Nigeria rolls out visas on arrival to Africans

Nigeria has introduced visas on arrival to all African travellers, dropping the requirement that they apply in advance, effective January 2020.
According to Inside Travel, President Muhammadu Buhari announced the move on 12 December on Twitter during the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development inaugural meeting in Egypt. “Nigeria is committed to supporting the free movement of Africans within Africa. We will commence the issuance of visas at the point of entry into Nigeria, to all persons holding passports of African countries.”

As reported by Traveller 24, ease of access for Africans across the continent has also been on the agenda for SA, as the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) began testing the electronic visa (e-visa) applications for Kenya, ahead of the festive season at the beginning of December. An e-visa pilot with Nigeria is set to begin in January 2020.

Once fully rolled-out, prospective visitors will be able to apply online for visas, at home, office or place of work.

The adoption of visa on arrival by African countries is in line with the Free Movement of Persons and the African Passport policy adopted by the African Union in 2016.

Source: https://www.bizcommunity.africa/Article/410/747/199434.html

 

Millennials need travel advisors

The majority of millennials find it more difficult to book with an online travel agency than to shop online for other products and services, according to a recent Travelport survey. The survey found that 59% of millennial respondents found OTAs harder to navigate than other online shopping.

That, coupled with some other findings — like that most travelers surveyed found complicated rules and terms and conditions around cancellations or changes frustrating — is good news for travel advisors.

“It’s an indication of the fact that, generally, you have a track of when complexity goes up in any purchase, the need for human intervention arises,” said Simon Ferguson, president and managing director of the Americas for Travelport.

Travel is no different, Ferguson said. The more complex the product, the more likely the purchaser wants to interact with a human prior to buying.

Take, for instance, cruising: Cruises are mostly still booked through advisors, because they are complex products, he said.

“Whenever we see the complexity go up, we see the need for human intervention coming in, and that means travel advisors are certainly getting involved,” Ferguson said.

He believes younger generations are finding it harder to book travel on OTAs compared to other online shopping experiences at least in part because they’re comparing it to purchases made on, for instance, Amazon.

Those are single, nonperishable goods. It’s not a complex purchase.

“Travel is a complex item, and it is just harder to display,” Ferguson said. “This is a challenge we have in our platform, displaying different types of rooms [and other differentiating factors].”

Ferguson posited that consumers, especially younger ones, are used to things like one-click ordering that just don’t exist in travel.

He also said he believes younger generations are generally more adventurous than the generations before them, preferring more complicated trips, also good news for advisors.

Travelport’s survey indicates that younger generations often turn to travel professionals for recommendations (50% of millennials, 25% of Generation Z and 20% of Generation X respondents indicated that’s the case).

The survey did include one statistic that seems inconsistent with the experience of many travel agencies and their client base: Only 8% of baby boomers said they always turn to travel professionals for recommendations.

Ferguson pointed out that the survey asked consumers specifically if they always turn to travel professionals; boomers might be more likely to do the same things repeatedly and already have favorite providers they turn to. Time is also likely a factor in that particular statistic, he said: Retired people, many of whom are boomers, have more time on their hands to research travel themselves.

Regardless, though, Ferguson said the numbers indicate travel advisors should feel more confident about going after a younger clientele, because they’re interested in working with travel professionals. To do that, he suggested thinking about the people an agency employs and looking for a younger demographic. He also encouraged agencies to consider bringing on interns that might have a future in the industry.

“There is this perception a little bit that the younger generation, the ‘silent travelers,’ as they’re called, they don’t want to talk to anyone,” Ferguson said. “They just want to do everything on their phones. Well, clearly, it’s not true.”

Source: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Insights/Millennials-need-travel-advisors

IATA Management Developments

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced changes to its Strategic Leadership Team and corporate structure. The changes will enable IATA to better serve its customers and stakeholders as the association implements a strategy focusing on its core competencies of standard-setting and adoption, advocacy, and services and products.

