Air India and Kenya Airways Expand Global Network, Unlocking Seamless Travel to Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka, Malé, Melbourne, and Singapore: New Updates You Need To Know

Air India, India’s premier global airline, has partnered with Kenya Airways in a newly established codeshare agreement designed to streamline travel between India, Africa, and key global destinations. This enhanced collaboration builds on their existing interline agreement, offering passengers expanded connectivity and seamless booking options.

Through this codeshare arrangement, Air India will place its ‘AI’ code on Kenya Airways’ twice-daily flights between Mumbai and Nairobi. Travelers arriving in Mumbai will gain effortless access to Air India-operated flights to destinations such as Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka, Malé, Melbourne, and Singapore. This expansion significantly improves travel options for passengers flying between East Africa and Asia-Pacific.

“Deepening our partnership with Kenya Airways aligns perfectly with Air India’s strategic vision of expanding our global footprint and strengthening our position in key markets”, said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. “Our codeshare partnership will provide significant benefit to guests of both airlines, and also contribute to the overall growth of air travel between India and Africa.”

Conversely, Kenya Airways will integrate its ‘KQ’ code onto Air India’s flights between Delhi and Nairobi, creating more travel opportunities for African passengers heading to India. Additionally, the interline agreement between the two carriers allows smooth itineraries across an extensive network—linking 28 key African cities, including Accra, Addis Ababa, Dar Es Salaam, Harare, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Seychelles, with 15 major Indian cities such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Jaipur, and Kolkata.

“We are delighted to expand our partnership Air India, that will open up significant opportunity for our passengers. This codeshare agreement allows us to offer seamless connections to a wider range of destinations across both airlines’ networks, making travel easier and more convenient” said Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, Kenya Airways.

By deepening their partnership, Air India and Kenya Airways are reinforcing their commitment to offering travelers a hassle-free experience, bridging two vibrant continents with greater efficiency and connectivity.

Source: Travel and Tour world

Kenya eases travel rules for African visitors, except Somalia and Libya

The Cabinet indicated that the initiative aims to promote regional integration and ease travel across Africa. It emphasised that the changes to the eTA system are part of efforts to enhance efficiency and support tourism growth.

The Cabinet has announced new measures to simplify travel for African nationals, exempting most countries on the continent from the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) requirement.

Under the revised policy, visitors from African countries will be permitted to stay in Kenya for up to two months. East African Community (EAC) nationals, however, will continue to enjoy a six-month stay, in line with the EAC’s free movement protocols.

However, Somalia and Libya have been excluded from the exemptions due to ongoing security concerns.

The reforms were made during the first 2025 Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State Lodge, Kakamega.

The Cabinet indicated that the initiative aims to promote regional integration and ease travel across Africa.

It emphasised that the changes to the eTA system are part of efforts to enhance efficiency and support tourism growth.

“As part of efforts to support open skies policies and tourism growth, a key proposal is to grant eTA exemptions to all African countries except Somalia and Libya—due to security concerns. This initiative aims to promote regional integration and ease travel

across the continent,” reads the Cabinet dispatch.

The eTA system, introduced in January 2024, mandates all travellers, including children, to obtain prior approval before travelling to Kenya. The permit costs $30 (approximately Sh3,880) and is valid for a single entry, allowing a stay of up to 90 days.

The Cabinet also approved the introduction of an expedited eTA processing option, allowing travellers to receive instant approval. The processing time for eTAs will be capped at 72 hours, depending on operational capacity.

Additionally, the implementation of an Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record system is expected to improve pre-screening, bolster security, and streamline passenger processing at entry points.

Further, the government has waived eTA fees for travellers from Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zambia, Comoros, Eritrea, and the Republic of Congo, among others.

The Cabinet has also tasked the Secretaries for National Treasury, Transport, Interior, and Tourism with reviewing and reporting within a week on ways to enhance travellers’ experiences at Kenyan airports.

The move signals Kenya’s return to a more open travel policy, reminiscent of a previous system that allowed citizens from 51 African countries to visit visa-free.

It highlights the government’s commitment to fostering regional integration and facilitating easier travel within the continent.

Source: Eastleigh voice

Is Travel Insurance Necessary? We asked experts

Investing in travel insurance might seem tedious, but it can save you from significant financial loss and stress, allowing you to focus on enjoying your vacation.

Travel insurance protects you from certain financial risks and losses that can occur while you’re out exploring another part of the country or the world. These are typically things you couldn’t have predicted and didn’t see coming, from lost luggage to severe weather issues causing a trip or tour to get cancelled.

Southern Living talked with some experts in the insurance and the travel space for the lowdown on this practical yet essential piece of traveling.

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Travel insurance coverage varies by company and plan. Policies aren’t one-size fits-all, and there are a range of options to suit all different kinds of travelers and their individual needs. 

Lauren Gumport, VP at Faye Travel Insurance, says you’ll often find providers offering a handful of add-ons, if relevant. For example, rental car coverage, vacation rental damage protection, or extreme sports.

“These extras will increase the cost of your policy, while of course also boosting your coverage,” notes Gumport.

A great many people elect to protect their trip with travel medical insurance, since health insurance coverage in the United States doesn’t expand to overseas travel typically. This is why Dana Lewis, Dallas-based owner of DWD Travel & Destination Weddings, says it’s especially important to purchase travel insurance when going out of the country.

“I can’t imagine a scenario where I wouldn’t purchase travel insurance!” she adds.

Who Should Get Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance isn’t just for people who travel often, though frequent travelers may opt for an annual plan instead of buying insurance for an individual trip. It’s really up to what you need, and it’s worth noting that it’s fast and easy to get a free travel insurance quote. You can compare and contrast plans without committing.

Lewis encourages her clients to purchase travel insurance, no matter the travel circumstances. It’s not about a certain type of traveler, she says, since “any age, any person traveling out of their home country, or even in their own country, would benefit if something should happen.”

Gumport agrees that domestic and international travelers should be insured. Basically, “anyone traveling who wants peace of mind in the chance that things go wrong,” should purchase travel insurance.

“Like any insurance, hopefully you never need to utilize it, but should you need it, travel insurance is a lifeline,” says Lewis.

How To Select A Plan

Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA, points to different offerings based on travelers’ needs and budgets. Travelers who take multiple trips a year may save money by purchasing an annual plan while travelers on a budget with few pre-paid expenses may opt for a single trip emergency medical plan to get coverage for medical emergencies and emergency medical transportation, explains Durazo.

It’s important to do your homework, says Gumport, who suggests reading reviews of travel insurance companies. See what fellow travelers are saying before you select a company and policy. Then go about getting a quote based on your total estimated trip cost, destination(s), members of your travel party, and what add-ons are available to supplement your policy with, advises Gumport.

“Many travelers love the ability to Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR). This type of protection lets you nix your trip, just because you feel like it,” adds Gumport.

When To Select A Plan

Durazo suggests purchasing a plan at the same time you book your trip. Many travel insurance plans are offered with a 15-day “free look” review period to ensure the plan you selected is the right fit. If it’s not, you can simply change your policy or request a full refund.

That said, you can wait until the last minute to purchase trip coverage. Buying early or at the time you’ve booked the trip and have the trip’s financials in order offers greater protection, but if you’re headed out of town in a couple of days and suddenly decide you ought to have a travel medical policy, you can still purchase travel insurance.

Bottom line? “Travel insurance is designed to protect you and your vacation from covered, unexpected events, so don’t risk your perfectly-planned trip by leaving without it,” says Durazo.

Source: Southern Living

African airlines mark 4th consecutive year of no fatal accidents

The content has benefited from initiatives such as the Focus Africa initiative, under which the International Air Transport Association (IATA) improved aviation safety.

African airlines have recorded no fatal air travel accidents for the fourth consecutive year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported, noting aviation remains the safest mode of transport.

IATA’s 2023 report Annual Safety Report says African airlines have not suffered a single passenger jet aircraft loss or fatal accident since 2020, and that the majority of the continent’s carriers did not suffer any fatal accidents in 2023, whether jet or turboprop.

More To Read

“Africa’s all-accident rate last year was 6.38 per million sectors flown, a significant improvement over the figure of 10.88 recorded in 2022. The five-year 2019-2023 average figure was 7.11,” the report says.

Africa also marked its fifth instance since 2015 of no fatal accidents involving turboprop aircraft.

Source: Eastleigh Voice

KQ resumes London flights

National carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) is set to resume flights to London on June 26 after a new two months hiatus.

The restart of the direct flights to Heathrow Airport follows the lifting of the suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom by the government of Kenya.

“The resumption of flights to London, United Kingdom is in line with our plans to grow and expand our routes as restrictions lift which will positively impact the flow of trade and tourism across the region by offering our customers convenient travel across the world. This route offers our customers convenient connections to key destinations,” said Julius Thairu, KQ’s Acting Chief Commercial and Customer Officer.

“We remain fully committed to offer our customers an onboard travel experience that has their health and safety in mind.”

Kenya and UK governments have developed new protocols anchoring the return of flights between the pair of countries.

For instance, passengers travelling to the UK must be of British or Irish nationality or have official residency in the UK.

Further, the travelers must have a negative COVID-19 certificate three days before travelling, book a quarantine hotel package within 14-days before arrival in addition to taking two-COVID-19 tests if they have been in a country or region in UK’s red list in the last 10 days.

On the flip-side, passengers travelling to Kenya from the UK are required to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test conducted 96 hours before arrival excluding children below the age of five.

Further, the new arrivals must isolate for seven days upon arrival and take a subsequent PCR test after for days.

At the same time, the passengers will be obligated to submit daily health information including the results of the second PCR test on the Ministry of Health Jitenge platform for 14 consecutive days.

Source: Citizen Digital

How travel brands stay ahead on social media

Travel is all over social media — and it’s continuing to play a big role in travelers’ decisions while planning and booking their trips, according to research from Phocuswright.

But misconceptions around how travel brands should be using social media remain, according to experts.

“Travel brands are seeing social media as a category of the internet still when it’s increasingly becoming the way millennials and Gen Z access the internet altogether,” said Konrad Waliszewski, co-founder and CEO of @Hotel.

“Even Google admits now that most millennials and Gen Z search on Instagram and Tiktok before going to Google search for just about everything … I think it really has become the new search engine. People want to see videos. People want to see social proof,” he said.

David Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of HolidayPirates, discussed why it’s hard for brands to understand the value.

“I think the comparison to traditional search … paid search and the immediate return on investment [ROI], that’s a mistake that many brands do [make] comparing the performance of social media with,” Armstrong said.

ROI in social media marketing is a longer term play, he said. 

Some key performance indicators such as clicks, traffic, engagement and shares can be measured more immediately, but when revenue and conversion take more time.

“It’s not so comparable with traditional ways of performance marketing. It’s actually not really performance marketing that you do on social,” Armstrong said. “You have to have a more hybrid mindset of it.”

And while it’s a lot of work to keep up with ever-changing algorithms and trends, the space has continued to expand and there is more opportunity for brands to benefit.

“The growth, it hasn’t stopped,” Armstrong said. “Essentially, if you really dedicate yourself to the channel and understand how to play it, it keeps growing.”

It’s important to stay agile and to keep an eye on emerging platforms, too. 

“If a new platform comes out, we immediately jump in, and we’re just curious students of what’s happening,” Waliszewski said. “What we’ve found is … a lot of things have come, had a little moment of attention and then phased out. So we don’t over invest until the data shows that it’s working.”

While there’s a lot of room for success on social, it’s not as black and white in terms of how to have marketing success, Armstrong said. Instead, social media marketing involves some trial and error. But that’s not a bad thing, Waliszewski said.

“Let’s be honest, anyone in consumer travel cannot compete with Booking and Expedia on Google ads,” he said.

“What they can compete on is being first to these platforms, experimenting [with] these platforms. A lot of large incumbents won’t realize what’s happening on these new platforms, and then they’ll take so much time to allocate a team to start creating a strategy, and often will miss that wave.”

Organic social is the place to compete for newer companies, Waliszewski said, underscoring the importance of making an effort in that space.

The executives also touched on the most effective platforms, what has come and gone and how to navigate platform changes in an interview with senior reporter Morgan Hines in the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference in November. 

Source: Phocus wire

Tourism sector rides on aviation recovery path to bounce back

The tourism sector recorded an improved performance last year as a result of growth in the aviation sector and hosting of prominent conferences.

Data from the Economic Survey 2024 shows the number of international visitor arrivals grew by 35.4 percent to 2.086 million in 2023, from 1.5 million in 2022.

Further, the surge in the growth of tourist arrivals saw the sector reach a recovery rate of 102.5 percent compared to 2019, surpassing the global pre-pandemic recovery rate of 88 per cent.

The hotel bed-night occupancy rose by 23.2 per cent to 8.63 million in 2023 of which 53.5 percent were occupied by Kenyans. The trend shows a growing domestic tourism.

The improved performance indicates that the sector is likely to achieve the 2.5 million international visitor arrivals and 6.5 million bed nights’ occupancy by Kenyans as contained in the Third Medium Term Plan, 2018-2022.

The Tourism Research Institute, earlier this year released a report that showed that the tourism sector performance had rebounded strongly by Sh56.34 billion, surpassing the pre-pandemic earnings of Sh296.2 billion recorded in 2019.

The immense recovery has been attributed to the weakening of the Kenya shilling against major global currencies and the effects of inflation locally and internationally also the rebound indicates higher per capita spending by arriving tourists.

Following the impressive sector performance, the tourism report projects that the sector performance will grow to Sh430 billion in 2024.

It also projects hitting up to 1.024 trillion by 2028 indicating a possibility of the country achieving the government’s vision of attracting five million tourists by 2028.

On visitor arrivals, the tourism sector projects receiving 2.4 million tourists in 2024, and up to 5.7 billion visitors by 2028.

Visitor arrivals by point of entry increased by 36.4 per cent through JKIA and Moi International Airport when compared to the rise of 31.9 percent recorded through other border points in 2023.

The economic survey shows that most visitors came for holiday. 934,400 visitors came for holiday, 493,800 came for business, and 101,700 were on transit.

In the same period, the number of departing visitors increased by 36,4 per cent to 1,952,400 in 2023 to 1,431,800 in 2022. The hotel bed nights’ occupancy by residents of Europe more than doubled to 1,970,000 in 2023. This was attributed to notable growth in bed-night occupancy by residents of Germany, Italy and UK in 2023.

Kenyan residents accounted for more than half of total bed-night occupancy in 2023, highlighting the significance of domestic tourism.

Further, the hotel bed-night capacity grew by 8.4 percent in 2023, partly attributed to new hotels and the expansion of some of the existing ones.

Source: Standard Media

Seychelles leads African nations in 2025 global passport rankings

The Henley Passport Index, a global authority on passport rankings, has revealed its 2025 list of the most powerful passports worldwide.

  • Drawing on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and extensive research, the index ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
  • While African nations like Seychelles and Mauritius perform exceptionally well, a stark contrast remains between the continent’s most and least powerful passports.
  • For example, war-torn nations such as Somalia and Sudan rank near the bottom, highlighting the impact of geopolitical instability on mobility.

Here’s a look at the top-performing African passports on the Index this year:

In this article

1. Seychelles – Rank 25 (156 Visa-Free Destinations)

Seychelles retains its crown as Africa’s most powerful passport with access to 156 visa-free destinations.

2. Mauritius – Rank 29 (151 Visa-Free Destinations)

Mauritius secures second place among African countries with its 151 visa-free destinations making it a standout performer.

3. South Africa – Rank 48 (106 Visa-Free Destinations)

South Africa is ranked 48th globally. Its passport holders can access 106 destinations without a visa.

4. Botswana – Rank 57 (88 Visa-Free Destinations)

Botswana’s passport grants its holders access to 88 destinations.

5. Namibia – Rank 62 (81 Visa-Free Destinations)

Namibia ranks among the top five African countries, offering access to 81 destinations.

Other Notable Mentions:

  • Kenya – Rank 68 (74 Visa-Free Destinations): East Africa’s leading passport.
  • Ghana – Rank 74 (68 Visa-Free Destinations): Ghana maintains its reputation as a gateway to West Africa with improved access.
  • Nigeria – Rank 94 (46 Visa-Free Destinations): Despite challenges, Nigeria’s passport holds significance due to its strategic importance in the region.
African RankCountryGlobal RankingVisa-Free Destinations
1Seychelles25156
2Mauritius29151
3South Africa48106
4Botswana5788
5Namibia6281
6Lesotho6479
7Malawi6775
8Kenya6874
9Morocco6973
10Tanzania6973
11The Gambia7171
12 (tie)Uganda7270
12 (tie)Zambia7270
14Tunisia7369
15Ghana7468
16 (tie)Rwanda7666
16 (tie)Sierra Leone7666
18 (tie)Mozambique7765
18 (tie)Zimbabwe7765
20Madagascar8260
21Côte d’Ivoire8359
22Senegal8458
23Algeria8656
24 (tie)Nigeria9446
24 (tie)Ethiopia9446
26Angola9151
27Burundi9250
28Congo (Dem. Rep.)9446

Source:Kenyan wallstreet

Exciting Career Opportunity: Membership and Partnerships Manager at KATA

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) is seeking a dynamic and results-driven professional to join our team as the Membership and Partnerships Manager. This critical role will support KATA’s mission by leading efforts in membership engagement, strategic partnerships, communication strategies, and event management to drive industry growth and value for our members.

