Kenya Airways suspends DR Congo flights in protest over detained crew.

Kenya’s national carrier Kenya Airways has suspended its flights to Kinshasa, citing the continued detention of its crew by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s military over a controversial consignment of banknotes. In an update on Monday, the airline said the suspension will take effect from Tuesday, pointing out difficulties in supervision and support of its operations in Kinshasa.

“Due to the continued detention of KQ employees by the Military Intelligence Unit in Kinshasa, Kenya Airways is unable to support our flights without personnel effectively. As a result, we reached a difficult decision to suspend flights to Kinshasa effective April 30, 2024, until we can effectively support these flights,” said the carrier’s managing director, Allan Kilavuka, in the notice.

“The continued detention of our employees has made it difficult for us to supervise our operations in Kinshasa, which include customer service, ground handling, cargo activities, and generally ensuring safe, secure, and efficient operations.”

The move by KQ is set to benefit other airlines servicing the Nairobi-Kinshasa route, including Ethiopian Airlines, Precision Air, ASKY Airlines, and South African Airways.

Last week, Mr Kilavuka said two of the airline’s staff were arrested and detained on April 19, 2024, over alleged missing customs documentation on valuable cargo which was to be shipped on a KQ flight on April 12, 2024.

The cargo in question, however, was not uplifted by the carrier or accepted by them due to incomplete documentation.

Mr Kilavuka said military officers in Kinshasa took the two employees to the military side of the air wing to record statements, but they were held incommunicado until April 23 when the embassy officials and a KQ team were allowed to visit them.

Though DRC officials are yet to comment on the matter, sources told The EastAfrican newspaper that the case is about transportation of $8 million that was seized before being loaded on the KQ plane.

A local newspaper reported that a commercial bank attempted to export the money “clandestinely without the knowledge of the security services”.

The bank cited by Congolese media, TMB Bank, dismissed the allegations, saying “an operation to export banknotes in foreign currencies, which moreover, is a common practice of commercial banks and therefore does not constitute an offence as insinuated by certain journalists who, unfortunately, and for reasons of their own, refrained from investigating the various departments involved in such as operation”.

“Our bank has complied with all the formalities required for this operation, which is not the first of its kind and is inherent to the operation of banks, particularly for notes unfit for circulation, either because of their condition or because of their series,” TMB Bank further said.

Diplomatic tiffs

The recent developments have turned the spotlight on intermittent diplomatic tiffs between the two countries. In December last year, DRC recalled its ambassador to Nairobi after summoning the Kenyan envoy in Kinshasa in protest against the creation of a new coalition of Congolese rebels in Nairobi.

At the heart of the conflict was the creation of a new coalition of rebel leaders that was announced in Nairobi by the former president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni), Corneille Nangaa.

Kinshasa reacted swiftly by recalling its envoy, John Nyakeru, from Nairobi and ordering Kenya to explain the incident.

Source:   The East African

Uganda ready to sign Africa open skies plan.

Uganda is keen to sign the Single Africa Air Transport Market protocol, ending years of fence-sitting.

Authorities in Kampala indicated this week that the Uganda will join the open skies regime in the next financial year. “We are left with approval by Cabinet. Once that is done, we will be good to go,” said Fred Bamwesigye, director-general of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCCA) at a meeting in Kampala.

Mr Bamwesigye, who represented Works and Transport Minister Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, said Uganda’s reluctance to join the Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM) since its launch in 2018 was due to a need to shield its national carrier from competition.

Other considerations were invested in and build new infrastructure such as the Kabalega International Airport, to support traffic numbers resulting from liberalization; improve Entebbe International Airport to requisite standards as well as reorient the regulatory regime, which was inward-looking. “The idea to join has always been positive, but we had to first streamline our internal processes so that we go there when we are ready,” he said.” Now, we have an airline, and we must enable it to get more frequencies through SAATM. Uganda Airlines is flying to Nigeria, Mumbai, South Africa, the UAE… So, why not?” Danny Barongo, director for safety, security, and economic regulation at UCCA, said internal processes included three consultative meetings with stakeholders and with continental industry regulator to draft an agreement.

Accession to the “solemn commitment” would see Uganda ease past Tanzania, whose government has indicated that it will not join the liberalized air space plan for another five years, but it will still lag behind Kenya, Rwanda and 13 other African countries which, last year, agreed to launch and pilot SAATM flights.

Aviation expert Adikiny Olwenge, who is also the team leader for air transport at the Comesa, says there are benefits for airline operators as it opens up routes through 5th Freedom, which increases air transport connectivity.

