Africa – Page 2 – Budget Airline Guide

1Time adds service to Mombasa, Kenya

January 4, 2012 By Budget Airline News

1Time, a low-cost carrier based in South Africa, will add Mombasa to its network by March 2012, following successful flights from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Zanzibar.

The twice-a-week service to Mombasa will open the South African market for holidays at the Kenyan coast, and hoteliers have overwhelmingly welcomed the new connection, which will finally offer nonstop flights between South Africa and Kenya’s Indian Ocean port city of Mombasa, eliminating the tiring and often hassle some transfer in Nairobi.

Initially a domestic airline operating within South Africa, 1Time has widened its reach with flights to Livingstone, Zambia, Zanzibar, and now Mombasa.

FastJet budget airline proposed to serve Africa

December 7, 2011 By Budget Airline News

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the founder of European budget airline EasyJet, has announced plans to base his new low-cost carrier called FastJet in Africa.

“I am looking forward to being part of this new venture to bring low cost air travel to the people of Africa,” said Stelios. “Africa must now represent the final frontier of this aviation revolution which started in the US in the 70s and which I was proud to have led in Europe in the 90s.”

Stelios has signed a deal with investment company Rubicon to develop a budget airline in Africa. If the feasibility study proves successful, the airline will be launched under the Fastjet brand. Rubicon says that Stelios and his easyGroup management team will bring “significant airline experience” in the areas of operations, marketing, branding, IT, fleet selection and finance to the potential company.

A placeholder website has been set up at http://www.fastjet.com/ but no further details are currently available.

kulula launches online check-in

January 13, 2011 By Budget Airline News

Waiting in long queues? So 2010. Thanks to kulula’s new online check-in service, the gateway to a hassle-free holiday is just a click of a mouse away. The low-fare airline’s convenient new offering allows travellers to print boarding passes in the comfort of their own home or office.

Self-printed boarding passes are accepted at most South African airports except Durbs, George and Nelspruit. kulula customers can select their preferred seat 24 hours prior to flight departure, with a cut-off time of two hours before departure. The online check-in service is only available for flight numbers with three digits (for example MN101).

kulula customers with a self-printed boarding pass may simply drop off their luggage at the ‘fast bag drop off’ airport counters located near the check-in counters. The luggage-free may proceed directly to security. It’s easy as that.

“kulula’s online check-in with the option of printing boarding passes at home or work means our customers can spend their time planning fabulous trips rather than waiting in queues. It’s a great way to start the New Year!” says Nadine Damen, kulula Marketing Manager.

Air Arabia Egypt Launches Flights

June 7, 2010 By Budget Airline News

Air Arabia ‘Egypt,’ an Alexandria-based Air Arabia Group company and Egypt’s new low cost carrier (LCC) held an official ceremony today in Cairo to mark the carrier’s launch. The event was attended by officials from Egypt and UAE along with members of public and trade sector.

Based at Burj Al Arab International Airport in Alexandria, Air Arabia ‘Egypt’ first commercial flight took off the skies on June 1st , 2010 to Khartoum, to be followed by flights to Kuwait , Amman and Beirut..

A joint venture between Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, and the Travco Group, the Middle East’s largest travel and hospitality group, Air Arabia ‘Egypt’ will shortly plans to expand further its range of destinations from Alexandria Burj Al Arab Airport to key cities across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said: “We are extremely pleased to announce the launch of operations of Air Arabia ‘Egypt,’ the newest member of the rapidly growing Air Arabia family of companies. Complementing our existing operations in the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, this new low-cost carrier will provide the same consistently high level of service, operational reliability and value-for-money fares that have become the hallmark of Air Arabia. We thank the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority and the management of Burj Al Arab International Airport as well as all our strategic partners for marking the launch of Air Arabia ‘Egypt’”.

He continued: “Working together with the Travco Group, with whom we share a vision of facilitating the economic growth and positive contribution to the Egyptian tourism sector, we remain committed to creating further opportunities for affordable and reliable travel across this young and vibrant region.”

“Today represents a milestone in the history of the travel and hospitality industry here in Egypt – and for all of us at the Travco Group and Air Arabia,” said Hamed El Chiaty, Chairman and CEO of the Travco Group. “For more than three decades, we have focused on fostering the development of an umbrella of brands that contribute to the diversification of the domestic tourism industry, which is so vital to the Egyptian economy.

“With the launch of Air Arabia ‘Egypt,’ we further expand the opportunities for travelers from across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region to visit the Arab world’s most-populous nation, whether for business, leisure or personal reasons, while also increasing opportunities for Egypt-based individuals and companies to reach out across the markets we serve,” he said. “Together with Air Arabia, we look forward to further expanding the range of destinations and services provided by Air Arabia ‘Egypt’ in the months and years to come.”

Building upon Air Arabia’s existing service to 60 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, Air Arabia ‘Egypt’ is now contributing to the ongoing development of the Egyptian travel and tourism sector, while also offering a larger base of customers the best value-for-money air travel options.
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