘open skies’ in the bloc notes that while there are many benefits to economic  development from open air markets in other parts of the world, in the EAC the sector has remained neglected, under-researched and under-exploited.

Although there has been progress through the development of regulations in the 1990s governing trade air transport services in the EAC known as the Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs), studies indicated that BASAs are restrictive and uncompetitive. The research proposal notes that ownership issues have caused most concern for EAC countries and airlines, where airlines may be deemed national carriers but are not majority owned by African nationals. Fastjet, a British-based holding company for a group of low-cost carriers operating in Africa, is used as an example. It is noted that, while under Tanzanian law, Fastjet is a Tanzanian carrier, other countries do not accept the designation because under their own national legislation, that designation would require ownership (or majority ownership) by Tanzanian nationals.Implications for region.

According to the EABC-EARF policy briefing note, a substantial body of evidence has developed over the last 10-15 years examining the impacts of BASA liberalization for both the aviation sector and the wider economy. Studies from around the globe found that liberalization allowed new carriers to enter the market and “existing carriers to better respond to demand. ” This resulted in lower fares for passengers and more travelers being able to access air services. However, more recently, research has found similar effects occurring in Africa where governments have chosen to remove restrictions on air services,” reads the policy brief. The document also emphasises that benefits of air service liberalization extend well beyond the aviation industry and passengers and contributes to greater trade and tourism, inward investment, productivity growth, increased employment and economic development.

Liberalization of airspace would definitely be a catalyst for more people traveling by air and thus boosting tourism, agreed Davidson Mugisha, Director of Wildlife Tours Rwanda, a local tour operator. Mugisha added: “Many people think that air travel is a privilege of the few. A return Kigali-Entebbe flight costs around $300. That’s a lot of money for a 30-minute flight. “The more people afford air transport, he said, the more tourist revenues and this would “positively impact on the sector’s infrastructure development so that we accommodate the increased demand” and, this too comes with additional economic benefits. During the recent Aviation Africa 2017 forum, held in Kigali, aviation experts said that airlines in Africa reported a loss of about $800 million in 2016 – with similar projections this year – largely due to regulation of African airspace. Dr Elijah Chingosho, the secretary general of African Airlines Association, said this is a major stumbling block limiting growth and leading to closure of some airlines. Only about 17 African countries liberalized their

Source:  New Times  

EAC lawmakers push for airspace liberalization to lower flight costs.

East African Community (EAC) should expedite the liberalization of its airspace and domestication of flights and declare it as one common airspace for all airlines registered and licensed by the bloc’s partner states, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has recommended.

This is one of the recommendations the regional parliament made during its plenary sitting in Nairobi on March 12, as it adopted a motion for a resolution of the Assembly recommending to the council of ministers and partner states to expedite the liberalization and domestication of the EAC airspace.

The motion was moved by MPs Paul Musamali Mwasa, from Uganda, and Kennedy Musyoka Kalonzo, from Kenya, and it was seconded by Gerald Blacks Siranda, from Uganda.

Lawmakers held that the liberalization and domestication of the East African airspace will create new airline routes and greater connectivity of the Community leading to shorter travel times, greater convenience and savings for East Africans and will stimulate trade and boost tourism.

Justifying the motion, MP Kennedy Musyoka Kalonzo said that air travel within our region is unnecessarily expensive, and it is this expense that the motion hopes to solve.

“Just as I was sitting here, I quickly checked out how much our flight from here [Nairobi] to Dubai was, and I discovered it is 37,000 Kenyan shillings [approx. $266], while a flight to visit our neighbors’, who are our members in this House – to DRC – is 100,000 Kenyan shillings [approx. $720],” he said.

“Really, if we are talking of integration, we really need to look at this issue of our airspace,” he said, observing that one of the issues that the motion seeks to address is the non-tariff barrier of travel within the region.

MP Mathias Harebamungu, from Rwanda, said it was observed that EAC partner states were sticking to what they call BASA – bilateral air service agreement – which was hindering the growth of the industry, and was [negatively] impacting on their citizens.

“Partner states still require what they normally call overflight clearance. This is very critical, and this is hindering that industry,” he said.

