Stay Connected And Save Over 75% When You Travel With The KQ Safari Data Roaming Plan

Imagine landing in a new country and your normal data plan won’t work! You can’t call over the internet, you can’t text, you can’t go online and you can’t even use your phone apps to get a cab. This is the definition of stress for any traveler. Whether you are travelling for business or for leisure, staying connected is important and for this, you need a trusted data solution that can ensure you are able to communicate and you can connect to the internet. Safari Data from Kenya Airways offers just that! Peace of mind and connectivity when travelling.

Safari Data provides over 2200+ Data Roaming plans to travelers at a very low cost, is available in over 180+ countries and the plans are based on per Country as well as Regional plans and Global plans. This means, we have got you covered pretty much everywhere you are travelling. The data plan is only for mobile internet which means users can make calls or send messages through applications like Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, WeChat, etc.

The solution which has been developed in partnership with Roambuddy.world Ltd has been tested and tried over and over guaranteeing you a reliable data partner for all your travels. It is easy to install and is available on eSIM compatible devices allowing users to access the internet via a 3G, 4G, LTE or 5G networks.

With KQ Safari Data you do not need to worry about expensive roaming data charges from your local operator. The data plans are easy to purchase and activate. The data roaming plan currently offers plans starting from 7 day for 1GB plans and 30 day plans for plans with 3GB or more data with the option of getting Global Plans with longer durations up to 365 days with the highest speeds wherever possible (3G/4G/5G) on Kenya Airways supported networks around the world.

So, the next time you are traveling, don’t get stranded by lack of internet access, simply purchase your eSIM data plan on  https://www.kqsafaridata.com/ before you travel and stay connected!

Travelport introduces NDC content from Emirates.

Travelport and Emirates have joined forces to deliver New Distribution Capability (NDC) content from the airline and enhanced NDC servicing capabilities on the Travelport+ platform.

With this launch, Travelport’s agency customers will be able to easily view and compare NDC offers and ancillaries from Emirates and create a more streamlined, personalised experience for travellers. It also provides agents the ability to service NDC bookings, which includes modifications and cancellations.

Travelport’s NDC content and servicing solution for Emirates is now available to all agency customers located in Australia, Indonesia, the UAE, and the UK. Access to Emirates NDC solution in Travelport+ will expand to agency customers located in additional countries in the coming weeks.

Adnan Kazim, deputy president and chief commercial officer at Emirates, commented: “The integration of our systems will strengthen the expansion of our reach across the global travel retail community and allow them to offer travellers more choice among our best-in-class products and services.”

“This pivotal NDC milestone with Emirates proves Travelport is at the forefront of modern retailing with our ability to provide the best content and tools that agents require to create superior booking and servicing experiences for their customers,” said Jason Clarke, chief commercial officer, travel partners, Travelport.

Source:   TTG Asia.

Airlines, government and businesses rush to get back on track after global tech disruption.

Transport providers, businesses, hospitals and governments on Saturday are rushing to get all their systems back online after long disruptions following a widespread technology outage.

The biggest continuing effect has been on air travel. Carriers canceled thousands of flights on Friday and now have many of their planes and crews in the wrong place, while airports facing continued problems with check-in and security. On Saturday around 10:30 p.m. EDT, flight-tracking service FlightAware listed more than 33,000 total flight delays on its website, and more than 2,700 cancellations.

Both American Airlines and United Airlines said Saturday that most of its operations were restored and back up and running.

At the heart of the massive disruption is CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm that provides software to scores of companies worldwide. The company says the problem occurred when it deployed a faulty update to computers running Microsoft Windows, noting that the issue behind the outage was not a security incident or cyberattack.

The Microsoft outage caused by the CrowdStrike software update also caused the return of a familiar — and dreaded — screen for many Windows users: what has come to be known informally as the “blue screen of death,” indicating that their computer systems are down.

