New study highlights unserved air routes to boost African connectivity.

Airbus has released a new study highlighting several unserved air routes within Africa. These routes, the study suggests, could significantly improve travel connections for passengers, stimulate economic growth in local regions, and generate substantial revenue for airlines. The study builds on data from Airbus’s latest Global Market Forecast (GMF).

Several of the top unserved routes identified in the analysis are concentrated in cities such as Lagos, Cape Town, Nairobi, Dakar, and Douala. Airbus also touched on strategic recommendations to capitalise on the opportunities of a more connected continent as well as Airbus’ capabilities to help realise this potential.

Identifying critical routes

“Despite significant traffic between certain city pairs, some identified routes still lack regularly scheduled non-stop flights. Factors such as restrictive bilateral air service agreements, economic variables, and challenges with capacity, frequency and operating cost efficiency contribute to these routes remaining unserved,” said Geert Lemaire, market intelligence and consulting director, Airbus.

“With our capacity to make analyses about route and network development potential in-house, Airbus remains committed to partnering with airlines across Africa to identify optimised fleet solutions in line with network development requirements that further stimulate the continent’s air transport industry growth and improve connectivity for travellers.”

Growth and forecast

The forecast, meanwhile, predicts a 4.1% growth overall in air traffic over the next 20 years, resulting in an anticipated need for 1,180 new aircraft by 2043. Meanwhile, the continued growth of the aviation sector in Africa is expected to result in 3.3% real GDP growth on the continent, well above the 2.6% global average.

This growth is ratified by data from Airbus’ Global Services Forecast, which estimates that Africa will need to introduce 15,000 more pilots, 20,000 technicians and 24,000 cabin crew to meet the surge in air travel demand.

Source: Nile Post.

AIRLINE CODESHARES: AN INSIDER’S GUIDE

Codeshares are perhaps the most confusing customer facing part of any passenger’s journey. You turn up at the airport, look for your check-in desk or gate number and cannot see your flight on the departure screens. You see a flight to your destination, with the right time, but not with your flight number – are you confused, is that your flight in disguise, is there somebody you can ask to check? Welcome to the world of airline codeshares!

WHAT ARE AIRLINE CODESHARES?

A great question and one that we have explained to people every year since they began to emerge in our databases in 1986. In those days airlines wanted to expand their networks with limited risk but in many cases were restricted as to where they could fly to and from.

Some airlines created a workaround, a codeshare where they placed their code and a flight number on a flight operated by another airline with whom they had a commercial relationship. A great way to virtually expand your own operational network, generate more sales and tell customers that you could sell them a ticket to nearly anywhere in the world, even if not on your own plane.

Since then, airlines have fallen in love with the idea of codeshares and today they are commonplace in every market – but how do they work, and what are the benefits?

HOW DO AIRLINE CODESHARES WORK?

In the aviation data world, we refer to the ‘operating carrier’ and ‘marketing carrier’. The operating carrier is the airline that flies the plane, supplies the cabin crew etc, and the marketing carrier is the carrier that sells tickets for the flight.

WHY DO CODESHARES EXIST?

An airline recognizes there is demand from their market to fly to a destination, but the airline does not operate flights to that destination (or at least not with enough frequency).

THE CODESHARE SOLUTION:

The airline knows a friend – another airline – that can connect and take passengers from a point the airline already flies to and take them to their final destination.

This allows the operating airline to keep most of the revenue from that ticket sale whilst “feeding traffic” to the friend. And hopefully that friendly airline, which may be in the same airline alliance, can feed them some traffic in the other direction, essentially scratching each other’s backs. Everyone wins – the airlines have an opportunity for more traffic and more revenue, and they create a superior travel experience with a seamless passenger journey.

For this to happen the operating carrier sends their schedules to the marketing carrier. The marketing carrier puts their flight number on the service and distributes that operating carrier’s service with their own flight number. Suddenly BA173 from LHR to JFK becomes AY5473 – it is a British Airways service, but one on which Finnair sells seats as a codeshare.