Due to the limited number of operators, this benefit is not trickling down to the passengers because of the dominant nature of such airlines, but only liberalisation that can assure new entrants that they will realise healthy competition since SAATM has the necessary instruments to control competition.

even among the 37 countries that have signed up to the single air space regime, the same deep-seated fears and protectionism abound. “Most of the countries that have acceded to SAATM have the notion that it SAATM will kill their national airlines. That’s why we are having the awareness program for countries in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and Indian Ocean regions,” Mr Olwenge said.

Source: MSN.

British Airways Partners with Amadeus for Aviation Retailing Transformation.

Amadeus’ next-generation technology will deliver simplicity, agility and an improved customer experience.

The agreement is a milestone for the aviation industry on its path to modern retailing and the use of dynamic Offers and Orders

The agreement enables British Airways to deliver on its ambition to be at the forefront of retailing transformation.

British Airways has selected Amadeus as its technology partner and Amadeus Nevio, a new portfolio of modular solutions built on open and AI technology, to deliver the airline’s Offer and Order strategic goals.

The partnership will see British Airways and Amadeus collaborate on the design of Nevio’s Offer and Order capabilities, designed to meet the needs of modern airline retailers. Nevio’s Offer suite will facilitate more dynamic products and bundles, whilst Dynamic Offer Pricing is being rolled out to enable real-time contextual pricing options based on marketplace dynamics. A suite of Digital Experience tools will underpin a user-friendly booking experience and streamline servicing, including disruption, on any device or channel.

Working together these will produce highly relevant, personalized customer offers, and deliver a best-in-class retailing and servicing experience for customers.

Built around IATA Offer and Order principles, this totally new, open, modular platform benefits from the latest advances in AI and will help the carrier build demand, differentiate itself in the market and drive value across its entire business at speed.

Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President Travel Unit and Managing Director EMEA, Amadeus, said: “We see Amadeus’ partnership with British Airways as truly transformative. We’ve been working closely with British Airways for more than 20 years and we’re delighted that the airline has once again agreed to be a driver customer to shape the future of the aviation industry. The milestone partnership unveiled today is a significant step in our journey to making modern retailing a reality, with the deployment of rich, dynamic, personalized offers and next-generation order management.”

Colm Lacy, British Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “At British Airways we are on a journey to become a world leader in airline retailing and transform our digital customer experience, all underpinned by our £7bn investment to transform our airline. Alongside our partners at Amadeus, British Airways will be able to collaborate on the design of the latest technology to enhance our business processes with greater agility, and help us anticipate the needs of modern, digital travelers, providing them with exceptional experiences across their journey.”

Amadeus’ partnership with British Airways showcases a commitment to support an ambition on the part of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to create a wholly Offer and Order based retailing environment by 2030. The open platform technology being developed by Amadeus enables the airline to be innovative in its approach to retailing and revenue opportunities and is designed to grow with the airline’s business ambitions.

Source:   Breaking Travel News

Qatar Airways Announces the Launch of Flights to Democratic Republic of Congo

Qatar Airways announces the latest expansion of its network to include Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), enabling greater frequencies and increased capacity to Luanda, Angola.

This latest network expansion  provides passengers with greater travel choices within a key region of Africa,  opening up a new entry point for international travel from Africa to China, Europe and the India Subcontinent using Doha, Qatar, as a gateway. The addition of Kinshasa increases the number of destinations in Africa served by the award-winning airline to twenty-nine.

Starting from the first of June 2024, Luanda will see a frequency increase from one weekly flight to four weekly flights with a combined service to Kinshasa which Qatar Airways will serve for the first time. For a world-class experience, the new route will be served by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, equipped with 22 Business Class seats and 232 Economy Class seats.

Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Thierry Antinori, said: “We have seen significant milestones in our 2024 network expansion and this latest addition is particularly special, as it continues our strategic goal of increasing our footprint in Africa.”

“The inclusion of Kinshasa in our network is the latest manifestation of our efforts to improve connectivity to Africa. Qatar Airways has showcased its commitment to the region by providing passengers in Africa with greater choice to explore different corners of the world through our network and our hub in Doha, Hamad International Airport.”

Source: Airspace-Africa.

Kenya Airways launches new Route to Maputo.

In response to growing demand for travel between East and Southern Africa, Kenya Airways (KQ) has launched a brand-new route connecting Nairobi directly to the vibrant city of Maputo, Mozambique.  This exciting expansion takes flight from 14th June 2024, further solidifying KQ’s commitment to strengthening its network and offering seamless travel experiences across the continent.

