The Seychelles flag carrier has seen a significant increase in passenger traffic but needs more capacity to meet the demand. Although passenger numbers continue rising, several challenges hinder African airlines from meeting the pent-up demand for air travel.

Several markets and airlines have recovered from the pandemic, recording significant growth and net profits. Although it has not published its financial performance for FY22, Air Seychelles confirmed that the demand in the region had surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The airline’s Acting CEO, Sandy Benoiton, said in an interview with Simple Flying;

“In the whole ecosystem, there has been so much disruption that it is going to take time to be able to match the demand that is there. The demand is probably at or even above pre-pandemic, but I think one of the biggest issues is being able to serve the demand, particularly the legacy of the bigger carriers.”

The incredibly high cost of fuel and maintenance, supply chain issues, and restricted access to certain markets has stopped some airlines from carrying as many passengers as they had planned.

Increase in passenger numbers

To survive the pandemic, the airline underwent several changes, and it is one of the few African carriers that essentially never stopped flying. Working with the government, it converted its passenger jets into cargo aircraft, eventually opening the country up faster than anticipated.

The carrier also changed its fleet from the Airbus A320ceo to the A320neo to extend its range and tap into new markets. The airline fell into business administration in October 2021 and exited in November 2022, and since then, it has seen very positive results, managing to record some profits, which will be announced soon.

Apart from its regular service to Mumbai, Mauritius, Johannesburg, and Tel Aviv, the airline’s A320neos managed to fly to about 35 destinations in 2022, with chartered flights to Australia, Amsterdam, Beijing, Bucharest, Dakar, and London, to mention a few.

Passenger traffic in the region has recovered to about 110% of pre-pandemic levels, showing a positive outlook for the airline for the rest of the year. Air Seychelles is now working on developing new routes and working with partners to enhance its network.

Inaugural flights to Sri Lanka

Last week, Air Seychelles launched its inaugural flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka, its second destination in Asia. The four-hour flight from Seychelles International (SEZ) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) was operated on the A320neo, which was welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute.

While in Sri Lanka, the Acting CEO officially inaugurated the first Air Seychelles office in Colombo. However, the aircraft remained on the ground for about one hour and then made the return flight with 2.5 tons of cargo headed for Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). This is another essential destination for the airline, being the second-most demanded after Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB).

Flights between Mahé and Colombo will be operated four times a week, with two flights leaving Seychelles on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while the other two return on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Growing the airline post administration

Seychelles is a very small island country with about 100,000 people. Air Seychelles is one of the biggest businesses on the island, providing more than just air travel for the citizens. It is part of the country’s economic development, so the CEO is dedicated to growing the airline and keeping it alive.

The carrier constantly looks for new routes and opportunities to expand in line with its development strategy. At the moment, Air Seychelles is leveraging its recent partnership with Qatar Airways to increase its footprint in the global market.

The airline will also partner with Sri Lankan Airlines to allow its passengers to fly beyond Colombo to other destinations in Asia. Additionally, it is discussing codeshare agreements with more airlines, which will be announced soon.

Source: Simple Flying

Air France-KLM airline group is banking on the growing demand for passenger air services within African continent.

Setting to capture aviation business over the African continent, Air France-KLM is planning major expansion in Africa, banking on the growing demand of air services within the continent. Air France-KLM executives have rated the African skies as a strategic priority for the airline group.

Africa is the fifth biggest business area in the group’s network of 12 regional operations, behind North America, Greater China, Korea and Japan, said Marius van der Ham, the regional manager for the East and Southern Africa, Ghana and Nigeria region.

Air France-KLM has already increased capacity on its Kenya to Europe flights, by 14 percent (14%) this year, van der Ham said.

Air France-KLM operates two daily flights from Nairobi to Amsterdam and Paris, up from a daily flight to Amsterdam and five weekly flights to Paris earlier.

The group is adding three flights on its Paris to Johannesburg route, targeting the growing and higher demand for passengers during the current peak summer travel season.

Air France-KLM has also introduced new flights between Paris and Dar es Salaam in neighboring Tanzania, he said.

“Africa is really strategic for the group,” said Zoran Jelkic, a senior vice president for long haul.

Air France-KLM competes with African carriers like Ethiopian Airlines, Gulf carriers including Emirates and European airlines including British Airways, all of whom are targeting the growing African travel market.

The airline executives have expressed their feelings over the challenges facing operations and markets, including shortages of hard currencies in some destinations, making it difficult to repatriate their earnings.

