Ethiopian Airlines chosen to host ICAO global training session in Addis Ababa

ICAO’S ‘TRAINAIR PLUS‘ SYMPOSIUM COMES TO ADDIS ABABA (Posted 21st February 2017) Ethiopian Airlines confirmed that it will host the ICAO Global Aviation Training and TRAINAIR PLUS Symposium with the theme: ‘Together, Enhancing Training to Build Capacity‘ in Addis Ababa from April 11th through 13th. The CEO of the Ethiopian Airlines Group, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, […]

KAA under the spotlight over allegations of collusion with ‘Yellow Cabs’

UBER DRIVERS GIVEN THE THIRD DEGREE AT JKIA IN NAIROBI AS KAA DENIES HARASSMENT (Posted 20th February 2017) (Forced payment extracted from an UBER driver by the Kenya Airport Authority) The Kenya Airports Authority has come under sustained criticism over allegations that sections of the staff are colluding with Yellow Taxi drivers to keep unwanted […]

Seychelles Carnival combines with Festival Kreol from 2017 onwards

NEW EVENT AGENCY IN THE SEYCHELLES COMBINES TWO KEY FESTIVALS INTO ONE (Posted 20th January 2017) News are now coming out of the Seychelles, confirming what has been an almost open secret, that the annual Carnival International de Victoria will be combined from later this year onwards with the Festival Kreol, both probably to be […]

South Africa – Seychelles links to grow as Durban becomes Air Seychelles’ next destination

SEYCHELLES EYES MORE VISITORS FROM SOUTH AFRICA (Posted 20th February 2017) Marlan Padayachy, the respected Journalist of South Africa writes: The Indian Ocean island of Seychelles has the potential to become a strategic springboard for KwaZulu-Natal, particularly for Durban as a premier east-coast commercial and logistics hub of three million people, when Air Seychelles touches […]

Ugandan authorities seize a ton of transit ivory

THREE SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN KAMPALA AS A TON OF BLOOD IVORY IS SEIZED (Posted 20th February 2017) On Friday night did Ugandan authorities arrest three suspects involved in ivory smuggling as a ton of ivory was confiscated from a residential house in Kampala. The three are of Liberian and Guinea-Bissau nationality and had apparently been […]

Uganda’s Tourism Excellence Awards showcase the best of the best

PEARL OF AFRICA TOURISM EXPO 2017 ENDS ON HIGH NOTE AS AWARD WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED (Posted 19th February 2017) The end of the 2017 edition of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo was marked with a gala dinner at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel to give hosted buyers and international travel media a befitting send off […]

AU lacks quality leaders like Obasanjo and Mbeki to Drive it

More ATQ News Ayade bags Governor of the Year Award on job creation CROSS River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has been named as the 2016 Governor of the Year Award on Job Creation by the Authority newspaper. Speaking on Ayade’s choice during the award presentation ceremony at Shehu Yaradua Centre, Abuja, Managing Director, Authority […]

Tanzania’s ‘Oil Capital’ Mtwara set for airport expansion

MTWARA AIRPORT EXPANSION WORK DUE TO START IN JUNE (Posted 19th February 2017) (Picture courtesy of Wikipedia) The Tanzanian region of Mtwara in the south of the country has gained global prominence over the natural gas finds off shore, said to be amongst the highest proven reserves in the world. Getting to Mtwara though is […]

Kenya Tourism Board impresses #POATE2017 visitors

UGANDA GETS ADDED ATTENTION AS KENYA’S FOURTH LARGEST SOURCE MARKET (Posted 18th February 2017) The Kenya Tourism Board, represented by CEO Dr. Betty Radier and Ms. Fiona Ngesa, this afternoon hosted a full room of participants from the ongoing Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo, who had taken time out and walked the few hundred meters […]

East Africa Tourism Platform’s Carmen Nibigira thanks partners and members

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE (Posted 18th February 2017) (At the launch of the new webportal at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel on the sidelines of POATE2017 from left to right Mr. Steven Asiimwe, CEO Uganda Tourism Board, Dr. Betty Radier, CEO Kenya Tourism Board, H.E. […]

New aviation protectionism a threat to tourism growth

ARGUMENTS TO LIMIT GULF CARRIERS ACCESS TO NAIROBI IN PART BASED ON LIES (Posted 18th February 2017) ‘If Irungu [Irungu Nyakera, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Transport] is allowed to utter such nonsense without challenge, then I no longer know right from wrong. Repeating baseless and unproven allegations that Emirates, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, […]

Chris Diaz announces his upcoming departure from Kenya Airways

KENYA AIRWAYS’S BRANDING CHAMPION LEAVES THE AIRLINE TO TAKE UP A NEW CHALLENGE (Posted 18th February 2017) Chris Diaz, Director of Marketing at Kenya Airways, has overnight confirmed that he will be leaving the airline in a month to take up a new position details of which can be found here when a formal announcement […]

Uganda launches Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo

POATE 2017 NOW UNDERWAY (Posted 18th February 2017) The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo is now underway in Kampala at the Sheraton Hotel gardens. The Uganda Tourism Board together with the Ministry of Tourism and a range of partners, among them the Uganda Wildlife Authority, organized the trade show to allow local tourism businesses meet […]

St. Ange – the man for the UNWTO top job

WHIRLWIND STOP HAS ST. ANGE PRESENT HIS UNWTO VISION TO THE EAST AFRICAN TOURISM TRADE (Posted 18th February 2017)   Alain St. Ange, one of the leading candidates for the position of Secretary General of the UNWTO – elections are held in May to determine the successor for Dr. Taleb Rifai who after two terms […]

