Top 10 world airports named by Skytrax, not one from Africa or the Middle East amongst them
10 TOP WORLD AIRPORTS NAMED BY SKYTRAX, NOT ONE FROM AFRICA AMONGST THEM Information became available overnight that Skytrax has announced the 10 top airports, based on their extensive and detailed surveys carried out amongst passengers, but as often is the case, not one airport in Africa was named amongst the winners. Leading the pack […]
Air Seychelles / Etihad move to 8 flights a week between Mahe and Abu Dhabi
AIR SEYCHELLES / ETIHAD NOW ON 8 FREQUENCIES The codeshared flights by Air Seychelles and partner airline Etihad, between Mahe and Abu Dhabi, have now gone to eight per week, operated four times by an Etihad A320 and four times by an Air Seychelles A330-200 aircraft, they leased from Etihad as their own B767-300s are […]
Kenya’s passenger departure tax doubles from 20 to 40 US Dollars from July
KENYA AIRPORT AUTHORITY RUNS ROUGHSHOD OVER PASSENGERS AND AIRLINES Flying within but also from Kenya will cost passengers twice as much from July onwards, as KAA once again contemptuously brushed aside objections from airlines to reconsider their proposals, which were yesterday approved by the countrys finance minister. International flight charges will double from US Dollars […]
Seychelles set to launch two new festivals in May and June
SEYCHELLES SET TO HOST ZIKANZIL MUSIC FESTIVAL IN MAY, LAUNCHES MIND, SPIRIT AND BODY FESTIVAL IN JUNE The Seychelles will host their first ever international music festival Zikanzil next week. The festival will bring together regional artists from Seychelles and the Indian Oceans Vanilla Islands, as well as from the Lebanon. The festival organizers are […]
This Leopard does not change its spots – Award winning Leopard Beach Resort and Spa set to add 30 private villas
LEOPARD BEACH RESORT AND SPA BREAKS NEW GROUND Arguably today the finest large resort along Diani Beach, itself one of Kenyas best, the Leopard Beach Resort and Spa is entering a new phase in its long and successful existence. Officially opened in December 1974, the hotel instantly became a travelers favourite, and after changes of […]
Seychelles Regatta 4th edition now scheduled for 2013 to avoid clash with other international sailing events
NEXT SEYCHELLES REGATTA EVENT MOVED TO 2013 The Seychelles Tourism Board has announced that the 2012 edition of the Seychelles Regatta has been rescheduled for 2013 due to other major international sailing competitions taking place this year. These major international races will be held during the same period as the Seychelles Regatta was meant to […]
Marasa Africa acquires Silverback Lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Gorilla National Park
MARASA AFRICA ACQUIRES SILVERBACK LODGE IN BWINDI Information was just confirmed that the Kampala based Marasa Africa hospitality group, part of the Madhvani family industrial and service industry empire, has completed the acquisition of the Silverback Lodge, which was previously managed by Geo Lodges Uganda. The 12 room property, the largest tourist facility at the […]
Rwanda gains UNESCO World Heritage Site status for four genocide memorials across the country
FOUR GENOCIDE MEMORIALS GAIN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE STATUS Rwanda scored big when Paris based UNESCO elevated four genocide memorial sites in Rwanda into the coveted list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in was learned over the weekend. The selected sites, the countrys main memorial venue in Kigali but also sites in Ntarama, Murambi and Bisesero, […]
KAA gets system upgrade to improve handling efficienies
KENYA AIRPORTS AUTHORITY SET TO AUTOMATE TERMINAL INFORMATION It was learned over the weekend that Kenya Airport Authority has contracted Spanish IT solutions provider INDRA to help them modernize terminal operations and integrate the information flow at both Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi as well as at Moi International Airport in Mombasa. The planned […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands – First edition May 2012
