Aviation news update – Second B787 assembly line now subject to federal complaint process
MORE TROUBLE BREWING FOR BOEING’S DREAMLINER? Information was received overnight that a complaint by the relevant trade union over Boeing’s second B787 assembly line in South Carolina has now brought the National Labour Relations Board on the scene. The company was served with a notice by the NLRB over allegedly victimizing union members, who had in […]
Kenya aviation breaking news – Kenya Airways signs new union agreement
KENYA AIRWAYS SIGNS ADDITIONAL UNION AGREEMENT News that Kenya Airways and the Aviation and Allied Workers Union had signed a breakthrough agreement this morning in Nairobi, covering aspects of job evaluation and related matters following an earlier ‘return to work’ agreement with AAWU appears to have taken the wind out of the sails of union […]
Rwanda news update – Kigali’s new road network ready ahead of schedule
KIGALI ADDS NEW ROAD NETWORK TO ITS ATTRACTIONS The Rwandan capital city of Kigali, proudly claiming to be the cleanest and most orderly – traffic wise that is – city in East Africa, will soon be able to add more ‘good claims’ to its name, when a new 36 KM road network is being handed […]
Seychelles news update – More pirates captured while freeing seajacked fishermen
SEYCHELLES COAST GUARD RESCUES FISHERMEN Ocean terrorists from Somalia have taken another beating from the Seychelles Coast Guard, when earlier in the week they were overpowered and outgunned by two navy vessels in hot pursuit after an SOS call about being seajacked came in from the fishing boat. Aerial surveillance, using the Indian sponsored Dornier […]
Seychelles aviation news update – Air Seychelles creates IT directorate
AIR SEYCHELLES CREATES NEW DIRECTORATE FOR IT The Seychelles national airline Air Seychelles has just announced the creation of a new position at director’s level, when they appointed long serving IT specialist Chang Lam as new Director IT and Telecommunications. Lam has been with Air Seychelles for over 20 years and was the ‘founder’ of […]
Seychelles news update – Constance Ephelia adds rock climbing wall to attractions
CONSTANCE EPHELIA INTRODUCES SEYCHELLES FIRST CLIMBING WALL The Seychelles’ resorts, host to visitors from around the world, have rarely disappointed guests when it comes to entertainment and activities, in the water, on the water and on land. Yet, ever keen to add more attractions for their faithful clientele, has the Constance Ephelia luxury resort recently opened a full […]
Seychelles news update – Government recommends ‘Mission Lodge’ to UNESCO for recognition
MISSION LODGE SET FOR WORLD HERITAGE STATUS? The Seychelles Department for Culture has recently submitted details of potentially new World Heritage Sites to UNESCO, in a bid to add the coveted status to yet more extraordinary places across the archipelago. Already are the Vallee de Mai on the island of Praslin and the Aldabra Atoll […]
Uganda news update – Bank of Uganda reacts with rate increases
DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR UGANDAN ECONOMY There was more bad news for the Ugandan business community when the Bank of Uganda, ostensibly in a measure to keep inflation under control, raised the ‘interbank lending rate’ by a full percentage point to 10.6 percent yesterday. Leading commercial banks responded by raising their ‘prime lending rate’ by various […]
Aviation breaking news – Air Madagascar B767’s banned from Europe
EU BANS AIR MADAGASCAR B767’S The latest edition of the now both eagerly and anxiously awaited EU Aviation Blacklist has added two long haul aircraft of Air Madagascar to the growing list of aircraft and airlines banned from flying into European airspace. It was learned overnight that two B767-300ER, the apparently only long haul aircraft […]
Conservation breaking news – Chinese officials seize their biggest blood ivory haul ever
RECORD BLOOD IVORY HAUL CONFISCATED IN CHINA One of the biggest shipments of illegal blood ivory from Africa, containing over 700 tusks and some processed ivory were recently captured by Chinese law enforcement officials. It was not immediately clear from which part of Africa the ivory came from but international organizations have put a logistics […]
Aviation news update – Ethiopian selected by Boeing for additional technical cooperation
BOEING EXPANDS TECHNICAL COOPERATION WITH ETHIOPIAN Information was received from Addis Ababa that Ethiopian Airlines, already a major maintenance base and MRO for Boeing aircraft in Africa, was chosen by the American manufacturer to participate in an expanded service programme for B777 aircraft. It is understood that Ethiopian is one of the few global partners of Boeing and […]
