Turkish now eyes Seychelles after announcing Maldives flights
TURKISH CONSIDERING SEYCHELLES IN AFRICAN EXPANSION DRIVE The Seychelles Investment Forum in Turkey, which just concluded last weekend, also saw intense talks with Turkish Airlines being held over the possibility of commencing flights from Istanbul to Mahe. Turkish, a member of global industry leader Star Alliance, has been aggressively rolling out global destinations and is […]
Burundi’s capital Bujumbura set to get a ‘DoubleTree by Hilton’
HILTON BRINGS DOUBLE TREE BRAND TO BURUNDI Information was confirmed over the weekend that following the signing by Serena Hotels with the Burundian government to take over the Hotel Source du Nil, a second major brand will come to the capital Bujumbura. Hilton Hotels have taken on the former Novotel, a 130 suite and room […]
KLM adds 2 more high season flights for Kilimanjaro
KLM ANNOUNCES ADDED FLIGHTS TO KILIMANJARO FROM DECEMBER KLM will add a further two nonstop flights between Amsterdam and Kilimanjaro / Tanzania between December 27th this year to March 10th 2013 as a result of sustained demand for travel to the gateway for the country’s Northern safari circuit. Both flights will according to information received […]
Ethiopian Airlines delays use of B787 on route to Johannesburg till December
B787 TROUBLES PROMPT ETHIOPIAN TO POSTPONE DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTH AFRICA Inspite of having now two B787 ‘Dreamliner’ on their fleet, Ethiopian Airlines has reportedly once again postponed the deployment of the aircraft on the route to Johannesburg. Due to start earlier, then in late October the B787 is now only expected to operate the daily […]
Quo Vadis Uganda Tourism as the country celebrates 50 years of Independence
TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS SEEK ASSURANCES OVER UTB AND TOURISM MINISTRY Recent meetings of leading tourism stakeholders, coming together to discuss the Ministry of Tourism’s sectoral review and strategize over the future of the sector and how to finally send it soaring, have privately and in some cases publicly expressed their concerns if not outright dissent over […]
Rising sea levels a clear and present danger to the Seychelles and other small island countries
RISING SEA LEVELS A THREAT TO SEYCHELLESBEACHES AND SHORE LINES Information has been received from the Seychelles that the government is spending millions of Rupees on the fortification of beaches and shorelines along the most vulnerable stretches of the main island of Mahe, to keep the rising sea levels caused by climate change eat away […]
Planned Likoni Ferry strike likely to disrupt tour itineraries, airport transfers and life in general
LIKONI FERRY USERS BRACE FOR STRIKE Although not formally on strike yet did Sunday’s operations of the Likoni ferry suffer major delays, when at one stage only one of the larger ferries was operated, causing extensive back log and disrupting weekend plans of Mombasa residents wanting to go to the southern mainland or in reverse […]
The Duke of Kent expresses concerns over environmental degradation in Uganda’s Murchison’s park
PRINCE EDWARD DECRIES MURCHISONS DEGRADATION HRH Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, who is representing Her Majesty the Queen and the British Government on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Uganda’s Independence held tomorrow, 09th of October, has returned to Uganda, where 50 years ago he was the one handing over the instruments […]
KALPA advised pilots to resume full duties at Kenya Airways, restores ‘Goodwill’
KENYA AIRWAYS FLIGHTS RETURN TO NORMAL Kenya airways pilots under their union, the Kenya Airlines Pilots Association (KALPA) have reinstated goodwill with immediate effect, with the management of Kenya airways after consultations and agreement on the dispute on interpretation of some operating procedures. Goodwill is when pilots are voluntarily available to work for certain hours […]
Another Antonov crash rocks Sudan aviation circles
ANOTHER ANTONOV CRASH ROCKS SUDAN Information is emerging from Khartoum that the Sudanese Air Force has lost an Antonov aircraft of unknown specific type earlier today. The plane reportedly developed engine trouble about an hour’s drive out of Khartoum at Jebel Aulia, loaded with supplies and about 20 troops destined for deliver at Al Fasher […]
MCTA explains drop in occupancy at coast resorts
A guest feature today from the Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association on the causes of occupancy drops at the Kenya coast, often reported about here and often disputed and challenged – so hear it from the mouth of the horse … Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association
Are Boeing and Qatar Airways reading from the same hymn sheet over B787 deliveries?