AVIATION, TOURISM AND CONSERVATION NEWS from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. A weekly roundup of breaking news, reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome Get daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome, join me on Facebook via www.facebook.com/WolfgangHThome where the articles also cross load or read […]
Sacked energy minister reaffirmed Stiegler’s Gorge power project was to go ahead a day prior to getting the boot
STIEGLERS GORGE HYDRO PROJECT TO GO AHEAD, NGELEJA AFFIRMED ON THE DAY PRIOR TO BEING SACKED (Stieglers Gorge as seen from the air by www.africanbushpilot.blogspot.com / soon gone forever?) The Tanzanian government will remain under the spotlight over their planned assaults on the environment even after the cabinet reshuffle last Friday, which amongst others also […]
KLM wades into ‘The Battle of the Skies’ for passengers out of Entebbe
AIRLINE COMPETITION BENEFITS TRAVELERS AS KLM JOINS THE BATTLE OF THE SKIES The present fare and service offensive by Brussels Airlines and announcements by Gulf Airlines like Qatar Airways and Emirates of bagging new global awards chasing each other have now also brought KLM on to the scene, making their own case to their frequent […]
Kikwete sacks tourism and transport ministers, at last
MAIGE SACKED FROM TOURISM AFTER SERIES OF GAFFES Tanzanias controversial tourism minister Ezekiel Maige has finally bitten the proverbial political dust, after a series of gaffes, misleading international organization like UNESCO over the Serengeti highway plans, denying climate change and the shrinking ice caps on Mt. Kilimanjaro, declaring the planned Uranium mining in the Selous […]
KWS rules out name change for Hell’s Gate National Park
NO NAME CHANGE FOR HELLS GATE NATIONAL PARK Kenya Wildlife Service has ruled out a name change for the Hells Gate National Park on Mt. Longonot at the bottom of the Great African Rift Valley, following the recent tragedy when 7 youngsters were caught in flash floods during a team building exercise and drowned. Kenya […]
GeoLodges hold chef symposium at their Rain Forest Lodge in Mabira
GEO LODGES UGANDA GET CREATIVE TO ENSURE CONTINUED QUALITY (The Geo Lodges chefs on retreat at the Rain Forest Lodge in Mabira) The Rain Forest Lodge in Mabira Forest was the venue of a Geo Lodges Uganda second Chefs Forum recently, when they brought together their kitchen masters from the Nile Safari Lodge and the […]
Lamu travel advisories significantly changed by the Brits
LAMU TRAVEL ADVISORY CHANGED SUBSTANTIALLY It was learned overnight from a Nairobi based senior tourism stakeholder that the British government and High Commission in Kenya has significantly reduced the off limits advice which was in place for visits to the ancient coastal town of Lamu. Previously the area was up to 150 kilometres from the […]
AFRAA set to extend joint fuel purchasing programme till end 2013
AFRAA EXTENDS JOINT FUEL PURCHASING PROJECT TILL END 2013 The AFRAA promoted joint fuel purchasing project, which the African Airline Association launched last year as reported here at the time, will continue with a new deal extending until the end of 2013. Initially underwritten by 9 member airlines which included at the time Kenya Airways, […]
Tanzanian NGO’s change sides to support the Serengeti Highway amidst massive corruption allegations
NGOS TURN INTO ACCOMPLICES FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENT 7 NGOs based in Arusha seem to have had a sudden change of mind, and a change of financial fortunes by the look of it, as they did a U-turn and are now advocating to build a tarmac road across the Serengeti. Brand new, state of […]
Seychelles Public Transport Corporation gets 10 more busses, gifted by China
SEYCHELLES PUBLIC TRANSPORT CORPORATION GETS 10 MORE BUSSES Public transport on the islands of Mahe and Praslin is vested in the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation, which provides up to 60.000 Seychellois [out of a total population of about 87.000] on a busy day with the means to get to school, to work, to do the […]
Uganda’s 50th anniversary of Independence programme to be announced on Sunday
UGANDA TO ANNOUNCE 50TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME ON SUNDAY With only just over 5 months to go until the 09th October, when Uganda will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Independence from former colonial rulers Britain, the long awaited programme announcement will finally be made this coming Sunday by President Museveni. Several leading tourism stakeholders had […]