To be at their most effective, airlines try to offer similar pricing on the flights. However, just occasionally you can grab a bargain from a codeshare airline whose fares have not quite synchronized with the operating carrier’s latest pricing. With demand changing by the minute this isn’t a surprise, but it can be an opportunity for the clever traveler to save some cash. If you’ve saved US$200 do you really care if your Lufthansa ticket has an Austrian Airlines flight number?

MAXIMUM DISTRIBUTION, MAXIMUM NETWORK, MINIMAL INVESTMENT

The busy network map below shows all the US domestic routes on which Iberia, Spain’s largest airline, has codeshares operated by a Oneworld Alliance partner airline.

If you didn’t know otherwise it looks like Iberia operate across the whole of the United States. However, all these flights are actually operated by American Airlines, with an Iberia flight number on the service. This allows Iberia to sell a flight from Madrid to Houston, for example, with a direct flight to Miami and then a connection onto IB4945 – a perfect way to look bigger than you really are, loved by airline PR teams around the world!

CODESHARES KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE AND YOUR ENEMIES EVEN CLOSER

While we might expect airlines to operate codeshares within airline alliances, many airlines also have codeshares with airlines that are not in their alliance or – even worse still  – in another alliance!

SO WHY DO THEY DO THIS?

Well, in some cases it’s because there are only two very large airlines in the domestic market. Australia is a great example – if you don’t fly with the Qantas Group airlines then the only real option is Virgin Australia, and Virgin Australia know this! They literally have hundreds of daily codeshares with airlines such as Qatar Airways (Oneworld Alliance), and Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance). Perrhaps illogically, Qantas also have codeshares with Air New Zealand, another Star Alliance member. It may seem odd, but for the traveler it allows the maximum choice of service, which has to be a good thing.

But is there more to it than just flights?

CODESHARES ARE EVERYWHERE

Codeshares exist in every market and indeed even stretch beyond airlines to include train services and more recently some coach services, although they are far more niche in nature. In theory, there is no limit to the number of codeshare partners that an airline may have, although keeping track of them all and undertaking all the work required to keep agreements provides some focus to which airlines partner up. And of course, every small airline wants to have a codeshare with a global airline and sometimes that desire isn’t reciprocated by the larger airlines; they can be fussy!

To highlight just how many codeshare partners airlines have, we listed some of the larger airlines and their codeshare partners, with Air France/KLM managing over 40 such relationships which, whilst creating a lot of work, presumably generates significant revenues.

HOW ARE THE SEATS DIVIDED ON A CODESHARE FLIGHT?

When an operating air carrier decides to allow seats and space to be sold by other, marketing carriers, there are two types of commercial duplications; ‘free sale agreements’ and ‘leased block space’.

Free Sale Agreement – The operating and marketing carriers continue to sell seats until the flight is fully booked, there are no limitations on how many seats the marketing carrier can sell.

Leased Block Space – The operating carrier allocates a fixed number of seats to the marketing carrier/s.

AIRLINE LOYALTY AND CODESHARES

If you know a regular traveler then they will have a good idea of their status level and points balance with their favorite airline, and in most cases those people treasure that status. In many codeshare situations the operating airline will allow the marketing carrier’s passengers to earn points and will offer them the same access to lounges that they would expect to have when flying with their preferred airline. The ability to earn – and in some cases burn – points is crucial, and airlines recognize this important factor – making sure that the passenger’s points are recorded by the marketing airline as quickly as possible. Seamless services, through check-in, lounge access, priority boarding and seat assignment are the softer elements of codeshare operations, but make all the difference.

THE CHALLENGES OF CREATING SEAMLESS CODESHARES

Although codeshares have many benefits, they do come with their own challenges, too.

When codeshares are on sale it’s crucial that the schedules are the same from both the operating and marketing carrier, otherwise passengers could misconnect, at both a reputational cost to the airline and a financial one. Synchronizing those codeshare flights is a constant challenge for airlines, and when the operating airline makes a schedule change, keeping up to date with the changes can be a full-time job for the marketing airlines.

Managing all these codeshares is a complex process that involves multiple data types used in conjunction. Marketing airlines need access to the latest schedule information from the operating airlines to help keep their customers up to date on changes to flight time, equipment type or cancellations. They also need to refer to Minimum Connection Time information to build viable connections and help avoid the risk of costly missed connections.

