The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) > Blog
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Press Release – Transforming Aviation: MTU publishes new sustainability report

Munich, May 11, 2023 – MTU Aero Engines is contributing to sustainable aviation for tomorrow and beyond with its innovative concepts, deep commitment and a clear vision: emission-free flying.

“We are investing in the development of new and alternative propulsion technologies to achieve this significant target. Our Clean Air Engine Agenda (Claire) sets a concrete path to zero-emission flying and includes possible solutions and potentials for sustainable engines,” says Lars Wagner, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) of MTU Aero Engines AG. MTU is actively driving change: focusing on the evolutionary development of the gas turbine based on the highly-efficient geared turbofan (GTF), as well as on revolutionary propulsion concepts such as the water-enhanced turbofan (WET) or the flying fuel cell (FFC).

MTU published its Sustainability Report for the financial year 2022 at the company’s Annual General Meeting on May 11. At https://sustainability.mtu.de, MTU provides information on its goals, progress and achievements in the six fields of action covered by its sustainability strategy. In addition to products, production and maintenance, the six categories include corporate governance, employees, procurement and society. Diversity is another focus topic in the report. “Transforming Aviation is more than just a slogan. It is part of our DNA and is derived from MTU’s corporate mission statement,” says CSO Wagner. ‘We are shaping the future of aviation’ is MTU’s overarching vision.

Climate protection is also a key concern for operations at MTU’s facilities. The company’s ecoRoadmap climate protection strategy is designed to make production and maintenance more sustainable in this regard. Since its launch at the Munich site in 2021, MTU has extended the ecoRoadmap to other production sites within the MTU network. In 2022, this initiative was known as ‘MTU Green Europe’ and saw all European production sites actively contributing to the common goal of 60 % lower CO2 emissions by 2030. This year, the new repair facility in Serbia and MTU Maintenance Canada will follow suit as the initiative becomes ‘MTU Green Global’. Sustainable energy-saving measures, the increased use of green energy and the expansion of the company’s own emission-free power generation make up the core of these endeavors. To this end, the company intends to use geothermal energy instead of gas as an energy source at its Munich site and began exploratory drilling on its premises in 2022. The long-term goal is to achieve climate neutrality across all sites (Scope 1 & 2) by 2045.

About MTU Aero Engines

MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany’s leading engine manufacturer. The company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames as well as manufacturing processes and repair techniques. In the commercial OEM business, the company plays a key role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-tech components together with international partners. Some 30 percent of today’s active aircraft in service worldwide have MTU components on board. In the commercial maintenance sector, the company ranks among the top 3 service providers for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany’s industrial lead company for practically all engines operated by the country’s military. MTU operates a network of locations around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2022, the company had a workforce of more than 11,000 employees and posted consolidated sales of 5.3 billion euros.

Your contact:

Markus Wölfle

Director Corporate Communications

Phone: + 49 (0)89 14 89-8302

Mobile: + 49 (0) 151-174 150 84

Email: markus.woelfle@mtu.de

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Press Release – Aviation stakeholders map actions to change the African aviation narrative at the 11th Aviation Stakeholders Convention

Addis Ababa, 07-10 May 2023: While the air transport recovery trajectory continues post-COVID-19 and with the headwinds arising from other geopolitical-related developments, it is critical for the air transport ecosystem stakeholders put their weight behind concerted actions for air transport business to thrive and contribute to the continent’s sustainable rapid development. It is timely to redefine the narrative of Africa’s air transport industry to that of interconnectedness, affordability, profitability, efficiency, and sustainability. This was the impetus of the much-awaited Convention, held under the theme “Changing the African Aviation Narrative”.

The Convention was held at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 07 – 09 May 2023 under the patronage of the Government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and was graced by two Ethiopian Ministers – Her Excellency Nasise Chali, Ethiopia Minister of Tourism and His Excellency Dr. Alemu Sime, Ethiopia Minister of Transport and Logistics- who was the Guest of Honor.

Speaking at the CConvention on the importance to change the future of our industry with transformative ideas and actions, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé emphasized that African Airlines face many challenges that the industry needs to contemplate and find lasting solutions with serious consideration. “Critical among the challenges facing our industry is sustainability. Only 10% of African citizens can afford air transport, meaning there is a huge room for growth. Reducing the cost of operation, cooperation among airlines, partnerships, and consolidation are part of AFRAA’s initiatives and advocacy to make air transport affordable for Africans.” He said.

The main objective of the Convention was to convene stakeholders to dialogue and deliberate on subject matters to pave the way for the air transport industry’s development and change the narrative of African Aviation. This CConvention also aimed at establishing lasting interactions and partnerships among aviation players and airlines in the aviation value chain for win-win relationships that will benefit African aviation.