“You fly from Nairobi to Kigali, from Nairobi to Juba, from Nairobi to Kampala, [and] you have to apply for an overflight. And this is within EAC where we talk of free movement of people, free movement of goods. And this affects again the fares on the tickets” he said, pointing out that fees charged on different tickets are higher than the real cost of the tickets.

MP George Stephen Odongo, from Uganda, said that “there is too much rhetoric around how we want to facilitate the growth and the deepening of our integration, and air transport is one of them.”

“Unfortunately, we are operating in silos when it comes to determining our fares. And when you look at it critically, you realize that the overflight fares, the charges for each jurisdiction, are causing a lot in terms of the cost of transport,” he said.

Giving an example of flying from France to Holland which takes you an average of about one hour and 20 minutes and you pay $100 as airfare, and the travel from Entebbe to Nairobi, which is about 55 minutes, and you have to pay about $450 return ticket, he questioned the bid to make East African Community a competitive investment destination.

“By domesticating these air flights, which is the player of this motion, we are saying that each flight that we take from this destination within the East African Community are considered domestic flights. And in doing so, we will make sure that East Africans are going to travel freely and begin to enjoy and appreciate our integration,” he observed.

Source:  New Times  

Dubai showcases diverse destination offering at ITB Berlin 2024 Travel Trade Show

Berlin/Dubai– The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) successfully showcased Dubai’s diverse destination proposition alongside 56 key partners and stakeholders at the recent Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin (ITB Berlin) trade show, 5-7 March 2024. This was the 32nd time that Dubai had exhibited at one of the world’s leading travel trade shows, which this year attracted almost 100,000 attendees.

Demonstrating the breadth of the city’s tourism offering to global travel industry leaders and professionals, DET was joined in Berlin by co-exhibitors from across the tourism ecosystem including government entities, hotels, tour operators and destination management companies (DMCs), and among them were Address Hotels + Resorts, Atlantis Dubai, Banyan Tree Dubai, Museum of The Future, and, for the first time, flydubai.

Participating at major international trade shows such as ITB Berlin is a key element of DET’s marketing strategy to promote Dubai to a global audience and grow inbound visitation from both traditional and emerging overseas markets. In 2023, Dubai welcomed a record 17.15 million international overnight visitors, representing a 19.4% YoY growth compared to the 14.36 million tourist arrivals in 2022. The German market played a crucial role, contributing significantly to Dubai’s tourism success, with a remarkable 36% YoY growth and 574,979 overnight guests in 2023.

At its stand in Berlin, the Dubai delegation engaged with travel trade professionals from around the world and welcomed top politicians and industry leaders including Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin; Franziska Giffey, Berlin Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises; and Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council.

His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “As Dubai continues its growth in alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, set forth by our forward-thinking leadership, we are strategically harnessing the significant momentum generated during a highly successful 2023 to showcase Dubai’s diverse destination offering to key overseas markets. The strong, unified presence of the Dubai delegation at ITB Berlin reflected the city’s robust public-private partnerships and our determination to showcase Dubai as the best city to visit, live, and work in. Together with our stakeholders we were able to enhance Dubai’s visibility and perception among travel trade professionals from around the world, creating new paths to attract more visitors to the city and consolidate its status as a leading destination.”

Dubai’s international visitor performance bolstered its ranking as the No.1 global destination for an unprecedented third successive year in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024, the first city to achieve this unique accolade. This was further reinforced at ITB Berlin after Dubai was named 2023’s highest-rated destination in the Destination Performance Index (DPI) by IPK International, one of the world’s leading tourism consultancies specialising in tourism research, marketing and planning. The annual study, taking into consideration global tourist trips, traveller satisfaction, recommendations, and the desire to revisit, highlighted Dubai’s outstanding performance in attracting and satisfying tourists.

Reflecting Dubai’s commitment to creating unique and memorable experiences for travellers of all budgets and preferences, the milestones are testament to the emirate’s vibrant and diverse offerings, supported by world-class infrastructure, exceptional service at all touchpoints, and continuous collaboration between the government and private sectors.

This year’s ITB Berlin welcomed almost 100,000 visitors across the three-day event, including more than 5,500 exhibitors from 170 countries, 1,300 senior buyers, 80 ministers and state secretaries, 72 ambassadors, and 3,200 accredited journalists. Much-discussed topics at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds included AI and its potential uses in tourism and the urgency of the sector achieving sustainability.

