ASKY to resume flights to Pointe-Noire from October 2, 2024

ASKY Airlines has announced the resumption of flights to Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, starting from October 2, 2024. After a multi-year suspension, the airline is set to restore this strategic route, underscoring its dedication to bolstering economic growth across Africa and enhancing connectivity between communities on the continent.

Commitment to Economic Development and Connectivity

The reopening of Pointe-Noire aligns with ASKY’s vision to promote economic and social development in Africa by providing efficient and reliable air transport solutions. This new route will facilitate trade, business opportunities, and interpersonal relationships between countries, thereby strengthening regional integration.

With the addition of Pointe-Noire, ASKY Airlines expands its network to 29 destinations in West and Central Africa. Flights will be operated three times a week via Luanda Airport (LAD), offering increased connectivity and flexible travel options for our passengers.

Flight Schedules and Frequencies

Flights to Pointe-Noire will be operated three times per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) with departure from Lome at 13:00pm for arrival in Pointe-Noire at 19:30pm. The return flights are scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to depart from Pointe-Noire at 07:10am for arrival in Lome at 11:40am. All times are in local time.

These schedules are designed to offer optimal connections with other ASKY destinations, thus facilitating travel across the continent.

Book Now

ASKY invites passengers to book their tickets now to discover or rediscover Pointe-Noire, a dynamic and growing city. Enjoy our superior service and our commitment to your comfort and safety. For more information and to book your tickets, please visit our website at www.flyasky.com or contact our local offices.

Source:Voyages Afriq.  

CONNECTING YOU TO SOUTH AFRICA WITH 37 WEEKLY FLIGHTS

What does South Africa have in common with Kenya? Beautiful beaches, wildlife safaris, buzzing business hubs, unique cultures and stunning tourist attractions. If you are looking for a convenient way to travel to South Africa, then Kenya Airways is your answer. Whether you are a group of friends or a family who want to explore there’s something for you to discover in South Africa.

If you are businessman or are travelling for a work assignment, you have multiple options to choose from the available flights. Kenya Airways has 37 weekly flights to Africa that are conveniently timed to fit in with your schedule.

That’s not it, Kenya Airways flies to two points in South Africa which makes it even more convenient depending on which part of South Africa you want to explore. You can either choose to go to Johannesburg where KQ flies 28 times weekly or Cape Town where KQ flies 9 times weekly.

If you want to explore Southern Africa, KQ also connects the South further by providing service between Cape Town and Victoria Falls with 3 weekly flights and Cape Town to Livingston, 3 times weekly.

With competitive fares coupled with our comfortable aircrafts and African hospitality, Kenya Airways is indeed your airline of choice as you explore the South.

Sabre signs distribution agreement with Delta Air Lines

  • Deal includes NDC content

Sabre has closed a multi-year renewal of its distribution agreement with Delta Air Lines. The long-term agreement enables Sabre-connected Travel agents connected to Sabre will now have access to both traditional EDIFACT and NDC Delta content.

Earlier this year, Delta announced details of its selling and servicing transformation, which included NDC. The pair will work together on the integration of NDC content into Sabre’s travel marketplace to support the transformation. “We are pleased to extend our full content agreement and value-based commercial model with Sabre,” said Jeff Lobl, managing director, distribution strategy and agency sales programmes of Delta Air Lines.

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“We look forward to collaborating with Sabre to make Delta’s NDC technology solution available to all Sabre-connected travel agents to ensure that our customers receive the best possible travel experience tailored to their needs.”

Roshan Mendis, chief commercial officer of Sabre Travel Solutions, added: “Sabre is delighted to extend our long-standing partnership with Delta Air Lines and to support their NDC journey. “This agreement underscores our commitment to building a comprehensive travel marketplace that equips travel agents with the tools and content they need to excel in today’s dynamic travel environment, including the ability to leverage the potential of NDC.”

Source:   Travolution.

Catch the latest recap of the Kenya Travel Industry Payments Summit (K-TRIPS) on YouTube! Navigating industry shifts to fostering innovation, the summit offered valuable takeaways for travel professionals.

EAC Urges Partner States to Fast Track Liberalizing Air Transport Market.

The East African Community (EAC) has urged its partner states to fast track regulations to liberalise the air transport market to boost regional integration and economic growth.

“An integrated air transport market is essential for the development of our region. By removing barriers to air travel, we can enhance competitiveness and attract investment in the region,” The East African Community (EAC) Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Andrea Aguer Ariik, said during the 19th Meeting of Director Generals of Civil Aviation and Airports Authorities.

The liberalisation of the market in the region, which has been in the plans since 2006, is expected to lower the cost of air fares, stimulate demand for air traffic, connectivity, increase operation efficiency, reduce the flying time and support the expansion of air transport capacities and the regional economy.

Among other things, the EAC is urging partner states to consider harmonising regulatory fee and charges, and to designate the regional air transport market as domestic for registered air operators in the region.

Only Rwanda and Burundi have submitted their reports on the draft EAC Air Transport Market (Liberalisation) Regulations. The regulations are expected to be submitted to the 19th Meeting of EAC Sectoral Council on Transport, Communication and Meteorology (SC-TCM) for adoption.

Once adopted, and then ratified by Partner States, the air transport market will be liberalised. States will then negotiate bilateral and multilateral arrangements.

Source: Kenyan Wallstreet.

Ethiopian Airlines unveils exclusive Silver Lounge at Bole Int’I Airport.

Ethiopian Airlines, the leading aviation group in Africa, is pleased to announce the inauguration of the Silver Lounge, an exclusive facility dedicated to ShebaMiles Silver members. Strategically positioned within the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, the Silver Lounge offers a serene and engaging environment where passengers can unwind and enjoy entertainment amenities.

The Silver Lounge, spanning an impressive 810 square meters, is designed to offer a serene oasis for travelers. It features a variety of amenities tailored to meet the needs of diverse clientele, including dining areas with an array of buffets and services, comfortable seating areas for relaxation, a designated smoking room, a delightful kids’ corner for younger guests, ample storage room, and additional facilities to enhance the passenger experience. The lounge’s capacity allows it to accommodate up to 200 guests during peak hours, ensuring a seamless and stress-free travel experience.

“We are pleased to open the doors to this magnificent lounge, which symbolizes our continuous efforts to elevate the standards of hospitality in the skies and on the ground,” said Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group. “The Silver Lounge is more than just a space; it is an embodiment of our vision to further enhance the travel experience of our guests and solidify Addis Ababa as a leading aviation hub in Africa.”

The Silver Lounge is a symbol of the airline’s relentless pursuit of excellence and its unwavering dedication to providing its guests with the highest levels of comfort, convenience, and luxury. The airline’s commitment to providing superior travel experience is further exemplified by the availability of multiple lounges throughout the airport terminals, catering to the diverse needs of its clientele. Passengers holding Cloud Nine, ShebaMiles Platinum, Star Alliance Gold, and Silver memberships have the privilege of accessing these lounges to rejuvenate during their transit through Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Airlines, a seven-time consecutive recipient of the prestigious Skytrax award, remains steadfast in its dedication to elevating the passenger experience. As the most expansive carrier across the African continent, the airline continues to invest in customer service enhancements, ensuring that its esteemed passengers enjoy the highest standards of hospitality and comfort.

Source: Voyages Afriq.  

Bosses cut flying day trips as travel settles into permanent ‘new normal’

Industry body says inflation-adjusted corporate travel spending will not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2027

Executives are flying less and cutting one-day work trips by plane as corporate travel settles into a permanent “new normal”, according to the chief executive of the global industry trade body.

“Inflationary pressures and other things means [travel companies] are making more money on fewer trips . . . but the way companies travel is different,” said Suzanne Neufang, head of the Global Business Travel Association. “So that is a new normal and that is probably here to stay.”

One of the big changes has been the decline of one-day flight trips, as bosses cut journeys because of frustration with disruption, environmental worries and changing attitudes to work since the pandemic.

The one-day flight trip for work “went out the door at the beginning of Covid and hasn’t really come back”, explained Neufang.

Inflation also means that executives are struggling to save money despite making fewer trips.

The GBTA does not expect spending on inflation-adjusted global corporate travel, which includes spending on flights, trains, hotels and other expenses, to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2027.

Without the inflation adjustment, the GBTA said global corporate travel would reach a record $1.48tn by the end of the year, up from $1.34tn in 2023 and surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time.

Delays and cancelled flights are partly responsible for fewer trips since the pandemic, with 50 per cent of respondents to a 2023 GBTA survey saying concerns about disruptions or an unpleasant experience have “somewhat” or “greatly” reduced their willingness to travel for work.

