Kenya Airways has donated one of its Boeing 737-700 aeroplanes to Mangu High School.

The donation is aimed at supporting aviation studies in the school that will later feed the airline with personnel in the aviation sector.

The school, which will be celebrating 100 years next year, is among the first institutions to start teaching aviation studies in the country and has several of its former students working at the airline in various departments.

It also becomes the first to receive a complete aeroplane from the airline through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) after donating an engine to the Technical University of Kenya in 2016 for the same purpose.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the donation is an act of nobility and an affirmation of KQ’s support for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

He lauded the airline’s CSR initiatives that bequeath students with tactical, technical and technological know-how that will give them an edge over their peers.

‘‘I wish to thank Kenya Airways for this commendable act of CSR that will inspire hope in the students of Mangu High School, assist in the modelling of their skills and transform abstract theories into practicable concepts,’’ said Murkomen

He added, ‘‘This initiative also underscores the importance of Public-Private Partnerships(PPP) in advancing our government’s education and aviation reforms and ensuring that  our young people have access to the requisite tools and opportunities necessary for the creation of successful careers.’’

The CS spoke today during the handover at hangar 1 at the airline’s head office in Embakasi.

He said the aviation sector in Africa has expansive opportunities and vacancies that remain unfilled.

According to a recent report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Africa needs 55,000 skilled aviation professionals in the next two decades, including 15,000 pilots, 17,000 technicians and 23,000 cabin crew.

‘‘The question therefore remains; how can we as a country, benefit from these opportunities? What do we need to do to establish dominance in the continent’s aviation sector and export talent and skills to the continental and global markets?’’ he posed. 

He said one of the ways of doing this is by encouraging the creation of incubators for innovation and talent development.

Beyond its flight and cargo operations, KQ has an active aviation hub, known as Fahari Innovation Hub that acts as a springboard for new ideas and data-driven innovations.

It also has an approved aviation school known as the Pride Centre that offers a range of courses to prepare candidates for a successful career in the aviation sector.

Kenya Airways chief executive officer Allan Kilavuka said the aeroplane boasts of impressive specifications including a wingspan of 35.79 metres and a length of 33.63 meters, making it substantial and iconic aircraft.

‘‘It also has a seating capacity of 16 seats in the business class and 100 in economy and has served countless passengers throughout is remarkable career. Manufactured in 2003, it has aged for two decades, accumulating an impressive over 56, 861 flight hours and 20,966 flight cycles,’’ said Kilavuka.

He added: ‘‘It was retired from active service in December 2021 and now it embarks on a new journey as an educational tour for the Mangu High School students.’’

KCB Bank has donated Sh5 million to support its movement from the hangar to the school and equip the school with aircraft learning equipment such as flight simulators and aircraft maintenance tools, while Crown Paints will donate paint for the repainting the plane that will now be registered as 5W MHC from 5W KQH.

Kilavuka, who reiterated that the airline will also offer technical support to the school, said they have started discussions with universities particularly TUK and Kenyatta University (KU) on matters aviation.

‘‘This is to make sure that we are impacting influence in their curriculum to be relevant to us and meet current industry demands,’’ he said.

 Mangu High School principal John Kuria thanked the airline for the donation, saying it will further fire up the dreams of these students to achieve their dream careers

‘‘It will also go a long way in ramping up the numbers of students in aviation technology,’’ he said.

Mangu High School Alumni Association chairman Ronald Meru, who paraded four pilots who are alumni said aviation programme is the school’s pride.

 ‘‘The partnership will facilitate the aviation studies at the school and ensure the aviation technology is well taught in accordance with the standards that the students require,’’ he said.

General Michael Gichangi, Kenya Airways board chairman and also an alumnus of Mangu said the school has been instrumental in the aviation industry of the country since independence and the donation is a major milestone will strengthen the impetus it has given to the industry.

Source: Standard media.

In a significant stride towards enhancing global connectivity, Condor Airlines, a well-established German leisure and vacation airline, has recently launched direct flights from Frankfurt to Mombasa. This move comes after nearly two decades of successful operations in Kenya, primarily serving Mombasa, and marks a pivotal moment for Condor’s foray and return to Mombasa, Kenya’s coastal city.

Condor Airlines has long been a prominent name in the aviation industry, synonymous with quality service, efficiency, and a commitment to providing travelers with unforgettable experiences. Their decision to expand operations to Mombasa underscores the growing importance of Kenya as a key destination in East Africa.

At a recent meeting hosted by the airline at the Boma Hotel in Nairobi, travel agents had the privilege of engaging with Condor’s product offering and management team. The gathering provided a unique opportunity for industry stakeholders to gain insights into Condor’s expansion plans and the airline’s mission to further connect East Africa with Germany.