The Air France-KLM Group already provides daily service to Dar es Salaam, with KLM serving the city daily.

Air France has resumed its direct flights from Paris to Dar es Salaam, making it the 31st route in Sub-Saharan Africa after a 28-year absence.

Dar es Salaam becomes the second destination in Tanzania, joining Zanzibar where the airline has been operating since October 2021 with two weekly flights into the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in the island.

The airline had launched on June 12th, its three weekly flights to Dar es Salaam using 279-seat 787-9s, its second-smallest wide-body after the A330-200 equipment.

The French carrier had connected Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) a continuation of the existing service to Zanzibar with a plan to launch five nonstop weekly flights further south between Paris and Antananarivo (TNR) in Madagascar.

Flights to and from Madagascar will be operated for the first time by an Airbus A350-900, the new jewel of the company’s long-haul fleet, equipped with 34 seats in Business, 24 seats in Premium Economy and 266 seats in Economy class.

African air transport market has been growing, attracting big global air carriers including Delta Air Lines which has targeted African skies through partnerships with other, reputable air carriers.

Delta has seen an increase in demand for its African destinations and has identified it as a region of importance, setting to attract passengers traveling between the US and its various destinations in Africa.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had indicated that passenger traffic in Africa has recovered in 2023 with growth of which Central and West Africa recorded 108 percent (108%) growth, Eastern Africa at 110 percent (110 %) and Northern Africa at 111 percent (111%) against the of 2019 growth rates.

Passenger traffic in Southern Africa has been recovering at 86 percent (86%) as positive expectations indicate rising number of passengers from Africa next year (2024).

SOURCE: eturbonews

Kenya Airways (KQ) has started talks with Uganda Airlines for interline and re-protection deals as it seeks to open access to several new destinations and offload passengers onto each other’s networks.

KQ chief executive Allan Kilavuka disclosed that the talks are at an advanced stage.

“The talks are on but the timelines are as soon as we can agree and do the set-up. These (deals) fall within our partnership pillar, which is part of our strategy. It is also in line with our pan-African strategy,” Mr Kilavuka told Business Daily.

An interline deal allows passengers to check in once for all the flights on the itinerary, receive boarding passes and transfer luggage from the first airline without having to collect and drop it off.

Ugandan Airlines says it is keen to seal the deal before the year ends as the carrier seeks to grow revenues four years after it was revived.

“Conversations are ongoing with Kenya Airways for both interline and re-protection. A lot is going on around the two and we hope to have an agreement by the end of the year,” Peggy Macharia, country manager of Uganda Airlines in Kenya, said.

Re-protection allows an airline to offload its passengers onto a rival carrier with whom they share a destination when the affected airline is not able to fly on a select destination they share due to a mechanical failure or change of schedule.

Source: Business Daily

Uganda Airlines has Monday launched its maiden flight to the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as it readies to establish scheduled flights to the Gulf nation later this year.

The national carrier is carrying 200 Muslim citizens making the trip for the Hajj pilgrimage aboard its 258 capacity Airbus A330 aircraft.

“We have had our maiden flight to Jeddah, and this is the first time it has happened in 40 years. It is a very historic moment for the country and us as an airline,” Uganda Airlines chief executive officer Jennifer Bamuturaki said.

Ms Bamuturaki added that another 250 passengers would be flown to Jeddah on Tuesday.

Ugandan Muslim pilgrims have in the past been forced to connect through other countries for their pilgrimage, making the journey long, expensive and tedious.

Hajj is an at least once-in-a-lifetime obligation for all able-bodied Muslims of financial means to make. Some two to three million people participate in the six-day ritual annually.

About 50 Ugandans heading to Mecca were stranded at the Khartoum airport when the deadly Sudan war pitting generals broke out in April.

According to Ms Bamuturaki, the airline plans to establish scheduled flights between Uganda and Saudi Arabia by September this year.

“The operator’s permit that we currently have will go up to July next year and we shall extend it to July (the year after). On our scheduled flights, we have a plan to start flying to Jeddah in September and we shall be doing three flights a week,” she said.

Currently, the airline flies regional routes –Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya, South Sudan capital Juba, Kinshasa in DR Congo, and Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar in Tanzania. It also flies to Mogadishu, Somalia and Bujumbura in Burundi.