Microsoft said 8.5 million devices running its Windows operating system were affected by the outage that affected consumers and businesses across the globe, including airlines, banks, health care providers, telecoms, retailers and even billboards in New York City’s Times Square.

In a blog post shared on Saturday morning, Microsoft said it engaged with CrowdStrike to automate work on developing a solution, sharing instructions on how to remedy the issue and deploying “hundreds of Microsoft engineers and experts to work directly with customers to restore services,” among other steps to keep people informed and help affected customers.

“We currently estimate that CrowdStrike’s update affected 8.5 million Windows devices, or less than one percent of all Windows machines,” said the blog post from Microsoft cybersecurity executive David Weston.

“While the percentage was small, the broad economic and societal impacts reflect the use of CrowdStrike by enterprises that run many critical services.”

Source: CBS News.  

Uganda Airlines announces flights to Nigeria, Zambia.

Starting September 2024, Uganda Airlines will begin flights to Abuja in Nigeria, Harare in Zimbabwe, and Lusaka in Zambia.

These new routes will join the airline’s existing destinations, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Bujumbura, Johannesburg, Dubai, Zanzibar, Lagos, Kinshasa, Mumbai, Mogadishu, Juba, and Kilimanjaro.

According to a press release, the flights to Abuja will start on September 12, 2024, operating every Sunday and Thursday with the A330-800 aircraft. This service extends the existing flights to Lagos, which run on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays.

For Lusaka and Harare, services will start on September 25, 2024, with four times-a-week flights on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday using the CRJ-900 aircraft. While launching the routes, Jenifer Bamuturaki, Uganda Airlines chief executive officer (CEO), said that these network additions increase Uganda’s connectivity to the rest of Africa and bring more choice and convenience to travellers.

“The creation of an air bridge to West Africa and Southern Africa will bring convenience to travellers across the continent with direct flights and seamless connectivity and enable multiple opportunities in business, trade, tourism, and socio-cultural linkages. We are open to bookings, and intending travellers can book through their travel agents, our ticketing offices, or online via the Uganda Airlines app and website,” Bamuturaki explained.

“These new routes mark the second phase of our network development and support our mission to offer affordable air travel for business and leisure. This expansion also sets the stage for future routes to Europe and Asia,” she added.

The launch of these new routes enhances intra-African travel, providing direct flights and seamless connections for business, trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges. Bookings are now open through travel agents, ticketing offices, or online via the Uganda Airlines app and website.

In September 2024, the national airline will celebrate five years since it began operations in August 2019, by officially launching these new routes. According to Bamuturaki, the decision to add these routes aims to build an efficient regional market, enhance aircraft utilization, and create a robust network that supports long-haul routes.

She further states that “This strategic expansion is part of the airline’s 10-year plan and aims to connect East, West, North, and South Africa.”

With these new routes, Uganda Airlines hopes to improve connectivity, increase flight frequencies, and boost revenue growth. The network expansion positions the airline for promising profitability.

Source:   The Observer.

Opening New Pathways: Ethiopian Airlines Commences New Service to Warsaw, Poland

Addis Ababa, 02 July 2024

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest network operating carrier, is pleased to announce the commencement of its four times-weekly new flight services to Warsaw, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Poland, via Athens as of 01 July 2024. The flight departed from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in a colorful ceremony attended by the Ambassador of Poland to Ethiopia, Ethiopia’s high ranking government officials and Ethiopian Airlines’ executives.

The new flight marks a significant milestone for Ethiopian Airlines’ network expansion in Europe, enhancing global connectivity and promoting commerce and tourism. The flight will continue operation according to the below schedule.

ET 764 Addis Ababa (ADD) – Athens (ATH) – Warsaw (WAW) Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun

ET 765 Warsaw (WAW) – Athens (ATH) – Addis Ababa (ADD) Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat

Regarding the commencement of the new route Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group said, “We are truly pleased to establish yet another connection between Africa and Central Europe with the flight that we have commenced today to Warsaw, Poland. We are committed to enhance our passengers’ convenience in traveling across the globe in a seamless connection, and we are proud to take our African Flavored Ethiopian Hospitality services further to Poland.”

