tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25113561673398496412024-02-18T22:37:40.700-08:00Cheap flights to Zimbabweadminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-11600505827242124472012-07-26T04:27:00.000-07:002012-07-26T04:27:21.902-07:00KLM restart flights to Harare, Zimbabwe!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwr5mnaf6Gz6CShNnxHRL8hEcsk6hlkVavb_h8I_I7CIs2OKcvgj2zPs2iIHMmaCmKSnos7Yiz_LEisVHGknE1pHrWesrvVxi2aSbFJ746DPH7qWhPfGkdIQOhDoPH8adH70O2RFi5UMM/s1600/KLM+flights+to+zimbabwe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwr5mnaf6Gz6CShNnxHRL8hEcsk6hlkVavb_h8I_I7CIs2OKcvgj2zPs2iIHMmaCmKSnos7Yiz_LEisVHGknE1pHrWesrvVxi2aSbFJ746DPH7qWhPfGkdIQOhDoPH8adH70O2RFi5UMM/s320/KLM+flights+to+zimbabwe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good news for Zimbabwean, Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) will restart flights
between Harare and Amsterdam in October 2012, after 13 years, the airline said
on Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.5pt;">The Royal Ducth </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Airlines</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.5pt;"> (KLM) first <a href="http://www.cheapflightstozimbabwe.uk.com/" target="_blank">flights to Zimbabwe</a> will be on October 29, 2012 and served in combination
with a new KLM destination to </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">neighbouring</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.5pt;"> Zambia's capital, Lusaka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">KLM, which is part of the larger Air France-KLM group, said in a
statement that Zimbabwe is "a strong growth market with a wide array of
natural resources."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Its announcement came a day after the European Union said it was
ready to lift sanctions if the country holds credible vote on a constitutional
referendum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Most international airlines, including Air France, Lufthansa and
Qantas pulled out of Zimbabwe over the past decade citing dwindling passenger
numbers as tourists were scared off by political violence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The airline said it will offer 11 weekly services to Harare via
Nairobi, in co-operation with Kenya Airways, in which KLM has a 26 percent
stake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and South African Airways are
some of the regional airlines that maintained flights into Zimbabwe despite the
political turmoil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-20770379464838863022012-06-07T11:34:00.002-07:002012-06-07T11:34:49.960-07:00Air Namibia optimistic about growth in Zimbabwe Routes!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Air Namibia is optimistic about the growth
prospects in terms of passengers on the Windhoek-Harare route, which it
re-introduced mid last month after 13 years. The airline is using a
37-seater Brazilian-made Embraer ERJ-135 twin-jet aircraft to service
the route.<br />
Air Namibia's country manager for Zimbabwe, Mr Forbes Zaranyika, said
they were encouraged by the volume of business they have been
attracting since the re-introduction of the route.<br />
"Our load factor has been averaging 40 percent and rising to about 80
percent in some instances which is quite good given that we have just
re-introduced this route," he said. The load factor is the ratio of
passengers per available seat on an aeroplane.<br />
Mr Zaranyika said there has been an encouraging response from
Zimbabweans travelling to Walvis Bay to collect their vehicles imported
mainly from the United Kingdom. In addition, he said Zimbabwean
professionals working in Namibia have also welcomed the introduction of
the route as it offers a convenient means for them to travel between
Harare and Windhoek.<br />
"We are very encouraged by the response that we have been getting and
we are looking at the possibility of introducing daily flights in the
near future. We are also looking at the possibility of introducing
morning and evening flights," he said.<br />
The airline is <a href="http://www.cheapflightstozimbabwe.uk.com/" target="_blank">flying into Zimbabwe</a> four times a week on Mondays,
Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and daily between Windhoek and Victoria
Falls.<br />
Mr Zaranyika said the airline stands ready to facilitate the
cultural, political and business synergies that are being concluded
between the two countries through the provision of a fast and reliable
airline service.<br />
Air Namibia's general manager commercial services, Mr Xavier Masule,
who is in the country, said they have seen a growth in the number of
passengers using the Harare-Windhoek route to connect to other
destinations like West Africa and Cape Town.<br />
"We have created synergies with Kenya Airways to carry passengers
proceeding beyond Harare and we hope to conclude more synergies with
other airlines to provide convenience for our passengers.<br />
"We have seen the crystallisation of the ideas we had when we
introduced this route. We hope to continue providing a comfortable and
safe mode of transport for people intending to explore Namibia for
business and leisure," he said.<br />
He added that they were in the process of setting up an office in
Harare that will be manned by a nine-member team made up of Zimbabweans.<br />
"At the moment we have a three-member team headed by Mr Zaranyika
that is currently operating from Meikles Hotel while we wait to move to
our new offices at Joina City. Recruitment of additional staff is
ongoing," he said.<br />
Mr Masule said while they have been striving to grow their business
as an airline they have been affected by high fuel costs, which they
have had to absorb as passing on the costs to passengers would make the
cost of travel prohibitive.<br />
He added that the eurozone financial crisis has also seen travellers
from Europe cutting down on long-haul flights and international airlines
shifting their focus to Africa where the volumes of people travelling
abroad has been increasing resulting in competition for African
airlines.<br />
"As African airlines we are not taking this lying down we are determined to grab opportunities as they come," he said.<br />
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</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-10524992114502601722012-05-19T05:00:00.000-07:002012-05-19T05:00:18.744-07:00Africa Travel Association (ATA) welcome more airlines to fly into zimbabwe!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Africa Travel Association
(ATA) congress begun in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on Friday with the association's
executive director saying Zimbabwe should encourage more airlines to
fly into the country.it is five days event held in vic falls this year to promote tourism in zimbabwe.<br />
ATA executive director, Edward Bergman, Zimbabwe needs more airlines
flying into the country to ensure tourists have easy access to the
country’s resorts.<br />
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He said more players in the aviation industry would also help reduce airfares.</div>
"The local aviation industry is in dire need of more players so that
there is competition among the airlines," Bergman told journalists.<br />
"More airlines will ensure easy accessibility to destinations in
Zimbabwe. If more airlines come on board, it will make accessibility
easy and it will also stimulate competition and growth."<br />
The country’s flag career Air Zimbabwe was grounded for nearly five
months due to massive debts and strikes by key staff such as pilots and
engineers over pay.<br />
However the airline resumed domestic flights recently but continues
to stay away from international routes, fearing seizure of its aircraft
by creditors.<br />
At least 18 airlines, including major global carriers, have pulled
of the country since 2000 as the country struggled with a major economic
and political crisis.<br />
An improving economy as well as the easing of political tensions
have seen some airlines, among them Emirates Airlines, already began <a href="http://www.cheapflightstozimbabwe.uk.com/" target="_blank">flights to Zimbabwe</a>.<br />
Meanwhile, the ATA congress has been oversubscribed with almost 400
delegates and 16 government ministers confirming their participation.<br />
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Vice President Joice Mujuru is expected to officially open the conference.</div>
The last time the ATA congress was held in Zimbabwe was in 1988 and
its return is largely seen as an opportunity to promote the country’s
tourism product in lost source markets such as the Americas and
Europe.<br />