BOEING REACTS TO QATAR AIRWAYS CRITICISM BY ANNOUNCING B787 DELIVERY Media reports in recent days about the ‘refusal’ by Qatar Airways to take delivery of the first batch of their ordered 60 – 30 firm orders and 30 options – B787 Dreamliners appear to have rattled Boeing to the point of rushing to the media […]
KALPA’s withdrawal of ‘goodwill’ causes flight delays for Kenya Airways
KENYA AIRWAYS HIT BY FRESH STRIKES (Impression of the ordered B787 Dreamliner) Suspicions of a politically inspired ‘pay back’ are rising as Kenya Airways is experiencing further flight delays, after KALPA, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association, has withdrawn the ‘Goodwill’ consent under which pilots voluntarily agree to be on call when off duty, should they […]
Festival Kreol ‘Ante Portas’
FESTIVAL KREOL JUST THREE WEEKS AWAY The 27th edition of the Seychelles best known cultural feast, the Festival Kreol is now just 3 weeks away before it kicks off on the 26th of October. Other Creole islands like Mauritius, Rodrigues and La Reunion will be joined by newcomer Mexico, for the first time ever represented […]
Kikwete fails to convince Canadian media on Serengeti Highway plans
KIKWETE AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN SERENGETI HIGHWAY PLANS While in Canada for an official state visit did President Kikwete find himself in a tight spot, when challenged by the media over the hugely controversial Serengeti highway plans, his government had floated in 2010. The road would cut the migration route of the wildebeest towards […]
Lupita Island Lodge ownership challenged by Tanzanian government
INVESTORS RATTLED OVER CHALLENGE TO THEIR OWNERSHIP The Tanzanian government has challenged the ownership of the Lupita Island Resort which according to information available on the internet is owned and managed by Tanzania by Firelight, a top of the scale safari and lodge operation founded in 1989 by Tom Lithgow and his wife Belinda. Lupita […]
Boeing delivers second B787 to Ethiopian Airlines
ETHIOPIAN TAKES DELIVERY OF THEIR SECOND B787 DREAMLINER Only days after having to make an unscheduled engine change on the airline’s first B787 Dreamliner, did number two of 10 on order arrive in Addis Ababa yesterday, a regular source close to the airline in Addis Ababa confirmed. Three more B787’s are due to be delivered […]
William Kibet Kiprono appointed as new KWS CEO
NEW KWS CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED IN RECORD TIME News are just breaking from Nairobi that Mr. William Kibet Kiprono has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Kenya Wildlife Service. This follows only two days after the board had appointed Peter Leitoro, Director in charge of Security at KWS, as Acting Executive Director. […]
Likoni Ferry services halted by accident
LIKONI FERRY SERVICES HALTED AFTER ACCIDENT News breaking from Mombasa speak of a heavy truck loaded with oil products having crashed into the ocean at the Likoni ferry crossing about an hour ago, causing the suspension of already fragile operations following the go slow of the staff. The brewing dispute which also spread into the […]
High Court judge in Nairobi summons KCAA and NEMA officials
KCAA AND NEMA EARN HIGH COURT’S WRATH FOR IGNORING SUITS A judge of the High Court in Nairobi yesterday issued summons, a step short of an arrest warrant, against the top managers of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and NEMA, for persistently failing to respond to cases brought against them by residents, who were threatened […]
B787 Dreamliner power plants under scrutiny as Ethiopian already forced to change engine
B787 DREAMLINERS NOW SUBJECT TO SPECULATION OVER ENGINES As if the years of late delivery of the world’s most modern passenger aircraft were not enough, leaving airline expansion and modernization plans around the world in tatters and costing Boeing a fortune in compensation and reputation, it now seems that the durability and reliability of the […]
Kenya Railways likely to ditch RVR on passenger transport when contract ends in June 2013
KENYA RAILWAY SET TO DITCH RVR FOR PASSENGER SERVICES The woes for struggling Rift Valley Railways just seem to grow, now that Kenya Railways appears set to discontinue the passenger concession given to them and due to expire in June 2013. While RVR has a concession from the Kenya and Uganda governments to run their […]
Precision Air holds first AGM after IPO of last year
PRECISION AIR HOLDS FIRST AGM AFTER IPO OF LAST NOVEMBER Tanzania’s premier airline, Precision Air, held their first post IPO Annual General Meeting. The carrier’s management revealed a sharply improved financial performance, aided by stronger demand, the introduction of new domestic and regional routes and their ability to handle their own flights instead of having […]
Emirates adds two more A380, one more B777-300 in new delivery record
EMIRATES ADDS 25TH A380 – CONTINUES EXPANSION DRIVE Dubai’s award winning national airline established a new record of sorts on Wednesday, when not one but two Airbus A380 were delivered in Dubai in addition to yet another B777-300. A regular source at the Kampala office of the airline sounded ‘over the moon’ when phoning in […]
Likoni ferry staff union issues formal strike threat
LIKONI FERRY USERS BRACE FOR STRIKE ACTION As suggested several days ago through a number of tweets, the union representing the workers of the Kenya Ferry Services has indeed now issued a formal strike notice to the management of the company over an ongoing dispute on wages and benefits. Slow go is already expected to […]
Nairobi airport railway plans to connect JKIA to the city reach tender stage
WORKONNAIROBI’S AIRPORT RAIL LINK TO START IN 2013 Perennial traffic jams have turned the once swift journey to and from Nairobi’s international airport into a nightmare, often compelling departing passengers to leave hours before their flights only to be sure to beat the jam and avoid missing their flights, while arriving passengers are stuck in […]
Tour firm seeks exoneration from guilty verdict against former staff
TOUR COMPANY APPEALS TO BE REMOVED FROM GUILTY VERDICT Information from Nairobi indicates that Maniago Safaris has filed an appeal against being named in the guilty verdict, under which three former Kenyan tourism officals were sentenced to several years in jail and given hefty fines on top of the custodial sentence. Former company executive Duncan […]
Bombardier delivers first ‘improved interior’ Q400NextGen to Ethiopian Airlines
BOMBARDIER NOW OFFERS THE Q400 IN DUAL CLASS CONFIGURATION Information received from Canadian based manufacturers Bombardier and a source in Addis Ababa tell a story of change for flying turboprop aircraft and the inflight experience they offer. Very likely as a result of the negative comments received by passengers, who in increasing numbers found themselves […]
Air Tanzania tries again to take to the air – The Never Ending Story
ATCL ANNOUNCES OCTOBER 10 TO RESUME OPERATIONS Aviation observers in Tanzania are watching with keen interest how, or rather if, Air Tanzania will be able to make good of their latest announcement that they intend to resume operations by October 10th. After the usual noise, when introducing an ageing B737-500 leased from a Dubai aviation […]
KWS Board appoints Leitoro as Acting CEO
LEITORO APPOINTED AS ACTING CEO OF KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICES The Board of Trustees of KWS has yesterday announced that Mr. Peter Leitoro, who held the position as Director for Security at KWS for the past 7 years, has been appointed to act as Chief Executive of the organization until a new substantive Executive Director will […]
