Ethiopian’s first B787 Dreamliner delivery now pushed back to August
ETHIOPIANS B787 DREAMLINER DELIVERIES PUSHED BACK YET MORE A regular source with close links to Ethiopian Airlines has overnight confirmed rumours that the airline is now only expecting delivery of their first B787 Dreamliner, ET is Boeings African launch customer, by August this year, pushed back a month from the initially anticipated July delivery. The […]
Arusha Municipal Airport resumes full operations
ARUSHA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS AGAIN Precision Air, Tanzanias leading airline, has resumed scheduled operations to the Arusha Municipal Airport earlier this week, it was confirmed in an overnight communication from the Tanzanias safari capital of Arusha. Precision will for the time being operate 23 flights per week between Dar es Salaam and […]
Kenya Airport Authority re-tenders for additional airport catering services
KAAS SEARCH FOR NEW INVESTOR IN AIRPORT CATERING FAILS, TRIGGERS NEW EFFORT A fresh round of tendering will shortly go underway, seeking interest from investors to establish a second aviation catering business at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and quite likely also at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, after the first round of tenders […]
Marriott Kigali – less than a year to go to opening
MARRIOTT KIGALI INSIDE A YEARS COUNTDOWN NOW As recently reported here, the first batch of 14 trainees from Rwanda has already gone to Dubai for induction at the Marriott Dubai Harbour Hotel & Suites there, before being deployed into various properties along the Gulf states of Kuwait, Doha and Muscat. They will in nine months […]
Qatar Airways launches Perth ahead of Kilimanjaro
QATAR AIRWAYS LAUNCHES PERTH AHEAD OF KILIMANJARO AND MOMBASA INAUGURALS (Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker seen here addressing invited guests on arrival in Perth yesterday) The launch of Perth as Qatar Airways second Australian destination, after Melbourne, will see greatly improved connectivity to and from Australia, linking the Gulf, Europe but most notably Africa […]
Mauritius launches ‘Shopping Extravaganza Fiesta’
MAURITIUS SHOPPING FESTIVAL EXTRAVAGANZA FLAGGED OFF WITH CARNIVAL PARADE Last weekend saw the long awaited launch of what will now become an annual event on Mauritius, a Shopping Fiesta Extravaganza, witnessed by the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture the Hon. Alain St. Ange. His presence also puts an end to the spat caused by […]
Tanzania’s ‘Corridor of Destruction’ set to extend into Uganda too
TANZANIAS CORRIDOR OF DESTRUCTION SET TO EXTEND TO UGANDA TOO The environmental assaults on many fronts in Tanzania, often written about here and described as The Corridor of Destruction in previous feature articles, now seems to come home to roost to Uganda too, according to regular green sources in Kampala. Disquieting reports are emerging from […]
Ethiopian adds Somaliland’s Berbera to its African destinations
ETHIOPIAN RESUMES BERBERA FLIGHTS Following the launch of scheduled flights a few weeks ago by Turkish Airlines to Mogadishu and a visit to Hargeisa by a Turkish trade delegation in May, indicating that Turkish might also want to fly to Somaliland, a breakaway part of Somalia working hard to gain international recognition as a new […]
Responsible Tourism Tanzania takes lead in promoting a greener and cleaner approach
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM TANZANIA PUBLISHES GREEN GUIDELINES Responsible Tourism Tanzania has been described to this correspondent as a new association of like minded individuals and groups who believe in a sustainable approach to tourism in Tanzaniamaking it a pleasure if not outright duty for this correspondent to promote and support this initiative by giving it exposure […]
Routes Africa participation exceeds all expectations
ROUTES AFRICA REGISTRATIONS A SUCCESS BEYOND MEASURE As the clock ticks down towards this Sundays start of the much awaited Routes Africa continental aviation meeting have details been shared from Victoria about the registration of delegates, reeling in a record number of airlines, airports, aviation businesses and even registered journalists all credited to both the […]