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-83745517456934871462012-04-25T11:12:00.002-07:002012-04-27T10:13:40.691-07:00Precision Air to launch flight to Lusaka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Precision-Air2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2547" height="158" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Precision-Air2-300x158.jpg" title="Precision Air" width="300" /></a>TANZANIA'S private airline, Precision Air, will mid next month start <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/africa/zambia/lusaka.php" target="_blank" title="flights to Lusaka ">flights to Lusaka </a>and the Democratic Republic of Congo's Lubumbashi.<br /> In a statement released in Lusaka, the airline commercial director Patrick Ndekana said Precision Air aims at mitigating the air transport woes that the Zambian market has been facing when travelling to and from Tanzania.<br /> Mr Ndekana said with the absence of other airlines in the market, the company is proud to offer direct services to Dar es Salaam within two hours.<br /> The airline will operate thrice weekly with a new Boeing 737 which it recently acquired from Singapore.<br /> "We would like to inform the public that from 18th May, Precision Air will be providing new flights to Lusaka and Lubumbashi with operations every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.<br /> The addition of these two routes officially brings our list to 17 destinations-an achievement we cannot overlook in the growth of our airline," he added.<br /> Mr Ndekana said the airline will operate from Dar es Salaam connecting via Congo's business complex, Lubumbashi, then Lusaka with the aim of trapping potential traffic on its way back to Dar es Salaam.<br /> He said the airline is committed to eliminating the challenges that passengers face between Zambia and Tanzania by having to travel more than nine hours through South Africa or Nairobi to arrive in Lusaka or Dar es Salaam due to the lack of convenient and direct flights.<br /> Precision Air was established in 1993 as a private charter air transport company, operating a five-seater piper Aztec aircraft providing connections to tourists visiting the country.<br /> The airline currently offers connections to all major towns in Tanzania and regionally <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/africa/kenya/nairobi.php" target="_blank" title="flights to Nairobi">flights to Nairobi</a> and Mombasa in Kenya and Entebbe in Uganda.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-35950145083792050192012-04-25T10:44:00.003-07:002012-04-27T10:15:12.173-07:00Emirates Holidays Launches its Biggest Ever ‘A World of Choice’ Brochure for 2012-2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Vic-falls1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2543" height="113" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Vic-falls1-300x113.jpg" title="Victoria Falls" width="300" /></a>Emirates Holidays, the tour operating arm of Emirates airline, has unveiled its new 600-page 'A World of Choice 2012-2013' brochure with the introduction of eight brand new destinations spanning six continents and featuring over 100 destinations.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cheapzimbabweflights.com/" target="_blank" title="Holidays to Zimbabwe">Holidays to Zimbabwe</a>, Argentina, Denmark, Ireland, and Zambia all make their first appearances in the brochure, which has grown by 20 per cent – from 500 to 600 pages – since the 2011-2012 edition. Holidays to Dallas and Seattle in the USA, along with Vancouver in Canada, have also been introduced this year to coincide with the launch of new routes to these cities by Emirates airline.</div>
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In addition to the exciting new destinations, Russia, Morocco, Malta and South Korea have all been reintroduced into the brochure in response to customer demand. Offerings in popular countries such as China, Thailand, India, South Africa and Germany have also been expanded to provide more travel options with a wider choice of cruises, safaris, palace hotels and dedicated wellness retreats.</div>
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The once-popular Fly & Drive packages have also been re-launched this year in partnership with various car rental companies to satisfy customer desire for a more diverse range of holidays around the globe.</div>
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"This really is a landmark year for Emirates Holidays," said Frederic Bardin, Senior Vice President, Emirates Holidays. "With the new destinations, travel offers and the reintroduction of some old favourites, 'A World of Choice 2012-2013' brochure is our best and biggest to date.</div>
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"At Emirates Holidays we offer a tailor-made holiday experience to each customer so the changes we have made this year reflect current travel trends and are based on what our customers have told us they want. The expansion of our offering has been driven by the increased demand for a wider choice of destinations around the world. Places that were once considered out of reach are now easily accessible with the launch of new routes by Emirates airline and with the help of our new brochure, the travel opportunities are endless."</div>
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To reach out to its increasingly diverse customer base and to further reinforce its position as the leading holiday expert in the Middle East, Emirates Holidays is also expanding its 3 and 4-star hotel offerings – these are available when booking directly with Emirates Holidays or via travel agents.</div>
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As always, excellent service levels, destination knowledge and attention to detail play a core part in providing the impeccable customer service that Emirates Holidays has become known for. A wide network of well-trained Emirates Holidays staff will help bring 'A World of Choice 2012-2013' to life for every customer through well-informed recommendations on flights, accommodation and sightseeing – all based on travel experience and extensive research.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-79724368987468402842012-04-24T11:57:00.001-07:002012-04-27T10:20:47.795-07:00Qatar Airways wins Skytrax 2012 World Airport Awards<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Qatar-Airways-wins-Skytrax-2012-World-Airport-Awards.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2536" height="170" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Qatar-Airways-wins-Skytrax-2012-World-Airport-Awards.jpg" title="Qatar Airways wins Skytrax 2012 World Airport Awards" width="260" /></a>Qatar Airways has been honoured with two major accolades at the annual Skytrax 2012 World Airport Awards held in Vienna. For the second year running, Qatar Airways' Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport (DIA) has been named World's Best Premium Service Airport, recognised for its superior Five Star service and excellent customer care.</div>
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Qatar Airways-owned Oryx Rotana, a five-star hotel at Doha International Airport, has won the Best Airport Hotel in the Middle East award and ranked 10th best airport hotel in the world - a remarkable feat for a property open only two years.<br />
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A favourite among premium passengers worldwide, Qatar Airways' Premium Terminal remains a unique facility in the world and, indeed, to the State of Qatar. Opened in 2006, the Premium Terminal is for exclusive use by Qatar Airways' First and Business Class passengers and is renowned for its world-class facilities including fine dining, luxurious spa amenities, as well as business facilities for transiting and departing passengers.<br />
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Doha International Airport beat two other high profile contenders for the title of Best Premium Service Airport - Frankfurt Airport's Lufthansa First Class Lounge and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport's Thai Airways First Class check-in and lounge facilities - both placed second and third respectively.<br />
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The 400-room Oryx Rotana is a leading business hotel in the Qatari capital with features including six exquisite and exclusive signature dining options, high tech business facilities, car limousine rental, multi-lingual staff, and wireless internet connection in all guest rooms.<br />
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Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker was delighted on the news of two key airport accolades for the Qatar Airways Group.<br />
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"We're extremely proud of our Premium Terminal, the first of its kind in the world to provide check-in, duty free, fine dining and transit services exclusively for our First and Business Class passengers," said Al Baker.<br />
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"Our passengers always comment on how much they enjoy the experience of the Premium Terminal. It really is a one of its kind. Our focus on providing the best service to all our customers is what keeps us ahead of the rest and ensures we remain committed to delivering the ultimate in Five Star service both in the air and on the ground," he said.<br />
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"After all, passengers' entire journey experience starts at an airport and it is vitally important that airlines and airports deliver what passengers expect," he added.<br />
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Al Baker added that the Oryx Rotana was a great asset for the company, its first venture into the hotel business in 2010.<br />
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Oryx Rotana General Manager Kevork Deldelian said it was a real coup to win the award, given the high level of competition that the hotel faced across the region.<br />
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"We are so proud of this award - it symbolises all that we set out to achieve since opening our doors two years ago," said Deldelian.<br />
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"Doha is growing at an incredible rate and with so many new hotels and restaurants planning to open, the competition is very high. But our commitment to delivering a Five Star service with the backing our airline parent company and our attention to detail is what makes our hotel a favourite not only among travellers, but locals as well," Deldelian added.<br />
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On winning both awards, Skytrax Chairman Edward Plaisted said, "We congratulate Doha International Airport and Qatar Airways on this fantastic achievement, winning the Best Premium Service Airport award. The Qatar Airways Premium Terminal remains a unique passenger facility worldwide, unmatched in terms of exclusivity and passenger amenities. With the New Doha International Airport due to open at the end of 2012, we will watch with interest to check that the quality of product and service remains at this award winning level."<br />
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Plaisted said, "In a region where is seems there is a new luxury 5-star hotel opening each month, the Oryx Rotana Doha should be pleased with their success being named as the Best Airport Hotel in the Middle East. To deliver such exacting standards in one of the most competitive high end hotel markets is no small achievement, and the management and staff should be proud of their place as the jewel of Middle East airport hotels."<br />
