Aviadev Insight

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

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: will@bornfree.org.uk  Follow Th

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 Afric

In this episode, Helen Mwamba joins me to discuss the Aviation Week Africa Summit Exhibition and Air Show, taking place 22-26 April in Lusaka, Zambia.   Together, we discuss:   How and why the event was created and what it aims to achieve Who the event partners are The format of the event Some of the speaker and session highlights     Find out more at https://aviationweekafrica.com/

In this episode, I speak to Peter Knights, CEO of Wild Africa Fund.   https://wildafricafund.org/    Together, we discuss the organization's mission to popularize conservation across Africa and engage local communities through media and influencers.   Takeaways: The Wild Africa Fund aims to popularize conservation across Africa and engage local communities through media and influencers. Tourism plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation and economic development in Africa. Partnerships with airlines and airports allow the fund to create bespoke content that promotes wildlife conservation and tourism. The aviation industry can contribute to efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and promote sustainable tourism in Africa. Follow Wild Africa on Instagram Follow Wild Africa on facebook  

In this episode, we hear from George Mothema, head of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (BARSA).   The theme of the upcoming summit is: "Moving forward: Embracing accountability for a better future."    Together we discussed: BARSA's mandate and summit objectives Key objectives for BARSA in 2024 - ensuring fuel security, addressing regulatory issues, and supporting the development of aviation infrastructure. Key sessions and speakers we will hear from at the event.  Leadership development and developing a skills pipeline To find out more about the Summit, please visit: https://barsa.co.za/summit-2/ 

Welcome to the fifth edition of AviaDev Insight Africa’s Connectivity update, a podcast that offers insights into new route developments in Africa. Hosted by Jon Howell, CEO and Founder of AviaDev Africa, this podcast covers new route developments and expansions in the aviation industry on the African continent. In this episode, we discuss:   Ethiopian Airlines' Summer 24 schedule, which includes new destinations and increased frequencies. They also highlight the airline's focus on connecting Africa to the world, discussing Ethiopian Airlines' expansion plans, including the addition of Warsaw as a potential new destination.    FlySafair's new route from Cape Town to Kruger Mpumalanga   Cemair becomes the latest airline to serve the growing Johannesburg-Harare route   Airlink's new routes, including Bloomfontein-Durban and continued growth in Malawi   Qatar Airways changes to their Southern Africa schedule   Air Tanzania's new route to Dubai   Rumour Mill:   Air Cote d'Ivoire's fleet a

This episode is something a little bit different and hugely exciting.   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, Jon and Victo discuss the need for better accessibility and communication for differently able travelers in Africa, as well as the importance of creating uniform global standards. They also explore the role of airlines and customers in driving change and using technology to improve accessibility. Victo shares her experiences and highlights the work of the Tunaweza Foundation in supporting people with disabilities. The episode concludes with a discussion on Victo's TED Talk and involvement with the Obama Foundation. 00:00 Introduction 01:19 Discussing African aviation accessibility 06:15 Challenges faced by differently able travelers 13:05 The need for better facilitation by airlines and airports 14:47 Creating uniform global standards 15:44 The role of airlines and customers in driving change 18:10 Using technology to improve accessibility 24:18 Engagement with airlines and the need for follow-up 26:30 The Tunaweza Foundation and its mission 31:54 Victo's TED Talk and involvement with the Oba

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. Namhla talks about her recently completed PhD on open skies in Africa and the potential for its realization. A deep dive into the thorny issue of aeropolitical negotiations and market access conversations, especially in southern Africa.  Airlink's strategy post-SAA partnership and working with CEO Rodger Foster. Finally, they touch on Airlink's future plans, hinting at consolidation and potential expansion.  Connect with Namhla here Download the Airlinkers booklet here  Head over to www.AviaDev.com to sign up for event updates. Finally, as always, if you enjoyed this episode, don't hesitate to subscribe for free to ensure you never miss another episode.

Welcome to the fourth edition of AviaDev Insight Africa’s Connectivity update, a podcast that offers insights into new route developments in Africa. Hosted by Jon Howell, CEO and Founder of AviaDev Africa, this podcast covers new route developments and expansions in the aviation industry on the African continent. For this month's episode, Jon is joined by two industry analysts, Sean Mendis and Dr. James Pearson, to discuss and analyze these developments. In this episode, the podcast discusses: TAAG Angola closing Madrid and moving to a daily Lagos service SAA's new route from Johannesburg to Perth Discover's continued expansion in Africa  Malawian increasing its Johannesburg routes Ethiopian Airlines' daily flights to Toronto and its North American ambitions Fastjet's reduction in Harare-Johannesburg flights Air Senegal's strategy shift, including new strategic partnerships The rumors about Gabon launching a national carrier. Connect with Sean here Connect with James here Subscribe to James' weekly route news

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.  You can follow/ connect with Kwame here

This episode was recorded on location in Kampala, Uganda where I attended the 55th African Airlines Association AGA, hosted by our friends at Uganda Airlines,  During the 3 days, I took the opportunity to sit down with Raphael Haddad, President of Jetcraft commercial who spent 18 years working with Bombardier in Africa, Europe and the Middle East bringing the Q400, C-series which became the A220 and also the Crj 1000 to the continent. He set up Jetcraft commercial in 2015 where he focuses on the global procurement and placement of commercial aircraft, so together we explore the current market trends and opportunities affecting Africa We discuss: Is there a trend towards rightsizing in Africa?  Is the demand for widebodies waning? With interest rates high and finance hard to secure, are there more airlines looking for short term dry/damp/wet leasing arrangements The costs of leasing right now Will there be consolidation coming to the market? Jetcraft Commercial are here to help you with your aircraft needs,

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.  My guests for this podcast are: Aviation consultant, analyst and commentator, Sean Mendis, who brings over 20 years of experience in the industry, including stints managing airports, commercial airlines, and also cargo airlines in Africa and the Middle East. