Photo AirInsight Group

Kenya Airways PLC and Airlink (PTY) Ltd. signed an interline agreement that extends Kenya Airways’ reach in the Southern Africa region. The new agreement offers customers seamless travel to over 40 cities across Africa.

Kenya Airways continues to diversify its services and operations in response to customers’ needs. Under this latest agreement, Kenya Airways customers flying to South Africa can connect with Airlink-operated flights to Windhoek, Durban, Gaborone, Maseru, Pemba, Maputo, Port Elizabeth, among others. It also enables Airlink passengers to book a through ticket to Nairobi and enjoy connections to  Kenya Airways destinations within Africa, including Entebbe, Kigali, Dar es Salaam, Bujumbura, Kinshasa, and more.

The agreement presents new growth opportunities for both airlines. It also strengthens aviation ties between Kenya and South Africa. This partnership plays a significant economic role, improving trade exchange and spurring tourism across the continent. “As global economies continue to reel from the effects of the pandemic, such strategic partnerships are critical. These new routes will positively impact the flow of trade and tourism across the region by offering our customers convenient travel around the continent,” said Julius Thairu, Kenya Airways Acting Chief Commercial Officer.

In 2020 Kenya Airways was named Africa’s Leading Airline by the World Travel Awards. It continues to modernize its fleet with its 32 aircraft being some of the youngest in Africa. This includes its flagship 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Kenya Airways offers cargo services to key locations including London, Amsterdam, Guangzhou, Sharjah, Mumbai, and over 25 intra-Africa routes in addition to its passenger network. Kenya Airways takes pride in being at the forefront of connecting Africa to the World and the World to Africa through its hub at the new ultra-modern Terminal 1A at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

Airlink was established in 1992 and is an independent, privately-owned, and BBBEE airline. It offers travelers a wide choice of flights across its comprehensive network of Southern African destinations, which it serves with a fleet of more than 50 modern jetliners. In 2019 Airlink carried more than two million customers on more than 63,000 flights and its network includes more than 30 destinations in 10 African countries and St. Helena. Airlink was South Africa’s most punctual airline in 2020. In February 2021 97.87% of Airlink flights departed on time. - AirInsight Group

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan is taking serious steps to re-shape tourism through aggressive and competitive marketing strategies with establishment of new tourist products.

1. President sets goal of 5 million visitors within the next 5 years.
2. The Government of Tanzania is attracting hotel and tourism investments with diversification of tourist visiting sites.
3. The country will identify strategic countries to market its tourism through existing diplomatic missions and embassies, with an aggressive marketing of its safari products at a global level.

When addressing the Parliament in Tanzania’s new capital of Dodoma, the Tanzania President said that her government is now attracting more tourists through aggressive marketing strategies at a global level.

The President said her government expects to raise the number of tourists from the current 1.5 million to 5 million visitors the next 5 years.

In the same line, the government expects to raise tourist revenues from the current US$2.6 billion to US$6 billion in the same period, she said.

To achieve its envisaged targets, the government is now attracting hotel and tourism investments with diversification of tourist visiting sites, mostly the historical sites and ocean beaches, among other sites once not fully developed to attract tourists. - Apolinari Tairo, eTN Tanzania

A Kenya Airways 787 retracts its gear after rotation. Photo AirlineGeeks/William Derrickson

Kenya Airways and Congo Airways on Thursday announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding that would strengthen commercial ties between the two airlines, mainly aimed at boosting passenger and cargo businesses between their respective markets and international networks.

“The cooperation between Kenya Airways and Congo Airways will cover technical capacity building, commercial cooperation and human resource training. Part of this will cover cost-effective aircraft maintenance and technical expertise, particularly on the Embraer E-Jet fleet training in engineering, flight deck and crew, route codeshare opportunities and other synergies,” the airlines said in a statement.

Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka said the partnership is aimed at aiding both airlines as they look to recover from the slump in demand in the past year.

“The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated containment measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus disrupted the aviation sector, with most markets operating at reduced capacity and some fully shutting down. As the global economies continue to rebound steadily, this commitment provides an opportunity to leverage on the strengths of the industry players in the future,” Kilavuka said.

Congo Airways CEO Désiré Balazire Bantu echoed that sentiment.

“Congo Airways is very excited about this agreement with Kenya Airways. This partnership will contribute to the promotion and the development of both companies. The air transport sector has been very impacted by the pandemic with Covid-19. Together we will provide better solutions and innovations. In the future our companies will be able to face the single air transport market as decided by the African Union,” Bantu said.

Kilavuka also highlighted the importance of the strategic cooperation between the two national carriers and their role in enhancing trade exchange between the two countries. He also stressed the importance of collaboration on expertise that benefits the aviation sector, especially as the aviation sector recovers from the devastating impact of Covid-19.

Kenya Airways continues to take steps to strengthen its business and respond to the pandemic, with an emphasis on supporting its customers and team members while reducing costs and improving its liquidity position and balance sheet.

The airline tripled its 2019 losses to record an unprecedented loss of 36.57 billion Kenyan shillings in 2020, a staggering $1 million loss per day and the worst results in Kenya’s corporate history.

The Kenyan national airline also carried a dismal 1.8 million passengers in 2020, a decline of 65% from 5.1 million in 2019 and a reflection of a year largely defined by the Covid-19 pandemic. - Victor Shalton, Airline Geeks