SOURCE: The East African

Aviation stakeholders have been working together for several years to reduce the impact of air travel on the environment. Sustainability has been the top priority, with airlines, airports, and manufacturers investing millions in research, new aircraft technology, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and other emission reduction initiatives. Although it is a top priority, not every airline can afford to invest the same funds to implement these environmental solutions. It is even more difficult in Africa, where carriers face significantly high operating costs due to insufficient infrastructure and a weakening economic climate.

Operating in a costly environment

The cost of operating an airline in Africa is much higher than in any other region, with fuel and maintenance being the most expensive costs. Charges for airlines are also 8% higher on the continent, which is weighing them down and preventing them from growing.

As global carriers continue recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has predicted that airlines in Europe, the Middle East, and North America will return to profitability in 2023. However, African airlines are expected to go through another year of combined losses and only start recording net profits after 2024.

In addition to financial limitations, these airlines face legal, political, and legislative barriers. As several governments do not prioritize aviation, these are some challenges African carriers have to navigate before focusing on environmental sustainability.

Balancing economic and environmental sustainability

The industry is working to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 mainly through sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), new aircraft technology and alternative propulsion systems, improving airport infrastructure and air traffic management systems, and carbon offsetting and reduction schemes. To achieve this, annual clean energy investment worldwide must increase to over $4 trillion by 2030.

These are significant figures which cannot be handled by airlines recording net losses every year. Before these carriers can invest in environmental schemes, they must focus on financial recovery. Asked if African airlines can prioritize environmental sustainability over financial sustainability, TAAG Angola Airlines CEO Eduardo Farein said at AviaDev;

“I think that is affordable, only under one condition; the airlines are still surviving, because the first thing to being sustainable is to stay alive. If the airline doesn’t exist, then we’re not talking about this, right? Then, even though everybody is sharing the same goals about the carbon footprint and all these questions, the first thing to say is whether this environment is survivable? My guess is that it will be extremely difficult that it will happen if certain conditions are not being addressed properly.”

To survive, African carriers will focus on proper financing and investing in new machines, among other initiatives that ensure economic stability. Similarly, it does not mean that these airlines will disregard environmental solutions and focus on making profits. Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka said;

“To me, sustainability talks about what we do to meet today’s needs but not compromising on the future. It talks about longevity, for the long-haul, so doing things that will not compromise our future, and that encompasses not just the environment. So that is what sustainability is all about, the social, economic, and environmental.”

He added that the African continent faces problems more significant than sustainability, including water shortages, poverty, and food security. Implementing some environmental solutions will increase the cost of air travel, preventing the growth and contribution of aviation on the continent.

Protecting the environment while growing economically

Airlink representative Linden Birns said that environmental and economic sustainability are not mutually exclusive. Environmental factors, fuel availability, inflation, and interest rates are codependent, affecting how an airline operates.

Although stakeholders are engaging to enhance aviation’s contribution to Africa’s development, the current connectivity is essential for the market’s growth. Additionally, there are no railways or roads to connect distant destinations, so aviation plays a pivotal role in moving people and goods around the continent.

African airlines are participating in more achievable initiatives to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment. These include recycling, new technology, system development, strategic routes and schedules, and flying on the best path to reduce fuel burn. Some recent milestones include Ethiopian Airlines’ A350 delivery using SAF and Kenya Airways’ most sustainable flight between Nairobi and Amsterdam.

Moving forward, the continent’s growth depends on the growth of the aviation sector. African airlines will not focus on environmental sustainability at the expense of economic growth because air travel remains critical, essential, and even the only option in some regions.

Air connectivity and emissions in Africa

Africa is home to about 1.4 billion people, nearly 18% of the world’s population. Due to the lack of connectivity and closed borders, the continent only contributes about 2.1% of global air travel. Similarly, about 80% of air travel in the continent is provided by non-African carriers.

Aviation accounts for about 2.5% of global emissions. According to the figures, African carriers contribute about 0.005% of global CO2 emissions, a significantly low percentage. Additionally, Africa’s top three biggest airlines have a combined fleet of about 270 aircraft.

African stakeholders will eventually invest in SAF and other environmentally impactful activities. However, as the lowest carbon emitters, they are calling for assistance from the larger carriers operating over 500 aircraft and significantly contributing to the CO2 emissions, so they can work together towards the common goal.

The potential of SAF production in Africa

Given the fast land, feedstock, population, human capital, and resources that Africa has, there is great potential to produce SAF on the continent. Although it would make SAF for African airlines cheaper, it would still be more expensive than fossil fuels.