Event Highlights

A total of 31 African airlines attended the conference, out of which 14 were represented at the CEO level. Overall, the event was attended by 455 participants from 42 countries. Aviation ecosystem stakeholders at the Convention deliberated on the following key subjects that were lined up in the programme:

  • The Pillars for African Aviation Sustainability
  • Roadmap to Fast-Track the Implementation of SAATM
  • Enhancing Cargo Operations, E-Commerce Networks, and Logistics
  • Keeping Track of Abuja Safety Targets for Africa
  • How to Remarket Aviation
  • Training the Next-Gen Aviation professionals for the Sustainability of Africa’s Air Transport Industry
  • Accelerating Intra-Africa Tourism for Sustainable Growth
  • Digitalization: Enhancing the Digital Customer Journey
  1. Masterclasses

There were master classes where cutting-edge ideas, industry best practices, new opportunities, and practical solutions were presented and discussed. The following masterclasses took take place:

  • Class 1: The journey towards more efficient and sustainable flights by: SITA
  • Class 2: The Digital Twin by Star Navigation
  • Class 3: Showcase of AFRAA Data intelligence tool and AviAnalysis solution.

2. Meeting of the Air Transport Sustainability Steering Committee

The Steering Committee of the Laboratory on Air Transport Sustainability in Africa held a meeting at the Convention to take stock of achievements made since 2022 and deliverables for 2023 and beyond. The laboratory brings together air transport, trade, and tourism stakeholders under a roadmap structured into five projects for the sustainability of the industry, namely:

Project 1:          Taxes (Fuel and customs)

Project 2:         High Taxes and Charges

Project 3:         Navigation – Free Routing Airspace (FRA)

Project 4:         Implementation of the Single Air Transport Market (SAATM)

Project 5:         Partnerships – Airlines and Tourism Bodies to improve intra-African Tourism

In the discussions, stakeholders took note of the following achievements made under the roadmap of the laboratory outcomes, among others:

  1. On the development of a new model of sharing critical infrastructure to reduce investment costs, a data gathering process has been launched in the field of technology used by Air Navigation Service providers (ANSPs), procurement, and investment practices. This will be used for comparison and best practices to guide all the ANSPs.
  2. Regarding the FRA progress, two member airlines volunteered participation in a total of 5 city pairs in the FRA trials. FRA implementation on these routes is estimated to avoid burning 3,200 metric tons of fuel, emitting 10,100 metric tons of CO2, and yield savings of US$ 2,784,000 annually. The FRA trials are planned to start in 2023.
  3. On SAATM, a total of 20 States have committed to the Pilot Implementation Programme (PIP) as of April 2023. For each of the States lined up for the PIP roadshows, States are being engaged to sign MoUs to carry out the gap analysis of the BASAs.

3. CSR event for youth development in aviation

After the conclusion of the Convention, AFRAA, in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines and Collins Aerospace, staged a 1-day youth event on 10 May 2023 as part of CSR activities aimed at empowering and motivating the next generation of aviators at the Ethiopian Aviation University. The event was sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines and Collins Aerospace. A total of 130 high school students from 10 schools in Ethiopia benefited from the initiative, which is aimed at supporting youth development in aviation.

4. Exhibition

A total of 21 aviation-related companies showcased their products and solutions through an exhibition at the Convention. The current exhibitors include: ACI Africa, Aeroplay Entertainment Pte Ltd, African Airlines Association, African Civil Aviation Commission, ATNS, Aviators Africa, Boeing, Collins Aerospace, East African Aviation, EgyptAir Holding Company, Embraer, Ethiopia Ministry of Tourism, Ethiopian Airlines Group, Fokker Services Group, Lufthansa Systems, Rolls Royce, Silks of Sheba, SITA, South African Airways Technical, Star Navigation Systems Group, and Turkish Airlines Aviation Academy.

Sponsors: The Stakeholders Convention was proudly sponsored by: Ethiopian Airlines, ASECNA, ATNS, Boeing, Collins Aerospace, Rolls Royce, and South Africa Tourism.

-Ends –

About AFRAA:

The African Airlines Association, also known by its acronym AFRAA, is a trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa where African Airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development.

AFRAA membership of 50 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

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Press Release – AFRAA and AviaPro Consulting sign a Sales Promotion Agreement to promote the use of AviAnalysis, a fully integrated online aviation analysis system

Nairobi, Kenya, and Toronto, Canada – 8 May 2023: The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has signed a Sales Promotion Agreement with AviaPro Consulting. This agreement recognizes AFRAA as AviaPro Consulting’s representative to promote the use of AviAnalysis to its members and other industry stakeholders in Africa.