Additionally, when you consider that the slightest of changes to an industry code can impact the integrity of any related flight information, or introduce the complexity of – for example – navigating daylight saving times in different time zones, the importance of a single source of truth is revealed.

It’s not just the data itself that needs to be up to date. Legacy systems can be clunky to integrate, with data siloed into different areas. What’s more, with the possibility of receiving schedule changes by the minute, older systems may not be capable of handling the high volume, real-time data now available.

To address this, airlines are looking to cloud-based solutions, which offer ease of integration and more agility, bringing together different data sets that can be refreshed quickly and without causing a system meltdown. OAG has helped many airlines migrate to the cloud environment of Flight Info Direct, powered by Snowflake. 

Below we look in more detail at the challenges involved in successful codesharing, and how they may be solved.

OPERATIONAL CO-ORDINATION

Synchronizing flight schedules and status updates across two different carriers can be complex. OAG processes hundreds of thousands of schedule changes per day, so it can be challenging for airlines to keep up with all the changes if they don’t have an alerting solution in place like Flight Info Alerts.

When submitting their flight schedules, Airlines provide a DEI (Data Element Identifier) to ensure that systems can read their updated flight schedules.

There are two types of DEIs that are submitted with flight schedules:

DEI 010 – Is used on the operating flight leg. This identifies all the commercial duplicate airline designators (operating and marketing carriers) and flight numbers.

DEI 050 – This data field is loaded on the commercial duplicate carrier field. This identifies the operating airline and the flight number. MCTs (Minimum Connection Times) have been built in a way that codeshare marketing carriers submitting the DEI 050 on their flights do not need to file MCTs at all if they are happy with their operator’s filed MCTs. This makes it easier for marketing carriers to maintain their files and reduce the number of MCTs required.

IT & SYSTEMS INTEGRATION

Integrating different reservation systems is crucial for a seamless booking and traveler process. Disrepencies can result in booking errors or cause inconvenience for passengers. In addition to this, ensuring secure and efficient data sharing between airlines’ systems is essential for consistent passenger information, flight status and operational details.

BAGGAGE MANAGEMENT

Ensuring that baggage is efficiently transferred between different carriers, especially during tight connections, can pose significant challenges. That’s why many airports and airport service providers such as baggage management companies use Flight Status Data from OAG to receive up-to-the-minute flight information for all airlines.

Syncronized data in the cloud is breaking down barriers for codeshare flights, allowing carriers to utilize and share their data with one another to create a seamless experience for the passenger. High quality schedules data that’s updated every 15 minutes helps both operating and marketing carriers stay in the know. In addition to this, cloud data platforms like OAG’s Flight Info Direct can handle volumes of data at speed and scale compared to legacy systems.

THE FUTURE: LOW-COST AND LEGACY CODESHARE AGREEMENTS

Codeshares started to appear in 1986 and they are not going to disappear. Some of the archaic regulations around airline ownership mean that the only way for airlines to offer customers what they want – and of course to generate more revenues – is to offer codeshare services. Indeed, even some of the world’s largest low-cost airlines are working on codeshare agreements with legacy airlines to expand their networks and attract more passengers.

JetBlue in the United States may have started as a low-cost airline but have emerged as a formidable codeshare partner for many international airlines operating to the US. We’ve mentioned the Virgin Australia situation and in its own way even easyJet have a codeshare product with their virtual interlining service, with both low-cost carriers such as Norse Airways and legacy airlines including Emirates.

With little changing in the regulatory world of airline services, the chances are that at some point many of us will travel on a codeshare flight in a seamless and painless way, perhaps not even realizing what has happened. A few of us may panic when we don’t immediately see our flight on the departure screen but if you are patient as the screen changes your flight will appear, as if by magic!

Source: OAG.  

Kenya Airways to Lead Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative in Africa.

Nairobi – Kenya Airways (KQ) has been selected as the sole African airline to lead the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry, marking a notable advancement in African aviation.

This recognition follows the national carrier’s receipt of the Most Impactful Breakthrough award for its pioneering use of SAF on a long-haul flight from Africa to Europe in October 2023.