  • Effective 1 January 2020, Aleks Popovich (currently Senior Vice President for Financial and Distribution Services) will lead a newly formed Customer and Business Services (CBS) division. Customer and Business Services will manage the operations of IATA’s industry settlement systems, central sales and marketing, and its customer service.
  • Effective 31 December 2019, Mark Hubble, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Aviation Solutions, will retire from IATA after 16 years of service. The Marketing and Commercial Services division which he led will be dissolved, with its functions largely incorporated in the newly formed Customer and Business Services division.
  • Effective 1 January 2020 a newly formed Financial, Distribution and Data Services (FDDS) division will group the association’s work on digital transformation, efficient industry processes, product differentiation and business intelligence. This division will replace the former Financial and Distribution Services division. Popovich will lead FDDS on an interim basis until a recruitment process is completed.
  • Progressively, some 50 positions will be added to IATA’s advocacy capabilities. Many of these will be within the Member and External Relations division (MER). MER is currently being led on an ad interim basis by Brian Pearce, IATA’s Chief Economist, following the retirement earlier this year of Paul Steele as Senior Vice President Member and External Relations.

Director General and CEO

IATA also announced that its Board of Governors will recommend an extension of the term of office of Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, to the association’s Annual General Meeting which will take place in Amsterdam 22-23 June 2020. De Juniac’s current term is due to end in August 2020.

Source: https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/pr/2019-12-17-01/

 

Fitness Holidays: A New Wellness Trend

Fitness holidays are fast catching on in Kenya as people inspired to test their endurance book trips with an exercise element. They travel to do boot camps, cycle in the wild, do yoga, triathlons or marathons.

Running holidays are among the most common, especially with establishment of groups like ‘The Medal hunters’ which plan weekend runs. Also, more Kenyans are taking up running to train for Majors, where they run six marathons across the world.

Jedidah Wairimu, an avid runner, always plans short touring excursions shortly after doing her half marathons.

“I just did Tigoni Half Marathon a few weeks ago, and I feel that the sight of the tea bushes as I ran was holiday enough for me,” says the businesswoman.

She started running to lose weight then the habit stuck. She then enrolled for Kilimanjaro Marathon which she participated in with a group of friends. She has several half marathons under her belt, with her most memorable one being The Big Falls Run.

 “I recently went for Victoria Falls Run in Zimbabwe with Bucketlist Adventures. After running the half marathon, we visited the falls and even toured neighbouring Botswana. I have also done the Rak, a half marathon in Dubai, Kigali Peace Marathon and other local races that help me tour Kenya. I was in Shompole in Magadi earlier in the year and in Iten just a few weeks ago,” says the mother-of-two.

Jedidah believes that anyone can run or take up their favourite activity and incorporate it into their life such that it does not feel like a burden.

“I am planning to run five half marathons this year starting with one in the Czech Republic and another in Portugal. I therefore have to plan to ensure that my business and my personal responsibilities as a wife and mother are not hurt but enriched by my fitness activities. I am hoping to see several tourist sites after the runs too,” she says.

As to anyone who would like to hop onto the trend, Jedidah advises that one should take it at their own pace. She is a firm believer that Rome was not built in a day, an adage that rings true in fitness.

Dance holidays are also becoming common. Jose Rogarow, known for his roga roga dance exercise moves, is a big advocate of fitness holidays. He is a rhumba instructor who organises holidays centred on dance and outdoor workouts. Sandra Nakweya never misses a rhumba retreat.

“I honestly love adventure and dancing so much. Marrying the two for me was a genius idea. I have gone to Sagana for the rhumba retreat, to Uganda and even to Mombasa. Each location feels different and brings with it its own scenery,” Sandra says.

“There is always an itinerary so you can pick which fitness activities to do or which ones to skip if you feel tuckered out from the previous session. You can then proceed to bungee jump or swim in the ocean if you so wish.”

Dan Odemba, a business man and rhumba enthusiast also recently hopped onto the fitness holiday bus.

 “I enjoy rhumba as it is fun and cardio and always manage to squeeze in time to do it at least twice a week. I therefore do not feel that holiday and fitness have to be two mutually exclusive. I went for a rhumba retreat last April to Kampala and in October to Arusha. I feel like fitness and going on holiday is not as arduous as people think it is and is quite enjoyable,” Dan says.

Monica Fauth, the founder of Lamu Yoga Festival, a weeklong fitness retreat says fitness and wellness is becoming a lifestyle.