With the launch of this new flight, Warsaw marks Ethiopian Airlines’ 24th destination in Europe. This milestone underscores our commitment to meeting the growing demand for travel between Africa and Europe, reinforcing our mission to connect people, cultures, and economies across regions. Our dedication to providing an exceptional customer experience has earned us multiple accolades, further solidifying our reputation in the industry.

Ethiopian remains committed to service excellence, claiming international accolades along the way. Recently, Ethiopian Airlines achieved remarkable success at the SKYTRAX World Airlines Award 2024, winning in four prestigious categories: Best Airline in Africa for seven consecutive years, Best Business Class in Africa for six consecutive years, Best Economy Class in Africa for six consecutive years, and Best Economy Class Onboard Catering in Africa. Additionally, Ethiopian was honored with ‘Best Entertainment’ and ‘Best Wi-Fi’ in Africa at the 2024 APEX Passenger Choice Awards.

Travelers can now book their flights with Ethiopian Airlines through its digital channels and at its ticket offices, ensuring convenient access to our award-winning services.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is one of the fastest-growing airlines brand globally and the continent’s largest airline brand. In its seventy-eight years of successful operations, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian’s fleet category consists of ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900 and De Havilland Q400. 

Ethiopian is also pursuing multi-hub strategy through hubs in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines and in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways. Having achieved its strategic plan (Vision 2025) ahead of time, Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan Vision 2035 that will see it become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world. Ethiopian has been champion in various coveted awards including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for seven consecutive years among others. The airline has been a Star Alliance member since 2011 and has been registering more than threefold growth in the past 10 years.

For more at: www.ethiopianairlines.com     

Email: CorporateCommunication@ethiopianairlines.com 

Contact: (251-11)517-8913/8165/8907    

Press-release-Opening-New-Pathways-Ethiopian-Airlines-Commences-New-Service-to-Warsaw-PolandDownload

Discover the Beauty and Potential of Eldoret with Kenya Airways

Renowned as the home of champions with beautiful lush highlands, natural beauty, and cultural heritage, Eldoret is now the 44th Kenya Airways destination. Kenya Airways recently relaunched its flight services to and from Eldoret effective March 25th, 2024.

Driven by its mission “To propel Africa’s prosperity by connecting its people, cultures, and markets.” Kenya Airways reintroduced its flights to connect Eldoret to the world and the world to Eldoret for tourism, trade, sports and culture. With 6 weekly flights, the schedule is perfect for sportsmen and sportswomen coming to train from abroad who want a seamless connection, for the business community who want to travel to explore opportunities, for students traveling to study, for family and friends traveling as well as tourists who want to explore the regions hidden wonders.

The service was first introduced with 5 weekly flights and in June, Kenya Airways responded to market demand and increased the flights to 6 weekly flights to provide customers with flexible travel options. The flights also offer seamless connectivity for international travel to and from other KQ destinations across the world. Guests travelling to and from Eldoret will also be eligible to earn Asante Reward points every time they fly with Kenya Airways.

New Schedule:

Over 300 African BASAs compromised – IATA

Africa’s aspiration for a unified air transport market is facing significant obstacles as a recent analysis carried out by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reveals a major roadblock: the poor implementation of the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs).

The study examined 607 BASAs across Africa and found that more than half are not being fully implemented by governments across the continent causing African Airlines to continue struggling with fragmented skies. BASAs are agreements that govern international air travel between countries, and they establish rules for designated airlines, including access to major airports. These BASAs are meant to regulate air traffic between countries, but their weak enforcement has continued to hinder the development of a strong internal air transport network.

The lack of compliance thwarts the plans for the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an initiative designed to remove restrictions on airline traffic rights across the continent by simplifying air travel regulations. The initiative has the potential to unlock economic growth through increased trade and tourism but the current situation with BASAs paints a worrying picture.