“The demand for air travel is soaring, and we’re determined to meet it by expanding our reach and fostering connections between Africa’s rich cultures and thriving economies,” says Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer at Kenya Airways. “The addition of Maputo to our network strengthens ties between Kenya and Mozambique, opening doors for increased trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.”

Beyond its designation as a major trade hub for southern Africa, Maputo enchants visitors with its rich tapestry of history and culture. Portuguese colonial influences are evident in the city’s architecture, while vibrant markets and a flourishing art scene offer a glimpse into contemporary Mozambican life.  Whether you seek relaxation on pristine beaches or exploration of fascinating museums, Maputo promises an unforgettable experience.

Starting 14th June, KQ will operate three flights per week to Maputo, with Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays becoming the flexible gateways to exploring this dynamic city.  Beyond Maputo, this expansion complements KQ’s broader network strategy for FY2024, which also boasts increased frequencies to popular destinations like New York, Paris, Lagos, Accra, and Freetown.

Source:   Airspace-Africa

AFRAA Secretary General highlights EU learnings at SAATM meet.

Abderahmane Berthé, Secretary General, African Airlines Association (AFRAA) intervened in a panel session during the Connecting Europe Days on the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) on lessons learnt from the air transport liberalisation in the European Union (EU) that can be useful for SAATM.

“The air transport market in Africa is relatively small, we have seen some protectionism attitudes aiming to protect national carriers,” said Berthé. “Of course, this is a wrong approach because, by nature, traffic rights are reciprocal. It is therefore critical to increase the market size and facilitate its access. “To achieve this, the following need to be addressed: *Affordability of air transport for African citizens: reduce the cost of operations and taxes and charges. *African economy growth: GDP per capita (only 15% of global GDP per capita).

Trade and tourism development: Intra-Africa trade is below 20 percent compared to more than 50% in other regions. Intra-Africa tourism is very small. In Africa when we talk about tourism, we are looking at tourism from non-African regions. *Facilitation of air travel through visa openness is also critical. 50 percent of African citizens need a visa to travel within Africa.

Airlines’ cooperation: commercial agreements and partnerships are essential to improve connectivity. AFRAA route network and cargo coordination is aimed at creating a forum for airlines to cooperate. Another success factor is airline consolidation. Over the past 18 years, the African continent has had the lowest level of market consolidation compared to the other regions in the globe.

The engagement of states, airlines and all the relevant stakeholders is necessary to effectively achieve the required outcomes on airline consolidation in Africa.” The session looked into SAATM as a key to open the door for aviation to play a major role in connecting Africa, promoting its social, economic and political integration and boosting intra-Africa trade and tourism. The event was organised by the European Commission together with the Belgian Presidency of the Council in Brussels.

Source: Logistics Update Africa

Air Cargo Demand Maintains Double-Digit Growth

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for February 2024 global air cargo markets showing continuing strong annual growth in demand.

•    Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), rose by 11.9% compared to February 2023 levels (12.4% for international operations). This is the third consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year demand growth.

•    Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), increased by 13.4% compared to February 2023 (16.0% for international operations). This was largely related to the increase in international belly capacity accompanying growth in passenger markets (29.5% year-on-year increase), which far exceeded international capacity on freighters (3.2% year-on-year increase).

“February’s demand growth of 11.9% far outpaced the 0.9% expansion in cross-border trade. This strong start for 2024 could see demand surpass the exceptionally high levels of early 2022. It also shows air cargo’s strong resilience in the face of continuing political and economic uncertainties,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Several factors in the operating environment should be noted:

•    Global cross-border trade increased by 0.9% in January.

•    In February, the manufacturing output Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 51.2, indicating expansion. The new export orders PMI also rose to 49.4, remaining slightly below the 50 threshold that would indicate growth.

•    February year-on-year inflation dropped to 2.8% in the EU while rising to 2.8% and 3.2% in Japan and the US respectively.  After four months of deflation, China reported a 0.7% increase in inflation year-on-year—a positive development amid concerns over China’s economic slowdown.

February Regional Performance

Asia-Pacific airlines saw 11.9% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in February. This was a significant decrease compared to January’s 24.3% year-on-year growth, likely related to slowing activity after the Lunar New Year celebrations. Capacity increased by 23.1% year-on-year as belly capacity came online with recovery in the passenger business.

North American carriers saw 4.2% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in February—the weakest among all regions. Demand on the North America–Europe trade lane grew by 5.2% year-on-year while Asia–North America grew by 3.9% year-on-year.  February capacity increased by 1.9% year-on-year.