Weekly roundup of news from the Eastern African and the Indian Ocean region – Third edition April 2011
TOURISM, AVIATION AND CONSERVATION NEWS from the Eastern African and Indian Ocean region A weekly roundup of reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome Get daily breaking news updates via Twitter @whthome or on my blog: www.wolfganghthome.wordpress.com Third edition April 2011 HAPPY EASTER AND HAPPY PASSOVER TO ALL MY READERS […]
Seychelles conservation news – Tourism stakeholders discuss ‘green certification’
TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS LEARN ABOUT ‘GREEN LABEL’ A meeting held on Monday by the Seychelles Tourist Board in conjunction with the Global Environmental Facility GEF, UNDP and the Government of Seychelles brought senior tourism stakeholders together to discuss, and learn more about the ‘Sustainable Tourism Label’. This first workshop of its kind, held at the Meridien Barbarons Hotel on […]
Aviation news update – Swissport Tanzania’s demand for monopoly brings swift opposition
AVIATION STAKEHOLDERS SAY NO TO SWISSPORT’S DEMAND FOR MONOPOLY Recent public utterances by Swissport representatives about the competition over ground handling contracts met with stiff resistance by other stakeholders. Swissport holds a near monopoly at Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport and was alleged to have maneuvered behind the scenes, using their influence, to prevent Precision […]
Regional news update – EAC Summit to discuss inflation and economic challenges
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY SUMMIT DISCUSSES INFLATION CRISIS The current rise in commodity prices and the cost of fuel made its way on to the agenda of the Head of State Summit of the East African Community, where the presidents will discuss a strategy to combat price rises, and the cost to their national budgets of […]
Aviation news update – Gulf Air plans return to Nairobi
GULF AIR PLANS RETURN TO NAIROBI A regular aviation source in Nairobi has confirmed that Gulf Air is planning to return to Kenya by mid year, apparently with an initial four flight a week. The same source also confirmed that the airline will use an Airbus A320 with a dual configuration of business and economy class. Gulf […]
Kenya aviation news update – Kenya Airways once again takes lead in ‘Plant a Future’
KENYA AIRWAYS PARTICIPATES IN ‘PLANT A FUTURE’ PROJECT LAST WEEKEND Staff and friends of Kenya Airways are involved this weekend in the planting of 250.000 tree seedlings as part of their annual ‘Plant a Future’ tree planting day at the Ngong Hills, outside the capital Nairobi. The Pride of Africa has been participating in this conservation […]
South Sudan news update – Local hotel group opens new property in Bor / Jonglei State
LOCALLY OWNED HOTEL GROUP SPREADS TO JONGLEI STATE Over the weekend the ‘South Sudan Hotel’ was opened in the town of Bor, Jonglei State, adding facilities for visitors to the state and also spreading the wings of this locally owned hotel group. They already own and operate conventionally built hotels, i.e. not tents or prefabricated container […]
Aviation news update – Egypt Air gets new B777-300ER as traffic levels rise again
EGYPT AIR GETTING BACK ON COURSE A regular source at the Egypt Air Kampala office was excited over the weekend, telling news that the airline had just taken delivery of a 6th brand new Boeing B777-300ER, which were ordered four years ago. Instead of deferring delivery of the long range jet the airline took delivery via […]
East African news update – New EAC headquarters on course
EAC HEADQUARTERS ‘ON COURSE’ The construction of the new East African Community headquarters in Arusha, near its present location at the International Conference Centre, is reportedly on course, with staff excited about the prospects of leaving the array of rented accommodation and moving into one purpose built new complex. The building is financed with a […]
Kenya news update – Nairobi selected for new Visa International Africa office
KENYA TO BECOME VISA PROCESSING CENTRE FOR 25 COUNTRIES Nairobi was reportedly selected as the operations base for a widened presence in Africa by Visa International according to media reports from Kenya. The South African office of Visa, which has looked after the company’s interests in sub-Saharan Africa, will in future deal solely with South […]
Kenya conservation news – Reprieve for Lamu’s heritage?