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Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 108 aircraft to 113 key business and leisure destinations worldwide. Last year was a landmark 12 months for Qatar Airways, which inducted 15 new destinations to its network, and won the coveted Skytrax 2011 Airline of the Year Award.<br />
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As part of its 2012 expansion programme, Qatar Airways launches <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/oceania/australia/perth.php" target="_blank" title="flights to Perth">flights to Perth</a> (Australia) from July 3, a further 11 destinations - Zagreb (Croatia) from May 9; and others cities during the year, including Mombasa (Kenya), Zanzibar (Tanzania), Helsinki (Finland), Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Belgrade (Serbia), Erbil (Iraq), Baghdad (Iraq), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Yangon (Myanmar). In February, the carrier launched services to the Azerbaijan capital Baku and Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi, and last month began <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/africa/rwanda/kigali.php" target="_blank" title="flights to Kigali">flights to Kigali</a>, the capital of Rwanda in East Africa. </div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-67354313702857343372012-04-24T11:35:00.001-07:002012-04-27T10:25:34.865-07:00Etihad Airways celebrates premier flight to Kenya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Etihad-Airways6.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2531" height="194" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Etihad-Airways6.jpeg" title="Etihad Airways" width="259" /></a>With the touchdown at the JKIA of the inaugural <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/africa/kenya/" target="_blank" title="flights to Kenya">flight to Kenya</a> by Etihad Airways, came the promise to be a force to reckon with in the airline industry in East Africa and around Africa. Led by Etihad's Chief Commercial Officer Peter Baumgartner, the Etihad Kenya team was unveiled at a press briefing at Ole Sereni Hotel and guests treated to an elaborate cocktail at the Zen Gardens.</div>
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Kenya has the distinct honour of being the first country in East Africa to welcome the airline's airbus A320 service. Other countries currently on the airline's roster are Egypt, South Africa, Sudan and Morocco.</div>
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While Etihad may be new to the East African market, it is certainly not a stranger to international destinations resulting in over 30 awards since its inauguration in 2003. Top of the list has been 'World's Leading Airline' for the second consecutive year at the 2010 World Travel Awards (WTA) in London.</div>
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"We hope this trend continues here in East Africa,' Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan said. The well-attended cocktail provided the airline management and Kenyan team to interact with people relevant to the industry and also sell their brand. </div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-80818873325525068262012-04-23T11:05:00.001-07:002012-04-27T10:18:08.498-07:00SAA announces expansion with new direct flights to Maun in Botswana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/SA-airways.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2523" height="136" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/SA-airways-300x136.jpg" title="South African Airways" width="300" /></a>South African Airways (SAA) is continuing to expand its network in Africa by launching a new daily direct <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/africa/botswana/" target="_blank" title="flights to Maun, Botswana">flights to Maun, Botswana</a> from Johannesburg on June 15.</div>
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According to Tim Clyde-Smith, SAA's Country Manager, Australasia, Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta, a 15,000 square kilometre area of swamp and water that is the world's largest inland delta and also the world's largest oasis.</div>
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"The Okavango Delta lies in northern Botswana on the north-eastern edge of the Kalahari Desert, and is close to the border with the Caprivi Strip panhandle in eastern Namibia," Tim said.</div>
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"Botswana is increasingly popular with Australians who are looking for a different travel experience in a region teaming with wildlife. Now, with direct services to the Delta, they can reach it in just one stop from Australia," he said.</div>
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The Delta's combination of lush wetland lying next to arid dry country makes it one of the world's most unique places to see game, in terms of the variety of dry-land and wetland species that co-exist in near proximity. Low-ecological-impact tourist camps and lodges are dotted throughout the area catering to group and individual safari visits.</div>
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SAA's service to Maun Airport (IATA code MUB) will be operated by its regional partner South African Airlink with 37-seat Embraer ERJ-135 regional jets. SA operates eight 37-seat Embraer ERJ135LR regional jets, as well as eight 83-seat Avro RJ85s and 13 29-seat BAE Systems Jetstream 4100 turboprops.</div>
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The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana recently made a decision to allow increased flights into the country, meaning SAA can commence the new service in addition to its existing flights to Gabarone, the capital city.</div>
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The schedule for the new daily Johannesburg-Maun service will see flight SA 8300 departing Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) at 11:45 am, arriving at MUB at 1:15 pm. In the other direction, flight SA 8301 will leave MUB at 2:00 pm and reach JNB at 3:40 pm.</div>
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"SAA's new service to Maun opens up a new and much more convenient way to access one of Botswana's most popular safari destinations through our partners at Airlink," Tim Clyde-Smith said.</div>
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</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-73006374955346186832012-04-23T10:50:00.001-07:002012-04-27T10:20:27.376-07:00Emirates Airline commits to promoting tourism in Zambia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/emirates-airline.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2519" height="180" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/emirates-airline.jpeg" title="Emirates Airline" width="279" /></a>EMIRATES Airlines country manager for Zambia Khalid Hassan says the airline is promoting <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/africa/zambia/" target="_blank">Zambia tourism</a> as a tourist destination throughout its worldwide network in an effort to increase the inflow of international tourists in the country.<br /> Mr Hassan says the airline will work with Zambian and international travel agents by making connectivity easy for the tourists who want to sample the Victoria Falls and other tourist attraction sites dotted around the country.<br /> Preliminary data shows the number of international passengers at Zambia's major airports grew by 17 percent in the first half of 2010.<br /> He said the airline will continue to market the world-famous Victoria Falls and other tourist attraction areas such as safaris.<br /> "This new Emirates service will further support this growth by bringing leisure and business travellers from points across the airline's global network," he said.<br /> Mr Hassan said the airline will engage local travel and international agents to explore the local tourism industry.<br /> He said Zambia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and Emirates sees potential for continued growth in the future.<br /> He said this month (April) Emirates launched its new global brand platform, "Hello Tomorrow", which positions the global airline as the enabler of global connectivity and meaningful experiences.<br /> "The theme encapsulates life's potential and embraces the future with all the possibilities it holds," he said.</div>
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The airline flies to 123 destinations across six continents, connecting cities through Dubai.<br /> "These new routes give Zambian travellers new opportunities to explore the world, discover new cultures and connect with people," he said.<br /> He said the airline is providing an efficient bridge to the Middle East, Far East, North America and the Indian sub-continent; and will open new opportunities for business and leisure travellers both in Zambia and worldwide.<br /> Mr Hassan said the main objective of the airline in Zambia is not only to grow its business but to also invest in the local talent.<br /> He said Emirates currently employs 25 qualified Zambian staff.<br /> The airline currently operates 170 aircraft – a mix of 162 Airbus and Boeing passenger aircraft and eight freighters.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-54833608262808201462012-04-23T09:51:00.001-07:002012-05-19T04:34:49.292-07:00Ethiopian Airlines to fly to Sao Paulo by summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ethiopian-airline1.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2515" height="187" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ethiopian-airline1.jpeg" title="Ethiopian Airline" width="270" /></a>Ethiopian Airlines plans to start flights to Sao Paulo, Brazil, a Latin American Power house, this summer.</div>
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Sao Paulo, one of the largest and richest cities in the world, with a population of about 20 million, is predicted to be the 6th biggest urban area by 2025. According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), its GDP in 2006 was about USD 2.83 billion. If Ethiopian Airlines opens a flight to Sao Paulo, it would be its first venture into Latin America and the airline's fifth continent after Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.</div>