Environmental and sustainable factors have also played a part as corporates try to limit flying, packing more meetings into fewer trips or only taking a plane for long journeys.

Companies including professional service firms PwC, EY and Marsh McLennan have all outlined plans to cut emissions by reducing air travel.

In addition, there was a human element, Neufang added. “Day trips are really hard, no matter what, even on the best days they are hard, very early starts and late returns.”

The chief executive of one of the big international airlines said it was noticeable how day trips had fallen out of favour as bosses cut time in the air. The CEO pinpointed fear of disruption as a likely reason for the drop. 

Neufang thought the industry was in “a little bit of a squishy moment” given the uncertain outlook for the economy, including recent stock market turmoil and signs of cracks in the US economy.

“Whether it is a hard landing or a soft landing, that is certainly something that CFOs [chief financial officers] are watching.”

However, Andrew Crawley, president of American Express Global Business Travel, was upbeat.

“Air fares and hotel rates have gone up very significantly in the past few years . . . customers’ budgets lag those price rises a little bit, but they do catch up with them eventually.”

Global multinationals were telling AmexGBT that they still planned to increase spending on travel, although small- and medium-sized businesses were more likely to suffer from economic uncertainty, Crawley said.

He also disagreed that travel problems would put people off taking trips. “You either have to travel or you don’t.”

 Source: Financial times

FLYING 2 TIMES DAILY, DISCOVER MUMBAI WITH KENYA AIRWAYS

The enchanting Mumbai awaits! Popular for both leisure and business, Mumbai is a rare gem. Business men/women travel for trade, students for school, families for reconnections or medical assistance, and tourists for the many wonders it has to offer. 

From as low as $430 and with 14 weekly flights available between Nairobi and Mumbai, Kenya Airways has made travel easier and convenient. KQ now has two (2) daily flights operating on the Boeing B737-8. This means there is ample capacity for both cargo and passengers.

The best thing is, the flight schedule also allows for seamless onward connections to and from other destinations like Johannesburg (JNB), Lagos (LOS), Monrovia (ROB)  and Freetown (FNA)

Flight Schedule:

MUMBAI TO NAIROBI
 DayFlight NoDepartArrive
BOM-NBODailyKQ20302:4006:35
BOM-NBODailyKQ20506:4510:30
NAIROBI TO MUMBAI
 DayFlight NoDepartArrive
NBO-BOMDailyKQ20216:4501:30+1
NBO-BOMDailyKQ20420:5005:35+1

So next time you want to travel to or from Mumbai, choose comfort, convenience and authentic African hospitality on Kenya Airways.

Eldoret, Mogadishu & Maputo – More Routes, More Connections For Kenya Airways Guests

KQ JFK

Kenya Airways has reopened 3 routes this year in a bid to offer customers destinations options.

KQ resumed operations to Mogadishu in February, Eldoret in March and Maputo in June. The three routes are expected to offer KQ guests direct flights to the three destinations, providing travelers with more options and convenience.

Reopening of these routes furthers KQs commitments to connect Africa to the world and the world to Africa. The schedules are conveniently timed for the business traveler as well as the leisure traveler. This means guests travelling to and from these three routes can also travel to the rest of the KQ network via Nairobi.

Guests traveling on this route can expect:

1. Professional & delightful onboard services- The Kenya Airways friendly crew will be at hand to receive guests and ensure a delightful experience while onboard.

2. Ample baggage allowance- Customers’ first bag is free of charge with a provision of up to 23kgs for economy class and 32kgs for business class, with additional space available in the overhead bins for one carry-on bag.

3. Comfortable travel – Kenya Airways will operate the Embraer E190 on this route providing customers with a spacious and comfortable travel experience.

Please see the schedules for booking customers:

ELDORET: As low as ksh. 6,900 one way

MOGADISHU: as low as USD 250 one way

MAPUTO: as low as USD 873 for a return trip

Offering travel insurance just makes business sense.

Travel Insurance

In recent years, the travel industry has faced unprecedented challenges, exposing vulnerabilities. The pandemic was a wake-up call, underscoring the importance of being prepared for unexpected disruptions.

Last month’s CrowdStrike outage, which led to widespread flight cancellations and delays for several major airlines, reminded us of the unpredictability of events that may impact travel. These disruptions can turn a dream vacation into a stressful ordeal and have led me to conclude that every advisor should be offering travel protection to their clients.