AviAnalysis is a new online platform designed to meet the increased demand for quick and affordable access to customized aviation analysis that eliminates the need for the traditional time-consuming service agreements and contractual discussions. AviAnalysis provides the following:

  • Aircraft performance analysis
  • Aircraft operating economics analysis
  • Forecast passenger demand analysis

The Sales Promotion Agreement was signed by Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, AFRAA’s Secretary-General and Mr. Kevin Clarke, AviaPro Consulting’s Head of Consulting Services. Under the terms of the agreement, AFRAA will promote the benefits of using AviAnalysis as an online aviation analysis system to African airlines to empower quick and efficient decision making for expansion, aircraft performance assessment and network planning.

Speaking on the sidelines of AFRAA’s 11th Annual Stakeholders’ Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé stated: “With AviAnalysis, our member airlines and stakeholders have access to affordable analysis solutions to increase the efficiency and profitability of their networks, and to facilitate the studies for new fleet and routes planning.”

Mr. Kevin Clarke added: “We are very pleased to build on the MoU we signed with AFRAA last year, and to bring our new AviAnalysis platform and increased access to affordable aviation analysis to AFRAA’s member airlines and stakeholders.”

About AviAnalysis

AviAnalysis is a new online platform to access Aviation Analysis Services. The system addresses the need for quick results with the convenience of 24-7 access without speaking to a consultant to undergo time-consuming agreement discussions. A simple three step client process facilitates the efficient ordering of aviation analysis online; First, the available analytics services are reviewed, and then the order is placed. Finally, a form is completed to enter all the required assumptions online.

About AFRAA

The African Airlines Association, also known by its acronym AFRAA, is a trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected, and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa where African Airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development.

 

AFRAA membership of 48 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

 

About AviaPro Consulting

AviaPro Consulting was founded in 2014 with the vision of becoming a premier hub for aviation consulting services. It provides expert consulting and advisory services for the aviation industry.

AviaPro Consulting works with an extensive network of aviation professionals, and with industry partners that rely on its expertise to enhance their resource capacity and expand their service offering. Our global associates complement our expertise with location-specific know-how.

AviaPro can quickly deploy hands-on expert resources to support our clients in their aviation planning, modelling and operational challenges, regardless of location. From Revenue Management, Flight Operations, Air Service Development, Cargo Operations, to MRO services or IT integration, AviaPro Consulting offers top of the line aviation consultancy with an impressive success record in the industry. Our expertise and knowledge allow us to adapt and operate in full compliance under FAA, EASA, ICAO or IATA operational frameworks.

With the addition of expertise in new services such as airport management, sustainable fuels, airline hybridization, smart airports, and EVTOL integration, AviaPro Consulting is well positioned to offer its clients a complete array of aviation solutions.

 

 

Communiqué de presse

 

AFRAA et AviaPro Consulting signent un accord pour promouvoir l’utilisation d’AviAnalysis, un système d’analyse aéronautique en ligne entièrement intégré.

Nairobi, Kenya, et Toronto, Canada – le 8 mai 2023: L’African Airlines Association (AFRAA) a signé un accord de promotion des ventes avec AviaPro Consulting. Cet accord reconnaît l’AFRAA comme représentant d’AviaPro Consulting pour promouvoir l’utilisation d’AviAnalysis auprès de ses membres et d’autres acteurs de l’industrie en Afrique.

AviAnalysis est une nouvelle plate-forme en ligne conçue pour répondre à la demande croissante d’un accès rapide et abordable à une analyse aéronautique personnalisée qui élimine le besoin d’accords de service et de discussions contractuelles prolongées. AviAnalysis fournit les éléments suivants :

– Analyse de performance des avions

– Analyse économique de l’exploitation des aéronefs

– Analyse prévisionnelle de la demande de passagers

L’Accord de Promotion des Ventes a été signé par M. Abdérahmane Berthé, Secrétaire Général de l’AFRAA et M. Kevin Clarke, responsable des services de conseil d’AviaPro Consulting. Selon les termes de l’accord, l’AFRAA fera la promotion des avantages de l’utilisation d’AviAnalysis en tant que système d’analyse aéronautique en ligne auprès des compagnies aériennes africaines afin de permettre une prise de décision rapide et efficace pour l’expansion, l’évaluation de la performance des avions et la planification du réseau.