“By taking on a pivotal role in developing the registry, KQ significantly builds trust and confidence in SAF as a viable solution for reducing aviation’s environmental impact,” said Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka.

SAF is anticipated to contribute up to 65% of the total carbon reduction required to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in air transport by 2050. The SAF registry, set to launch in the first quarter of 2025, will allow airlines worldwide to purchase SAF regardless of production location, ensuring they can claim the environmental benefits for regulatory compliance.

“SAF is crucial to aviation’s decarbonization,” stated Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Adding: “Airlines are eager for more SAF and are ready to utilize every available drop. The SAF Registry will fulfill the essential needs of all stakeholders in the global effort to increase SAF production.” Walsh also emphasized the need for a reliable system to monitor SAF quality and quantities. “Governments need a trusted system to track SAF usage. Producers must accurately report deliveries and decarbonization efforts. Corporate customers should transparently account for their Scope 3 emissions. And airlines must be certain they can claim the environmental benefits of their SAF purchases,” he expressed.

The registry’s development is supported in its pilot phase by seventeen national airlines, including the IAG airline group, six national authorities, OEMs like Airbus, Boeing, and GE Aerospace, and fuel producer World Energy. These collaborations aim to ensure compliance with regulations set by civil aviation authorities such as ICAO’s CORSIA scheme and the EU ETS, meet SAF mandates, and provide transparency regarding emissions reductions.

Focused on compliance, transparency, and government collaboration, the registry will create a robust, accountable system that accelerates SAF adoption and promotes a more sustainable future for aviation. Kenya Airways ranks most efficient airline Earlier this year, Kenya Airways was ranked the second most efficient airline in Africa in the latest On-Time Performance Review report. KQ attained an impressive 71.86% on-time arrival rate from the 41,905 flights it completed in 2023. The airline has significantly reduced its losses, with the loss after tax dropping by 41% to KSh 23 billion in its full-year 2023 financial results compared to KSh 38 billion in 2022.

In 2023, Kenya Airways recorded an operating profit of KSh 10.5 billion in 2023, marking a substantial 287% increase from the previous year.

Source: Tuko.

BOEING TO OPEN AFRICAN HEADQUARTERS IN ETHIOPIA

US-based global aerospace giant Boeing has announced on Monday that it will open its African headquarters in Ethiopia. The decision puts an end to speculation about South Africa and Kenya being the preferred locations to host the continental branch.

The decision also comes after Boeing recently hired Henok Teferra Shawl to lead Boeing’s African division as managing director. Shawl, a former Ethiopian Airlines executive, was picked for his vast experience in aviation and the telecommunication sector in Africa.

Why Did Boeing Prefer Ethiopia?

The move to center its African division in Ethiopia is not entirely surprising given the relationship between Boeing and Ethiopia. In 2023, Boeing entered a joint venture with Ethiopia for the manufacture of certain aircraft parts in the African nation. Boeing stated that it expected the investment in Ethiopia to generate over 300 jobs for the locals.

However, Boeing’s selection of Ethiopia in the wake of more potential contenders like South Africa and Kenya was due to Ethiopia’s exemplary aviation safety record, which places it among the best in the continent.

Boeing to Bolster Development and Growth in Africa

Boeing expects further growth and development within the African aviation market. In a statement, the company said: “Africa’s abundant natural resources and burgeoning young workforce are poised to drive significant growth in air traffic and airplane demand over the next two decades.” The company forecasts the need for over 1,000 additional aircraft over the next 20 years.

The decision to establish the company’s African headquarters underscores Boeing’s commitment both to Ethiopia and to the African aviation market. The move will allow both Boeing and Ethiopia to develop a stronger partnership and foster growth in the aviation sector over the next few years.

Early this March, Ethiopian flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines made headlines when it became the first African customer for Boeing 777X aircraft. The order of up to 20 aircraft (12 are options) will be instrumental in supporting Ethiopian’s fleet and network expansion plans.

In addition to the B777X, the airline also placed orders for 11 B787-9 Dreamliners and 20 B737-MAX aircraft from the American manufacturer.