During the event, representatives from the Dubai delegation observed global travel trends following discussions with visitors and media, such as the increasing interest in summer travel to Dubai. In addition to traditional peak seasons, the city’s diverse offerings, ranging from pristine beaches and luxury shopping experiences to exquisite culinary adventures, continue to attract visitors all year round. Additionally, there is a growing desire among travellers to explore Dubai’s rich cultural offerings, including the mountain enclave of Hatta, the majestic Hajar Mountains, and the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, creating a captivating blend of nature and traditional Bedouin culture.

About Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)

With the ultimate vision of making Dubai the world’s leading commercial centre, investment hub and tourism destination, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is mandated to support the Government in positioning the emirate as a major hub for global economy and tourism, and in boosting the city’s economic and tourism competitiveness indicators, in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy and consolidate its position among the top three global cities over the next decade.

Under this remit, DET is driving efforts to further enhance Dubai’s diversified, innovative service-based economy to attract top global talent, deliver a world-class business environment and accelerate productivity growth. Additionally, DET is supporting Dubai’s vision to become the world’s best city to visit, live and work in by promoting its diverse destination proposition, unique lifestyle and outstanding quality of life, overall.

DET is the principal authority for planning, supervising, developing and marketing Dubai’s business and tourism sectors. It is also responsible for licensing and classifying all types of businesses, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. The DET portfolio includes Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), Dubai Business Licence Corporation (DBLC), Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade (DCCPFT), Dubai SME, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) and Dubai College of Tourism (DCT).

Source: Zawya

Emirates and AIDA Cruises Extend Partnership, Elevating Dubai’s Maritime Tourism Status.

Solidifying Dubai’s place as a major maritime tourism hub, Emirates and AIDA Cruises have renewed their partnership for a further two seasons.

The renewed partnership was signed on the sidelines of the first day of ITB Berlin and is in line with Dubai’s efforts to significant grow its cruise capacity. Dubai continues to attract the biggest players in the industry through offering a seamlessly integrated maritime hub, with state-of-the-art handling facilities supported with unrivalled air connectivity.

Emirates will explore a number of opportunities with AIDA Cruises for joint marketing, operational alignment and strategic planning around flight schedules from across its network, in addition to enhanced transportation solutions between Dubai International Airport and Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal.

The partnership will continue to focus on sharing relevant data and insights to improve service delivery, providing dedicated support teams for cruise passengers, and facilitating a smooth check-in process at Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal. The airline will also dedicate capacity for the next two seasons to ensure continued momentum to meet the demand for cruise packages to Dubai.

The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline; and Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises.

Adnan Kazim commented on the renewed partnership: “We’re proud of AIDA Cruises’ long-standing commitment to Dubai, when they were one of the first cruise liners to home port in 2006.  We are readying the business for another robust cruise season in Dubai, and through the support of partners like AIDA Cruises anchoring in our home city and hub, we’ll continue to strengthen Dubai’s position as an attractive gateway for winter cruising.”

“The Arabian Gulf is one of our most popular winter destinations due to its moderate flight times, pleasant summer temperatures and many hours of sunshine. Combined with the new state-of-the-art terminals at Dubai Harbour within easy reach of the city’s attractions and excellent airport connectivity, our cooperation with Emirates will further enhance the attractiveness of this destination for our guests with tailor-made flight options,” said Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises.

AIDAprima has been operating to Dubai Harbour since 2021 and can accommodate up to 3,200 passengers. This season, passengers embarking and disembarking from Dubai can look forward to diverse itineraries that include destinations like Muscat, Doha, Sir Bani Yas and Abu Dhabi.

Dubai has been a first mover in joining up the entire travel and tourism ecosystem to facilitate hassle-free entry and visas for cruise passengers, seamless handling at ports which includes access to Emirates check-in desks at Dubai Harbour along with a host of other amenities dotted across the entire air and ground journey. Travellers have the added advantage of disembarking at one of the world’s most iconic tourism destinations, with landmarks and attractions that suit every taste, age and budget.

The 12 Emirates check-in counters in Dubai Harbour allow passengers who are disembarking from their cruise ships to fully check-in up to 4 hours before flight departure with the convenience of exploring Dubai without their luggage before heading directly to the airport and breezing past most formalities before their flight.