Condor’s activities in Kenya will be managed through a General Sales Agent Agreement, AVIANETAVIAREPS Travel Management Ltd. The airline activities will be headed by Ms. Lilian Musyoka, who brings a wealth of experience to her role. While speaking during the launch, Ms Musyoka expressed Condor’s dedication to facilitating seamless travel between the two regions. She highlighted how Condor’s new direct route to Mombasa aligns perfectly with the airline’s commitment to providing travelers with efficient and convenient connections.

“As Condor Airlines extends its reach, travelers can look forward to a new era of connectivity and exploration. This expansion not only opens doors for German tourists to experience Kenya’s rich cultural and natural wonders but also beckons Kenyan travelers to explore the vibrant landscapes and cultures of Germany,” she said.

Source: KATA NEWS

The Belgian Lufthansa subsidiary is expanding in its focus market of Africa. In a significant development for both Brussels Airlines and East Africa, the Belgian carrier is set to receive an additional Airbus A330, marking a return to its pre-pandemic fleet size. This expansion comes hand in hand with the reopening of a vital route to Nairobi and increased flight frequency to Kigali, signifying a growing commitment to East African connectivity.

The Return to Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya, holds a special place in Brussels Airlines’ history. Having been part of their network from 2002 to 2015, the city is set to once again grace their route map. Commencing in June 2024, direct flights will connect Brussels to Nairobi, promising increased accessibility for travelers. Ticket sales for this eagerly anticipated route are already slated to begin shortly.

With the addition of the tenth long-haul aircraft, Brussels Airlines aims to strengthen its presence in Africa significantly. During the summer season, the flight to Nairobi will operate six times a week – except Tuesdays, offering ample opportunities for travel. Even during the winter season, when many routes see reduced frequency, Nairobi will remain well-connected with four weekly flights.

In order to be able to cope with growth, the airline will add a tenth Airbus A330 in the summer of 2024. This means that their long-haul fleet will be as large as before the pandemic. At that time, it had reduced its aircraft fleet by a quarter.

Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Brussels Airlines, acknowledges the pivotal role of this expansion, stating, “With Nairobi, daily flights to Kigali, and additional flights to West Africa, we have a stronger presence in Africa than ever before.” She emphasizes that this tenth long-haul aircraft exemplifies Lufthansa Group’s confidence in the airline and strengthens its position as the hub to Africa within the group.

The addition of the Airbus A330-300 from parent company Lufthansa signifies a seamless integration of resources within the group and heralds an exciting new phase for Brussels Airlines.

Expanding Capacity and Connectivity

This latest development underscores Lufthansa Group’s commitment to Kenya and its strategic intention to boost market growth. With the new flights to Nairobi, the Group will offer an impressive 18 weekly flights to Kenya, with 13 weekly flights to Nairobi (7 by Lufthansa and 6 by Brussels Airlines) and 5 weekly flights to Mombasa via DISCOVER Airlines.

During the European winter season starting in October 2024, the Lufthansa Group will operate 15 weekly flights to Kenya, further cementing its status as a major player in East African air travel.

In conjunction with these developments, Kigali is also set to benefit from increased connectivity, with flight frequencies increasing from 5 weekly to daily year-round flights starting in June 2024. This expansion reflects the growing importance of East Africa in global aviation and the commitment of Brussels Airlines and the Lufthansa Group to play a significant role in this vibrant region’s growth.

Source: Airspace-Africa

Low-cost carrier Flydubai next year will begin service between Dubai and Mombasa, Kenya, the carrier announced.

The service will begin on Jan. 17 and will operate four times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Emirates also will codeshare on the route, enabling further connections out of Dubai, according to Flydubai.

The Mombasa route will be Flydubai’s 11th in its African network, where the carrier sees “a lot of potential,” according to Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith. “Dubai has seen steady growth in investment from Africa since Expo 2020, with more than 26,000 African companies registered with Dubai Chamber,” he said in a statement. “Our direct flights to Mombasa from January and our growing operations in Africa will further support free flows of trade and tourism between the [United Arab Emirates] and the East African markets.”

Other African destinations in Flydubai’s network include Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Alexandria, Egypt; Asmara, Eritrea; Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania; Djibouti; Entebbe, Uganda; Hargeisa (Somaliland) and Mogadishu in Somalia; and Juba, South Sudan.

Source: BTN

ASKY has added Nairobi, its latest destination after Luanda. Both routes are brand-new. ASKY overnights its entire fleet at outstations, and Nairobi and Luanda are no exception.

