AviaDev Insight Africa

In this podcast, I am joined by Marcel Langeslag, Director Aviation Africa and Nelly Alandou, airport planning consultant at Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) to preview the upcoming AviaDev Real Estate event on 19th June 2024 in Windhoek.

Building a resilient business model through diversifying revenues has never been more important. However, this requires careful planning and appreciation of the local investment environment.

In the episode, we discuss the current investment environment for airport real estate in Africa, what airports can do to get started and preview the sessions planned for Windhoek, which will provide a platform for airports to share their experiences and learnings with their peers and hear directly from airport investors.

Connect with Marcel here

Connect with Nelly here

View the AviaDev Real Estate agenda

Welcome to the eighth 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 Dr. James Pearson, Analyst at Simple Flying.

Together, we discuss:

Norse Atlantic Airways, a new carrier for Africa, is launching a three times a week operation from Gatwick in London to Cape Town International. Jon recently interviewed Norse, so if you want to hear more listen here

EasyJet's expansion into Cape Verde. Could this move be the start of a trend of major European low-cost carriers expanding into sub-Saharan markets?

Ethiopian Airlines' launch of the Warsaw route using the Boeing 737 MAX indicates their expansion into secondary markets in Europe. This strategy allows them to tap into niche markets and connect with their hub in Addis Ababa.

ASKY Airlines has made schedule changes to improve the utility of their aircraft and enhance their economics. They have swapped some of their routing and are focusing on maximizing connectivity through their hub in Lomé, Togo.

Etihad's postponed launch to Nairobi was attributed to paperwork issues or delays in obtaining the operating permit. The success of this route remains uncertain, given the competition from other airlines serving the Nairobi market.

The impact of political instability and restricted airspace which continue to pose challenges for airlines operating in Africa.

RUMOUR MILL

Emirates return to Nigeria (this has since been confirmed)

Air Asia's plans for Africa

Uganda Airlines proposed Boeing order and Abu Dhabi route

Air Peace looking at Abuja-London

Air Canada looking at African markets

SA flights to Thailand

Subscribe to James' newsletter here

Read James' articles here

Connect with James on LinkedIn here

Connect with Sean on LinkedIn here

If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with your network and leave us a review so we can be found by more people.

In this episode of Aviadev Insight Africa, Nomusa joins Jon to discuss Tourvest's involvement in revolutionizing the African travel landscape and their support for airlines and airports in developing their retail and catering solutions.

Specifically, we explore how Tourvest has been working with FlySafair to deliver an improved onboard experience, driving ancillary airline revenues whilst rewarding crew for performance.

We finish by looking to the future and how a shift towards radical personalisation, focusing on flexibility, sustainability, and enhancing the passenger experience will change the passenger experience- all driven by harnessing the power of data.

You can meet Nomusa and the team at AviaDev Africa, June 19-21 in Windhoek, Namibia www.aviadev.com

Find out more about Tourvest here

Connect with Nomusa

In this episode, we sit down with Jillian Blackbeard, the founder of Africa's Eden.

Together, we discuss the mission of Africa's Eden, the importance of airlift to the organization's success, and practical steps to develop air access in the region.

Africa's Eden was launched in response to a call from the private sector to address challenges in the tourism industry. The organization focuses on creating a collaborative ecosystem and works with various stakeholders, including tourism product owners, tour operators, and travel trade networks.

Find out more: https://africaseden.travel/

Connect with Jillian

In this episode, I am joined by Natalia Rosa to elaborate on the partnership between AviaDev and SADC Business Council and preview the Air Route Development Masterclass which will be held during AviaDev Africa 2024.

Together, we discuss:

Natalia's background, role, and mandate

Air Access as a policy focus of SADC

Are policy-makers listening to the industry?

The format and purpose of the workshop and partnership

To find out more and register visit www.aviadev.com

On the 18th April 2024, Norse Atlantic announced the launch of a 3 weekly service from London Gatwick to Cape Town International starting at the end of October.

In this podcast, I am joined by Philip Allport, Senior Vice President of Communications and together we discuss: ✈️ Norse's business model, fleet and network ✈️ Why Cape Town is the first African destination and the role the Cape Town Air Access team played in attracting the route ✈️ Norse's approach to other popular destinations in Africa- will we see them served in the future? ✈️ Why their low-cost, long-haul model can succeed where others have failed ✈️ Their approach to interlining and partnerships ✈️ Their distribution and sales strategy

In this episode, we discuss the role and importance of ancillary revenue for African airlines.

Today, it is not just a case of upselling, but personalising an offer that the passenger will benefit from.

Protect is the world leader in refundable booking protection and work with a variety of airlines globally, including Ethiopian Airlines.

I am joined by Nick Ashton, Global Airline Lead,and Andrew Ridgway, Head of Strategic Partnerships and together we discuss:

Their aviation industry experience

The Protect proposition

The current environment in African aviation when it comes to ancillaries and trip protection

How to overcome scepticism of the product from both an integration perspective at the airline and from a passenger perspective

The involvement of the airline in the refund process

The Protect team will be in Windhoek for AviaDev Africa in June.

You can contact them here:

Andrew:

LinkedIn

Email

Nick:

LinkedIn

Email

If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with your network and leave us a review so we can be found by more people.

Welcome to the seventh 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 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

Thanks for joining us today. If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with your network and leave us a review so we can be found by more people.

Aviation can be much maligned as an industry and we are all conscious of the challenges we face, but we must not lose sight of the fact that aviation has a unique way of solving unique problems.

In this episode, I am joined by Will Travers OBE, Founder and Executive President of the Born Free Foundation, to discuss the positive impact of aviation in wildlife conservation.

Together, we discuss the story of Tsar and Jamil, two rescued lions, and the challenges of relocating animals. Will emphasizes the importance of lifetime care for rescued animals and the role of aviation in transporting them to safe environments.

We also address the dark side of aviation, such as wildlife trafficking, and the efforts of Born Free to prevent it. The conversation highlights the need for collaboration between airlines, airports, and conservation organizations to promote responsible travel and protect wildlife.

Support Born Free/ visit the website https://www.bornfree.org.uk/

Connect with Will: [email protected]

Follow The Born Free Foundation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-born-free-foundation/

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 The rumour mill...

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:03 Airpeace launch to London Gatwick

12:06 Fastjet increasing Vic Falls Kruger frequency

27:50 ASKY restarts operations in Niger

33:03 RwandAir suspends Mumbai route

38:38 Indigo's Impact on India to East Africa Market

40:22 Cemair Launches Mala Mala from Johannesburg

42:02 Uganda's Intention to Join SAATM

46:44 SAA Makes Port Elizabeth a Year-Round Service

50:30 Ethiopian Airlines Orders 20 777Xs

56:15 Nigerian Government Instructs Foreign Airlines to Reduce Prices

57:12 Emirates' Potential Return to Nigeria

01:00:21 Uganda's Intention to Sign on to SAATM

Connect with Tatenda here

Connect with Sean here