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While the current North American destinations are exclusively located in the US, the airline also plans to venture to US' northern neighbor with a flight to Toronto, Canada's largest city, by the summer of this year; accommodating the substantial Ethio-Canadian community.</div>
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Ethiopian Airlines is reportedly contemplating the direct route to Brazil because of its emergence as a prominent member of the world's leading economic block; BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).</div>
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Brazil recently overtook the United Kingdom to become the world's sixth largest economy.</div>
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Ethiopian Airlines expects many travelers to Brazil including a substantial business class. Brazil's famous historical and beach sites open up great prospects for tourism in both countries.</div>
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According to Marcelo A. Borges, first secretary and deputy mission at the Brazilian Embassy to Ethiopia, if the new flight route is opened it could mean a whole new market for business people and tourists.</div>
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He also said it could potentially make Addis Ababa Bole International Airport a hub for travelers from Latin America traveling to other African countries and beyond. Currently, no Brazilian airlines fly from Brazil to Ethiopia.</div>
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Ethiopian Airlines recently launched flights to the tiny Indian Ocean island archipelago of Seychelles after 32 years of absence. It also aims to start non-stop flights to Cotonou, the economic capital of the Republic of Benin, effective by June 15. Ethiopian Airlines now flies to 65 destinations globally with multiple lines opening soon.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-34785353709150514242012-04-21T11:29:00.001-07:002012-04-27T10:24:47.567-07:00Precision Air Looking to launch flights to Zimbabwe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Precision-Air.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2507" height="188" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Precision-Air.jpg" title="Precision Air" width="268" /></a>Taking advantage of the growing tourism and travel demands in Southern and Eastern African states, Tanzania's fast-growing airline, Precision Air, is looking to start inaugural <a href="http://flightstozimbabwe.uk.com/" target="_blank">flights to Zimbabwe</a> as a southern destination.</div>
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When implemented later this year, Tanzania's registered airline will take over the southern route once operated by Air Zimbabwe. Precision Air officials said other than Zimbabwe, the airline will extend its wings from Tanzania's capital of Dar es Salaam to Lusaka in Zambia and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).</div>
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The airline plans to apply a new Boeing 737-300 to fly the route. From May 18, the airline will launch its first schedule three flights a week between Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, and Lubumbashi.</div>
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Other routes the airline is eyeing are Lilongwe in Malawi and Luanda in Angola through its expansion to cover the Southern African region.</div>
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Precision Air officials have finalized their business plans with the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to allow smooth operations of the airline.</div>
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The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority executive said the launching of Precision Air flights will boost tourism, trade, and commerce between Southern African member states.</div>
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Standing as a strong member of the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern African (RETOSA), Zimbabwe is looking to tourism and trade with Tanzania through regional integration.</div>
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The Dar es Salaam to Harare route was previously being serviced by Air Zimbabwe and Air Tanzania Corporation, both of which have since pulled out owing to operational challenges.</div>
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The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority will jointly host the Africa Travel Association's 37th Annual World Congress in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.</div>
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About 300 delegates are expected at the Congress, including tourism ministers, industry experts representing tourism boards, tour operators and their product development executives, front-line agents, ground operator companies, airlines, and hotels.</div>
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The Congress will be held at scenic Victoria Falls, famously known as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Victoria Falls is a giant waterfall located in Southern Africa, shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe.</div>
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The Zimbabwe Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Walter Mzembi said his country's greatest attraction, other than wildlife and the Victoria Falls, is the hospitality and culture of the Zimbabwean people.</div>
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Minister Mzembi is expected to assume the presidency of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) during this year's Congress.</div>
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The last ATA congress in Zimbabwe took place in 1988. ATA was established in 1975 and serves both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry, with membership comprising governments, tourism authorities, airlines, resorts, and tour operators, among others. Its last congress was held last year in Dakar, Senegal.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-42656338191129951042012-04-20T11:57:00.001-07:002012-04-27T10:26:44.360-07:00PROFLIGHT Zambia Will Launch International Flights<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/PROFLIGHT-Zambia.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2498" height="139" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/PROFLIGHT-Zambia.jpg" title="PROFLIGHT Zambia" width="240" /></a>PROFLIGHT Zambia will in June commence international flights, picking two direct regional <a href="http://www.cheapzimbabweflights.com/" target="_blank" title="flights to Zimbabwe">flights to Zimbabwe</a> and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a start to enhance its business prospects and contribute to the growth of the aviation industry.<br /> The airline company has all along been strictly operating domestic routes and the move to go regional seems to be a chance to take over the routes that were being operated by the grounded Zambezi Airlines.<br /> Harare and Lubumbashi are the first two direct routes in the region that the airline would be operating following its 21 years of existence.<br /> Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday shortly after the company celebrated its Women's Day under the theme 'celebrating women in aviation', company Commercial Director Keira Irwin said the regional routes would be launched once the company finalised the necessary documentation.<br /> "We plan to open two <a href="http://www.flightstoharare.uk.com/" target="_blank" title="direct flights to Harare">direct flights to Harare</a> and Lubumbashi, this will be done once we finalise the documentation like acquiring the aircraft operational certificate and hopefully launch them by the end of June," she said.<br /> The opening of the flights would boost both the tourism and aviation sectors thus increasing business activities between Zambia and the countries the airline would fly to.<br /> Proflight has domestic scheduled airlines with routes from Lusaka to Livingstone, Ndola, Solwezi, Kasama Chipata, Mfuwe and Lower Zambezi.<br /> Proflight sales and marketing manager Hellen Ngwira said, in as much as the business was growing, there was need for infrastructure development at some airstrips in the country.<br /> She said infrastructure development in the aviation industry was cardinal as it would further boost its contribution towards national development.<br /> "As Proflight we have taken it upon ourselves to land in areas where others can't land because of different reasons and challenges, with the most outstanding being that of poor infrastructure which also in same way hinders fast growth of the industry," she said.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-14988114447296079072012-04-19T12:15:00.001-07:002012-04-27T10:28:06.425-07:00Air Namibia resumes flights to Zimbabwe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Air-Namibia2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2490" height="183" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Air-Namibia2.jpg" title="Air Namibia" width="276" /></a>Air Namibia is set to resume its much-awaited <a href="http://www.cheapzimbabweflights.com/index.html" target="_blank" title="flights to Zimbabwe">flights to Zimbabwe</a> on May 16 and will be flying into the country four times a week.</div>
