UNWTO Secretary General visits Seychelles ahead of Landmark Africa Conference
(Posted 02nd July 2026) During a courtesy call at State House this afternoon, President of the Republic Dr Patrick Herminie and UN Tourism Secretary-General, Ms Shaikha Al Nuwais explored strategic partnerships for stronger UN Tourism support in accelerating Seychelles’ recovery and securing a permanent direct flight to Europe. The talks came ahead […]
Ethiopian Airlines launch flights to Lyon / France
(Posted 02nd July 2026) Ethiopian is later today launching flights to Lyon / France three times a week.. The flights will operate in conjunction with Geneva / Switzerland. The new flight will operate as per the below detail. Flight Number Frequency Departure Airport Departure time Arrival Airport Arrival Time Sub […]
Emirates To Strengthen Kenya Air Connectivity
(Posted 02nd July 2026) The third daily service provides more options for travellers with additional departure times that simplify regional onward travel Just after 05:00 am this morning, Emirates’ (www.Emirates.com) long-awaited third daily flight between Dubai and Nairobi arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for the first time. With the launch […]
TravelComments.com – South Africa makes online Traveller Declarations mandatory from 01 July 2026
(Posted 02nd July 2026) If you’re travelling into or out of South Africa from 01 July 2026, there’s an important new requirement you need to factor into your pre-travel planning…. READ MORE
AFRAA SkyConnect Dialogues| How ECOWAS Aviation Tax Abolition Can Transform Regional Connectivity and Spur Growth | 08 July | 2:00pm EAT (11:00am UTC)
(Posted 02nd July 2026) Welcome to the 2026 AFRAA SkyConnect Leadership Dialogues session where industry leaders discuss critical matters and how to forge a way forward with practical and actionable solutions. The July Edition of the AFRAA SkyConnect Leadership Dialogues will host Mr. Esayas W. Hailu, CEO of ASKY Airlines. In this dialogue, […]
The Aviation Africa Summit 2026 is set for Nairobi in September
(Posted 02nd July 2026) The 2026 Aviation AFRICA Summit & Exhibition takes place on 9–10 September at the Sarit Expo Centre, Nairobi, Kenya, with a programme developed through extensive consultation with airline leaders, regulators, OEMs, service providers, supply-chain partners and industry associations. Summit Chairman Alan Peaford, MBE said: “It is an indication […]
Attractions in Hong Kong and the ORAT Summit 2026
(Posted 01st July 2026) The 15th ORAT World Summit this 26th – 29th October 2026 in Hong Kong, don’t miss out on exploring Hong Kong’s attractions, including iconic landmarks and thrilling theme parks, as well as the beautiful skyline along the renowned Victoria Harbour. Some of the highlights when you visit include the Big Buddha, Hong […]
Air Passenger Demand Falls 2.2% in May
(Posted 01st July 2026) ??????The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for May 2026 global passenger demand: Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was down 2.2% compared to May 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 0.7%. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), decreased 2.3% year-on-year. The […]
TravelComments.com – Planning a South Africa trip? Lufthansa Group adds more flights for Summer 2026/27
(Posted 01st July 2026) Travellers planning a South African summer holiday will soon have even more options to reach Cape Town and Johannesburg…. READ MORE
Strategic Communication Masterclass
(Posted 01st July 2026) OVERVIEW Communication today is no longer just about publicity, newsletters, media relations, or social media management. Organizations increasingly require communication leaders who can shape institutional reputations, influence policy, manage crises, mobilize stakeholders, strengthen brands, and drive measurable organizational impact. The ACDC Strategic Communication Masterclass is an intensive four-day […]
SAS orders 18 Airbus A330neo to accelerate growth and fleet modernisation
(Posted 01st July 2026) Scandinavian carrier SAS has placed a firm order with Airbus for 18 A330-900 aircraft as part of its ongoing fleet renewal strategy. The agreement was signed during a ceremony in Copenhagen by Anko van der Werff, SAS CEO and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial […]
TravelComments.com – Planning a Namibia trip? Here’s what the latest tourism figures reveal
(Posted 01st July 2026) If you’re planning a self-drive holiday through Namibia, a safari in Namibia or an epic road trip through southern Africa, the country’s newly released Tourist Arrivals Statistical Report 2025 offers valuable insights into who is visiting, when they travel and how to plan your own adventure…. READ MORE
A Third of Announced SAF Capacity May Never Take Off
(Posted -1st July 2026) Around 200 SAF projects have been announced globally, representing up to 30 Mt of production capacity by 2030. However, only around 60% of this capacity is expected to materialize.Many projects remain at an early stage and risk being delayed or canceled. At present, as little as 35% of announced […]
Last Chance to Register : Digital Travel Credentials in Practice
(Posted 01st July 2026) Register Now Digital Travel Credentials (DTC) are no longer just a concept. They are entering live operations, pilot projects, and real-world border environments. This sponsored webinar explores how DTC, when combined with biometrics, API/PNR data flows, and interoperable orchestration platforms, can move from technical specification to scalable deployment. Using case […]
Tech drove down mishandled bag rates by 23% in 2025, but mishandling still costs the industry $6.3 billion a year
(Posted 30th June 2026) The SITA 2026 Baggage IT Insights report shows mishandling has fallen below pre-pandemic levels for the first time, even as passenger volumes hit record highs. At a glance Passengers up. 5 billion globally in 2025, from 4.8 billion in 2024. Mishandling down. Rate fell 23% to 4.9 per […]
AeroTrail Africa Weekly Aviation Trails | Week 25, 2026
