Mauritius aviation news – Shanghai nonstop from end March it is
AIR MAURITIUS TO GO NONSTOP TO SHANGHAI It was confirmed overnight from a source in Port Louis / Mauritius that national carrier Air Mauritius, come end March this year, will begin a nonstop service to Shanghai, cutting out the present stopover in Kuala Lumpur. When the news of the inaugural flight were brought here, it […]
Uganda aviation and travel news – Emirates starts flights to Dublin, courting the Irish community
EMIRATES NOW COURTS THE IRISH While St. Patricks Day is a long way off, Emirates marketing team will undoubtedly already scheme how to paint the sky in green ahead of that event, now that the airline has commenced flights to Dublin. The daily A330 service will connect Africa, Eastern Europe, India, Asia and the Pacific […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Second edition January 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 Get daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome or read the daily postings on my blog via: www.wolfganghthome.wordpress.com Many of these articles […]
Rwanda aviation news – Bugesera project advances to tender document stage
11 COMPANIES EXPECTED TO TENDER FOR BUGESERA AIRPORT PROJECT After selecting 11 companies, out of the 33 which had filed their expression of interest documents with the Rwandan authorities last year, those still in the running will be able to enter the next round of the elaborate bidding process later this week, when relevant documents […]
African conservation news – Malaysia nabs half a ton of blood ivory
MALAYSIA CONFISCATES MORE BLOOD IVORY Reports came in overnight that Malaysian customs authorities have yesterday confiscated another half ton of blood ivory during a routine inspection of a cargo container, notably this time destined for Malaysia and not in transit to China as was the case with the previous seizures. Last year was producing record […]
Seychelles tourism news – Long service awards for STB and STA staff
STB AND STA AWARD LONG SERVING STAFF 51 staff of the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Seychelles Tourism Academy were last weekend recognized for their dedicated and committed long service to the industry in various capacities over the years. Having served between 10 years, the threshold for being called up to the podium, and 39 […]
Seychelles news – Windpower contract awarded, work to commence soon
WINDPOWER CONTRACT AWARDED It was learned that last week were firm contracts signed for the construction of initially up to 8 wind turbines on Mahe, which when operational will produce a further 6 MW of power. Under the Seychelles long term plan does the use of renewable energy sources rank high and in conjunction with […]
Tanzania conservation news – TAWIRI needs funding to fulfill presidential directive on anti poaching and conservation
NO CAN DO SAYS TAWIRI President Jakaya Kikwetes directive to TAWIRI, to strengthen anti poaching measures and devise ways and means to protect crucially endangered wildlife, which followed the recent submission of a devastating report on game numbers in the Selous Game Reserve and other parks, may not be quite as swiftly implemented as one […]
Seychelles tourism news – Count down to the ‘Carnaval International de Victoria’ continues
ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE VICTORIA CARNIVAL FESTIVAL Some may see this as a classic misnomer, as of course it is the air lanes which connect the Seychelles with the outside world, but nevertheless, like when in ancient times all roads led to Rome, the attention of the global carnival communities will focus on the […]
Uganda news update – BBC and RFI rebroadcasts taken off air
LOCAL BBC AND RADIO FRANCE RE-BROADCASTS TAKEN OFF AIR It is understood that officers of the Uganda Police over the weekend ordered the immediate disconnection of the BBCs local FM broadcasts, with Radio France International also affected as the CID investigates a series of allegations over corruption at state broadcaster UBC in connections with the […]
Tanzania conservation news – Transport Minister Nundu denies new railway will cross Serengeti
NEW RAILWAY TO AVOID SERENGETI? Stung by the swift onset of international outrage, when plans became known of a possible railway routing across the Serengeti, aimed to connect Musoma at Lake Victoria with a planned new Indian Ocean port at Mwambani, where the Coelacanth marine national park is located, has the Tanzanian government rushed to […]
Uganda aviation news – Emirates now offers Ugandans connections to South America
EMIRATES ADDS BUENOS AIRES AND RIO KICKS OFF DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL WITH FIREWORKS Emirates added Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro to their expanding route network as was mentioned to this correspondent during the week from a regular source at the airlines offices in Kampala. We are now offering connections to the two most important […]
Gulf aviation news – Rivals and Allies, all at once
NO LOVE LOST BETWEEN KEY GULF AVIATION RIVALS When Emirates launched their global sales campaign on Boxing Day travelers from around the world flocked to their travel agents or booked online with up to 25 percent knocked off the cost of a ticket. Not so in Qatar it was just learned where authorities banned Emirates […]
Kenya news update – Global media frenzy hammers Kenya over security fallout on role in Somalia
RENEWED TERROR WARNINGS SHOCK KENYAS TOURISM FRATERNITY Warnings by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK, about the possibility of an imminent terror strike on Kenya, and in particular targeting foreign nationals, especially British, has shocked the Kenyan public and the tourism fraternity and are putting a cloud over the otherwise bright prospect of […]
Rwanda conservation news – Where the government walks the talk
RWANDA, WHERE THEY WALK THE TALK ON FOREST CONSERVATION (NASA Earth Observatory Picture, showing Gishwati Forest and its location in relation to Lake Kivu) When I hear suggestions why dont you just move there from nit picking members of the envy crowd here in Kampala, I know they mean Rwanda, a country which has won […]
Southern Sudan news update – Fledgling tourism sector falls victim to circumstances