As advisors, it’s our responsibility to use our experience to educate clients. We know firsthand that emergency can completely screw up the most carefully planned trip. Travel protection is designed to help clients during unexpected situations, whether a medical emergency, a natural disaster or something bizarre like the CrowdStrike incident.

Offering travel protection can ease these challenges, making an advisor’s job less stressful and helping manage client expectations more effectively. If, for example, a client’s flight is canceled due to weather or technical issues and they miss the first night of their hotel stay, the hotel may not offer a refund. Several advisors sought advice from colleagues on Facebook over this very issue in the aftermath of the CrowdStrike outage.

Without travel protection, the client was responsible for these costs, often leading to frustration and complaints misdirected at advisors. If travel insurance had not been offered, traveler frustration may not be completely misplaced. Some insurance policies cover these costs, diffusing the situation before it escalates. (Be sure to read the fine print! Not all travel insurance policies are the same.)

When a client has adequate travel protection, the burden to resolve issues shifts from advisors to the insurance provider. Whether it’s rebooking flights, covering additional hotel stays or compensating for lost luggage, travel insurance (depending on policy details) takes care of these problems, resulting in fewer stressful phone calls, less time spent negotiating with service providers and a smoother experience for clients.

Ultimately, offering travel protection is about more than just providing a service; it’s about enhancing your professional reputation and protecting your business. When clients see that you’ve gone the extra mile to ensure their trip is covered, it builds trust and confidence in your expertise. By making travel protection a standard part of your service, you not only safeguard your clients’ travel investments but also protect yourself and your business from unnecessary complications.

Clients can’t be forced to take out coverage, but they should understand the risks of traveling without it. If a client decides not to purchase insurance, I require them to sign a waiver acknowledging that insurance was offered and that they declined. This waiver states that the client accepts full responsibility if their travel plans are altered due to unforeseen circumstances.

Here’s the liability waiver I have my client’s sign:

I decline the offer to purchase travel protection/trip insurance through [name of agency]. I understand that I am solely responsible for any cancellation penalties and out-of-pocket expenses incurred. I will also make my own separate travel, medical and any other provisions in the event of an emergency while I am traveling. I also understand that I am not protected from loss in the event of any travel vendor, travel supplier or any travel-related operator defaults. This waiver confirms that I voluntarily decline travel insurance and travel protection insurance for the trip described above. I understand I am solely liable for all airline fees, supplier fees and agency fees that may apply, and I hereby release [name of agency] and its agents from any and all liability related to the trip described above.

Nine times out of 10, after I present my clients with the waiver, they decide to purchase the travel protection.

Source:   Travel Weekly.   

Uganda, Kenya in bid to promote complementary tourism

In Summary

  • The 9th to 21st November conference shall:
  • Strengthen synergies between key tourism players from Uganda and the Kenya coastal region;
  • address barriers and challenges to the partnership between Uganda and Kenya Coast.
  • Explore investment opportunities in the tourism sector in Uganda.
  • Allow participants to experience the tourism products in each of the two destinations so that they are better equipped to promote them.

The Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference is an annual event organized by the Consulate General of Uganda in conjunction with tourism stakeholders in Uganda and the Kenya Coast.

The conference aims to consolidate networks, synergies, and diversity to maximize the tourism potential between Uganda and Kenya’s coastal regions.

The event includes excursions at the Kenya Coast and a family trip to Uganda, as well as business-to-business sessions to enable participants from both countries to meet and interact.

The expected outcomes of the conference include increased tourist arrivals and investments in the tourism sectors, joint tourism packages, and increased traffic on the Entebbe-Mombasa route operated by Uganda Airlines.

it will also help map/ work out a strategy for joint promotion of trade  between Uganda and Kenya Coast and enhance awareness about the complementarity between the two destinations and the tourism products they offer.

During a media briefing at the Ministry of foregn affairs in kampala,the Commissioner, Human Resource, Ministry of foregn affairs Mr Herbert Kiguuli and the  Consul General of Uganda to Mombasa Ambassador Paul Mukumbya tell the public that the conference shall also  assess the progress made in the cooperation between Uganda and Kenya Coast since the last two conferences.

This will provide a platform for B2B networking, learning and information sharing;and also  equip the key tourism players from Uganda and the Kenya coastal region with firsthand experiences of key tourism attractions so that they are in a better position.

Source: Capital Radio