S’exprimant en marge de la 11ème conférence annuelle des parties prenantes de l’AFRAA à Addis-Abeba, en Éthiopie, M. Abdérahmane Berthé a déclaré : « Avec AviAnalysis, nos compagnies aériennes membres et nos parties prenantes ont accès à des solutions d’analyse abordables pour accroître l’efficacité et la rentabilité de leurs réseaux, et pour faciliter les études pour la planification de nouvelles flottes et itinéraires. »

  1. Kevin Clarke a ajouté : « Nous sommes très heureux de nous appuyer sur le protocole d’accord que nous avons signé avec l’AFRAA l’année dernière et d’apporter notre nouvelle plateforme AviAnalysis et un accès accru à une analyse aéronautique abordable aux compagnies aériennes membres et aux parties prenantes de l’AFRAA. »

À propos d’AviAnalysis

AviAnalysis est une nouvelle plateforme en ligne permettant d’accéder aux services d’analyse aéronautique. Le système répond au besoin de résultats rapides avec la commodité d’un accès 24 heures sur 24, 7 jours sur 7, sans parler à un consultant pour se soumettre à des discussions d’accord prolongées. Un processus client simple en trois étapes facilite la commande efficace d’analyses aéronautiques en ligne ; en premier, les services d’analyse disponibles sont revus, puis, la commande est passée. Finalement, un formulaire est rempli pour saisir en ligne l’ensemble des hypothèses requises.

À propos de l’AFRAA

L’Association des compagnies aériennes africaines, également connue sous son acronyme AFRAA, est une association professionnelle de compagnies aériennes des États membres de l’Union africaine (UA). Fondée à Accra, au Ghana, en avril 1968, et basée à Nairobi, au Kenya, l’AFRAA a pour mission de promouvoir, de servir les lignes d’aviation africaines, et de défendre l’industrie aéronautique africaine. L’Association envisage une industrie du transport aérien durable, interconnectée et abordable en Afrique où les compagnies africaines deviennent un acteur clé et un moteur du développement économique africain.

L’AFRAA compte 48 compagnies aériennes qui s’étendent sur l’ensemble du continent et comprennent tous les principaux opérateurs intercontinentaux africains. Les membres de l’Association représentent plus de 85% du trafic international total transporté par les compagnies aériennes africaines. Suivez-nous sur Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter et YouTube.

 

À propos d’AviaPro Consulting

AviaPro Consulting a été fondée en 2014 avec la vision de devenir une plaque tournante de premier plan pour les services de conseil en aviation. Elle fournit des services de conseil spécialisés pour l’industrie aéronautique.

AviaPro Consulting travaille avec un vaste réseau de professionnels de l’aviation et avec des partenaires de l’industrie qui comptent sur son expertise pour élargir leur offre de services. Nos associés mondiaux complètent notre expertise par un savoir-faire spécifique à leur région.

AviaPro peut rapidement déployer des ressources d’experts pratiques pour soutenir nos clients dans leurs défis de planification, de modélisation et d’exploitation de l’aviation, quel que soit leur emplacement. De la gestion des revenus, des opérations aériennes, du développement des services aériens, des opérations de fret, aux services MRO ou à l’intégration informatique, AviaPro Consulting offre des conseils en aviation haut de gamme avec un succès impressionnant dans l’industrie. Notre expertise et nos connaissances nous permettent de nous adapter et d’opérer en pleine conformité avec les cadres opérationnels de la FAA, de l’AESA, de l’OACI ou de l’IATA.

Avec l’ajout d’une expertise dans de nouveaux services tels que la gestion aéroportuaire, les carburants durables, l’hybridation des compagnies aériennes, les aéroports intelligents et l’intégration EVTOL, AviaPro Consulting est bien positionnée pour offrir à ses clients une gamme complète de solutions aéronautiques.

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Rwandair starts its First-Ever Direct Flight to Paris

Kigali, 17 April 2023: RwandAir is scheduled to launch its new direct flights to the dazzling French capital of Paris for the first time on 27 June 2023.

Now customers can fly with RwandAir on the only direct service between Rwanda and France as the airline accelerates its ambitious growth strategy and adds a 25th destination to its route map.

The new flights to the ‘City of Light’, will operate three times a week, giving customers easy access to one of Europe’s most stylish and exciting cities, as well connecting France with Kigali, in the heart of Africa.

Flight WB700 departs Kigali each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 00:30 am, arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 9:30 am the same morning.

The returning flight WB701 leaves Paris at 9:30 pm each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving at RwandAir’s home hub at 6:00 am the following morning.

Yvonne Makolo, CEO of RwandAir, said: “The launch of our first-ever flights to Paris is an exciting development in RwandAir’s continuing expansion and a testament to the importance of French-Rwandan relations.

“France is a major market for RwandAir as we connect the continents of Africa and Europe through our home hub in Kigali with this new direct service to Paris, one of the world’s top tourism destinations.