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The airliner, which stopped plying the Zimbabwe route 13 years ago, plans to use a 37-seater — in one-class configuration — all-economy plane for the Windhoek-Harare route.<br /><br /> In an emailed response to NewsDay, head of corporate communications Paul Homateni Nakawa said preparations for the relaunch were at an advanced stage.<br /><br /> "I confirm on behalf of Air Namibia that our first <a href="http://www.flightstoharare.uk.com/" target="_blank" title="flights to Harare">flights to Harare</a>, Zimbabwe, will be on 16th May 2012," he said. <br /> <br /> "Officially, these new routes are starting on the 15th of May 2012.<br /><br /> "Air Namibia will begin flights to Zimbabwe on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays every week, hence our first flight to Harare shall only be on the 16th May 2012, as per the flight schedule."<br /> <br /> Air Nambia's re-entry comes two months after Emirates, one of the world's fastest growing international airlines, resumed services to the country.<br /><br /> Emirates currently serves 19 passenger and cargo destinations across the African continent.<br /><br /> Several international airlines, including Egypt Air, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Quantas, stopped flights to Zimbabwe because of dwindling passenger numbers as tourists were scared off by political violence and instability.<br /> <br /> Regional airlines like Air Malawi, Kenyan Airways and South African Airways are still flying to Zimbabwe.<br /> <br /> The Namibian airline has also launched two other regional routes — Ondjiva (Angola) and Gaborone (Botswana). In addition to its growth and expansion plans, the airline hopes to become an independent profit-making entity by the end of 2016.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-39882916399264128222012-04-19T11:19:00.001-07:002012-05-19T04:37:28.018-07:00Durban and KwaZulu-Natal win right to host 2013 International Congress on small and medium enterprises<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/International-Congress-on-small-and-medium-enterprises.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2486" height="195" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/International-Congress-on-small-and-medium-enterprises.jpg" title="International Congress on small and medium enterprises" width="259" /></a>Osiba Research, the city of Durban and province KwaZulu-Natal have won the right to host the 2013 International Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises. The Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau, EThekwini Business Support Unit and Department of Economic Development and Tourism successfully assisted a Johannesburg based organisation, Osiba Research, that has been particularly successful in the realm of Small and Medium Enterprise research, development and workshop organisation, to put forward a winning bid to host the 2013 international Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises. <br /><br /> This event is organised through the World Association of Medium and Small Enterprises. Mr Bakula's, who is the only South African members of WASME, bid was initially short-listed. He was then expected to deliver a formal bid presentation regarding the ability of Durban and province of KwaZulu-Natal to host the 2013 international Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises on the 7th of April in Cairo, Egypt. This presentation secured the bid for Durban.<br /><br /> "This event is expected to lure some 700 foreign delegates to the city and province and just the spend of these delegates is expected to generate well in excess of R5mn of economic impact for the metropolitan area of Durban in terms of direct tourism spend", said an elated James Seymour, CEO of the Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau. "The most important impact of this event, will however be the fact that it will heighten the level of awareness of the need to stimulate more SME economic activity in KZN, South Africa and Africa and bring about important training and capacity in this regard".<br /><br /> This congress is expected to be integrated into the Durban Business Fair which will take place in at the Durban ICC in September 2013.<br /><br /> "This congress is the 27th bid which the recently established Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau has assisted in securing. The total impact of these events is expected to be in excess of R1 billion", stated James Seymour.</div>
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To get participate in this event you have to secure your flights to Durban. So to get cheap flights to Durban and get more details regarding accommodation and hotels you can call our reservation experts on <b>02079936219</b>. <br /> </div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-90590194163275723812012-04-19T10:37:00.001-07:002012-05-19T04:38:33.576-07:00Air Mauritius will increase flights between Cape Town and Mauritius<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Air-Mauritius.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2481" height="186" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Air-Mauritius.jpg" title="Air Mauritius" width="271" /></a>Air Mauritius will increase its flights to Cape Town from Mauritius, from two a week to three in November.</div>
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It will also increase the number of flights to the island from Joburg. But it will stop its service from Durban on October 26, leaving Emirates as the only airline flying overseas from Durban's new King Shaka International Airport. Its departure will be a further disillusionment for people living in Durban, who hoped for more international flights without the inconvenience of having to change planes in Joburg.</div>
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The airport was opened as one of the preparations for hosting the Fifa World Cup, despite the fact that international airlines warned that they would not use it – preferring to end their flights in Joburg to avoid having to change crews for the short onward flights to Durban, and allowing domestic airlines to carry their passengers further.</div>
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Taxes and advice</div>
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Comair considered starting a service between Durban and London/Gatwick, hoping to extend its British Airways (BA) franchise in SA to cover that route.</div>
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But it dropped the idea after research by BA – perhaps fortunately in view of the 8 percent rise in the already high air passenger duty that passengers are charged entering or leaving the UK, on top of the new EU carbon trading scheme. This effectively penalises passengers arriving on long-haul flights by forcing airlines to buy units to offset emissions of CO2 from the moment of take-off.</div>
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The combined effect of these two taxes on tourism to Britain may be disguised this year by the two major attractions – the queen's diamond jubilee celebrations and the London Olympics. It is likely that the effect on the British tourism industry next year may shock the government into dropping or severely reducing the air passenger duty.</div>
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For those who do travel to Britain this year, the British Civil Aviation Authority has some advice for all passengers. Some of it seems obvious, such as "write down exactly where you parked if coming to the airport by road", but it may be hard to remember if you left in a hurry and return days later to search in a crowded parkade.</div>
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Another, less obvious, is the warning that "code-share agreements mean that the airline you book with isn't always the one operating your flight, which may affect your rights if you are denied boarding or the service is cancelled or delayed".</div>
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Others include the fact that check-in times can differ from airline to airline. If you make a mistake you can miss your flight, and that if you don't take the outbound flight originally booked for, contact the airline immediately to ensure your return booking is not cancelled.</div>
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TAP-ing voyager miles</div>
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South African Airways and Portuguese National Airline TAP, which are both partners in the international Star Alliance, have expanded their code-share agreement.</div>
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SAA passengers who earn Voyager miles on flights with TAP from Joburg to Lisbon can now earn them on TAP flights between Lisbon and Funchal in Madeira and other domestic destinations in Portugal.</div>
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Africa's top airport</div>
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Cape Town International Airport will receive the annual Airports Council International (ACI) award for the best-performing airport in Africa on May 24 in Singapore. Awards include best improved airport and the Skytrax award for staff service excellence last year.</div>
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Deon Cloete, the airport's general manager, told a destination marketing conference last month that "it hopes to attract more airlines to fly to the city".</div>
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An African royal merger</div>
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KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which flies to Cape Town all year round, has added Luanda, the capital of Angola, to its intercontinental destinations with two scheduled services a week from Amsterdam.</div>
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KLM and Air France, which now flies to Cape Town in summer as well as to Johannesburg all year round, have merged, but with each airline retaining its separate identity. They have announced plans to devote "special attention to Africa" this year. KLM will add Lusaka to its list of destinations next month.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-6695662739237599772012-04-18T08:21:00.001-07:002012-05-19T04:41:02.731-07:00Ethiopian Airlines to be the first to operate 787 Dreamliner in Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.cheapzimbabweflights.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ethiopian-airline-787-Dreamliner.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2629" height="188" src="http://news.cheapzimbabweflights.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ethiopian-airline-787-Dreamliner.jpg" title="Ethiopian airline 787 Dreamliner" width="268" /></a>The Ethiopian Airlines will be the first to operate the 787 Dream-liner in Africa, Ethiopian CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said.</div>