Source: Aeroxplorer

Global airlines gather in Dubai to tackle climate goals, supply chain woes and war impact

Global airlines will gather for an annual summit starting from Sunday under the shadow of the Israel-Gaza war to discuss ways to navigate geopolitical instability, turn climate goals into reality and overcome pressures on growth from strained supply chains.

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) will hold its 80th annual general meeting from Sunday to Tuesday in Dubai for the first time, underscoring the city’s importance as a global aviation hub and home to Emirates airline. An influential airlines lobby group, Iata has 300 members from 120 countries who carry more than 80 per cent of the world’s air traffic.

“Dubai’s world-leading connectivity places it at the crossroads of the planet. And it will soon be the centre of the airline industry’s leadership,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.

Global airlines are riding the wave of a post-pandemic travel boom and enjoying higher fares as demand exceeds the supply of available seats, but this is tempered by plane shortages, faltering supply chains, conflicts and increasing costs.

“Discussions at the Iata annual general meeting will turn to the serious issues airlines are experiencing as a result of shortfalls in aircraft deliveries, restrictions of air routes due to regional conflicts, supply chain disruptions, fuel charges and other immediate constraints on fulfilling travel demand,” Anita Mendiratta, founder of London-based consultancy Anita Mendiratta & Associates, told The National.

“Not to mention … continued labour shortages putting pressure on airline and airport operations, the increasing cost of travel and, of course, destination safety as a result of the enduring conflicts.”

Airline chiefs are also likely to address “underlying passenger concerns” after two recent flights encountered extreme turbulence, said Ms Mendiratta, also special adviser to the chief of UN tourism.

One man died and dozens were injured on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, while 12 were injured on Qatar Airways flight QR017 that struck severe turbulence last week.

The Iata meeting will start with an updated report on the state of the aviation industry, detailing airlines’ collective financial performance.

In its latest report in December, Geneva-based Iata forecast that the industry’s net profit will surge by more than 10 per cent annually to $25.7 billion in 2024, while revenue is projected to grow 7.6 per cent year on year to a record $964 billion.

High on the agenda for the international airlines summit in Dubai are discussions around how long the prolonged post-Covid travel boom might continue as consumers become more price sensitive due to higher living costs.

A waning of the “revenge travel” phenomenon would deliver a blow to airlines already struggling with higher costs and limited aircraft availability.

Boeing and Airbus talks

Also high on the agenda will be airline bosses’ concerns around the years-long aviation supply chain problems, ranging from delayed plane deliveries to shortage of parts and fewer skilled workers. This has hampered airlines’ growth plans as they cannot ensure additional capacity to meet demand.

Manufacturing woes at Boeing and defects on Pratt & Whitney engines that power Airbus narrow-bodies are limiting the availability of planes, with airline chiefs expressing their frustration with production.

Boeing is currently in the middle of a search for a new chief executive to steer the US plane maker out of its worst crisis in years.

Airlines will use the Iata gathering as a platform for meetings with the troubled manufacturer and with its European rival Airbus to updates on their aircraft deliveries, aviation analysts said.

“Most of the conversations will be the airlines asking Boeing, ‘how are you improving the quality of builds and ensuring safety? And what is the timing for my deliveries? Has the timeline slipped? How realistic is the new timeline?'” George Ferguson, senior aerospace analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, told The National.

The private suites of the JW Marriott Marquis where the Iata gathering will be held will set the scene for these crucial meetings.

Boeing executives attending the summit will “undoubtedly use the opportunity to reinforce business relationships and to reassure airline leaderships that it is fully addressing quality issues as well as attempt to placate them about ongoing delivery delays”, aviation consultant John Strickland said.

While much of these conversations will be around airlines’ need to boost capacity, this is “a two sided coin”, Richard Aboulafia, managing director of US-based AeroDynamic Advisory, told The National.

“Inadequate capacity can push up prices and profits, on routes where demand is sufficient,” he said. However, high ticket prices can put off price-sensitive consumers as they grapple with inflation.

Environmental pressures

Airlines at the Iata gathering, facing pressures from environmental activists, will also need to explain how they plan to meet a target of net-zero emissions in 2050.

Key to this plan in the short-to-medium term is access to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a more environment-friendly alternative to conventional jet fuel.