RwandAir lands in Mwanza, making it destination 14 for the airline
RWANDAIR CONNECTS KIGALI WITH MWANZA Today saw the long expected launch of direct flights between Tanzanias second largest city of Mwanza, located at the Southern end of Lake Victoria, and Kigali, Rwandas capital city. The airlines Bombardier Dash 8 turboprop will now connect the two cities three times a week to start with, offering up […]
RwandAir appoints Jackie Arkle as Senior Manager Marketing
JACKIE ARKLE JOINS RWANDAIR AS SENIOR MANAGER MARKETING Breaking news from Kigali is that effective today, though signed on a few weeks ago already, has Jackie Arkle joined RwandAir, dubbed Africas fastest growing airline, as Senior Manager Marketing, based in Rwandas capital city. Jackie will at least in part fill the void left by the […]
Tanzania’s Vocational Education Authority launches short guide courses
TANZANIAS VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY LAUNCHES SHORT GUIDE COURSES 35 tour and drive guides participated in a pilot course for guides devised by VETA in Mikumi last week, which is a radical departure from the previous 6 month courses. The half year studies, while comprehensive and sound in their curriculum, are often too long for guides […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, First edition July 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 You can get your daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome, join me on www.facebook.com/WolfgangHThome where the articles also cross load or […]
Qatar Airways to present their B787 Dreamliner to the world at the Farnborough Air Show
QATAR AIRWAYS TO SHOWCASE THEIR FIRST B787 DREAMLINER AT FARNBOROUGH When the Farnborough Air Show, the worlds most important air show for that matter, goes underway in a weeks time, the Qatar Airways first B787 Dreamliner will arguably take centre stage as visitors can see for themselves what extraordinary cabin comfort levels this new bird […]
Al Shabab terrorists strike two Christian churches in Garissa, kill 17 at least and injure scores of others
AL SHABAB TERROR STRIKE KILLS AT LEAST 17 IN CATHOLIC AND AIC CHURCHES The bloodiest strike yet on Kenya was this morning perpetrated in the Northern Kenyan town of Garissa, where almost simultaneously two Christian churches were attacked by what is generally thought to be Islamist terrorists from the Al Shabab group, now fighting for […]
Kenya Airways’ fleet expansion plans attracts fresh interest by global aircraft leasing giants
GLOBAL AIRCRAFT LEASING GIANTS EYE A SHARE OF KQS EXPANSION PLANS The shortfall of over 6 billion Kenya Shillings during the recent share rights issue by The Pride of Africa and its implications for the companys financial structure in the medium term has raised renewed interest in the carrier by global leasing giants, which are […]
Air Seychelles technicians move to Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub
AIR SEYCHELLES TECHNICIANS JOIN ETIHAD Information was confirmed overnight that currently 6, soon to be joined by several more of their colleagues, technicians from the Air Seychelles team are now deployed with Etihad, Abu Dhabis national airline, which earlier this year acquired 40 percent of the shares in the archipelagos national carrier. The re-deployment is […]
Kigali rolling out street signs across the city
KIGALIS NEW STREET SIGNS MAKES LIFE FOR LOCALS AND VISITORS EASIER The recently witnessed start of putting up street signs in Kigali, Rwandas capital city, is expected to make trips across the city easier, not just for visitors but according to locals also for residents of the city. A Google Map exercise started a few […]
RTUC in Kigali now offers degree courses following attaining university status
RWANDAS TOURISM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE NOW ABLE TO OFFER DEGREE COURSES Started in 2006, when the college could only offer vocational training and certificate or diploma courses, the RTUC has now been cleared by the Rwandan educational authorities to commence a full degree programme, starting with a Bachelor Degree course for students now studying hospitality and […]