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While in Seattle to meet with Boeing executives to discuss delivery of the airline's first 787 Dreamliner, Tewolde took a special tour of the airline's first 787 to be delivered later this year, according to a statement Ethiopian sent to ENA on Tuesday.</div>
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The statement said Tewolde met with President and CEO of Commercial Airplanes, Jim Albaugh as well as 787 vice president and General Manager, Larry Loftis and other program leaders to talk about the airline's first delivery and to receive an update on the 787 program and production.</div>
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"All of Ethiopia is excited about the delivery of our first Dreamliner and the whole country can be proud of being the first in all of Africa to receive this game-changing airplane," the statement quoted Tewolde as saying.</div>
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Ethiopian Airlines was the first African airline to order the 787 Dreamliner when they placed their order for ten 787s in February 2005.</div>
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The airline currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 737,757,767 and 777 airplanes in passenger service and a 757, MD11 and 747 in cargo operations.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-52669052491096638502012-04-17T10:49:00.001-07:002012-04-27T10:29:48.942-07:00Singapore Airlines will launch direct flights to Osaka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/singapore-airlines1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2457" height="154" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/singapore-airlines1-300x154.jpg" title="Singapore Airlines" width="300" /></a>Singapore Airlines' customers travelling to Osaka this August are in for a special treat.</div>
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The airline will be celebrating 40 years of direct flights to Osaka from Singapore by operating daily Airbus A380 flights from 10 to 15 August 2012.</div>
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The special daily A380 service, which replaces an existing daily Airbus A330 service, will be the first A380 commercial flight to Kansai International Airport.</div>
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Singapore Airlines was the first airline in the world to operate the superjumbo in October 2007. Since its inaugural <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/oceania/australia/sydney.php" target="_blank" title="flight to Sydney">flight to Sydney</a>, the Singapore Airlines A380 has proven exceptionally popular, having flown more than 7 million customers, with strong loads on all routes it serves.</div>
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The aircraft is currently operated to ten destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Singapore Airlines has 17 A380s in service and a further 2 on firm order.</div>
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"We are grateful for the continued support of our customers and service partners over the last 40 years of operations between Singapore and Osaka. The special A380 services symbolise our appreciation, and we are delighted to offer our customers the opportunity to experience some of our latest products on board the superjumbo," said Regional Vice President North Asia, Mr Lim Wee Kok.</div>
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The special A380 service is the latest in a series of activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary milestone. Promotional return fares from Osaka to Singapore as well as other destinations are also on offer.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-28290286964791517782012-04-17T10:04:00.001-07:002012-05-19T04:42:17.532-07:00Qatar Airways keen to expand Canada services<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/qatar-airways31.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2452" height="194" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/qatar-airways31.jpg" title="Qatar Airways" width="259" /></a><b>The CEO of Qatar Airways has said he is struggling to secure more landing rights to boost flights to Canada.</b></div>
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<b><br /> </b>Akbar Al Baker said in a speech in Montreal that Canadians deserved a better airline service to the Middle East but government restrictions were hindering progress.</div>
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"Qatar is of course interested in forging even closer ties with Canada but we are struggling with being granted additional landing rights," he said in comments pubished by Canada's Globe and Mail.</div>
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"You Canadians deserve that. It clearly shows the need for more flights. More capacity and more frequency drive greater competition and have only positive economic impact for the benefit of both countries."</div>
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Already, the three weekly flights launched last June are running ahead of expectations and travelling 85 percent full, he said.</div>
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He added that that Qatar's expansion efforts were not designed to undermine Air Canada, which has previously opposed any additional flights from Middle East-based rivals.</div>
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The Canadian carrier has complained that the partially state-owned Middle Eastern carriers benefit from an unfair advantage.</div>
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"Air Canada should not get worried of competition. Competition makes other airlines very strong," Al Baker said.</div>
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Montreal is Qatar's fourth North American gateway, in addition to Houston, New York and Washington.</div>
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Last month, it was reported that relations between Canada and the UAE were back on track following a spat over airline landing rights two years ago.</div>
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Relations between the oil-rich UAE and Canada deteriorated rapidly after Canada's transport agency refused to give Gulf carriers Etihad and Emirates new landing rights.</div>
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The Gulf state retaliated with the closure of Camp Mirage, a secret military base located outside Dubai and used to supply Canadian troops in Afghanistan.</div>
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Separately, Qatar Airways said it plans to start flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Boston and Detroit within the next year, doubling its US network.</div>
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A daily New York service will also be increased to three flights a day, with the addition of links via cities in Eastern and Western Europe, Al Baker said in comments published by Bloomberg. The airline has daily <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/north-america/united-states/washington.php" target="_blank" title="flights to Washington">flights to Washington</a> and Houston.</div>
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"Qatar Airways is in the midst of a very aggressive expansion plan," Al Baker said. "The only thing that stopped us from going earlier is the delayed delivery of the 787s," he said about the US flights.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-69141065882256535652012-04-16T11:30:00.001-07:002012-05-19T04:44:27.603-07:00Qatar Airways operate flights 14 times a week between Manila to Doha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/qatar-airways5.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2446" height="180" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/qatar-airways5.jpg" title="Qatar Airways" width="280" /></a>Qatar Airways clarified yesterday that it has 14 weekly <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/asia/philippines/" target="_blank" title="flights to Philippines">flights to Philippines</a> between Manila and Doha, and not twice weekly as reported in The STAR on April 3.</div>
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The airline recently ended its thrice-a-week direct flights between Cebu and Qatar, which is not part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was the only direct flight from Cebu to the Middle East. Passengers from the Visayas who want to fly to Doha must now go to Manila first.</div>
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The end of the direct flights from Cebu was reported shortly before the visit in Manila of Qatar's emir, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.</div>
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"Sheikh Hamad is the Emir of the State of Qatar and not the Emirates leader," Qatar Airways country manager Abdallah Okasha pointed out in a letter to The STAR.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-25268478401804847782012-04-16T09:42:00.001-07:002012-07-23T09:15:20.951-07:00Etihad Airways Commences Flights between Abu Dhabi and Basra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Etihad-Airways9.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2441" height="183" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Etihad-Airways9.jpeg" title="Etihad Airways" width="275" /></a>Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today launched its inaugural flights to Basra in southern Iraq from Abu Dhabi .</div>
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Flight EY553 took off from Abu Dhabi airport at 9.45am and landed on schedule at Basra International Airport at 10.50am.</div>
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The new Airbus A320 service, with 16 Pearl Business class seats and 120 seats in Coral Economy class, will operate four times a week from April 15.</div>