European carriers saw 14.6% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in February. Intra-European air cargo rose by 24.5% year-on-year—the strongest performance in almost three years. Europe – Middle East routes saw demand grow by 39.3% year-on-year, while Europe – North America expanded by 5.2% year-on-year.  February capacity increased 13.2% year-on-year.

Middle Eastern carriers saw 20.9% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in February.  The Middle East–Europe market was the strongest performing with +39.3% growth, far ahead of Middle East-Asia which grew by 21.9% year-on-year. February capacity increased 16.2% year-on-year.

Latin American carriers saw 13.7% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in February.  Capacity increased 8.9% year-on-year.

African airlines saw 22.0% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in February—the strongest among all regions. The intra-Africa trade lane showed 42.3% year-on-year growth. February capacity increased by 28.2% year-on-year.

Source: Airspace-Africa.

African Airlines Show Impressive 20.7% Increase In Year-On-Year International Traffic

Airlines across Africa are reaping the rewards of increased demand, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reporting an increase of 20.7% in passenger traffic compared to this time last year. The collection of carriers includes, but is not limited to, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Egyptair, Royal Air Maroc, and Air Senegal.

African Airlines are surging forward with the expansion, which has seen capacity grow by 22.1% yearly, catapulting the continent’s aviation scene into a new realm. The growth has been expected as the world continues its post-pandemic thaw, and Africa’s numbers add to the 5.7% global increase in passenger numbers seen in February this year.

While demand and capacity are up, there is a slight increase in overall load factors across Africa, with a slight decrease in numbers seeing the region reach just 74%, a drop compared to the previous year.

Optimistic for the region

The ex-International Airlines Group boss and now IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh remains optimistic about travel across Africa. Walsh reiterates the positive momentum the region is seeing. Growth will be expected as more people look to travel, plus accelerated investment in airports and airlines and ‘resilient passenger demand’, as noted by Nairametrics.

Walsh did, however, clarify that the continued imposition of new taxes across Europe could be detrimental to growth not just in Africa but across the aviation industry and could lead to increases in airline ticket costs.

The numbers

Across Africa, domestic operations surpassed 13.7% growth compared to pre-pandemic levels, and between 2023 and 2024, there were 15% more operations. This was driven by strong demand over the Lunar New Year Period (however, it remains in the shadows compared to China during this time, which saw an increase of 31.5%).

When compared to February 2019, an increase of 0.9% was seen, with annual growth for international operations reaching over 26.3%. Operations towards Asia and the Pacific led the spike, with demand for travel between those regions and Africa witnessing demand surpassing 53.2%. For those destined for South America, growth between Africa and the likes of Sao Paulo contributed to a 21% increase in travel between the two continents.

Africa’s largest airline

Ethiopian Airlines maintains its status as the continent’s largest airline from its base at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD). As Simple Flying published in February, the carrier will operate up to 78 destinations across the African continent this year, adding Freetown, Sierra Leone, in May and Maun Botswana in June.

For international travelers heading towards North America, the carrier already serves up to 37 weekly flights between Ethiopia and the likes of Washington, Chicago, Toronto, Newark, Atlanta, and New York JFK. However, further growth is expected. Last November, the Ethiopian’s CCO disclosed that two additional North American destinations will be added “per year over the next few years.” He said Denver, Minneapolis, Seattle, Houston, and Montreal are coming.

Source:  Simple Flying  

Skyward Express opens new hub at JKIA

Skyward Express has opened a new hub at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as it steps up its quest to expand its services in the country.

The airline, which flies mainly from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, said Thursday that its JKIA base, which is operational effective today, will allow it to fly passengers to Mombasa and back.

The new hub will also offer an opportunity for international passengers landing at JKIA to connect to the coastal city via the airline.

“We have started operating flights to Mombasa from Terminal Two at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Mombasa effective today [Thursday],” said the airline’s general manager, Diana Nyambura, in an interview with the Business Daily.

“This strategic decision not only aligns with our commitment to providing enhanced connectivity to international travellers but also elevates our product offering to our dedicated clientele,” she said.

The airline has been flying passengers to Mombasa from its Wilson Airport base in Nairobi daily.

Ms Nyambura said the airline will carry passengers to Mombasa using a Fokker 100 jet aircraft.

The flight can carry up to 100 passengers and takes about 50 minutes from JKIA to Mombasa.

At its Wilson Airport hub, the airline will ferry passengers to Mombasa using a Dash 7 Q300 aircraft with a capacity of 50 passengers.