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, recently raised serious questions about the commitment of African governments to SAATM, saying in a recent statement that existing agreements aren’t being properly implemented.

“The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) seeks to liberalise civil aviation across the continent by removing restrictions on traffic rights for African airlines. SAATM provides Africa with a ready-made mechanism to drive economic growth, but few governments have taken the steps needed for its implementation. Moreover, an IATA analysis of 607 bilateral air service agreements (BASA’s) in Africa revealed limitations on the development of intra-Africa connectivity because the implementation of over half of these agreements was being compromised.

“Non-compliance of by African governments BASA’s is a major obstacle to achieving seamless regional connectivity and growth in the African aviation sector. To develop economy-boosting intra-Africa connectivity, Africa’s governments must back SAATM with actions,” Alawadhi said.

Domestic operators push for BASA renegotiations

In Nigeria, the situation is peculiar. Domestic airlines say that the BASAs signed by the country in the past have been unfair to them and unfavorable to industry. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had earlier visited the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, where they presented a detailed proposal on steps the current administration should take to reengineer the sector.

The AON in its presentation to the minister argued that domestic airlines have not been well-represented in past negotiations, leading to huge revenue loss to the nation.

They said it was totally wrong to sideline domestic airlines when signing BASAs, saying the development has favoured the foreign operators who dominate the market.

“Bilateral (BASA) and Multilateral (MASA) Air Services Agreements are premised on the principle of Reciprocity. It typically provides for applicable conditions to designated airlines, typically include provisions for operations out of host country’s primary airport(s). Domestic airlines have not had major contributions in previous negotiations and the lack of domestic representation has resulted in huge capital flight and side-lining of the AON membership,” AON said.

The airlines advocated for a reversal to the air service agreements to create a more balanced environment that benefits domestic airlines and better reflect the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) principles, particularly reciprocity, which means airlines from each country get similar benefits. It also said that agreements should encourage investment in domestic airlines and their expansion into international markets.

The AON further proposed a restriction of foreign rights, which is the cancelation of extra freedoms (like carrying passengers beyond their destination) granted to foreign airlines and encourage them to codeshare with domestic airlines instead.

It said: “Renegotiate existing BASA’s & MASAs in line with the provisions of SAATM, with emphasis on the principle of reciprocity to encourage increased investments in the sector. There should be immediate cancellation of all existing 8th & 9th freedom rights allocated to foreign airlines operating within the country and encourage such carriers to codeshare with domestic airlines.

“We call for the immediate renegotiation of all existing BASA’s & MASAs in line with the provisions of SAATM, with emphasis on the principle of reciprocity in favour of domestic airlines aspiring to expand operations into the international and sub-regional markets. Constitute a committee with membership drawn from key industry stakeholders, headed by IATA to review and update the industry civil aviation policy document in line with global standards and trends, and develop an industry 15-year strategic development plan for Implementation.”

Source:The Sun.

Ethiopian Airlines Claims Skytrax’s Best Airline in Africa Title for Seven Years in a Row

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline group in Africa, keeps its top spot as the Best Airline in Africa and three other categories at the 2024 SKYTRAX World Airlines Award held in the UK. Ethiopian took the crown for multiple other prestigious accolades with the Best Airline in Africa title for seven consecutive years. 

Ethiopian has been honored with the titles for:

  • Best Airline in Africa for seven years in a row,
  • Best Business Class in Africa for six years in a row,
  • Best Economy Class in Africa for six years in a row,
  • Best Economy Class Onboard Catering in Africa.

Sending his congratulatory message on the award, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO said: “We are pleased to have proudly received the prestigious Skytrax World Airlines 2024 award for the seventh consecutive year. At Ethiopian Airlines, our unwavering dedication to customer-centric innovation has been pivotal to our success. We remain at the forefront of the aviation industry by continually adopting cutting-edge technology to elevate our passengers’ experience.”