SAF is three to five times more expensive than jet fuel, “to the extent it would knock many consumers out of air travel if it was used widely” and the investment case for SAF production plants does not appear compelling enough to attract investments, Mr Ferguson said.

“I would say the plan is on life support already. There will be a lot of conversations at the AGM around where to go from here.”

The Iata meeting will focus on how to “inject more political impetus” from governments to help ensure the aviation industry can deliver on its sustainability goals, Mr Strickland said.

The shadow of war

The Iata meeting will take place as the Gaza war enters its ninth month in June, while negotiations to secure at least a pause in hostilities have been deadlocked for months. Last week, Israel launched a number of strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah killing dozens of Palestinians, including women and children, and have blocked humanitarian aid into the enclave.

For airlines, the Gaza war and Russia-Ukraine war has forced them to reallocate unused capacity in those regions and avoid the use of air space where regional tensions have flared up.

“I would anticipate significant discussion of the challenging geopolitical context of global airline operations especially in a year with a record number of presidential elections,” Mr Strickland said.

Emirates airline’s succession plans

Dubai-based Emirates will be the host airline of the Iata meeting this year and all eyes will be on its president Tim Clark.

The airline recently appointed its current chief operations officer Adel Al Redha and chief commercial officer Adnan Kazim as deputy presidents.

However, Emirates has not yet named a successor to Mr Clark, a step that the industry will be watching closely.

“The Emirates succession will be talked about extensively. As the most successful super-connector, smart airlines are mindful of where Emirates is going,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Tim Clark has had a strong run at the airline and its recovery from the pandemic is progressing nicely … his successors have big shoes to fill.”

This year’s Iata discussions will also revolve around the use of artificial intelligence in air travel and prospects of air cargo, according to the event programme.

Another focus will be on improving the male-dominated aviation industry’s persistent gender imbalance. The fifth edition of the Iata Diversity and Inclusion Awards will recognise organisations and individuals who are contributing to the 25by2025, an Iata initiative to bring more women into senior aviation leadership positions.

Source:  The National News.

Boost To Air Connectivity as AFCAC Discovers 59 New African Routes.

The African Civil Aviation Council (AFCAC) yesterday revealed that the agency has discovered 59 new Africa air routes, 13 of which operate under fifth freedom air traffic rights.

These developments mark significant progress in the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the council said in a report yesterday.

Secretary General of AFCAC, Adefunke Adeyemi said Africa’s discovery of 59 new air routes, including 13 fifth freedom routes, marks a positive step towards enhanced connectivity.

Last year, we discovered that 59 new routes are being operated in Africa. 13 of those 59 routes are fifth freedom routes. This is significant progress. It is not where we need to be, yet it is movement in the right direction, and we will continue to monitor this.’

Fifth freedom air traffic rights refer to the right granted by one country to an airline of another country to carry passengers or cargo from its own country to a second country, and then onward to a third country.

This essentially allows an airline to operate flights between two foreign countries, with a stopover in its own country.

Adeyemi emphasized the importance of these new Africa air routes in enhancing connectivity across the continent. However, she also stressed that developing new routes alone is insufficient without passengers or cargo to support them. ‘What good is the development of new routes when people and goods cannot move around?’ she questioned.

Consequently, the AFCAC Scribe mentioned that the commission is supporting a robust regulatory framework for SAATM through the Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs). Additionally, models are underway to promote affordable and accessible travel for more than the current 10% of Africans traveling by air.

Adeyemi also highlighted the need for an improved visa regime across the continent. She stressed that the true potential of new routes can only be realized when people and goods can move freely.

Source: MSN.

Wings of Change Focus Africa to Address Resilience and Sustainability.

Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference (WOCFA) will return for its second edition under the theme “Towards a More Resilient and Sustainable African Aviation”. WOCFA is taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 2-3 July 2024 with South African Airways as the host airline.

WOCFA will delve into priorities under IATA’s Focus Africa initiative to strengthen aviation’s contribution to the continent’s economic and social development, along with improving connectivity, safety and reliability for passengers and shippers.