(Posted 30th June 2026) Courtesy of AeroTrail Ltd and Mr. Alex Koech Routes & Connectivity Trails Africa’s connectivity continued to expand in Week 25, with five new international routes launched, according to AeroTrail’s route tracking. The new services comprise: 1 intra-African route 4 intercontinental routes, including: 3 services linking Africa and […]
TravelComments.com – Cape Town named the world’s most beautiful city in 2026 (according to locals)
(Posted 30th June 2026) Cape Town has once again secured a spot on the global travel radar after being featured in Time Out’s “The world’s most beautiful cities in 2026, according to locals” ranking. Based on responses from residents across 150 cities worldwide, the South African city stood out with an impressive 86% of locals […]
Air Cargo Demand up 6.0% in May
(Posted 30th June 2026) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for May 2026 global air cargo markets showing: Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased by 6.0% compared to May 2025 levels (6.5% for international operations). Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 1.9% compared to May 2025 […]
Kitui residents demand urgent government action over elephant and camel invasions
(Posted 30th June 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant News KTN News (Kenya), June 26, 2026 Residents of Kitui East, Mwingi Central and Mwingi North are calling for urgent government intervention following repeated invasions by elephants and camels. Farmers say elephants have destroyed crops for months, causing significant losses and posing a serious threat […]
Ivory Kingpin Re-arrested in South Africa as Questions Mount Over Dropped Lin Yunhua Corruption Case
(Posted 30th June 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant News Nyasa Times (Malawi), June 27, 2026 As public scrutiny intensifies over the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) controversial decision to discontinue a high-profile wildlife-linked corruption case against convicted wildlife trafficker Lin Yunhua, authorities in South Africa have reportedly re-arrested one of Malawi’s most wanted […]
UK–Africa Investment Summit 2026 Registration Confirmation
(Posted 30th June 2026) Friday, September 11th, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM – The Royal Horseguards Hotel & One Whitehall Place, London Thank you for considering registering for the UK–Africa Investment Summit 2026. We are pleased to confirm that your place at UKAIS 2026 has been reserved. The summit takes […]
Taita Taveta farmers proving coexistence with elephants actually pays off
(Posted 30th June 2026) Courtesy of African Elephant News Wambui Mbuthia, Daily Nation (Kenya), June 28, 2026 Rags dot the fence around Henritta Mkamburi’s farm in Kajire village, Sagalla Ward, dancing in the wind. A second fence is lined with metal bells. The 74-year-old walks her farm with quiet satisfaction, glad to have […]
TravelComments.com – Good news for Cape Town’s penguins: Boulders colony records encouraging population increase
(Posted 30th June 2026) Visitors planning a trip to Boulders Penguin Colony near Simon’s Town have another reason to add this iconic Cape Town attraction to their itinerary. South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced encouraging results from the 2026 annual African penguin census, with the colony recording its highest breeding pair count in recent years…. READ MORE
24 hours to go: AI in Airports webinar
(Posted 30th June 2026) The webinar starts tomorrow Join Airport World and Egremont Group for an executive webinar exploring where AI is delivering value today, and what it takes to move from potential to implementation. Webinar Countdown Starts 30 June at 14:00 UTC Register for the Webinar While many airports are exploring AI, […]
Oman’s SalamAir set for Kigali flights
(Posted 29th June 2026) Salam Air has appointed Mitravi as their General Sales Agent (GSA) ahead of the launch of direct flights between Muscat and Kigali on July 21st. Steve Allen, Chief Commercial Officer of SalamAir, said: “We are delighted to partner with Mitravi as our official General Sales Agent in Rwanda. This […]
Ethiopian Airlines adds DHC Twin Otter’s to fleet to connect Addis with remote areas
(Posted 29th June 2026) Ethiopian Airlines has taken delivery of the first of two DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited. This first delivery marks the beginning of Ethiopian Airlines’ Twin Otter Classic 300-G fleet expansion, with a second aircraft scheduled for delivery later in 2026. The […]
Condor set for Windhoek return in 2027
(Posted 29th June 2026) From June 2027, Condor, a major German leisure airline, will operate a non-stop Frankfurt to Windhoek service three times a week, reconnecting Germany with one of Africa’s great safari destinations. For Namibia’s tourism industry, another direct European gateway is welcome news. More choice, more capacity and easier access […]
Aviation is economic infrastructure for Africa
(Posted 29th June 2026) Courtesy of NewsAero via LinkedIn At its recent Focus Africa forum in Addis Ababa, IATA called on African governments to treat aviation not as a luxury — but as a socio-economic engine capable of driving jobs, trade, tourism, and sustainable development across the continent. And the numbers […]
EcoTourism Kenya adds new categories to their annual awards
(Posted 29th June 2026) Guides and photographers play a vital role in shaping how travellers experience and connect with destinations. Through interpretation, storytelling, and visual narratives, they inspire appreciation for nature, culture, and conservation. The 2026 Ecowarrior Awards Individuals Category recognises outstanding professionals who are creatively advancing responsible tourism through their work. […]
WATO participated successfully in West Africa – Caribbean partnership convention
(Posted 29th June 2026) From 22nd to 26th of June 2026, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.(BTMI), through Connect Barbados brought together global tourism leaders, tour operators, travel professionals, and destination partners for one of the Caribbean’s leading B2B tourism marketplaces. WATO is proud to have participated in this important gathering as part […]