ETHNIC VIOLENCE AND WAR THREATS LIKELY TO KILL FLEDGLING TOURISM Tourism once was a beacon of hope for the newly independent Republic of Southern Sudan, but those hopes are being dashed now on multiple fronts and all at once. Inter ethnic violence struck earlier in the week when several thousand armed youths of the Lou […]
African Union formally incorporates Kenyan troops into AMISOM
AFRICAN UNION INTEGRATES KENYAN TROOPS INTO AMISOM MISSION News reached overnight that the African Union has now formally integrated the Kenyan troops inside Somalia into the AU / UN AMISOM mission. Kenya invaded the lawless territory under control by Islamic militants, mainly the Al Shabab group but also other Al Qaida affiliates, after several abductions […]
Ethiopian aviation breaking news – ET to retrofit blended winglets to the B767-300ER fleet
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES TO INSTALL BLENDED WINGLETS FROM NEXT MONTH ON B767-300ERS Information was confirmed from Addis Ababa that Ethiopian Airlines will convert initially three of their current B767-300ER aircraft from early February to a blended winglets format, aimed to reduce operating costs due to substantially lower fuel burn but also lower the airlines carbon footprint. […]
Kenya’s future takes shape as new ‘Leisure City’ near Isiolo gets the green light
KENYA CEMENTS REGIONAL LEADERSHIP BY PUTTING FIRST RESORT CITY INTO MOTION Kenyas ambition to maintain her standing as a regional tourism super power have gained added momentum earlier in the week, when news emerged from Nairobi that the planned Isiolo Resort City was moving further ahead, with the Isiolo County Council now being formally requested […]
Uganda conservation news – Mt. Elgon remains a hotspot for illegal squatters and encroachment
MORE CONTROVERSY OVER MT. ELGON ENCROACHMENT Following an article yesterday over the massive loss of forest cover in Uganda, over past years and more importantly projected to continue in the future, it is worrying to learn that rogue politicians are again inciting people around Mt. Elgon to maintain and increase their encroachment while making demands […]
East African aviation update – A new battlefield for Embraer and Bombardier
BOMBARDIER VERSUS EMBRAER ON BATTLEFIELD EAST AFRICA Aircraft manufacturers, keenly aware of Kenya Airways growth plans for the next 10 years, have turned their focus now on the wider region, where ageing equipment used by a number of airlines needs replacing sooner rather than later, for reasons of sheer economics such as fuel burn and […]
Kenya aviation news update – New Year, New Website for KQ
SASSY NEW WEBSITE FOR KENYA AIRWAYS The Pride of Africa has something more to be proud of, now that their new website is up and running and the few teething problems have been sorted out. Tickets anyone, payment for a trip, check in on line, seat reservations, details on the Flying Blue mileage account, all […]
Uganda aviation news – Air Uganda now flies twice a day to Juba
AIR UGANDA NOW GOES TWICE A DAY TO JUBA A new schedule has taken effect between Entebbe and Juba, as Air Uganda has now commenced twice work daily flights between the two airports, offering a morning and afternoon departure and for the first time making a day trip from Uganda to Southern Sudans capital city […]
Tanzania aviation news – Less air accidents in 2011 is good news
2011 ENDS WITH LESS AIR ACCIDENTS A source close to the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that the recently ended year 2012 saw less civil air accidents in spite of more flying being recorded compared to the year 2010. Last year only 12 air accidents were recorded in Tanzania compared with 13 a year […]
Uganda’s shrinking forests – nearly 90.000 hectares lost in 2011
CONSERVATIONISTS DECRY LOSS OF FOREST HABITAT When figures became available yesterday, that Uganda had once again lost nearly 90.000 hectares of forest cover to converted agricultural land and for producing charcoal, environmentalists were shocked and saddened, some of them clearly too stunned to comment even. In 2010 a similar forest loss figure was released by […]
Mauritius news – 2011 ends with a 4 percent rise in visitor’s numbers
RESORTS AND HOTELS EXPRESS SATISFACTION WITH 2011 By the end of November of last year had 852.347 visitors arrived in Mauritius, confirming that by the end of the year data are not yet available the island will have an anticipated overall arrival summary of around 940.000 visitors for 2011. This will represent an increase of […]
Seychelles aviation and tourism news – Transaero commences fligths between Moscow and Mahe
RUSSIAS TRANSAERO LAUNCHES SEYCHELLES FLIGHTS After receiving all regulatory approvals from Russia and the Seychelles has Transaero finally started their long awaited flights between Moscow and Mahe. The Seychelles private sector last year had made urgent representations to have flights approved, and while presently only running until Easter, Transaero is said to be seeking permission […]
Kenya tourism breaking news – Elsa’s Kopje bags another award
ELSAS KOPJE BAGS MORE HONOURS (Picture courtesy of Cheli & Peacock) Exceptional in a collection of outstanding properties comes to mind when talking about Elsas Kopje in Meru National Park and it is no mistake that this extraordinary property has in the past attracted accolades from travel writers, travel magazines and won prize after prize […]
Kenya aviation breaking news – Aviation sector in flux with new constellations emerging
KENYAS AVIATION SECTOR IN A STATE OF FLUX Nothing ever seems certain in the East African aviation industry, but the simple truth that what goes up eventually has to come down again. Key industry players, those in jet aviation like giant Kenya Airways, private carrier Jetlink owned by aviation veterans Capts. Aluvale and Patel, Fly […]
Tanzania conservation news – TAWIRI report sees President Kikwete get into the frame of anti poaching
PRESIDENT GETS INVOLVED TO SAVE WILDLIFE The Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, in short TAWIRI, has handed over a shocking report to President Kikwete earlier this week, showing a massive decline in elephant populations in the Selous Game Reserve and the Mikumi National Park, with estimates going as high as 30.000 elephant having been wiped out […]