Last year, Emirates transported around 400,000 cruise passengers using Dubai cruise terminals. The city welcomed over 166 ships during the last cruise season, making it the region’s biggest port of embarkation and most popular call for cruise liners. The city expects an increase of 23% more cruise passengers for the upcoming season.

Source: Breaking  Travel News

Ethiopian Airlines to Expand Widebody Fleet with Up to 20 Boeing777X Jets.

With commitment for eight 777-9s and up to 12 more, Ethiopian Airlines is the first African customer for highly fuel-efficient 777X passenger jet.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 5, 2024 – Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest aviation group in Africa, and Boeing [NYSE: BA], a leading global aerospace company are pleased to announce the signing of

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the purchase of the latest Boeing 777-9 airplanes. The agreement includes the purchase of eight 777-9 passenger airplanes and the potential for up to 12 additional jets by Africa’s largest airline, Ethiopian. Ethiopian Airlines’ selection of the 777X positions the carrier as the first 777X customer in Africa and builds on its landmark 2023 order for 11 787 Dreamliner and 20 737 MAX airplanes in growing its modern fleet.

Regarding the signing of the MoU Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said, “We are pleased to continue setting the trend in African aviation for adopting cutting- edge technologies to enhance our services and customer satisfaction. Improving our operational performance and commitment to environmental sustainability, the 777-9 offers more flexibility, reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions. We are grateful to Boeing for their long-standing partnership and support, and we eagerly anticipate flying the 777-9 across the African skies and beyond.”

Based on the 777 and with advanced technologies from the 787 Dreamliner family, the 777-9 features new carbon-fiber composite wings and engines that will enable the airplane to achieve 10% better fuel efficiency and operating costs than other fleet families.

The 777-9 will support the Ethiopian Airlines’ plans to grow and renew its fleet in size, range and passenger and cargo capacity to reach high-demand markets in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. As part of its Vision 2035, Ethiopian is planning to fly to more than 209 international destinations flying more than 271 modern and eco-friendly aircraft.

“Ethiopian Airlines marks yet another first in our longstanding partnership by selecting the 777-9 to be the flagship of its growing fleet,” said Brad McMullen, Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “Building on a relationship that goes back 75 years, we value the unwavering trust and confidence Ethiopian Airlines puts in our airplanes.”

Boeing airplanes make up more than half of Ethiopian Airlines’ current fleet, including 29 787 Dreamliners, 20 777s, 27 Next-Generation 737s, 15 737 MAX and 3 767 jets. Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing continue to explore opportunities to further develop the country’s aerospace industry, including support for Ethiopian Airlines MRO capabilities, industrial development, training capabilities at the Ethiopian Aviation University and STEM education, as well as equipping the Ethiopian Museum of Science with aerospace exhibits.

Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook forecasts Africa's overall air traffic growth at more than 7% through 2042 ─ the third highest growth rate among global regions and above the global average growth rate of approximately 6%. Providing growth opportunities for airlines and offering enhanced features for passengers, with a range of 13,510 km (7,295 nautical miles) the 777-9enabls flights from Addis Ababa to as far as Seattle in the U.S.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is the fastest-growing airlines brand globally and the continent’s largest airline brand. In its seventy-seven years of successful operations, Ethiopian, the fastest growing airline, has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. In addition to its main hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it is also pursuing its multi-hub strategy through a hub in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines and in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways. 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 with an average fleet age of seven years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate most of these aircraft. Having achieved its strategic plan (Vision 2025) ahead of time, Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2035 that will see it become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world by providing safe, secured, market driven and customer focused Passenger and Cargo Transport and Logistics, Aviation Training, Airport Management and Ground Services, MRO andAerospace Manufacturing and Travel and Tourism Services. As a multi-award-winning airline, Ethiopian has been the champion in various coveted awards including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for six 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 Email: CorporateCommunication@ethiopianairlines.com Contact: (251-11)517-8913/8165/8907

About Boeing [NYSE:BA]

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers.

I FLY AIR.

The history of this great company is intricately linked to the hard work, persistence, and passion of dedicated employees.