ASKY Airlines is not a big operator. According to ch-aviation, the Togo-based strategic partner of Ethiopian Airlines has just 12 aircraft: eight Boeing 737-800s and four 737-700s. Two used MAX 8s are reportedly coming. Despite the small fleet, ASKY is a highly coordinated hub and spoke airline, serving 27 destinations from its Lomé hub this August-October.

Jambo, Nairobi!

ASKY will inaugurate Lomé to Nairobi on October 1st. The Kenyan capital will be served three weekly non-stop in both directions using the two-class, 154-seat 737-800. Entirely timed to connect behind and beyond Lomé, Lagos and Accra will be especially well demanded for transit passengers.

Some 2,517 miles (4,050 km) apart, the new route is scheduled as follows:

• Lomé to Nairobi: KP78, 12:40-21:25 (5h 45m)
• Nairobi to Lomé: KP79, 09:05-11:40 (5h 35m)

Interestingly, when writing on August 12th, Nairobi passengers cannot connect to Ethiopian’s non-stop services from Lomé to Newark or Washington Dulles. (JFK has reverted to operating via Abidjan.) For now, flying via Addis Ababa is seemingly the only way with Ethiopian, with (funnily enough) Nairobi-Addis-Lomé-Newark/Dulles available.

It follows Luanda launch

ASKY began Luanda on August 2nd. Served three weekly, the 1,322-mile (2,128 km) route to the Angolan capital is, like Nairobi, non-stop in both directions using the 737-800. Alas, the inbound flight reportedly only had 55 passengers.

• Lomé to Luanda: KP76 14:25-19:00
• Luanda to Lomé: KP77, 08:00-10:35

Hang on: why remain overnight?

You might wonder why the operating aircraft remains overnight in Kenya and Angola. It is to drive connectivity, with ASKY’s entire fleet remaining overnight at outstations (i.e., not at Lomé). It incurs high costs from overnighting crew and conducting maintenance at destinations.

It results from only having one wave of flights a day, comprising one departure bank and one arrival bank. It means that ASKY barely uses some of its aircraft, with the implications of such low utilization clear.

The carrier generally only operates two roundtrip flights per aircraft in 24 hours, even on its shortest routes. It is almost unthinkable. However, one solution (to add a second wave) comes with various other considerations, costs, and problems.

60,000+ Luanda passengers

Like the carrier’s other routes, Nairobi and Luanda are timed for passengers to transit across West and Central Africa. Based on where they can connect, booking data shows that Luanda is a market of 60,000+ roundtrip passengers for ASKY, based on 2019, with around 165 passengers a day. Not many.

Being Africa, most people previously flew far out of their way from Luanda to West and Central Africa. Booking data indicates that most did so via Addis Ababa, Casablanca, or Johannesburg. Now there is a quicker, more logical transfer point to reach the regions.

Source: Simple Flying

South African Airways, in collaboration with the Lufthansa Group, has recently unveiled an exciting development for travelers heading to and from southern Africa. A new codeshare agreement between South African Airways and Lufthansa has been established, with Swiss joining the partnership in the near future. This strategic move comes as part of the Star Alliance network, aimed at enhancing the travel experience for passengers.

The highlight of this agreement is the revival of the reciprocal codeshare partnership between Lufthansa and South African Airways, set to commence in August 2023. Travelers can look forward to seamless connections between various destinations, providing greater convenience and flexibility.

Under this partnership, Lufthansa-operated flights will now extend their reach into Johannesburg, opening up two exciting routes: Johannesburg to Cape Town and Johannesburg to Durban. Simultaneously, South African Airways-operated flights will include Johannesburg to Frankfurt, creating an array of options for passengers.

The collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the long-standing relationship between these airlines. Dating back to 1995, the initial codeshare agreement was inked for the Frankfurt to Johannesburg route.

The codeshare agreement also extends to the Star Alliance network, which paves the way for further codeshare partnerships with other members of the Lufthansa Group. As a result, more options for passengers to explore international destinations are on the horizon.

As part of the plans for the near future, Swiss, another key player within the Lufthansa Group, is poised to join this codeshare agreement. This development will expand the network even further, with Zurich-Johannesburg flights expected to be covered.

Source: Airspace Africa  

Delta Air Lines (DL) has expanded its codeshare partnership with Kenya Airways (KQ) to offer customers of both carriers more frequent flyer rewards, travel options, and seamless connectivity.

Codeshare expansion

The expanded partnership comes as a great benefit for frequent flyers, as Kenya Airways recently launched its Asante Rewards loyalty program. As such, Asante Rewards and Delta’s SkyMiles members can continue to earn miles and enjoy enhanced frequent flyer benefits.

Kenya Airways will include Delta’s code on its non-stop service between Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) and New York JFK, effective August 5, to further strengthen their cooperation. As earlier reported, Delta told Simple Flying that it realizes the potential for growth in Africa and is looking to expand its footprint through its partnerships.