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Basra is Etihad Airways' third destination in Iraq.</div>
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"These new services are an important step for Etihad Airways and for the UAE, reflecting a commitment to strengthening ties in the region," Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said.</div>
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"Basra is an important industrial and transport hub but currently has limited access to air services. Our new flight will make a significant contribution to improving this situation for the people of the region."</div>
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Oil and gas represent the backbone of the local economy and major companies rotating staff in and out of Basra have expressed strong interest in the new flights.</div>
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His Excellency Abdulla Ibrahim Al Zowi Al Shehi, UAE Ambassador to Iraq, said: "We have witnessed the dramatic growth in bilateral relations recently between the two countries on all levels. Iraq and the UAE have great potential for cooperation and mutual development. Etihad's services to Baghdad, Erbil and now Basra are vitally important on government and social levels as they strengthen the bridges of understanding between Iraq and the UAE, as well as increasing trade and tourism."<br />
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His Excellency Arshad Tawfiq, Iraqi Ambassador to the UAE stated: "The opening of direct air routes by Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi to Basra, Baghdad and Erbil is an important step to promote trade and tourism between the two countries. It facilitates the movement of business people from both countries and paves the way for investors travelling to Iraq through the UAE to source opportunities in the country, as well as offering services to the Iraqi community residing in the UAE."</div>
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The flight schedule provides both morning and afternoon departures between Abu Dhabi and Basra and will provide seamless connectivity over Abu Dhabi for Etihad Airways flights from Europe to Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and Australia.</div>
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Etihad Airways has been operating services to the capital, Baghdad, since April 2010, and Erbil in the north since June 2010.</div>
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Last year Etihad Airways carried more than 100,000 passengers between Abu Dhabi and these two cities, with the Baghdad route enjoying particularly strong growth.</div>
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Etihad Airways launched cargo operations to Iraq in September 2009. Today, these operations are performing strongly and Etihad Cargo has increased frequency from two to three weekly services to Erbil.</div>
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<b>Basra schedule, effective Sunday, April 15, 2012: </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mceItemTable" style="width: 600px;"> <tbody>
<tr><td valign="top" width="70"><b>Flight # </b></td><td valign="top" width="113"><b>Departs </b></td><td valign="top" width="88"><b>Departure Time </b></td><td valign="top" width="118"><b>Arrives </b></td><td valign="top" width="75"><b>Arrival Time </b></td><td valign="top" width="136"><b>Frequency </b></td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="70">EY553</td><td valign="top" width="113">Abu Dhabi (AUH)</td><td valign="top" width="88">9.45</td><td valign="top" width="118">Basra (BSR)</td><td valign="top" width="75">10.50</td><td valign="top" width="136">Sundays and Mondays</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="70"></td><td valign="top" width="113"></td><td valign="top" width="88"></td><td valign="top" width="118"></td><td valign="top" width="75"></td><td valign="top" width="136"></td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="70">EY553</td><td valign="top" width="113">Abu Dhabi (AUH)</td><td valign="top" width="88">14.55</td><td valign="top" width="118">Basra (BSR)</td><td valign="top" width="75">16.00</td><td valign="top" width="136">Wednesday and Thursdays</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="70"></td><td valign="top" width="113"></td> <td valign="top" width="88"></td><td valign="top" width="118"></td><td valign="top" width="75"></td><td valign="top" width="136"></td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="70">EY554</td><td valign="top" width="113">Basra (BSR)</td><td valign="top" width="88">11.55</td><td valign="top" width="118">Abu Dhabi (AUH)</td><td valign="top" width="75">14.40</td><td valign="top" width="136">Sundays and Mondays</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="70">EY554</td><td valign="top" width="113">Basra (BSR)</td><td valign="top" width="88">17.05</td><td valign="top" width="118">Abu Dhabi (AUH)</td><td valign="top" width="75">19.50</td><td valign="top" width="136">Wednesday and Thursdays</td></tr>
</tbody> </table>
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</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-40356550269602901642012-04-16T07:36:00.001-07:002012-05-19T04:43:32.436-07:00Air France inaugurates services to Wuhan, China<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/air-france6.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2434" height="183" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/air-france6.jpg" title="Air France" width="275" /></a>Air France is the first airline launching flights to Wuhan to link Europe with China, operating three times a week from its international base at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. With seven daily flights to Paris from London-Heathrow and regular connections from 10 UK regional airports, Air France also gives UK travellers easy access to its expanding network to the world's second-largest economic region.<br /> <br /> Air France was the first European carrier to start services between Europe and China when it inaugurated its Paris-Shanghai service in 1966. The Air France-KLM Group, together with its SkyTeam alliance partners, China Southern and China Eastern, now offer 135 weekly flights to nine destinations in Greater China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Wuhan and Taipei) including onward services to Chinese provinces. The Air France-KLM Group is the leading airline group to China, meeting burgeoning demand for travel to the region. Last year the group carried almost two million passengers on the routes.<br /> <br /> Only three destinations within Greater China are served directly from London-Heathrow: Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.<br /> <br /> The new Air France service to Wuhan will depart Paris on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, returning from Wuhan the following day. Flights will operate with a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, configured with 35 Affaires (business class) seats, 24 in Premium Voyageur (premium economy) and 250 in the Voyageur/Economy cabin. <br /> <br /> All aircraft serving Wuhan are equipped with the full sleep Business class seat, which is longer, wider and more spacious. This new seat has drawn positive reviews from over 90% of Air France customers who appreciate the quality of sleep provided during the trip, its horizontal position and additional legroom.<br /> <br /> "With 36 daily <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/asia/" target="_blank" title="flights to Asia">flights to Asia</a> in 21 destinations, AIR FRANCE KLM is the leading airline group to the Far East. By launching the first non-stop flights from Europe to Wuhan today, Air France reaffirms its commitment and leading position in China. We continuously invest in our Asian network and are happy to be contributing to the economic development of this region" stated Henri Hourcade, General Manager, AIR FRANCE KLM UK & Ireland.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-8256459328397299132012-04-16T07:04:00.001-07:002012-05-19T04:45:38.011-07:00More KQ flights between Kenya and Mumbai will boost tourism in Kenya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kenya-airways.jpeg1_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2430" height="183" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kenya-airways.jpeg1_.jpg" title="Kenya Airways" width="275" /></a>Stretching its reach across India, Kenya Airways has released plans to launch new four times weekly <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/destinations/asia/india/" target="_blank" title="flights to India">flights to India</a>, between Nairobi and New Dehli.</div>
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Commencing from 15 May this year, the new services are in addition to the airlines current ten weekly flights between Mumbai and Kenya and will contribute to the country's tourist board plans to increase travel from India by 15 to 20 percent this year compared to last year, TTG Asia reported.</div>
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The airline's global destinations director Tanseem Sharafally said the airline was also looking to increase its services to four other cities to meet growing demand.</div>
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"Kenya is becoming increasingly popular for family vacations. (Travellers) want (Kenya's) safari and luxury outdoor accommodation," Tanseem Sharafally noted.</div>
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According to Kenya Tourist Board head of marketing Jennifer Opondo, India is one of Kenya's largest markets and the new services would help maintain traffic in trade and visits.</div>
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"We are culturally familiar with each other. This makes for a good platform to increase Indian (arrivals) to our country," she said.</div>