“French travellers can look forward to a warm welcome onboard on our inaugural flight today and for many more years to come as we deepen the ties of friendship and fraternity between France and Rwanda.”

Customers flying to France from Africa will now be able to reach Paris via Kigali in under 8 hours and 30 minutes, giving them more time to explore the city’s incredible atmosphere, amazing culture and iconic sights.

The new three times a week service will also open access for travellers from France directly to the heart of Africa to explore Rwanda’s magnificent scenery and wildlife, including its beautiful national parks and world-famous mountain gorillas.

RwandAir’s Kigali hub also provides quick connections to its extensive network of flights reaching across Africa to countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

RwandAir is renowned for its excellent on-time performance, customer service and safety.

It also has one of the youngest fleets on the African continent with 13 aircraft including three wide-body Airbus A330s.

Rwanda has ambitious plans to double its fleet over the next five years and move to its new home at Bugesera International Airport, which is being built to handle one million passengers and 150 million tonnes of cargo a year during its first phase of operation.

For more information about RwandAir and to book flights, please visit rwandair.com
ENDS
For further information, please contact communications@rwandair.com

Notes to Editor:
About RwandAir Operating from Kigali, RwandAir is one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines and operates one of the youngest state-of-the-art fleets on the African continent. With a reputation for delivering a premium service to all its customers, RwandAir operates in 25 destinations in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

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Press Release – Ethiopian Airlines and AFRAA’s forthcoming Aviation Convention in May set to change the narrative of African airline industry

Addis Ababa, 14 April 2023: In light of Africa’s vast landmass, its population accounting for 16% of the world population, and its low share of global trade of 2%, the continent is an excellent opportunity to develop air transport. However, as a market, Africa’s share over several decades has remained stagnant at less than 3% of the world market – it is time to take action to change this narrative.

The 11th Aviation Stakeholders Convention, scheduled to take place from 07-09 May 2023 is timely and aligned to address this situation. The Convention, which is proudly being hosted by Ethiopian Airlines under the patronage of the Government of Ethiopia, will be held under the theme: “Changing the African Aviation Narrative”. The event will bring together over 400 delegates from Africa and across the globe. The Convention is one of Africa’s leading forums for air transport industry stakeholders to dialogue, exchange knowledge and experiences for the development of the travel ecosystem. Several African airline Chief Executive Officers and aviation industry thought leaders will be present at the event.

Speaking in Addis Ababa on the significance of attainment of sustainability that will change the narrative of Africa’s air transport, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé emphasized the importance of dialogue among stakeholders and collaborative initiatives such as those facilitated by AFRAA: “AFRAA and Ethiopian Airlines are excited to stage this Convention for the travel ecosystem stakeholders to meet, deliberate on strategies to enhance efficiencies, create synergies, develop intra-Africa connectivity, ensure business continuity that will redefine the narrative of Africa air transport industry.”

Mr. Mesfin Bekele, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines remarked, “We are delighted to host the 11th Aviation Stakeholders’ Convention of AFRAA which will serve as a forum for stakeholders in the industry to put their heads together and discuss the opportunities and pressing issues in Africa’s aviation sector. The forum will showcase the ‘Africa Rising’ mantra manifested in the growing opportunities for all stakeholders in the continent’s aviation industry.”

Event Highlights

The Convention will be held from 07-09 May 2023 at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.  A robust and comprehensive programme has been lined up to facilitate discussions on various salient topics, masterclasses, networking opportunities at social events and B2B sessions through a conferencing application. Delegates will have the opportunity to network and discuss developments in the industry and forge business partnerships.

CSR event for youth development in aviation: On 10th May, the Convention activities shall cover a CSR activity aimed at empowering the next generation of aviators at the Ethiopian University. The event will be sponsored by Collins Aerospace and staged in collaboration with AFRAA and Ethiopian Airlines.

Exhibition: There shall be exhibition and showcase of aviation-related products and solutions at the exhibition segment of the Convention.

Sponsors: The Stakeholders Convention is proudly sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines, ASECNA, ATNS, Boeing, Collins Aerospace and Embraer.