“I feel like people should treat themselves with kindness. Wherever you are at on your fitness journey, celebrate it. If it is doing 10 minutes of yoga daily and indulging in your favourite delicacies, that is fine. Wellness is a journey. It is true that we are what we eat, but it all starts with recognising that and slowly working your way to where you envision yourself. Find what wellness means to you and nurture that,” Monica sagely advises.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/lifestyle/fitness/A-New-Wellness-Trend-/4258372-5407502-4xxgws/index.html

 

KTB eyes tourists with expanded product list

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has embarked on marketing of diverse tourism products including mountaineering, cuisine, horticulture and lake tourism, to attract more tourists.

In an interview, Kenya Tourism Board Chairman Jimi Kariuki said although Kenya continues to be a popular destination, stakeholders must put more focus on other products to boost the sector.

He said popular tourism destinations including Diani beach, Maasai Mara and Nairobi for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions are renowned worldwide.

“We have been winning in both world travel and destination awards due to our popular destinations. We look forward to a very good year in the sector,” Mr Kariuki said in Mombasa.

However, Mr Kariuki who is also the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort, Managing Director said the sector should also diversify.

 “We are renowned for beach and safari; they are our main signature products. But we need to diversify and present to the world other products such as mountaineering, lake, horticulture, agriculture (tea and coffee), cuisine, culture and heritage,” Mr Kariuki said.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/economy/KTB-eyes-tourists-with-expanded-product-list/3946234-5405364-dost45z/index.html

 

Emirates cuts ticket prices in promotion

Emirates Airlines has announced discounted air ticket prices of up to 29.4 percent for Nairobi customers on three of its routes, raising competition for its rivals such as Kenya Airways that flies to the same destinations.

The airline has reduced ticket prices for flights to Dubai, London and Beijing in a promotion that runs until January 21.

Customers are allowed to book flights from January 7, 2020 to November 30, 2020.

Under the promotion, passengers on a return air ticket flying from Nairobi to Dubai on an economy class ticket will pay $484 (Sh48,859), down from $535 (Sh54,008), representing a nine percent price discount.

Passengers flying on the same route on a business class ticket will pay $1,405 (Sh141,834) down from $1,991 (Sh200,991), representing a 29.4 per cent price cut.

Passengers flying to London on an economy class ticket (return) will pay $776 (Sh78,337), down from $985 (Sh99,435), representing a 21.2 per cent price cut.

Those flying on the same route on a business class ticket will pay $2,445 (Sh246,822), down from $3,219 (Sh324,958), representing a 24 per cent price cut.

Passengers on Emirates Airlines flights from Nairob to Beijing on a return economy class ticket will pay $823 (Sh83,081), down from $942 (Sh95,094), representing a 12.6 per cent price cut.

Those flying on the same route on a business class ticket will pay $4,062 (Sh410,058) ,down from $4, 928 (Sh497,481) representing a 17.5 per cent price cut.

“We at Emirates believe in making every flight experience extraordinary. By making continued investments in refreshing the world’s biggest fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, passengers travelling with Emirates are able to fly better on every single flight,” said Hendrik Du Preez, regional manager, Emirates Airlines East Africa.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/companies/Emirates-cuts-ticket-prices-in-promotion/4003102-5408836-v0o7hlz/index.html

 

Kenya Airways issues profit warning

National carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced that it anticipates 25 per cent or more lower earnings for the period ending December 31, 2019 when compared to 2018, pointing to wider losses this year despite several cost cutting measures by the carrier.

In a notice signed by Kenya Airways Board Chair Michael Joseph, the troubled airline blamed the performance on stiff competition.

“Although Kenya Airways realized improved revenue growth in the year, profitability was constrained by the increased competition in the airline area of operations, which, in turn, has increased pressure on pricing in order to remain competitive,” he said.

“In addition, the adoption of new International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 16 rules in 2019, has required significant adjustments to both the profit and loss statements and balance sheets for the current financial year,” he added.

The profit warning means that KQ will report a net loss greater than the Ksh7.5 billion ($75 million) that was recorded in December 2018 when higher costs offset a jump in revenue.

The troubled airline has been making efforts to improve earnings after several years of posting losses.

Fuel, personnel and cost of aircraft have been identified among the top three drivers of KQ’s expenses, contributing to about two-thirds of the operating costs.

Earlier this year, the board had announced that KQ – which is 48.9 per cent government-owned and 7.8 per cent by Air France-KLM – plans to double its fleet over the next five years if they can find the right financial structure.

Following the resignation announcement by outgoing CEO Sebastian Mikosz earlier this year, the airline on Monday appointed Jambojet chief executive Allan Kilavuka to fill the seat in an acting capacity.

