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

On Wednesday, LATAM Brasil and the South African carrier Airlink announced the signing of an interline agreement that will allow the travelers of the South American airline to access over 40 destinations in Africa. The new travel options will be available once LATAM restarts its route between Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Johannesburg Tambo International Airport (JNB) on September 2, with three weekly flights.

A new interline agreement.
LATAM Brasil and Airlink have inked a new interline agreement in which one company may sell flight segments of the other using its own code. LATAM will begin to gradually sell Airlink’s flights as of Tuesday, May 23, on its website. It will offer over 40 destinations in Africa operated by the new partner.

The new routes under LATAM’s interline agreement with Airlink are available starting on September 2. On that date, LATAM will restart flying to Johannesburg from Sao Paulo after a pause of more than three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The route between Brazil and South Africa will last nine hours. It will be operated by the airline’s Boeing 787-9 fleet, which seats 300 passengers (30 in premium business, 57 in premium economy, and 213 in economy).

Where does Airlink fly?
The South African carrier based in Johannesburg has a fleet of 62 aircraft, composed mainly of Embraer jetliners, according to data from ch-aviation. Through the new interlink agreement, LATAM passengers will be able to access more than 40 destinations across Africa. This includes sixteen destinations in South Africa, six in Mozambique, three in Zimbabwe, one in Tanzania, one in the Democratic Republic of Congo, three in Botswana, one in the island of St. Helena, one in Angola, three in Zambia, one in Lesotho, one in Kenya, two in Madagascar, two in Namibia, and one in
Eswatini.

Rodger Foster, CEO and Managing Director of Airlink, said the airline “is very proud of this partnership with LATAM as it enables connectivity between Latin America and all of Southern Africa, creating wonderful corporate and leisure opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Aline Mafra, LATAM Brasil’s Director of Sales and Marketing, added, “This is yet another example of how we have thought of a borderless airline network to bring Brazil closer to the world in a sustainable manner. This agreement makes our flights to South Africa even more attractive and full of possibilities. The new connectivity options from Johannesburg expand the offer to LATAM customers, who will now be able to reach important destinations on
the African continent such as Luanda, Nairobi, and Cape Town.”

This is Airlink’s second partnership announcement this year. In February, British Airways and the South African carrier announced a new codeshare agreement connecting British’s passengers with over 15 destinations across Southern
Africa. This includes destinations such as Durban, Port Elizabeth, and Skukuza in South Africa via Johannesburg and or Cape Town, and Windhoek and Walvis Bay in Namibia via these two South African cities.

SOURCE: Simple Flying

Flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, announced a new partnership with Air Canada to give customers flying between Canada, the Middle East, East Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Southern Asia more convenient travel options.

Pending final regulatory approval, Air Canada’s marketing code will be placed on nine routes operated from Dubai by flydubai, giving customers the ability to travel to these markets with the issuance of a single ticket. The nine routes include Bahrain, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah and Muscat in the GCC as well as to Colombo and Karachi in the Indian Subcontinent.

Additionally, through an interline arrangement, customers will be able to seamlessly connect in Dubai to more than 60 destinations that flydubai flies to in the Middle East, East Africa and Southern Asia – including Djibouti, Kathmandu and the Maldives. Of these destinations, more than 30 are unique to flydubai and not flown by other partners of Air Canada.

Commenting on the codeshare announcement, Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “we are very pleased to be adding Air Canada to our list of partners and to offer their passengers a seamless travel experience on the flydubai network. We look forward to growing this partnership that offers passengers the benefits and the convenience of connecting via the Dubai aviation hub and we look forward to welcoming them on board soon.”

Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada, said: “Air Canada is very pleased to partner with flydubai, further expanding our connectivity to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, a growing source of immigration and travel to Canada. This new partnership is a perfect complement to Air Canada’s nonstop service to Dubai from Toronto and Vancouver, and growing our relationship with Emirates, flydubai’s codeshare partner. Together we look forward to bringing together our networks and building a better experience for our customers.”

The airlines also plan on further improving the connection process in Dubai and are working toward introducing expanded features and benefits for one another’s loyalty programme members to be announced later this year.
Seats are available for sale now at aircanada.com, via Air Canada’s Contact Centres, and through travel agents.

SOURCE: flydubai

Kenya Airways (KQ) will operate an SAF-powered flight on Africa Day as part of The Sustainable Flight Challenge (TSFC) by SkyTeam. This is a friendly competition between SkyTeam members to promote sustainability and make air travel greener.

This year, TSFC has extended the invitation to alliance members as it seeks to spearhead environmental change. Kenya Airways will work with its subsidiary Jambojet to discover several solutions that can reduce aviation’s impact on the environment by improving sustainability.

KQ’s SAF-powered flight

As part of the sustainability challenge, KQ will operate a flight powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which is expected to provide essential data and insights that can determine policy decisions, industry regulations, and best practices related to the use of SAF.

The pilot flight will be operated on May 25, 2023, on the return flight between Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS). This will be a very significant milestone for the airline and the continent.Kenya Airways will deploy its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on the flight. On the same day, the continent will celebrate African unity and development, with milestones like this set to be part of its future. KQ Group CEO and Managing Director Allan Kilavuka said;

“As an aviation industry, it is our responsibility to ensure that we are actively playing a critical role geared towards solutions and shared learning for sustainable solutions and practices in our industry. This year as our red tail goes green again, we aim to support the industry in achieving net-zero by 2050. We are committed to adopting better practices and creating partnerships with people of similar vision.”

Starting in 2025, all flights taking off from European airports must incorporate a portion of Sustainable Aviation Fuels. Kenya Airways seeks to leverage the industry-wide SAF momentum to unlock competitive advantages in the African aviation market.

SkyTeam and TSFC

SkyTeam is one of the world’s leading airline alliances, with 19 members. Kenya Airways has been a part of SkyTeam since 2007 and is the only African airline in the alliance. KQ and 21 other airlines will participate in the second edition of The Sustainable Flight Challenge.

Launched in 2022, TSFC has returned, and it will take place between May 15 and 28. It is the only sustainability initiative of its kind, aiming to drive meaningful change in the short term.

In the name of “friendly competition,” participating airlines will be challenged to operate their flights as sustainably as possible, above and below wing, from pushback to parking stand. After the competition, airlines will share their innovations and solutions to enhance sustainability.

There are seven categories with awards for the lowest CO2 emissions, greatest CO2 reduction, lowest CO2 emissions ground operations, best in-flight waste management, best collaboration, best adoption, and the best innovation. All qualifying flights have to be part of the airline’s existing network.

Kenya Airways’ commitment to sustainability

The winners of the 2023 sustainability challenge will be recognized in October, with Kenya Airways looking to bring some awards home. The airline will focus on the six essential categories, including e-mobility for passengers and travel light policies.

KQ is fully committed and invested in helping the industry achieve sustainable growth through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. CSR highlights its dedication to economic, environmental, and social issues.

Through this, the airline will support activities in education, environment conservation, community well-being, health, water and sanitation, and disaster and humanitarian relief. CSR will be the pillar of reliability, efficiency, and sustainable development in Africa.

KQ has completed various projects at schools and community centers in Africa. Its commitment to education is driven by the belief that a solid educational foundation will ensure that young people are appropriately skilled for the demanding job market.

Source: Simple Flying