 

For media queries please contact:

Maureen Kahonge

Senior Manager Business Development and Communication

African Airlines Association (AFRAA)

mkahonge@afraa.org

About Ethiopian:

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy-six plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. In addition to its main hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it is also pursuing its multi-hub strategy through a hub in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines and in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the Pan African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian’s fleet consists of ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900 and Bombardier Dash 8-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of seven years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate most of these aircraft. Having achieved its strategic plan (Vision 2025) ahead of time, Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2035 that will see it become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation group in the world by providing safe, secured, market driven and customer focused Passenger and Cargo Transport and Logistics Services, Aviation Training, Airport Management and Ground Services, MRO and Aerospace Manufacturing and Travel and Tourism Services. As a multi-award-winning airline, Ethiopian has been winning various coveted awards including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for five consecutive years. The airline has been a Star Alliance member since 2011, and has been registering more than threefold growth in the past 10 years. For additional information, please visit www.ethiopianairlines.com

Email: CorporateCommunication@ethiopianairlines.com

Tel: (251-11)517-8913/8165/8907

Social Media

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/EthiopianAirlines.official

Twitter:      https://twitter.com/flyethiopian

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/fly.ethiopian/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCV26xfT57LiOgrZM45ouCg/featured

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethiopian-airlines/

Telegram: https://t.me/ethiopian_airlines

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RwandAir and Turkish Airlines sign landmark codeshare agreement

Kigali, 9 April 2023: RwandAir has signed a major new codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines as it continues to expand its global reach.

The new codeshare partnership will offer the African airline’s customers greater travel choices and seamless connection opportunities in both Kigali and Istanbul.

RwandAir customers travelling from Africa can now enjoy easy access to Turkish Airlines’ extensive network of over 300 worldwide destinations, giving Africa even greater global connectivity.

Those travelling with Turkish Airlines can also benefit from this codeshare agreement, with customers arriving in Kigali now being able to enjoy smooth onward connection across RwandAir’s African network.

Yvonne Makolo CEO of RwandAir, said: “We are incredibly excited to have signed this new codeshare agreement with one of the world’s largest and leading carriers, Turkish Airlines.

“This landmark move will not only allow our customers to access the 124 countries served by Turkish Airlines but will improve connections for inbound travellers to Africa via our extensive continental network.

“RwandAir is always exploring new commercial opportunities to expand its reach into markets which can deliver financial return and benefit our growing customer base.”

Currently, Turkish Airlines offers daily flights between RwandAir’s Kigali base and the carrier’s home hub in Istanbul.

This agreement follows the African airline’s recently launched codeshares with leading airlines such as Qatar Airways.

From its hub at the heart of Africa at Kigali International Airport, RwandAir is renowned for its excellent on-time performance, customer service, and safety.

RwandAir currently operates to 24 destinations across East, Central, West and Southern Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

For further information, please contact communications@rwandair.com

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African airlines’ performance updates by AFRAA – March 2023

Release date: 06 April 2023

Airline Performance: In March, the traffic carried by African airlines reached 94.8% of the full year 2019 level. Domestic market share was at 37%, intra-Africa at 31% and intercontinental at 32%. AFRAA estimates that by end 2023, total passengers carried by African airlines will reach 85 million, this being about 10 million short of the full year 2019 passenger traffic.

The total number of intercontinental routes operated by African airlines exceeded pre-Covid levels since October 2022. In 8 African airports (Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Lusaka, Cairo, Casablanca, Abidjan and Lome) intra-Africa connectivity reached or exceeded pre-Covid level since December 2022.

The year 2023 is witnessing a narrowing of airline revenue gap compared to 2022. In the first 3 months of the year, African airlines missed the levels attained in a similar period in 2019 by US$0.3 billion. This is expected to further narrow in the second quarter to US$0.2 billion according to AFRAA. Though the full year estimated revenue gap is yet to be computed, it appears 2023 will be a better year compared to the prior year. The 2022 full year revenue loss was US$3.5 billion for all African airlines combined.

Jet A1 price continued the downward trend in March with the global average price per barrel in the last week of March reaching US$102.5.  However, this trend changed to a surge in April following the OPEC producers’ announcement of plans to cut crude output.

Blocked Funds: Nigeria, with US$743 million of airline-blocked funds, is currently ranked the second highest in the world after Venezuela. An AFRAA survey indicates that 3 African airlines alone, have about $44.2 million blocked in Nigeria. These 3 AFRAA airlines have a total of US$88.9 million blocked in 12 African countries at the end of 2022. Aside Nigeria, other African countries with blocked funds at the end of 2022 include Algeria, Libya, Cameroon, The Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Conakry, Burundi, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

AFRAA is continuing its advocacy on blocked funds. According to the Secretary General of AFRAA, Abderahmane Berthé, “It is unacceptable for some States to hold on to airline generated revenues that is badly needed to cover operating costs and yet expect operations to continue undisrupted. The longer these funds are held, the bigger the financial burden these States impose on airlines supporting air connectivity and economic activities in these countries.”

Regulatory and Industry Developments

Canada – Single-use Plastics (SUP) Prohibition Regulations: The Canadian government published a regulation on single-use plastics (SUP) prohibitions in June 2022, which has implications for airline operators. Starting 20 December 2022, airlines are unable to buy or import 6 categories of SUP, including cutlery, foodservice ware, sticks and straws, etc. in Canada. See link for details: technical guidance.