Mr Kilavuka’s appointment is effective January 1, 2020.

Mr Mikosz, to the shock of many, opted out of the top job before the expiry of his contract that was to end in June next year citing personal reasons.

The Polish national used strategies such as fleet expansion, addition of new routes and collaboration with African airlines in hopes of turning around KQ’s performance.

Our Source: https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/Kenya-Airways-issues-profit-warning/2560-5390198-hti4q8/index.html

Kenya Airways names acting CEO

Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced the appointment of Allan Kilavuka as its acting chief executive officer, replacing Polish national Sebastian Mikosz who opted out of the top job before the expiry of his contract.

Mr Kilavuka is the current CEO of the airline’s low cost subsidiary Jambojet.

The airline’s board in a statement sent Monday indicated his appointment is effective January 1, 2020, and that he will serve in the role until a substantive CEO for Kenya Airways has been recruited and appointed.

“Allan will also continue his role as Chief Executive Officer of Jambojet during the interim period of recruitment,” said the statement signed by Company Secretary Catherine Musakali.

“The Board wishes to emphasise that the recruitment process for a substantive Chief Executive Officer with the necessary experience and knowledge was initiated upon the announcement of Sebastian Mikosz’s decision to leave the airline at the end of 2019. The process is still actively on going and the Board will inform all our stakeholders once a suitable candidate has been identified.”

Mr Mikosz earlier this year in a shock announcement said he will quit from the helm of the airline in December, coming before his term expires in June next year.

In a memo to KQ staff, he cited “personal reasons” as the reason for throwing in the towel.

“It is my personal decision and I have obviously discussed it with the Board as well as with my family. I believe that this is the ideal timing to begin a transition process to find someone who will continue with the turnaround initiatives that we began 3 years ago,” he said in the memo.

Mr Mikosz, who helped turn around flag carrier LOT Polish Airlines as its CEO, was hired in June 2017 to also turn around the struggling KQ.

His strategy included fleet expansion, adding of new routes and collaboration with African airlines that were seen as a threat to KQ’s regional market share.

The airline is in the process of nationalisation, coming after Parliament in July voted to nationalise NSE-listed company Airways to save it from mounting debts.

The government has now set out on a nationalisation plan, with Treasury looking to buy out KQ’s minority shareholders and converting shares held by commercial banks into Treasury bonds.

The loss-making carrier is 48.9 percent government-owned, 38.1 percent by banks, 7.8 percent by Air France-KLM, 2.4 percent by Kenya Airways employees and 2.8 percent by small investors.

KQ chairman Michael Joseph recently called for professionalisation of the airline’s board to avoid picking politically-connected directors so as to give the troubled company a chance of survival after nationalisation.

Our source: https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/Kenya-Airways-names-acting-CEO/2560-5387334-4sdtkjz/index.html

 

 

KCAA denies Saudi, Ethiopian airlines expansion rights

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority(KCAA) has denied Saudi Arabian Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines changes on key air service licenses, deaming their expansion quest mainly on cargo services.

In its latest decision on 27 licence applications, it granted 14 licenses and varied 10. One has been deferred while two variations denied.

These were “mainly renewals , variations and few new ones,” KCAA director general Gilbert Kibe told the Star yesterday.

Saudi Arabian Airlines had sought variation of the existing licence to include new routes of Jeddah(Saudi Arabia)-Nairobi-Maastricht (Maastricht) and Jeddah-Nairobi-Liege(Belgium).

Ethiopian Airlines on the other hand had applied variation of existing air service licence to include aircraft type B737F. The two were mainly targeting to expand their cargo services.

In a gazette notice dated December 13, KCAA said the licenses were “not granted,” without further explanation. Kibe yesterday noted the decisions were made on reasons, which cannot be shared with the public.

“Not for public information,” Kibe said.

Airlines seeking to change or make slight differences on their licenses, which define their operations, must apply for variation.

KCAA decision on Ethiopian Airlines is however seen to be based on safety concerns on the aircraft type, noting that in 2010, the airline’s Boeing 737-800 passenger plane exploded after taking off from Lebanon, killing 83 passengers and seven crew members.

In March this year, its Boeing 737 Max-8 crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing all on board.