“Africa’s aviation market holds immense untapped potential, with expectations for traffic to double in the next 15 years. The Focus Africa Initiative has identified key priorities that, if addressed collaboratively and effectively, will bolster Africa’s aviation industry and enhance its socio-economic impact. A year into the Focus Africa Initiative, we have seen progress in areas such as safety, but there is still a long way to go. This year’s IATA’s Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference builds on this progress by addressing critical areas such as safety, security, sustainability, economic development, and the overall resilience of the industry,” said Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East.

Professor Malesela John Lamola, Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways will deliver an Opening Keynote Address.“We are delighted to host IATA’s Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference and welcome the aviation industry to our home, Johannesburg. Advancing the air transport industry is critical for Africa’s economic growth. The conference will allow industry leaders to join forces and drive the agenda for a stronger, more resilient African aviation industry,” said Lamola.

Speakers & Sessions

Lamola and Alawadhi will be joined by industry leaders from the various areas of aviation in addressing the event, including session tracks on topics such as:

  • Safety
  • Security
  • Boosting Regional Traffic
  • Airport Infrastructure
  • Modern Airline Retailing
  • Sustainability with a focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
  • Air Cargo
  • Skilled workforce

Source: IATA.

Zambia Airways Adds Exciting New Destinations to its Network

Zambia Airways, the national carrier of the Republic of Zambia, is thrilled to unveil its latest expansion with the introduction of new passenger services to East Africa. Starting on June 27, 2024, the airline will begin operating flights three times a week to two major cities: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. This new route reflects Zambia Airways’ commitment to enhancing connectivity and fostering trade and tourism between Zambia and East Africa.

The new service, designated as flight ZN 504, will operate from Lusaka (LUN), the capital of Zambia, to Dar es Salaam (DAR) and Nairobi (NBO). The flights are scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This schedule is strategically designed to cater to both business and leisure travelers, providing them with convenient options for planning their trips to these vibrant cities.

Flight ZN 504 will depart Lusaka at 08:00 AM and arrive in Dar es Salaam at 10:30 AM. After a short layover, the flight will continue to Nairobi, landing at 01:00 PM. This timing allows passengers ample time during the day to commence their activities in either city, whether it’s business meetings or sightseeing. The return flight will follow a similar schedule, ensuring a seamless travel experience for all passengers.

This expansion is a significant milestone for Zambia Airways as it not only broadens its network but also plays a crucial role in strengthening regional ties. The addition of these routes is expected to boost the airline’s growth and contribute positively to the economic development of Zambia and its East African counterparts. Passengers can look forward to experiencing Zambia Airways’ renowned hospitality and reliable service on these new flights.

DayFlight NumberDepart LUNArrive DARDepart DARArrive NBODepart NBOArrive LUN
Tue, ThuZN 50407:0010:3011:1512:3513:2015:20
SatZN 50407:0011:4513:0513:5015:20

“The network expansion is reflective of our mission of enhancing regional connectivity and making air transport services affordable for a wide range of customers,” says Thomas Woldesenbet, CEO of Zambia Airways. “The launch of services to Dar es Salaam and Nairobi will further strengthen the ties between Zambia and the two East African sister countries and foster trade and tourism.”

Source:   Travel and Tour World.  

Tracing the ascendancy of African aviation and air cargo

Africa’s aviation and air freight sectors are experiencing a remarkable upswing, propelled by the continent’s economic expansion, urbanisation trends, and increasing global trade links. Projections indicate the African air transport market will see 5.7% annual growth over the next 20 years, surpassing worldwide averages. While challenges like insufficient infrastructure, connectivity gaps, and regulatory disparities exist, initiatives to enhance air cargo capabilities and catalyse regional integration are gaining momentum to harness Africa’s immense prospects.

The African aviation and air cargo industry is undergoing a remarkable renaissance, fueled by rapid economic growth, urbanisation, and the continent’s increased integration into global trade networks. As more Africans embrace air travel and businesses look for efficient logistics solutions, the sector is on track for unprecedented growth, resulting in a new era of connectivity and opportunity across the continent.