Consultation on Balanced Approach Schiphol: The Dutch Ministry for Infrastructure and Water Management launched a consultation on the noise-balanced approach, in which they propose a combination of required noise restriction measures to reduce the 500k movement cap to attain the 440k movements cap, imposed by the government. However, on 5 April 2023 the Dutch Court halted the implementation of the proposed flight cuts after IATA pointed out that the reduction was in contravention of EU Laws. Details are available here English

Sierra Leone Airport Development Charge: Sierra Leone has made revisions to Aviation Security Charge and Foreign Travel Tax, including a revocation of Foreign Travel Tax for ECOWAS States. The government, through the civil aviation authority, plans to increase by 1400% Airport Development Charge to be borne by passengers. “This is a shot in the foot for a country that needs air connectivity to facilitate trade, business and general socio-economic development”, says AFRAA Secretary General, Abderahmane Berthé.

About    AFRAA

The African Airlines Association, also known by its acronym AFRAA, is a trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa where African Airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development. AFRAA membership of 48 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

 

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Accelya – Aligning distribution and sales goals to propel growth

In the ten years since NDC was launched, early adopters have deployed many strategies to encourage travel sellers to move from consuming content through the GDS to NDC. Airline commercial leaders have rewarded travel sellers for aligning with their distribution goals by using sticks (such as removal of access to certain content) and/or carrots (segment fees, lower pricing). As a result of this alignment, they have been able to drive value from travel sellers more effectively.

However, the airlines’ challenge is ensuring travel sellers are incentivized to move sales volume to non-legacy channels and deliver on growth commitments. Let’s look at what concerns airline leaders with distribution and sales goals at the forefront of their objectives:

  1. Distribution is no longer a separate negotiation with travel sellers: Making distribution goals part of commercial discussions is vital to NDC adoption.
  2. Aligning distribution and sales goals requires change management: Empowering sales to manage negotiations requires upskilling and alignment across departments.
  3. Understanding channel profitability is vital: To make strategic decisions around where and when to deploy incentive dollars requires more than just understanding and measuring the cost of sale associated with budget achievement and yield.
  4. Access to content will rapidly become the number one incentive: As NDC continues to mature and more airlines use merchandising, the products travel sellers can retail will become their defining proposition. Using this to stimulate growth and ancillary sales will become a central tenet of an airline’s commercial strategy.

A frustration voiced by many airline leaders is that addressing these challenges requires improved supporting technology. New sales planning and incentive management tools, backed by data science, should help airline leaders steer travel sellers toward preferred modes of distribution and propel growth.

Read full blog content here: https://w3.accelya.com/news-views/insights/blog-air-transformation-lab/aligning-distribution-sales-goals-propel-growth/

Source: Accelya

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Saison d’été 2023: Royal Air Maroc déploie un programme de vols exceptionnel pour mieux accompagner la forte demande estivale

– Quelque 6,2 millions de sièges sur plus de 90 destinations
– Six nouvelles lignes entre le Nord du Maroc et l’Europe
– Renforcement de la flotte par l’affrétement de six avions

Casablanca le 27 mars 2023
A la veille d’une saison d’été qui s’annonce exceptionnelle, Royal Air Maroc déploie un programme de vols renforcé sur la plupart de ses destinations.

Ainsi, la Compagnie Nationale se prépare à accompagner une forte demande sur ses vols, dans un contexte porteur marqué par une bonne reprise des voyages d’affaires et de tourisme. Royal Air Maroc mettra en place une offre de 6,2 millions de sièges sur plus de 90 destinations à travers les quatre continents.

Cette augmentation de l’offre fait suite au rétablissement de la quasi-totalité des routes qui avaient été suspendues pendant la crise sanitaire et à l’ouverture de nouvelles lignes en 2022 telles que Tel Aviv, Dubaï, Séville, Porto…

Aujourd’hui, Royal Air Maroc a recouvert près de 95% de son réseau de 2019. La Compagnie déploie ainsi ses nouvelles capacités pour faciliter le déplacement de ses clients en période estivale notamment les Marocains du monde.

Ainsi, plus de 2,3 millions de sièges seront déployés sur le continent européen et quelque 902 vols par semaine relieront 11 aéroports marocains à 34 aéroports européens. Sur l’Amérique du Nord, la compagnie proposera près de 500.000 sièges, soit 6% de plus que l’offre proposée en été 2019. Transporteur panafricain au service des diasporas d’Afrique, Royal Air Maroc renforce son réseau continental qui passera à 26 routes aériennes avec une offre de 901.800 sièges. Royal Air Maroc proposera aussi 200.000 sièges sur ses routes du Moyen Orient, soit une hausse de 25% par rapport à l’offre de l’été 2019.