“The busy JKIA, a central aviation hub in East Africa, will now witness us enhancing our service offerings with a jet and the introduction of twice-daily flights to Mombasa (MBA), a route that promises to cater to business travellers commuting between the Port city and the Capital City of Nairobi,” she said.

Skyward Express flies out of Wilson with daily flights to Eldoret, Lodwar‚ Mombasa‚ Diani‚ Malindi and Lamu.

It also flies to Kakamega, Kitale and Migori in western Kenya.

Source: Business Daily Africa.

Lufthansa Sees Strong Demand Between Europe and Southern Africa and Will Continue Expanding.

The Lufthansa Group is ready for significant expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa this year with new routes and additional frequencies to its existing network. The group has witnessed increased post-pandemic demand to and from many African countries, prompting its expansion on the continent.

Last December, Lufthansa appointed René Koinzack as the new Senior Director of Sales for Southern and East Africa, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea. This is a new position that was created to oversee activities in those specific regions. While not covering all markets, he oversees about 23 African countries. Simple Flying first caught up with René Koinzack at the recent Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (BARSA) Summit.

Gearing up for Southern African expansion

The group aims to continue strengthening its presence in Africa while assessing growth potential in the Southern and Eastern regions, as well as in Nigeria. Last year, Lufthansa announced the resumption of direct flights between Munich (MUC) and Johannesburg (JNB) after 19 years. The route will see three weekly flights with the Airbus A350. As such, the group will have up to 33 weekly flights to South Africa.

Lufthansa and its subsidiaries, including Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss, and Austrian Airlines, serve about 35 African destinations. In addition to the airlines, Lufthansa InTouch, Global Load Control (GLC), Lufthansa Cargo, and other business units run various operations around the continent, with over 1,000 employees in South Africa alone.

Strong demand in Southern and Eastern Africa

According to Koinzack, the resumption of Munich-Johannesburg flights is a testament to the positive trends Lufthansa is witnessing regarding travel to and from South Africa. The group has seen a strong rebound in business and leisure traffic from all over Europe. Last year, South Africa-Europe flights were even more popular, with the Rugby World Cup in France.

The group has also seen strong demand in other Southern African countries like Namibia, which is served by Discover Airlines. After launching five weekly flights from Frankfurt to Windhoek in 2021, this increased last summer to ten weekly departures, including the Frankfurt-Windhoek-Victoria Falls service. René Koinzack said to Simple Flying,

“There is a lot of development in our region. We see a strong interest in travel to Southern Africa from Europe. In South Africa, local demand for flights to Europe is also increasing, which gives us confidence in the market.”

The carrier is witnessing the same trends in East Africa, where it has been expanding its operations over the past years, with Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, and Mombasa as new destinations. Summer 2024 will also see the resumption of Brussels Airlines flights from Brussels (BRU) to Nairobi (NBO) after about nine years. On June 3, the Belgian carrier will start operating up to six weekly flights on the route, but this will be reduced to four weekly in winter.

With the start of the Nairobi operation, the group will also increase flights to Kigali (KGL), which will be served on a daily basis, from June. Brussels Airlines will be the first and only European carrier operating daily flights to Rwanda. The Lufthansa Group sees a lot of opportunities for further growth in Africa, and apart from the new routes starting this year, it will continue analyzing where to increase frequencies and observing market trends and opportunities.

Partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility

Last year, Lufthansa also signed codeshare agreements with South African Airways and Airlink to give passengers access to more destinations in South Africa. Similarly, SAA and Airlink customers can easily book long-haul flights to Europe with Lufthansa and SWISS on a single itinerary. These partnerships have been very important for the German and Swiss carriers, as René Koinzack put it,

“Lufthansa Group has a long history of forming partnerships in the industry, so it is great to have these codeshares with Airlink and South African Airways to increase the portfolio for our travelers. While Johannesburg is nice, Southern Africa has a lot of diverse regional locations to offer. We want to grow our network for our customers to make it easier for them to travel, not only from Frankfurt, Zurich, and soon Munich to Johannesburg, but also within South Africa.”

In addition to its flight services, Lufthansa is also supporting several projects around the continent as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Help Alliance, a non-profit organization under the Lufthansa Group, is engaged worldwide in giving young people access to education and enabling them to lead a self-determined life.

The organization has just started a brand-new project, building a Chess school in Lagos, Nigeria, reaching kids living in difficult circumstances with education and support. Help Alliance is running other social projects in Tanzania and South Africa.

Source: Simple Flying.