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Last year Kenya welcomed up to 58,986 Indian tourist arrivals with the majority travelling from Maharashtra, Gujarat and New Delhi.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-10551366816838680672012-04-14T11:02:00.001-07:002012-07-23T09:16:13.357-07:00Qatar Airways with Arab Air Carriers Organization focuses on ETS by EU<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/qatar-airways1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2426" height="169" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/qatar-airways1.jpg" title="Qatar Airways" width="299" /></a>The Executive Committee of the Arab Air Carriers Organization held its meeting in Doha, during which the spotlight turned on the controversial Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) implemented by the European Union on airlines entering EU airspace.</div>
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Members – including <a href="http://www.flightsmaster.co.uk/airlines/qatar-airways/" target="_blank" title="Qatar Airways">Qatar Airways</a> – of the regional aviation body, which represents the interests of commercial airlines across the Arab world, discussed the EU's persistence in applying its ETS programme despite objections voiced by governments around the world about the scheme's legality.</div>
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The Executive Committee called on the EU to listen to voices around the world, calling on it to work with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on a global, rather than Europe-wide, solution on how to deal with the environmental footprint of civil aviation.</div>
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The Committee decided to call on the EU to redirect its efforts on the environmental issue through ICAO and find a global solution and relinquish its unilateral application of the ETS.</div>
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• A unilateral application of the EU ETS is violating the essence of the Chicago convention, which stipulates that the Air Transport relations between states need to be regulated by mutual consent and agreement.</div>
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• The resolutions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have explicitly called upon states that wish to introduce initiatives in the environmental footprint of aviation, to do that in agreement with the other states whose institutions might be impacted by such initiatives.</div>
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• The fact that the ETS holds airlines of the world responsible for their emissions before the European authorities, contradicts with the principles of sovereignty of states over their national aerospace, and that national institutions of states are responsible before its own authorities and not the authorities of other countries.</div>
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• The EU's attempts to impose its own policies on other states will only lead to conflicts and trade wars which will not help the environment, the customer nor will it help the airlines. On the contrary, these attempts will negatively impact those stakeholders thus negatively impacting as well the global economic activity.</div>
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• The environmental cause is a global one and any solution thereof should also be global arrived at under the auspices of the concerned United nations agency: ICAO</div>
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• The Arab Air Carriers Organisation is quite aware of the necessity to mitigate the environmental footprint of aviation and it supports taking global measures agreed upon within ICAO.</div>
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Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker, who hosted members at the meeting, said the Emission Trading Scheme was one of the most controversial subjects facing the global aviation industry today.</div>
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"There has to be a systematic approach to the implementation of any such scheme and, like many airlines around the world, we feel the European Union needed to take a step-by-step consultative approach before imposing programmes and penalising an aviation industry that plays a crucial role in driving economies."</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-56729757997970143132012-04-14T09:24:00.001-07:002012-05-19T04:47:12.466-07:002012 PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebration launched<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://news.cheapaccraflights.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/PANAFEST-and-Emancipation-Day.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-573" height="183" src="http://news.cheapaccraflights.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/PANAFEST-and-Emancipation-Day.jpg" title="PANAFEST and Emancipation Day" width="275" /></a>Accra-Ghana: Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Tourism, on Friday said Government would continue to use PANAFEST and Emancipation Day to promote Ghana as the gateway to Africa because of her strong attachment to brothers and sisters in the Diaspora.<br /> <br /> She said the collection of more than 60 forts and castles and other relics of the slave trade along the country's coast, and now a silent memorial of the over 500 years turbulent era in Africa's history could attest to this assertion.<br /> <br /> Ms Dansua said: "We will continue to project PANAFEST and Emancipation Day as part of the healing process and to celebrate the strengths, achievements and resilience of Africans over the years.".<br /> <br /> She was launching the 2012 PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebration in Accra.<br /> <br /> This year's celebration on the theme; "Development of the Motherland: the Role of the People of African Descent" is unique because it's the 10th Biennial celebration or 20th commemoration since it was initiated in 1992.<br /> <br /> Since 1998, Emancipation Day has been an annual event for recollecting the horrors of the slave trade, and honouring those who worked hard to overcome the challenges of that trade.<br /> <br /> The events over the years has served as powerful tools to get Africans in the Diaspora to retrace their steps to Africa, either to visit, settle or invest.<br /> <br /> Ms Dansua announced that, the highlights of this year's event would be wreath laying ceremonies at Du Bois Centre, George Padmore Library and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park; pilgrimage to slave sites in the Northern Region, a regatta of fishermen from Cape Coast to Elmina, and grand durbar of chiefs and people.<br /> <br /> The rest are; a five-day cultural exhibition and expo, musical concert and cultural performance, a Pan African Colloquium including special women and youth day activities, reverential night, Emancipation Day at Assin Manso and a carnival at Cape Coast.<br /> <br /> Ms Dansua expressed disappointment at the lack of support by corporate Ghana to activities of the Ministry and Ghana Tourist Authority in spite of repeated requests to support the tourism sector.</div>
</div>adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616140012125393048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511356167339849641.post-49977513501772883302012-04-14T07:35:00.001-07:002012-07-24T04:29:20.479-07:00First Emirates Air Line tower completed in London<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/UK%E2%80%99s-first-urban-cable-car.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2419" height="184" src="http://news.flightsmaster.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/UK%E2%80%99s-first-urban-cable-car.jpg" title="UK's first urban cable car" width="274" /></a>The first of three steel towers which will enable the Emirates Airline, the UK's first urban cable car, to fly passengers across the Thames has been completed.</div>
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Dubai-based <a href="http://www.cheapzimbabweflights.com/airlines/emirates-airlines.html" target="_blank" title="Emirates Airline">Emirates Airline</a> was named in October as the sponsor for the project in a 10-year deal worth £36m ($55.9m).</div>
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The Emirates Air Line will connect north and south London, travelling between two new stations set to be named Emirates Greenwich Peninsula and Emirates Royal Docks with the first passengers set to use the service prior to the Olympic Games.</div>
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According to the latest progress report by developer Mace, the first tower - the North Intermediate Tower - stands over 200ft tall and weighs 270 tonnes and is the smallest of the three towers.</div>
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It said the North Tower and South Tower are both under construction, were scheduled for completion by late spring.</div>
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The structure of each tower will enable up to 2,500 passengers to be carried across the Thames each hour in each direction, it added.</div>
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It is anticipated the Emirates Air Line will carry two million passengers per year.</div>
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The journey across the River Thames will take approximately five minutes, with 34 cabins arriving and departing every 30-40 seconds.</div>
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Each cabin will accommodate up to 10 seated passengers, and will be fully accessible to both wheelchair users and bicycles.</div>
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Operating hours and fares, including private cabin hire, are being finalised, the report said, adding that further details will be announced before the launch.</div>
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The £36m sponsorship deal with Emirates forms part of the funding strategy to recoup the upfront construction costs provided for the link and provides 80 percent of the overall construction cost.</div>
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The consortium of builders behind the project has been led by contractor Mace, whose past projects include the London Eye and the Shard, the iconic pyramid-shaped skyscraper under construction near London's Tower Bridge.</div>
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