According to a projection by the World Bank, African economies are expected to grow by 3.4 in 2024. While a data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the African air transport market is projected to grow by 5.7% annually over the next two decades, outpacing the global average growth rate of 4.6%. This growth is fueled by a burgeoning middle class, robust economic development, and the continent’s vast untapped potential.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has recently announced that global air cargo demand continued its robust growth for the fourth consecutive month, with Africa experiencing significant expansion in March 2024, The IATA figures show that African airlines saw a 14 % year-on-year growth in air cargo demand in March 2024.

The growth in air cargo demand, particularly in Africa, has been influenced by various factors. According to IATA, the moderate increase in global cross-border trade and industrial production has contributed to the growth in air cargo demand. The rise in e-commerce activity has also played a significant role in boosting air cargo demand globally, including in Africa.

Furthermore, a notable shift from sea freight to air freight has been observed, especially for cargo moving from the Middle East to West Africa, as shippers opt for air freight to avoid the longer sea route. This longer sea voyage has become necessary due to the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea region, forcing ocean carriers to reroute their ships around the Cape of Good Hope instead of transiting through the Suez Canal. As a result, shippers are turning to air freight as a more timely alternative for cargo bound to West African ports from the Middle East.

Source: Logistics Update Africa.

Industry Makes Progress to Reduce Baggage Mishandling, New Survey Reveals

Reykjavík – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today released a global progress report on the implementation of baggage tracking. Focused on IATA Resolution 753, which requires tracking baggage at acceptance, loading, transfer and arrival, the survey of 155 airlines and 94 airports reveals that:

44% of airlines have fully implemented Resolution 753 and a further 41% are in progress.

Regional variation in airline full adoption rates vary from 88% in China and North Asia, to 60% in the Americas, 40% in Europe and Asia-Pacific, and 27% in Africa.

75% of airports surveyed have the capability for Resolution 753 baggage tracking.

Airport preparedness for Resolution 753 varies by size*: 75% of mega airports are capable, 85% of major airports, 82% of large airports and 61% of medium airports.

Optical barcode scanning is the dominant tracking technology implemented by the majority of airports (73%) surveyed. Tracking using RFID, which is more efficient, is implemented in 27% of surveyed airports. Notably, RFID technology has seen higher adoption rates at mega airports, with 54% already implementing this advanced tracking system.

“Between 2007 and 2022 baggage mishandling reduced by nearly 60%. That is good news. But travelers expect better; and the industry is determined to make further improvements. Tracking bags at acceptance, loading, transfer and delivery will give the industry the data it needs to improve. Tracking reduces overall mishandlings and helps airlines reunite mishandled bags with their owners even faster. With 44% of airlines already fully implementing Resolution 753 tracking and a further 41% in progress, travelers can have even more confidence that their bags will be at the carousel on arrival,” said Monika Mejstrikova, IATA Director Ground Operations.

In 2022, the global rate of mishandled bags was 7.6 per 1,000 passengers, according to SITA. The majority of these were returned within 48 hours.

Accelerating Modern Baggage Messaging

Resolution 753 requires airlines to exchange baggage tracking messages with interline partners and their agents. The current baggage messaging infrastructure depends on legacy technologies using costly Type B messaging. This high cost adversely affects the implementation of Resolution 753 and contributes to issues with message quality, leading to an increase in baggage mishandling.

IATA is leading the industry’s transition from Type B to modern baggage messaging based on XML standards. The first pilot to test modern baggage messaging between airport and airlines is planned for launch in 2024.

“Adopting modern messaging is the equivalent of implementing a new standard, intelligible language for use by airlines, airports, and ground handling staff so they can effectively communicate about passenger luggage. In addition to helping reduce the number of mishandled bags implementation also sets the stage for ongoing innovations in baggage management systems,” said Mejstrikova.

Background

IATA resolution 753 was adopted by June in 2018. In 2024, IATA launched a campaign to assist airlines with the implementation. The campaign focuses on collecting data on the implementation status of airlines and providing support to member airlines to develop and execute their implementation plans. This initiative underscores IATA’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiencies and standards across the industry.

*Airport size classification:

Medium: 5-15 million

Large: 15–25 million

Major: 25–40 million

Mega: >40 million

Source:  Tourism News Africa.