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax said, “We congratulate Ethiopian Airlines on winning this top award as Africa’s Best Airline for a seventh successive year and this level of consistency is a fabulous achievement that the Ethiopian Airlines management and staff should be very proud of.”

The World Airline Awards are wholly independent and impartial, introduced in 1999 to provide a customer satisfaction study that is truly global. Travelers across the world vote in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to determine the award winners. The awards are referred to by media around the world as “the Oscars of the aviation industry”.

These accolades, from the reputable SKYTRAX World Airlines Award, showcase our commitment to sustainability in our business and the services we provide. They are dear prizes from our esteemed customers through their vote of confidence and an achievement realized through the hard work of all employees throughout the Ethiopian network.

                                  Together, We Can Achieve More!

Read more https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/aa/shebaSkyConnect

With 14 Weekly Flights to Choose From, You Can Fly To Dubai At Your Convenience With Kenya Airways

Shopping. Beaches. Food. Dessert drives. Water Adventures. Culture. Architecture. Business…the allure of Dubai is unending, and Kenya Airways has made travel to Dubai convenient for customers by providing 14 weekly flights.

Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, the Kenya Airways flight schedule is conveniently crafted to get you there on time. If you prefer a night flight to get you there on time to start your activities early morning or if you prefer a morning flight to ensure you settle and catch up with your appointments in the afternoon, KQ has a wide variety of flights for you to choose at competitive fares.

In response to demand from guests, Kenya Airways has flights to Dubai from two cities in Kenya i.e. Nairobi and Mombasa providing guests with the option to depart from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi or Moi International Airport, Mombasa. With 11 weekly flights from Nairobi to Dubai and 3 weekly flights from Mombasa to Dubai, Kenya Airways offers direct flights to ensure guests' needs are catered to.

That’s not it. KQ ensures an elevated customer experience and satisfaction by using the Airbus A332 & Boeing B737 on this route which are renowned for space and increased passenger comfort. The choice of aircraft also ensures that guests traveling for business or trade have enough baggage capacity.

Why choose Kenya Airways as your travel partner of choice? Kenya Airways promises unmatched professional hospitality with an African touch from friendly crew and gives guests a chance to earn redeemable Asante Reward points every time they choose Kenya Airways.

Book Now

Air Seychelles, Air Austral launch interline agreement for Seychelles-Reunion travel

Air Seychelles and Air Austral have established an interline agreement, specifically a Special Prorate Agreement (SPA), allowing customers to travel between Seychelles and Reunion via Mauritius on a single ticket. This agreement follows Air Austral’s decision to cancel their nonstop route between the two islands, prompting discussions with Air Seychelles to maintain service continuity.

Air Seychelles currently operates between Seychelles and Mauritius three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays offering passengers a range of dates to plan their holidays and connections.

Example of a one-way trip from Seychelles to Reunion via Mauritius

• Departure from Seychelles at 9.30am hrs arriving into Mauritius at 12.05pm

• Departure from Mauritius at 2.45pm hrs arriving into Reunion at 3.30pm

Example of a one-way trip from Reunion to Seychelles via Mauritius

• Departure from Reunion at 1.15pm hrs arriving into Mauritius at 2pm

• Departure from Mauritius at 5.05pm hrs arriving into Seychelles at 7.40pm

“Air Austral is pleased with this partnership with Air Seychelles. It was important for us to be able to offer an alternative travel to the Seychelles to our passengers. It’s a destination we know is particularly appreciated by the Reunion islanders and which we hope to be able to resume, as soon as the financial and operational situation will allow it, in agreement with our authorities.” Said Joseph Brema, Chairman of the Management Board of Air Austral.

“It is a pleasure for Air Seychelles to be able to intervene and offer an alternative bridge between Seychelles and Reunion at a time when it was most needed. We look forward to a long and fruitful cooperation,” shares Sandy Benoiton, chief executive of Air Seychelles.

Customers’ baggage will also be checked in to their final destination.

Source: Zawya.