East Africa Tourism Platform uses #POATE2017 to launch new web portal

LAUNCH OF JOINT REGIONAL PROMOTIONAL INITIATIVES (Posted 18th February 2017) The East Africa Tourism Platform, the private sector apex body for the five East African Community member states, yesterday launched their much awaited ‘Destination East Africa Portal‘. The new website aims to propagate new easier travel procedures across parts of the region, namely Uganda, Rwanda […]

Communication team set up to update on Laikipia

Some positive development in the Laikipia area of Kenya where the private and public sector now regularly meet to provide up to date information from the ground following a series of farm, ranch and conservancy invasions over the past months which led to the loss of some tourism facilities. Watch this space for added information […]

SAA Travel Trade Fares – South Africa Tourism Conferences

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS OFFERS REBATES FOR TOURISM TRADE SHOW ATTENDEES (Posted 17th February 2017) South African Airways Offers Special Travel Industry Fares for 2017 Tourism Shows in South Africa Conference Delegates Can Benefit From Affordable Fares for Travel to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Destinations throughout Africa South African Airways, the national carrier of South […]

Aviation SafetyFocus magazine February-May 2017 out now!

AviAssist Foundation’s Safety Focus Magazine now out Africa’s aviation safety promotion magazine is now live. Click on the cover above or here to access the magazine at Issuu Once you’ve downloaded the issue, you can read it offline at your leisure. And don’t forget to visit the websites of advertisers as it is their custom […]

Corporate Council on Africa News Update

INFRASTRUCTURE Uganda: Entebbe Airport Automation to Cost Shs34 Billion The Monitor Along with the ongoing expansion, the automation of Entebbe International Airport will cost up to $9.5m (Shs34b), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) managing director Rama Makuza has said… Read more>> World Bank Report: Africa’s Cities – Opening Doors to the WorldWorld Bank Improving conditions for […]

Lillian Gaitho’s weekend thoughts this week focus on kids activities in Nairobi

Six Kid Activities for Nairobi Weekends Long or short, weekends make for a special time to bond with our children, after a weeklong of early mornings and late evenings for both working parents and school going tots. As special as lazing on the couch, catching up over special family-kitchen treats and napping for rest can […]

Balala opens Safarilink lounge for direct boarding access

SAFARILINK ADDS VALUE FOR PASSENGERS WITH NEW DIRECT BOARDING LOUNGE (Posted 17th February 2017) It was Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Najib Balala who earlier today formally commissioned the Safarilink lounge, now granting direct access to the airline’s aircraft for boarding. Previously, come rain or shine, were passengers compelled to use the KAA security gate […]

Rainbow Airlines now eyes Johannesburg route after Victoria Falls

SECOND BOMBARDIER CRJ100 TO JOIN RAINBOW AS AIRLINE IS SET TO LAUNCH JOHANNESBURG FLIGHTS (Posted 17th February 2017) After making its inaugural flight from Harare to Victoria Falls on the 26th of January has Rainbow now given the clearest indication yet that services to Johannesburg will be launched in the space of the next few […]

Once again Miss Rwanda Beauty Pageant comes under attack

More ATQ News from West Africa, courtesy of Ikechi Uko After 70 years in Kenya Rwandans want naturalization Online Affair gone wrong as Doctor is Drugged, Robbed of Car, Laptop and Phone ‘Domestic airlines pay 40% of ticket revenue as tax’ Medview to expand operations in W/Africa KPMG To Undertake Forensic Audit Of Arik Airlines […]

Kenya uses POATE2017 presence to host trade and media session

KENYA COURTS UGANDAN TOURISM TRADE AND MEDIA (Posted 17th February 2017) Kampala’s Imperial Royale Hotel is the venue for a Saturday afternoon session where key staff of the Kenya Tourism Board will meet local media representatives and members of Uganda’s tourism industry. KTB recently announced the 2017 dates for the Magical Kenya Travel Expo in […]

Somalia to close Mogadishu’s airport on presidential inauguration day

ONLY VIP FLIGHTS ALLOWED IN AND OUT OF MOGADISHU NEXT WEDNESDAY (Posted 17th February 2017) The formal swearing in and inauguration of newly elected Somali President Abdullahi Farmajo next Wednesday will see Mogadishu turned into a fortress. Information received suggests that no air traffic other than flights carrying VVIP’s invited from other countries will be […]

Invitation to the Laikipia Tourism Association Meeting

LAIKIPIA TOURISM OPERATORS ACT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (Posted 17th February 2017) #KaribuLaikipia The first meeting of the Laikipia Tourism Association (LTA) membership will be held on March 9th 2017, at 2pm – 4pm, at the Nanyuki Sports Club. All tourism providers are welcome. Agenda Introduction of Participants Introduction of Laikipia Tourism Task Force Review of […]

Conservation Action Trust forces South African government to release poaching stats

Rhino poaching stats coming up, DEA promises following conservationists’ probe Cape Town – In response to concerns raised over the Department of Environmental Affairs’ lack of communication in relation to rhino poaching stats, the DEA has published an official statement saying they will soon “provide progress in the fight against rhino poaching”. In a paper […]

Fastjet halts flights between Victoria Falls and Johannesburg

FASTJET HALTS FLIGHTS BETWEEN VFA AND JNB (Posted 17th February 2017) Fastjet CEO Nico Bezuidenhout earlier in the week confirmed that, for the time being at least, flights between Victoria Falls and Johannesburg would be halted. Presently using an Airbus A319 for routes flown from Harare is the airline keen to replace the larger aircraft […]