LACK OF WATER IN LAMU MAY PREVENT MEGA PROJECTS The ancient town of Lamu is presently suffering a worsening water crisis, affecting sections of the population but also businesses like restaurants and hotels. Wells which in the past supplied fresh water, have been overexploited due to the rising population numbers and have gone ‘salty’, making […]
Kenya news update – Grand Regency Hotel braces itself for seizure under ‘asset freeze’
KENYA IN FINAL STAGE TO FREEZE GADAFFI’S ASSETS The Grand Regency Hotel in Nairobi, acquired by Gadaffi’s Libya under most controversial circumstances a some time ago, is bracing itself to have the ‘Laico’ in the name taken off, as has happened with hotel investments already in Rwanda and Uganda. Information came to light over the […]
Tanzania conservation news update – WCFT raises funds but speeches also generate controversial reactions
HARSHER PENALTIES IN THE MAKING FOR POACHING The recent Wildlife Conservation Foundation Tanzania annual fundraising dinner in Dar es Salaam brought a number of issues to the forefront in the speeches given by foundation leaders and guests, which have moved the conservation fraternity in East Africa’s largest country for months and years. Responding to the […]
Kenya aviation news update – MAS introduces ‘vintage Dakota’
VINTAGE AIRCRAFT DELIVERED TO MOMBASA AIR SAFARI Capt. Johnny Cleave, CEO and principal owner of Mombasa Air Safari, took delivery earlier in the week of a vintage DC 3 ‘Dakota’ aircraft at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa. The airline bought the plane outright albeit with assistance of a bank loan for the purpose. The […]
Rwanda news update – More nominations for global awards for Rwanda
RWANDA’S ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD EARNS THEM TWO AWARD NOMINATIONS Information was received overnight from Kigali that the country has been nominated for two major global awards in recognition of their environmental policies put in place. The ‘World Future Council’ put Rwanda up for their award to have comprehensively banned the use of plastic bags in the […]
Tanzania news update – 4.8 quake rumbles Arusha and Manyara regions
4.8 QUAKE HITS NORTHERN TANZANIA After a period of relative calm has seismic activity of late increased again in parts of the region, with Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania registering earth tremors in recent weeks. Only yesterday did a 4.8 on the open ended Richter Scale hit the Manyara region, felt too as far as Arusha, where as […]
Uganda and East Africa tourism news update – Easter season ‘fully booked
EASTER SPECIALS NOW HIT THE MARKET IN FORCE With just a week to go to the long Easter weekend are leading hotels and restaurants in Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe and other municipalities advertising their hearts out with special offers chasing special offers, to attract customers towards their buffets, while resorts and safari lodges are reaching the […]
Uganda news update – Country safe, no cause for alarm
UGANDA CALM INSPITE OF ISOLATED INCIDENTS Stage managed and apparently media scripted events in recent days have portrayed Uganda as a country ‘in problems’ but far from it. The ‘walk to work’ scheme by members of the opposition – not all of them it should also be pointed out – shows an intriguing affinity between sections […]
Uganda conservation news update – SoftPowerEducation holds Murchisons exhibition at Uganda Museum
SOFT POWER EDUCATION PRESENTING ‘MURCHISONS’ TREASURES’ The Jinja based Soft Power Education, instrumental in the rehabilitation, expansion and upgrading of local schools through tourist visitors’ contributions and volunteer work, will this Friday evening make a presentation at the Uganda Museum, unveiling ‘historical treasures’ about Murchisons Falls National Park. Starting at 18.00 hrs the opening function is […]
