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Why Discounting Isn’t Always the Answer to Low Demand

  (Posted 22nd September 2026)   Courtesy of Mr. John Kangethe / LinkedIn   When demand slows, the instinct in travel is simple. Lower the price. But discounting carries a hidden cost, especially when lodges and safari suppliers start offering cheaper rates directly to consumers than the rates given to the agents and DMCs who […]

Michelin Guide recognizes Hemingways Nairobi and Hemingways Ol Seki

  (Posted 22nd September 2026)   A particularly special recognition came for the  Hemingways Collection this week. For the second year running, both Hemingways Nairobi and Hemingways Ol Seki Mara have been recognised in the MICHELIN Guide Key Awards with Nairobi retaining One MICHELIN Key and Ol Seki Two MICHELIN Keys. With only seven properties […]

Uganda expects to ship oil through the new pipeline by early 2027

  (Posted 22nd September 2026)   The 1,443-kilometre heated pipeline, stretching from Uganda’s oil fields in the Lake Albert basin to the Tanzanian port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean, is expected to be completed soon with oil exports anticipated to begin in early 2027. The pipeline will transport crude oil from the Tilenga and […]

TravelComments.com – Survey: FlySafair named best low-cost airline in Africa 2026!

  (Posted 22nd September 2026)     South African regional carrier FlySafair has been awarded Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards for the second year running, successfully defending the title it first won in 2025. Zimbabwe-based Fastjet took second place this year, swapping positions with South African domestic carrier […]

President of the ICAO Council to Address IATA Wings of Change Europe Event

  (Posted 22nd September 2026)   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Toshiyuki Onuma, President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), will open the Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) on 15 October in Brussels, Belgium, the heart of European policymaking. Onuma headlines a strong list of confirmed speakers for […]

Register Now: WTM Africa 2027 Buyer Applications Are Open

  (Posted 22nd September 2026)   Buyer registration for WTM Africa 2027 is officially open. Taking place from 7–9 April 2027 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Africa’s premier B2B travel and tourism exhibition is calling on outbound travel buyers, travel technology professionals and decision-makers to claim their spot. The 2027 edition is […]

AFRICA’S TOURISM & HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED.

  (Posted 21st September 2026)     Across Africa, destinations are redefining visitor experiences. Hospitality brands are raising standards. Tourism professionals are opening new markets. Innovators, investors, conservation leaders and storytellers are shaping how Africa welcomes the world — and how Africa experiences itself. It is time to recognize the people, places and businesses behind […]

The tourism landscape in Uganda is shifting

  (Posted 21st September 2026)   Courtesy of Arthur Mugisha / LinkedIn   The days when our industry relied solely on volume and standard wildlife safaris are quickly evolving. Today, the “Explore Uganda” mandate is ushering in a new era of high-value, sustainable, and experiential travel. If you are an investor, tour operator, or hospitality […]

Hunger looms in Kiryandongo as elephants ravage food gardens

  (Posted 21st September 2026)   Courtesy of African Elephant News Yosam Gucwaki, New Vision (Uganda) September 20, 2026 Residents from several villages in Kicwabugingo, Kyankende, and Kigumba sub-counties in Kiryandongo district have appealed to the government to compel the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to construct an electric fence. They say the fence would deter […]

KWS rescues elephant stuck in muddy dam at Mount Kenya National Park

  (Posted 21st September 2026)   Courtesy of African Elephant News Nivah Kirimi, Radio 47 (Kenya) September 18, 2026 A female elephant has been rescued after getting stuck in a muddy dam at Mount Kenya National Park. The rescue was carried out by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) veterinary […]

Five new CITES MIKE sites established for monitoring elephants in Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria

  (Posted 21st September 2026)   Courtesy of African Elephant News Enviro News Nigeria (Nigeria), September 20, 2026 The Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) recently added five new sites to its network. The MIKE site designated network […]

Africa’s leading airlines – as per the latest Skytrax rankings

  (Posted 21sth September 2026)   Africa’s aviation sector continues to expand its global footprint, driven by fleet modernizations, strategic route expansions, and enhanced passenger services across key regional hubs. According to the latest 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, these ten carriers lead the continent in passenger satisfaction and network connectivity: Ethiopian Airlines (#1), EgyptAir […]