« Réussir cette saison estivale 2023 dans des conditions d’efficacité opérationnelle et de qualité de service est un enjeu majeur pour l’ensemble des forces vives de Royal Air Maroc, à l’heure où notre secteur d’activité retrouve une dynamique très positive. Et nous nous donnons les moyens de répondre aux attentes de toutes nos catégories
de clients sur l’ensemble de nos marchés aussi bien au niveau quantitatif, par une augmentation massive des capacités injectées, que qualitatif à travers une expérience client toujours améliorée », souligne M. Hamid ADDOU, Président Directeur Général de Royal Air Maroc.

Six lignes supplémentaires entre le Nord du Maroc et l’Europe Par ailleurs, les routes reliant l’Europe au Nord du Maroc et à l’Oriental bénéficieront également d’un programme exceptionnel. Ainsi, Royal Air Maroc renforcera la dizaine de routes aériennes régulières reliant Tanger, Nador et Oujda aux villes européennes.

En période estivale, la Compagnie Nationale proposera six nouvelles lignes aériennes directes reliant ces trois villes à l’Europe, notamment sur les métropoles abritant une grande communauté des Marocains du monde.

En effet, la compagnie programmera trois lignes directes supplémentaires reliant Tanger à Madrid, Barcelone et Londres. Elle mettra en place aussi deux liaisons directes reliant Nador à Madrid et à Barcelone. Une route aérienne directe supplémentaire reliera Oujda à Düsseldorf.

Par ailleurs, un renforcement particulier sera assuré sur les marchés abritant d’importantes communautés de Marocains du monde et qui connaissent une forte demande en été. Les lignes reliant Casablanca à Barcelone, Bologne, Malaga, Madrid, Bruxelles et Milan, passeront ainsi à deux vols quotidiens.

Affrétement de six avions pour la saison d’été Pour renforcer ses moyens propres et assurer le lancement de ce programme dans les meilleures conditions, Royal Air Maroc procédera à l’affrètement de six appareils auprès
de compagnies de renommée internationale.

Ces appareils de dernière génération sont sélectionnés selon les critères de sécurité et de confort imposés par Royal Air Maroc. Leur mise à disposition répond à un processus rigoureux respectueux des réglementations et normes approuvés par les autorités d’aviation civile des pays où ils opèrent.

L’ensemble de ces offres est déjà accessible à la vente sur le site Internet de la Compagnie Nationale www.royalairmaroc.com, via ses centres d’appel ainsi que dans ses agences commerciales et sur le réseau national des agences de voyage.

Source: Royal Air Maroc

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SITA Airport Management solution to deliver new efficiency to Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport

Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport has turned to SITA to deliver new digital solutions to reduce operational costs while supporting improved aircraft turnaround performance. This includes SITA providing all its essential passenger, baggage, and operational IT systems.

A key focus for the airport is to streamline airside operations. Using SITA’s Airport Management solution, the airport can better forecast and manage operations across the airfield. By sharing event milestones with partners such as airlines, the operations teams have an exact view of how various activities across the airport are integrated and can impact the overall operation.

Ground operators can more efficiently and proactively plan their activities, from allocating team assignments to managing aircraft parking stands, gates, and other resources. This will digitalize airport operations, improve on-time performance, and avoid unnecessary flight delays. The airport expects the implementation of SITA Airport Management could result in a reduction in cost of 15-20%, laying the foundation of Airport Collaborative Decision-Making (A-CDM) governance.

As the cornerstone of its passenger service, SITA will provide new Smart Path check-in kiosks and bag drop units, giving passengers seamless, self-service options from curb to gate. These touchpoints pave the way toward a future biometric journey in line with IATA’s One ID program. In the future, this contactless experience means that passengers’ faces will become their boarding passes, with passengers swiftly identified as they step up to a camera at each touchpoint.

Daulet Hamzin, Chairman of the Management Board, Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, said: “Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport is accelerating a major development program to support the growth potential of Kazakhstan’s air transport market. We have announced that 2023 will be focused on the airport’s digitalization. We truly believe technology is a key enabler in meeting this rapid growth, streamlining airside operations, and offering our customers a better experience. We are very pleased to partner with SITA to pioneer several regional digital initiatives.”

Sergio Colella, SITA President for Europe, said: “Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport is leading the way in digitalizing its operations, positioning itself as one of the region’s leading airports. We are pleased to partner with the airport and deliver the full benefits of automation and digitalization.”

Source: SITA

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