19-21 June 2024
Movenpick Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia
Content Library
Videos
In this episode, we welcome back a previous guest, Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair, a low-cost South African airline that is about to embark on a regional expansion launching new routes to Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique.
In this episode, I am joined by flydubai, a very important international airline serving multiple points in Africa, which has just announced a brand new route, taking its African network to 11 destinations in 10 countries. The airline has announced it will serve Mombasa on the east coast of Kenya 4 times per week from January 2024. In this podcast, we hear directly from the airline as to what has prompted this new route announcement and also to get a general feel of FlyDubai’s approach to development in Africa, with Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations at flydubai.
In the first episode of 2023, I am joined by 2 guests from Embraer Commercial Aviation, namely Stephane Hannemann, the VP of sales and marketing for The Middle East and Africa, who started his Embraer in the African market and has come full circle, and Akie Chabra, sales director, who joined the team in 2022, is based in Johannesburg and has a background in aviation and finance.
In this episode, we take a flight to the home of AviaDev Africa 2023, Nairobi, Kenya to meet Martin Gitonga, Head of Network Planning and Alliances at Kenya Airways, an airline that plays a vital role in keeping Africa connected to itself and the wider world. In the last month, there have been some exciting new route announcements from the airline. These include a four-weekly flight from Mombasa to Dubai and a twice-weekly Accra- Dakar flight.
In this episode, we head back to Cape Town, the host city of AviaDev Africa 2022 to meet David King, Project Manager and Paul van den Brink, Aviation Liaison, from Cape Town Air Access team powered by WESGRO who have overseen a pretty incredible recovery of connectivity since the effects of the pandemic subsided earlier this year. In this episode, we take a look at the domestic, regional and international recovery and get a feel for what’s missing from the network. We also discuss the importance of air cargo in route development and how the Air Access team is supporting other African destinations in their drive to improve their air connectivity.
In this episode, we are joined by the CEO of TAAG Angola Airlines. TAAG is one of the most interesting airline stories out there currently as it is reinventing itself, expanding its fleet and network and restructuring g itself ready for private investment.
Podcasts
This month's guests are Sean Mendis, Aviation Consultant, and Behramjee Ghadially, Aviation Consultant. Together, we discuss: Turkish Airlines' continued growth and focus on Africa Qatar Airways announcing 4 x weekly Kinshasa service Access to European markets for African carriers. Is it a level playing field? Uganda Airlines adding an A320 CEO. How and where will it be used? SAA's potential change of leadership and what that means for thier strategy Saudia launching Abuja 3 x weekly Abuja Jeddah nonstop from 11May. Emirates returning to Nigeria
Welcome to the sixth edition of AviaDev Insight Africa’s Connectivity update, the podcast offering insight into the new route developments in Africa, hosted by Jon Howell, CEO and Founder of AviaDev Africa. This month's guests are Sean Mendis, aviation consultant, and Tatenda Karuwa, journalist, Simple Flying: Together, we discussed: Air Peace to London Gatwick fastjet increasing the frequency of their Vic Falls - Kruger route ASKY AIRLINES restarting operations in Niger after ECOWAS lifted sanctions. RwandAir's suspension of their Mumbai route CemAir (Pty)Ltd's launch of Mala Mala from Johannesburg Uganda's intention to join SAATM South African Airways' decision to make Port Elizabeth a year-round service Ethiopian Airlines order of 20 x 777Xs
Those avid listeners know that each month we are now delivering a connectivity update where we summarise and analyse the route changes to, from, and within Africa in the previous month. Kenya Airways announced some huge changes to the network and to discuss this we are joined by Martin Gitonga, head of network planning and alliances at the airline to discuss the thought process behind the strategy. I was joined for this interview by Chief Regional troublemaker, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially, an aviation consultant and Africa specialist. The podcast is wide-ranging and discusses new routes, codeshares, scheduling, visas, and much more, so fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the episode.
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, host Jon Howell interviews Dr. Namhla Tshetu, the Executive Manager for Corporate Services at Airlink, Africa's largest private carrier. Together, they discuss Namhla's role in aeropolitical affairs and her aviation journey. They also touch upon the Airlinkers booklet and The Link program, sharing its successes.
This episode is the third of a new format that focuses on sub-Saharan African air route development, with a specific focus on routes that are due to start or cease in the next quarter. In this episode, we cover: Airlink moving to daily Malawi from mid December, whilst SAA has announced they are pulling out. Etihad's Abu-Dhabi to Nairobi service and why Etihad has a small footprint compared to the other Middle Eastern carriers FlyNamibia to launch Luanda, Maun and Victoria Falls in 2024 Jambojet launching Mombasa-Zanzibar with a dash 8 TAAG Angola increasing Sao Paulo frequencies flydubai ordering 787s and what this means for Africa ET's Dubai Airshow orders and how they plan to deploy the aircraft SAA to launch Gqeberha from Johannesburg Rumour Mill Malawi Airlines adds an ex-asky 737-700. Will we finally see the new routes they have been teasing for months? Madagascar Airlines. What’s next there? Emirates back to Nigeria. Anytime soon? Air Tanzania to start USA
This episode was recorded on location in London at the Headquarters of Zero on 30th November 2023. Zero, https://www.zero.co/ is a pioneer in the field of sustainable aviation fuel and I visited Kwame Bekoe, an industry colleagues and a personal friend, who is serving as the Commercial Director of the business. Kwame Bekoe has a rich aviation history including working with GECAS, a large international lessor, and before this over 10 years with Airbus. After completing an MBA with Columbia Business School he embarked on his latest journey with Zero to revolutionise the industry. In the episode, we discuss: The mission and origin story of the company and its links to Formula1 Why Kwame chose to join Zero after completing his MBA How the technology works Industry partnerships with Boeing and Rolls-Royce The biggest challenges right now The size of the opportunity for Africa to lead the charge with new fuels. The roadmap for the coming years.
Industry news
Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) providers continue to play a prominent role in providing market-leading services to help airlines meet their operations in the post-covid era. Given the growing large-scale fleet shortages for major African carriers, mounting staff shortage issues, and growing demand for aircraft maintenance services and capital leases, it goes without question that the regional market holds significant prospects for lease operators to provide alternative and flexible services to enable these airlines to achieve their expected operational levels in 2023.