Our success story begun in 2018 as a travel agent company and through collective efforts we have grown to become one of the leading airlines in Kenya. We take pride in our commitment to putting our customers first and providing them with a unique and exceptional experience from our services.

Our dedication in deploying safe, reliable, and quality services through teamwork has enabled us to successfully operate scheduled flights to Wajir, Mandera, Mogadishu and Juba among others with approximately 110,000 passengers flown to all our destinations over the past 2 years. I Fly Air’s main goal is to serve our clients. We will continue striving for excellence and we remain devoted in taking I Fly Air to the next level with the purpose of creating an enduring legacy in the industry.

Explore our routes from Wilson Airport to Wajir and Mandera daily and from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport weekly to Mogadishu and Juba.

Travel with us today by contacting our 24/7 call center on 0740 100 100 or book your ticket online www.ifly.co.ke Choose us and Fly with Class, Comfort and Convenience. We are the Wings of Africa!

Kenya’s Jambojet starts direct flights to Zanzibar.

The Government of Zanzibar through its Indian Ocean Island Minister of Infrastructure, Communication, and Transport, Khalid Salum Mohamed, has also announced Kenya-based budget carrier Jambojet will start direct flights to Zanzibar and Mombasa.

“Considering Zanzibar’s 2050 Vision of enhancing the blue economy and increasing the number of visitors to our island, the expansion of infrastructure is essential to help achieve our goal and is a current national priority,” Khalid Mohamed told press.

The maiden flights will start on July 1, 2024, with the Jambojet carrier flying four times a week between the two destinations tourist hubs. Initial fares are set at a starting at roughly $113 for a one-way ticket.

It is expected that the budget airline will increase the number of tourists and business travelers entering Zanzibar significantly.

As it gears up to celebrate its 10th anniversary, Jambojet Managing Director and CEO Karanja Ndegwa said the decision to establish this new route is driven by the increase in demand as well as the ambition to unlock commercial opportunities in the region.

“Since inception, Jambojet has been focusing on connecting people in the underserved or unserved routes,” commented an official from the company.

In a similar move, Zanzibar is now in talks with the Saudi Arabian government with a plan of introducing direct flights to Zanzibar from Riyadh city.

“Direct flights from Saudi Arabia to Zanzibar will be a big opportunity to boost trade and strengthen relations. It will also help ease transport for pilgrims to and from Mecca,” commented Zanzibar State Minister, Office of the President, Constitution, Legal Affairs, Public Service and Good Governance, Mr Haroun Ali Suleiman.

With the increase in direct flights to and from the spice islands, Zanzibar is enhancing its global appeal as a top tourist destination of choice for holidaymakers.

Direct flights are aslo an impetus for economic development through increased trade and also serve to boost regional and international relations.

Source: The Exchange

Women Are a Driving Force for Travel & Tourism, says WTTC.

London, UK: To celebrate International Women’s Day, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) underscores the pivotal role of women in the global Travel & Tourism sector.

According to WTTC data, women in tourism comprise a significant portion of the sector’s workforce, accounting for nearly 40% of the total employment.

This marks a substantial increase from 2010 to 2019, highlighting a 24% surge in direct female employment within the sector, increasing from 38.6 million to 47.8 million.

Key findings reveal that hospitality stands out as the leading employer of women within the Travel & Tourism sector, with over half (52%) of all female employment in 2019 attributed to this segment.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, emphasises the positive impact of women in the sector, stating: “Women in Travel & Tourism play a vital role. We are proud that our sector is one of the largest employers of women in the world.

“As our sector continues to grow, women have a key role to play; we have the opportunity to make Travel & Tourism more resilient and inclusive. Putting women at the heart of Travel & Tourism will be critical to securing a sustainable future for the sector.”

The global body’s data also reveals women in Travel & Tourism surpass the average workforce participation in other sectors globally. In regions such the Americas, women make up a larger share of employment in the sector compared to the economy-wide workforce.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, this data underscores the significant contribution of women to the Travel & Tourism sector, portraying it as a catalyst for gender inclusivity and empowerment on a global scale.

WTTC remains committed to provide high-wage jobs, gender equality, and fostering entrepreneurship through SMEs, as well as generating more high-level opportunities for women within large corporations.

Source: WTTC