This will provide customers with the opportunity to explore more destinations in the airlines’ respective markets, including 31 destinations in Africa and 57 cities in the United States and Canada. Kenya Airways Group CEO Allan Kilavuka said;

“Kenya Airways prides itself in connecting Africa to the World and the World to Africa. The expansion of the codeshare is historic as it not only allows KQ to expand its footprint in the US but is also significant because it provides seamless connectivity on a single ticket for those traveling for business, leisure, or studies in the US while giving seamless connectivity to those visiting Africa through JFK and KQ’s hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.”

The two airlines have been strategic partners for a while, as they are both SkyTeam members. The last significant codeshare expansion came in June 2022, when KQ placed its code on DL flights from New York to Boston, Buffalo, Norfolk, Rochester, and Syracuse. Similarly, DL added its code on KQ’s enhanced frequencies from Nairobi to Accra, Freetown, and Monrovia.

Africa-North America connections

Kenya Airways currently operates daily Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights from NBO to JFK, the only available non-stop connection between East Africa and America. The African carrier is happy to enhance Africa-North America connectivity and offer the KQ product directly through its American partner.

Delta Air Lines has been operating flights to Africa for 17 years, the longest of any active US carrier. It is seeing significant demand and positive post-pandemic trends for travel between North America and Africa. Having conquered the Northern markets, it has identified Africa as a region of importance and potential growth. Delta’s President of International Alain Bellemare said;

“At a time when we are seeing unprecedented demand for travel between North America and Africa, expanding our strategic partnership with Kenya Airways offers our customers more travel options as well as supports our priority to deepen our presence across the African continent.”

Although it does not fly to Nairobi, the legacy carrier operates non-stop flights to five African destinations from two hubs. From New York, it serves Accra daily and Dakar 3x a week with the Boeing 767. From Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, it serves Lagos daily with the Airbus A330 and Johannesburg and Cape Town with the A350, on its own code.

Source: Simpleflying

Indian low-cost airline IndiGo will start Nairobi-Mumbai flights on Saturday charging an introductory one-way fare of $186 (Sh26,523) for economy-class travel.

The fares are much cheaper than what rivals such as Ethiopian Airlines and Emirates are charging, indicating that the Indian carrier is keen to attract customers on the new route before re-pricing its tickets.

On the Mumbai-Nairobi route, the airline has set a one-way price of $179 (Sh25,525), also on economy.

Return tickets for flights starting from Nairobi will be charged at $359 (Sh51,193).

Return flights emanating from Mumbai will be priced at $365 (Sh52,049).

The Indian carrier’s introductory fares are less than half of what its rivals are currently charging.

A one-way flight this Saturday from Nairobi to Mumbai on Emirates for instance will cost Sh132,135, according to the airline’s booking portal as of Monday.

The Emirates flights have one connection.

While Indigo is expected to raise its fares down the line, it is expected to offer some of the cheapest fares compared to its rivals on the same route.

The Indian carrier said the flights to Nairobi will originate from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai daily.

The airline, which seeks to capitalize on business and leisure travel between India and Kenya, will deploy an Airbus A320neo on the route. The flight will have 186 economy-class seats.

“We are delighted to announce the launch of direct flights between Mumbai and Nairobi, a significant step towards strengthening the bilateral ties between India and Kenya,” Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, said in a statement on Monday.

Source: Business Daily Africa

Landlocked Ethiopia may use Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa) as a bargaining chip with reports that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is suggesting to sell 30% of the flagship airline to the Eritrean government in exchange for port access for the country, reports the Amharic language Amba online newspaper.

Ethiopian Airlines was not immediately available for comment.

Abiy reportedly made the remarks in a meeting with investors and business people in Addis Ababa recently, but this could not be verified independently.

According to Amba, the prime minister said the Ethiopian government was exploring all options to secure a port for the country through negotiations with Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somaliland. “In the case of Eritrea, the government has proposed to give 30% of Ethiopian Airlines to the Eritrean government in exchange for port access [presumably Massawa],” the report said. Amba Digital said Eritrea had rejected the offer in the first round of talks. The portal said it had verified the information with three people who had attended the meeting.

Abiy also said the government would consider using force to secure a port, but this would be a last resort. “We want to get a port through peaceful means, but if that fails, we will use force,” he was quoted by Addis Insight.

Under Abiy, a peace agreement was forged with Eritrea, and ties between the neighbouring countries were re-established on July 9, 2018, ending hostilities over international borders created when Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993. However, Ethiopia sees the lack of a port as a major obstacle to its economic development. It currently relies on Djibouti and Somaliland to import and export goods.

Source: Ch-aviation