RwandAir’s inaugural to Mwanza confirmed for Monday, July 02nd
RWANDAIRS MWANZA FLIGHTS COMMENCE ON MONDAY Following a brief delay in the start of flights to Mwanza, Tanzanias second largest city located on the shores of Lake Victoria, the inaugural flight is set to take off on Monday 02nd July, finally connecting the third destination in Tanzania with Kigali / Rwanda. The airline is already […]
East African Wildlife Society gets new Executive Director
EAST AFRICAN WILDLIFE SOCIETY BIDS GOOD BY TO NIGEL HUNTER AS CEO Eastern Africas premier conservation NGO, the East African Wildlife Society, has announced that Nigel Hunter will be leaving the EAWLS by the end of the month though will continue to assist the society in fund raising in the future. It was learned today […]
KWS scoops Public Service Day top honours
KWS GETS TOP HONOURS AT KENYAS PUBLIC SERVICE DAY Kenyas public sector day saw top honours go to KWS this year for their Animal Adoption Programme, which received the coveted prize in the category of Development of Policy, Strategy and Leadership. The Animal Adoption Programme is one of the activities KWS is rolling out at […]
By plane to Brussels and by bullet train to Paris – news from Brussels Airlines
BY PLANE TO BRUSSELS AND BY BULLET TRAIN TO PARIS Brussels Airlines has introduced an almost irresistible offer on the Ugandan market, permitting travelers with final destination Paris to enjoy the scenic landscapes between Brussels and the French capital by using one of the European bullet trains, the Thalys, boarding the train directly at Brussels […]
Union statement on relations with ATCL thought to be too little too late
TOO LATE AND TOO LITTLE AS UNION RUSHES TO REPAIR DAMAGE The message to those part of Air Tanzanias workers union was stark and without sugar coating, when the Minister for Transport, in the face of grumblings and heckling at the announcement of management changes he recently announced, told the gathering that anyone who did […]
Changes at the helm of RDB see Clare Akamanzi step up as Acting CEO
AKAMANZI STEPS UP AS GARA TRANSFERS FROM RDB TO LEGAL REFORM COMMISSION Clare Akamanzi, hitherto Chief Operating Officer at the Rwanda Development Board, here often in the news for the work of the Tourism and Conservation Department, was appointed by cabinet as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the RDB with immediate effect. She will be […]
Last Air Seychelles crew graduate from type conversion course at the Etihad Aviation Academy in Abu Dhabi
AIR SEYCHELLES CREW RE-TRAINING ON AIRBUS AIRCRAFT COMPLETED The final batch of overall 66 Air Seychelles cabin crew have now completed the type conversion training to Airbus aircraft, after previously holding type certification for the B767-300. Air Seychelles, now a partner of Abu Dhabis national airline Etihad, however has since the 40 percent share acquisition […]
Precision Air’s inaugural to Lubumbashi ‘bounces’ as landing clearances withheld, while Lusaka celebrates new air link
PRECISION AIRS INAUGURAL FLIGHT TO LUBUMBASHI BOUNCES Ineptitude and incompetence, if not outright attempts of suspected blackmail have been cited by aviation observers in the region, when it became known that Precision Airs flight last weekend to Lusaka and Lubumbashi bounced when attempting to land in this important mining city of the Congo, as apparently […]
Rwanda set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Independence from Belgium
50 AND COUNTING RWANDA REACHES HALF CENTURY OF INDEPENDENCE This Sunday will see the land of a thousand hills celebrate its Golden Jubilee of Independence from former colonial power Belgium, but it has been a period, except for the past 18 years since the RPF liberated the country from a murderous regime, of much instigated […]
Torrential rains flood Kampala and cause more deadly landslides on Mt. Elgon
KAMPALA FLOODS AGAIN AMID REPORTS OF MORE DEADLY LANDSLIDES This years rainy season, as heavy as it comes, has regularly seen key intersections and roundabouts flooded but yesterday afternoons biblical torrent unleashed over the city was the worst yet. Reports came in that even hotel roofs started to leak, from amongst others the Hotel Africanas […]