Another challenge is getting the authorities and governments to invest in SAF production. They are tackling other issues like water, food, and electricity shortages, housing, and other challenges that have been placed ahead of aviation. Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki said:

“We are grappling with losses, and now we’re expecting to go back to our governments and say you need to invest in this thing called SAF. Even having the governments understand how the aviation and airline industry operates is a great challenge.”

Although African carriers will prioritize survival and economic growth, they will simultaneously invest in environmentally friendly solutions. Among these is the implementation of the Single Air Transport Market (SAATM) to promote point-to-point travel and reduce the amount of fuel burnt flying between certain destinations.

SOURCE: Simpleflying

EgyptAir has announced the expansion of its Airbus A321neo fleet and the introduction of these advanced aircraft on several new routes to Europe. This strategic move comes as part of EgyptAir’s ongoing efforts to enhance its connectivity and provide passengers with an unparalleled travel experience.

The latest schedule update reveals the addition of Airbus A321neo on key routes, commencing from late-June 2023. These routes include the bustling cities of Istanbul and Paris, with daily flights operating between Cairo and each destination. Passengers can look forward to the convenience of increased frequency and the superior comfort and efficiency offered by the state-of-the-art A321neo aircraft.

Effective June 21, EgyptAir will operate daily A321neo flights between Cairo and Istanbul. This development is set to strengthen the ties between these two vibrant cities and provide travelers with greater flexibility in their travel plans. Additionally, starting on the same day, EgyptAir will introduce the A321neo on its daily flights between Cairo and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. This marks a significant milestone for EgyptAir, as it becomes the first operator in Africa to deploy the A321neo on its European network.

Furthermore, the A321neo is scheduled to serve other prominent destinations in Europe. EgyptAir’s daily flights between Cairo and Amsterdam will benefit from the cutting-edge capabilities of the A321neo aircraft. Passengers will enjoy a seamless and comfortable journey, with the frequency set to increase to five weekly flights from July 2 and four weekly flights from August 26.

The A321neo will also operate on EgyptAir’s popular Cairo-Dubai route, allowing passengers to experience the unmatched efficiency and luxury of this modern aircraft on a daily basis until July 22, 2023. Similarly, passengers traveling between Cairo and Kuwait City will have the opportunity to enjoy the comfort of the A321neo, with daily flights available.

In addition to these exciting developments, EgyptAir is planning to introduce the A321neo on its Cairo-Madrid route, with daily flights scheduled. Furthermore, from September 23, this route will see an increased frequency of five weekly flights, underscoring EgyptAir’s commitment to providing exceptional connectivity between Egypt and Spain.

It is worth noting that EgyptAir has leased seven A321neo aircraft from Aer Cap, a leading aircraft leasing company. The airline introduced the first two A321neo aircraft into service during the spring season, solidifying its position as the first operator of this advanced aircraft model in Africa. EgyptAir’s decision to reserve additional routes for the A321neo underscores its confidence in the aircraft’s performance, fuel efficiency, and passenger appeal.

SOURCE: Airspace Africa

RwandAir, the national airline of Rwanda, is making significant strides towards expanding its fleet and optimizing operations.

CEO Yvonne Makolo has unveiled the airline’s ambitious plan to double its fleet size by 2025-26, accompanied by a strategic focus on fleet rationalization. Additionally, progress is being made on the anticipated investment by Qatar Airways in RwandAir, further bolstering the carrier’s growth trajectory and enhancing its position within the African aviation industry.

Doubling the Fleet

RwandAir presently operates 13 aircraft, including three Airbus A330s, six Boeing 737s, two Bombardier CRJ900s, and two De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400s. The airline is set to receive its 14th aircraft next month. This delivery marks a significant milestone in the airline’s pursuit of expanding its fleet. CEO Yvonne Makolo affirms the company’s commitment, stating, “Our goal is to double our fleet size by 2025-26 and we are on track for that.”

To ensure operational efficiency, RwandAir plans to streamline its fleet around three main aircraft types, while phasing out some of its regional aircraft. Yvonne Makolo emphasizes the airline’s intention, saying, “We are looking at what can replace the regional aircraft, both the CRJs and Q400s.” By concentrating on a more standardized fleet composition, RwandAir aims to simplify maintenance procedures, optimize crew training, and improve overall operational effectiveness.

Yvonne Makolo further specifies that while she is considering the acquisition of a fourth jumbo jet, but “The majority of our fleet will be made up of 737s.” This consolidation will enable RwandAir to enhance its operational capabilities and provide consistent service quality to its passengers.

