Zambian Airways CEO Calls on African Airlines to Embrace Low Cost Model February 17, 2005

Presenting a paper at the African conference "Tourism: Pathway to a Peaceful and Prosperous Africa," Zambian Airways chief executive officer (CEO) Don MacDonald observed that it was not just important to transport people quickly and efficiently from one point to the other, but it was equally imperative to do so at affordable prices, not only to visiting tourists, but also for the locals.

"If airlines are going to play a significant role in developing this vision of the 21st century in Africa, we must look at the cost of travel, this is not something that we can do on our own, however, there is much that could be done in our own homes first," he said.

Mr. McDonald called on airlines present at the conference to embrace a low cost model of flying, as had been applied in other parts of the world, saying such a move would benefit Africa. He added that it was ironic the developed world seemed to favour such an arrangement more than poor African airlines did.

He said there was need for Africa to change its way of thinking as regards low cost travel by adapting it to suit the requirements of the continent.

Source: Excerpts from "Tourism Industries Key to Economic Development,"
by Davis Mataka, The Times of Zambia

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BA Can't Compete with Jet2.com February 12, 2005

BRITISH Airways is axing its flagship Manchester to Amsterdam service after more than half a century. The airline confirmed its 19 flights-a-week service to the Dutch city, which was established in 1952, would finish at the end of March.

The news was confirmed on the day Manchester Airport's latest budget airline, Jet2.com, began flying its own Manchester to Amsterdam service with fares from 30 return including taxes.

The axing of the flag-carrier's route represents first blood for the new arrival in its increasingly bitter fight with BA.

Jet2 boss Philip Meeson, a former RAF pilot and five-times British Aerobatic champion, who is launching 13 routes out of Manchester, promised even more and said BA could no longer compete with budget airlines.

Jet2 is employing an extra 50 crew, bringing the total to 250, and has brought in two more aircraft, bringing its Manchester fleet to eight.

Source: Excerpts from "Flagship Flight Axed," The Manchester News

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Air Southwest Website Smashes Records February 10, 2005

Air Southwest, the low fares regional airline, has just recorded the highest number of monthly visitors to its website since the airline was launched 15 months ago.

In January this year almost 110,000 people visited www.airsouthwest.com, which is a massive 62% increase on the same time last year.

Website bookings now account for 92% of all tickets sold by Air Southwest.

The dramatic increase in website hits is being attributed to the continuing expansion of the airline, which was launched in October 2003 and carried 170,000 passengers in its first 12 months of operation.

From April 11, Air Southwest will launch new routes from Newquay in Cornwall to Dublin, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Bristol. A new link will also be provided from Plymouth to Leeds Bradford and from Bristol to Leeds Bradford.

Mike Coombes, general manager commercial at Air Southwest, said: "Our website is attracting 3,500 visitors a day and it's proved very popular with passengers who like the ease of booking and the range of other services available.

Source: Air Southwest Ltd, A Sutton Harbour Group Company

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Denim Airways Opens New Routes February 10, 2005

From 04 April 2005 Denim Airways will commence flights from Eindhoven Airport to Barcelona, Zurich, and Munich West (Augsburg). Denim Airways is the regional airline of the Denim Air Group and operates scheduled flights from Augsburg to Dusseldorf and Berlin since mid 2003. Denim Airways furthermore operates in code-share with Swiss International Air Lines, 6 return flights per day from Zurich to Venice, Florence and Bologna.

In a very short time Denim Airways has grown substantially. Denim Airways fleet presently consists of 18 aircraft. The aircraft types are Fokker 50 and Dash 8. The route network is continually growing and Denim Airways is therefore also very proud to announce the scheduled operations from its homebase. "Our flights are performed by the most comfortable and reliable regional aircraft on the market, the Fokker 50. On board you can relax in our luxurious leather seats while enjoying our excellent service. Our punctuality and quality of our product are highly appreciated by our passengers and this will ensure a rapid penetration in the various markets." Says Raymond Vrijenhoek, Managing Director of Denim Airways.

Source: Denim Airways

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Kulula Spreads Wings On New Routes February 8, 2005

KULULA.COM, a subsidiary of Comair, is likely to spark further price wars next month when it starts operating on two new routes.

The low-fare airline announced yesterday it would introduce its services on the routes between Johannesburg and East London, and Cape Town and George.

Kulula.com executive director Gidon Novick said the airline's fares, at about R299 a ticket one way on both new routes would be the lowest offered in SA.

The airline has leased two additional aircraft from Safair to facilitate its latest expansion, bringing its total fleet to nine.

Kulula.com had recorded growth of about 45% year on year, said Novick. He said the airline carried a record 155000 passengers in December.

Novick expected the introduction of the airline's services on the two new routes to grow the air travel market substantially.

Source: Excerpts from "Kulula Spreads Wings on New Routes," by Carli Lourens, Business Day

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Aero Meets Increasing Demand February 7, 2005

Aero Contractors celebrated its first 100 days of flying international routes last week. Koen Neven, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, said passenger traffic had improved steadily. He listed the company's international route network as Malabo, Lome, Cotonou, Sao Tome and Accra.

Against the background of the increasing demand for air transporation in Nigeria, Aero Contractors became a scheduled airline in August 2000, and adopted the name Aero. Today the airline operates scheduled passenger services with the Bombardier Dash-8 series 300 aircraft between Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt. The company's fleet currently consist of three Dash-8, four Dauphin N, six Dauphin N2/N3, six Skiorsky S76 helicopter and three 737-300 commercial jets among others.

Source: Excerpts from "Aero's International Routes,"
by Solomon Ibhanruneafe, Newswatch Magazine

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Air Wales Gears Up for Busiest Year Yet December 1, 2004

Yield and passenger numbers rise.Air Wales, Wales' national airline, today announced record passenger and yield growth on a number of its 17 domestic routes operated to date. Carrying in excess of 19,000 passengers on our network during October 2004, passenger figures show strong growth of over 20%, representing a consecutive increase in quarter-year results for the airline.

With the establishment of successful routes to Liverpool, Aberdeen, Newcastle and Norwich, the airline is currently enjoying record network growth of 34% in the past 6 months, consolidating Air Wales' position as one of the UK's premier regional airlines.

Source: Air Wales

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