Key Responsibilities:

Membership Management:

  • Develop and implement strategies to attract, retain, and engage members.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for member inquiries, providing timely support.
  • Enhance the value proposition for KATA members through innovative initiatives.

Strategic Partnerships:

  • Identify and build partnerships with airlines, hotels, tourism boards, and industry stakeholders.
  • Negotiate agreements that align with KATA’s strategic goals.
  • Represent KATA at industry forums and events to promote collaboration.

Communication and Branding:

  • Implement a comprehensive communication strategy to increase visibility and engagement.
  • Oversee the creation of content for newsletters, press releases, social media, and the KATA website.
  • Ensure consistent and professional branding across all channels.

Event Management:

  • Plan and execute impactful events, including industry meetings, conferences, workshops, and awards.
  • Manage all aspects of event logistics and coordinate with partners and sponsors.
  • Analyze feedback to improve future event outcomes.

Administrative and Strategic Support:

  • Work closely with the CEO on strategic initiatives.
  • Prepare reports for the Board and stakeholders on membership and partnership activities.

Qualifications and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in membership management or partnership development.
  • Strong understanding of the travel industry and its key stakeholders.
  • Proven track record in event planning and execution.
  • Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
  • Proficiency in CRM tools, social media platforms, and MS Office Suite.

Key Competencies:

  • Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
  • Strong organizational and project management skills.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
  • High level of professionalism and attention to detail.

How to Apply: Interested candidates are invited to submit their application, including:

  1. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and suitability for the role.
  2. An updated CV.
  3. Your current and expected salary.

Send your application to info@katakenya.org with the subject line: Application for Membership and Partnerships Manager or apply here ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oCpu3v7gXUjMRxcdSRwsD-bla8_LDGnMRezBAMmqAs0/viewform?edit_requested=true )

We’ve Done Revenge Travel and Normalization. Here’s What to Expect in 2025

New year, new travel plans. If 2023 was the year of revenge travel, and 2024 was one of normalization, what will 2025 bring for the travel industry? Likely a slow and steady baseline of growth. But there will also be plenty of challenges and changes.


Skift Research’s new Global Travel Outlook 2025 takes a closer look at what the coming year has in store for the business of travel. New to the outlook is a five-country survey: We asked travelers in the U.S., UK, Germany, India, and China how they’re thinking about travel and what their budgets look like. Results from these ~1,600 global travelers bode well for the industry. On average these respondents intend to spend 9% more on travel this year. Travelers in India are particularly ready to hit the road – they expect to spend 14% more, the biggest increase in our survey.

These consumer-led survey results are consistent with our sector-by-sector revenue estimates for online travel, hotels, airlines, cruise, and short-term rentals. Both methods point to high single-digit revenue growth for the travel industry in 2025. That is below the revenge travel era, but in a world where the IMF expects global GDP to increase by 3.2%, it still makes travel a “GDP-plus” growth industry.


That’s not to say that everything will be smooth sailing. In the U.S., there is a massive change in power underway with Donald Trump set to head back to White House. It’s unclear how it will play out, though travel leaders are mostly optimistic. In Europe, slow growth remains the order of the day. China, too, is facing economic challenges while the Middle East continues its tourism investment full steam ahead. These disparate trends mean that region-specific expertise will likely be rewarded over a one-size-fits-all approach.


Overtourism and sustainable travel were put on the back burner by the pandemic. No longer in 2025. Regulators are on the move with junk fee rules, Airbnb bans, and emission mandates all being enacted. These old standbys will be joined by new challenges in 2025. Brands will have to fight to stay relevant in the face of new entrants and an increasingly jaded audience of travelers. Artificial Intelligence and other new tools will require investment in data and technology platforms. Inflation and labor costs remain top of mind.
But don’t mistake these many challenges for defeatism. Skift Research is still optimistic. That brings us back to our north star – the traveler.


And on this front our survey work makes clear that the shift to spending on experiences over things remains strong. Travel is the discretionary purchase that people are most excited to splurge on. It outranks dining, electronics, jewelry, and more.

In the new year, the consumer intends to travel more often and spend more on travel. They want to explore new destinations, and, where possible, indulge in luxury rooms and experiences. Travelers are crafting a 2025 full of travel that balances exploration, responsibility, and indulgence. I’ll drink a new year’s toast to that!

Source: Skift.