Turkish Airlines inaugural flight to Kigali confirmed for 16th May
TURKISH AIRLINES SET FOR 16TH OF MAY INAUGURAL FLIGHT TO KIGALI The long awaited arrival by Turkish Airlines in Kigali is now set for the 16th of May, i.e. in less than two weeks from now. Flights will initially connect Istanbul / Turkey with Kigali / Rwanda three times a week and the airline is […]
Qatar Airways delays A380 deliveries, announces plans to fly to 170 destinations worldwide within 3 years
QATAR AIRWAYS OPTS TO DELAY A380 DELIVERIES Information was received that Qatar Airways appears to have opted to delay the delivery of their Airbus A380 orders for the time being. Due to receive the first of these giant aircraft by Q4 in 2013, the airline seems to have decided to wait longer to allow the […]
Bombardier Aerospace commences Africa tour with the Q400 today in Accra
BOMBARDIER ANNOUNCES AFRICA TOUR WITH THE Q400 Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace is embarking on an Africa wide tour today to showcase its successful Q400 turboprop aircraft to potential customers on the continent. The tour will commence in West Africa before moving to Southern and then Eastern Africa for both static display as well as […]
New Libyan government reportedly interested to regain control of Umubano Hotel
NEW LIBYAN GOVERNMENT MAY TRY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF UMUBANO HOTEL As the evaluation of the value of the former Laico property in Kigali by PriceWaterhouseCoopers is nearing completion, indications have emerged that the new Libyan government may wish to regain control of the hotel. The Umubano Hotel was during the sanctions period against the […]
Case against Kenya Airways share rights issue thrown out of court
DISGRUNTLED KQ MINORITY SHAREHOLDER SENT PACKING BY COURT As reported here two weeks ago, one Prakash Gadani, who holds some 200.000 shares in Kenya Airways, had filed a case against the now concluded share rights issue, making a number of claims when seeking to stop the transaction through an injunction. That injunction however was not […]
Yambio crash injures pilot and passengers
YAMBIO CRASH INJURES PASSENGERS AND CREW Several passengers and the pilot sustained injuries when an aircraft contracted by the UNs World Food Programme crashed upon a bodged landing attempt in the Southern Sudanese town of Yambio, while coming from the South Sudanese capital of Juba. According to information received the plane hit a drainage channel […]
Brussels Airlines steps up sales campaign
BRUSSELS AIRLINES STEPS UP SALES EFFORTS FOR EUROPE / NEW YORK The sales team at Brussels Airlines in Kampala has notably stepped up their sales efforts four weeks ahead of the long expected launch of flights from Brussels to New York and ahead of a busy summer season when expatriates working and living in Uganda […]
Emirates announces upcoming launch of Barcelona and Lisbon
EMIRATES ANNOUNCES UPCOMING LAUNCH OF BARCELONA AND LISBON (A view of Lisbon from the Atlantic ocean, courtesy of Emirates via HK Strategies) The country manager of Emirates in Uganda, Khalid Al Zarouni, earlier in the week announced that the daily nonstop flights between Entebbe and Dubai will from 03rd July offer a new European onward […]
Kempinski makes announcement for the opening of two properties in Kenya
KEMPINSKI COMES TO KENYA AT LAST The long awaited announcement has been made today that Kempinski has signed a management agreement with the locally incorporated Simba Corporation for a 200 suites and room hotel in the heart of Nairobi, Kenyas capital in addition to which a luxurious safari camp will be opened on the Olare […]
Rosette Rugamba graduates from Aspen’s Global Leadership Course
ROSETTE RUGAMBA GRADUATES FROM ASPENS GLOBAL LEADERSHIP COURSE (Aspen Leadership Initiative Networks African graduates) Rosette Chantal Rugamba, well remembered for her time at the helm of ORTPN and then as Deputy CEO in charge of Tourism and Conservation at the Rwanda Development Board, has last week graduated as a Fellow of the Aspen Leadership Initiative […]