Advancing Qatar Airways Investment

RwandAir’s collaboration with Qatar Airways is rapidly progressing, with the investment deal nearing its completion. Qatar Airways had expressed its interest in acquiring a 49% stake in RwandAir back in February 2020. Despite some delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the World Cup, both parties are confident that the agreement will be finalized in the coming months. CEO Yvonne Makolo provides an update, stating, “We are in the final stages of concluding the Qatar Airways investment, which experienced delays due to the impact of COVID-19 and the World Cup. However, we anticipate finalizing the agreement in the coming months.” This investment will not only bring substantial capital but also strategic benefits, including expertise sharing, network expansion, and operational synergies, fostering the growth and sustainability of RwandAir.

RwandAir and Qatar Airways have already established a successful codeshare agreement, facilitating a 3X-weekly service between Kigali and Doha. Additionally, the two airlines are working together to establish a cargo hub at Kigali International Airport, catering to the increasing demand for air freight services. Makolo highlights the significance of cargo operations, stating, “Cargo is a really key growth area for us and through the pandemic it was really the one revenue stream that was growing year-on-year.” The collaborative efforts extend beyond operations, with both airlines implementing a loyalty partnership, enabling customers to accrue and redeem points across their reciprocal route networks, as well as access airport lounges at their respective hubs in Doha and Kigali.

SOURCE: Airspace Africa 

The two flag carriers have signed a crucial interline agreement to increase their reach on the global market. Emirates (EK) and Kenya Airways (KQ) customers will have access to several new destinations on both airlines’ networks within a single itinerary.

The interline, signed today, will increase EK’s footprint in Africa to 148 destinations. It will also provide customers with enhanced travel options, including convenient baggage check-in to their final destinations.

The importance of the agreement

Emirates customers can fly to 28 destinations on Kenya Airways’ network, with Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) as the gateway into East Africa. From NBO, customers can seamlessly travel to Bangui, Bujumbura, Dzaoudzi, Juba, Kigali, Kilimanjaro, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Nampula, and Zanzibar, to mention a few.

Additionally, Emirates passengers traveling through its Dubai International (DXB) hub can book a single ticket to and from Mombasa Moi International (MBA). Mombasa sees a lot of annual arrivals as it is one of East Africa’s most popular tourist destinations.

EK has been flying to Kenya for about 23 years, while KQ has served the UAE for several years. The two carriers have played a pivotal role in strengthening Middle East-Africa travel, and the new interline agreement highlights the importance of these routes. Emirates Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said;

“We are pleased to ink our first partnership with Kenya’s flag carrier. Kenya is a strategic gateway in our Africa network, and this new interline agreement will enhance connectivity for Emirates’ customers and provide them more travel choices across the continent. We look forward to deepening our relationship with Kenya Airways, offering greater network opportunities, and improving connections for both of our customers.”

Flights to Dubai

Kenya Airways passengers traveling through Dubai from Nairobi and Mombasa can access numerous routes on the Emirates network. They can fly to 23 destinations in South and West Asia, the Far East, the Indian Ocean, and the Middle East.

These destinations include Ahmadabad, Bangkok, Beirut, Jakarta, Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo. In Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, KQ only flies to Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Dubai International, Hong Kong International (HKG), and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (MOB) airports.

The new agreement will boost KQ’s presence in the East, in line with its route development strategy. Speaking about the partnership, Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said;

“This partnership will provide the ideal gateway for our customers as we seek to increase our connectivity between Africa and the Middle East through Emirates’ hub in Dubai. Partnerships like these are key in aviation as they take advantage of mutual scale and efficiencies to provide customers with more seamless travel options.”

Flights between the UAE and Kenya

East Africa and Kenya have been important destinations for the Middle Eastern carrier over the years. Emirates began its service to Kenya, with flights between DXB and NBO in 1995. Today it operates 14 weekly Boeing 777 flights, having flown over 5 million passengers over the years.

It is also the only Kenya-bound carrier with private, enclosed first class cabins, offering premium customers its elegant and luxurious in-flight experience throughout the journey. The flights are usually about 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Similarly, Kenya Airways offers ten weekly B737-800 and B787 Dreamliner flights between NBO and DXB. KQ recently launched four weekly flights between MBA and DXB on the same aircraft. From today, it will provide new schedule choices to 23 eastbound destinations for Emirates.

Kenya-bound travelers can look forward to enjoying Emirates’ comfortable cabins, exclusive services, and its unmissable signature products. UAE-bound passengers can also enjoy Kenya Airways’ exceptional services with its friendly crew.

Source: Simple Flying