Heritage Express Showcases Dubai’s Living Heritage at Arabian Travel Market 2026

  (Posted  20th September 2026)     Heritage Express concluded a prominent presence at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, held from 14 to 17 September at Dubai World Trade Centre, presenting its Emirati-led cultural experiences to the international travel trade from Stand ME 1150, Booth 98. A distinctive feature of the participation was the display […]

CORSIA EEU Supply is Growing but not Fast Enough

  (Posted 21st September 2026)   The supply of eligible emissions units (EEUs) under the ICAO Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) continues to grow, but it falls well short of the 200-250 million emission units that will be needed by January 2028. Based on IATA’s air traffic forecasts, airlines are expected […]

The Africa Tourism Awards 2026 Edition – this year honouring two lifetime achievers

  (Posted 321st September 2026)     What Ambassador Dr. Alain St.Ange said about Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H Thome receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at Africa Tourism Awards 2025. There will be two Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2026. Who deserves to be honoured for their contributions to African tourism? Let us know in the comment […]

KLM brings their new A350 to East Africa but not to Entebbe, yet

  (Posted 20th September 2026)     It was learned that KLM’s first Airbus A350 will operate flights to Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Nairobi. The aircraft completed two pre delivery test flights last week, bringing it another step closer to its expected delivery later this month. The A350 will feature a three class […]

African airlines join hands to get better deals on fuel

  (Posted 20th September 2026)   For years, African airlines have faced a frustrating reality: They need fuel to fly, but they often have limited power over what they pay for it. Fuel can represent more than 40% of operating costs in some African markets, putting enormous pressure on already-thin airline margins. Now, 15 African […]

RwandAir continues fleet expansion with more A330’s

  (Posted 20th September 2026)   The first additional A330-200 entered service in last month, supporting additional frequencies to Paris and Brussels. Four more such aircraft should arrive by year-end. Frankfurt, Mumbai and Guangzhou are under evaluation for a route expansion and snnual passenger traffic is targeted to more than double from just over one […]

Proflight Zambia receives third additional Jetstream 41

  (Posted 20th September 2026)     Proflight Zambia has now taken delivery of a third Jetstream 41 aircraft, boosting its  fleet to now 13 aircraft. The planes were reportedly acquired from bankrupt UK airline Eastern Airways and flown to Lusaka to be put into service. The fleet expansion is aimed to increase frequencies and […]

Banyan Group acquires Newmark Hotels

  (Posted 20th September 2026)   The acquisition is adding to the Banyan portfolio 26 hotels, lodges and reserves across seven African countries, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The majority stake will lead to full ownership over time. Newmark joins Banyan Group as a collection brand.     Banyan Group, an […]

Skytrax names Ethiopian Airlines as Africa’s best for 2026

  (Posted 20th September 2026)     Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading airline, has been named ‘Best Airline in Africa’ at the 2026 SKYTRAX World Airline Awards for the ninth consecutive year, reaffirming its position as the continent’s premier carrier. In addition to this prestigious recognition, the airline also secured multiple accolades across various service categories. […]

The Africa Travel & Tourism Events Calendar 2026

  (Posted 19th September 2026)       Africa’s travel and tourism calendar for 2026 is packed with opportunities to connect, learn, collaborate, and grow. From Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban to Kampala, Arusha to Lagos, Nairobi to London, these events bring together tourism boards, hotels, airlines, tour operators, travel agencies, investors, media, and industry […]

AeroTrail Africa | Africa’s Leading Airports by Airline Seat Capacity — August 2026

  (Posted 19th September 2027)   Courtesy of Mr. Alex Koech and AeroTrail Limited     Africa’s aviation market recorded strong capacity levels in August 2026, with several major airports registering their highest monthly airline seat capacity of the year according to AeroTrail tracking. Cairo International Airport led the continent with a staggering 3.78 million […]

International air travel is about to get way better for everyone

  (Posted 19th September 2026)   Global leaders are coming together to make flying smoother and fairer for passengers The managers of the world’s skies must make the most of a rare upcoming opportunity to make international air travel more predictable and protective of consumer rights. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is inviting the […]

ATCNews: 

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome is the founder and publisher of ATCNews, Eastern Africa’s leading aviation, tourism and conservation news blog of its kind. Wolfgang has nearly 50 years of experience in the tourism, aviation and conservation fields in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, covering all aspects of safari-, hotel- and air-operations.

The Managing Editor of ATCNews is Mrs. Esther C. Goossens.

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