Saudi Arabian Airlines however has been allowed to operate international non-scheduled all cargo air service on 13 major routes among them Jeddah-Nairobi-Jeddah and Jeddah-Nairobi-Moscow.

It can also service the, without traffic rights between, Nairobi and Eldoret-Johannesburg-Addis Ababa-Dar-esSalaam-N’djamena-Lagos-Kano-Khartoum-Niamey and vice versa using aircraft types B777F, B747-800F and B747-400F based at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“Licence granted for two years with effect from January 14 , 2019 without the routes Jeddah/Nairobi/Liege, Jeddah/Nairobi/Maastricht,” KCAA said in the notice.

Ethiopian Airlines has been granted a two-years license, with effect from October 3, 2019 to operate international non-scheduled all cargo air service on the routes Addis Ababa-Nairobi- Addis Ababa and Liege- Nairobi-Addis Ababa using aircraft types B737-800F and B7 77-200F based at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, “without aircraft type B737-800F.”

Other airlines granted licenses include Smartwings Poland which will mainly operate tour charters flights to Mombasa, a boot to the tourism sector. The company has a one year licence effective December 9.

Tanzania based-Regional Air Services Limited has also been granted rights to operate non-scheduled air service for passengers between designated entry-exit points in Kenya and Tanzania.

Licenses that have been allowed variation inlcude Pro Flight Limited,Aberdair Aviation Limited,

Aerolink Flight Centre Limited, SAC (K) Limited, HAMCO Aviation Limited and Governors Aviation Limited.

Others are Renegade Air Limited, Penial Air Limited and Westwind Avaition Limited which has also been granted a three-year license.

Jambojet has been granted a three-year licence to operate non-scheduled air service for passengers, cargo and mail within, out of, into Kenya to from points in Africa, rest of the world which also incoude its existing routes. It licence is effective December 17.

Vintage Air Charters Limited, Bonge Air Services Limited, Level Up Limited ,Lady Lori Helicopters Limited and Ocean Airlines Limited have all been granted one year licenses to operate in the country and beyond.

Capital Airlines Limited, Flight Training Centre Limited, Seven Four Eight Air Services (K) Limited and Capital Connect Aviation Supplies Limited have also been licensed.

The licence application for Imatong Airlines Limited has however been deferred. It sought to operate Non-scheduled air service for passengers and cargo within the

 

Our Source: https://www.the-star.co.ke/business/kenya/2019-12-16-kcaa-denies-saudi-ethiopian-airlines-expansion-rights/

Kenyans to pay more for EU’s Schengen visa from next year

Kenyans travelling to European Union countries on a Schengen visa will pay at least Sh2,265 more in fees starting from February.

The higher charges come into force after the European Union Council adopted an updated Schengen Visa code.

Consequently, the Schengen visa fees will increase by 33.3 percent to €80 (Sh9,060) from €60 (Sh6,795) from February after the amended regulation came into force.

Children too will have to pay more at €40 (Sh4,530) instead of €35 (Sh3,964) paid currently.

The new code is, however, expending the period within which an application can be lodged from three months to six months in advance of a trip.

A Schengen visa is a short-stay permit that allows visitors to Europe to travel to any of the 26 states, which are members of the Schengen area, up to 90 days for tourism or business.

It enables the holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the member countries which include Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France and Germany among other European Union nations.

An increasing number of Kenyans have been seeking Schengen visas as travel to Europe for tourism takes root, with popular destinations including Mediterranean resort cities.

According to the updated regulations, Kenyans applying through an external visa service provider may, however, have to pay up to €160 (Sh18,120) per visa application, if the external service providers set the maximum service fee permitted, which is €80.

Statistics by SchengenVisaInfo.com show that in 2018, Schengen embassies and consulates in Kenya processed 38,503 visa applications, 4,769 of which were rejected, representing an acceptance rate of 87.6 percent.

Germany was the top country for visa submission, as 6,142 of the applications submitted in Kenya were for Schengen visas to Germany, followed by France with 5,059 and the Netherlands with 4,406 applications.

In terms of expenditure, in 2018, Kenyan citizens spent €2.31 million (Sh261.6 million) on visa applications to Europe, €286,140 (Sh32.4 million) of which was spent by applicants who had their visa applications rejected.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/economy/Kenyans-to-pay-more-for-EU-s-Schengen-visa/3946234-5391082-e2s0ij/index.html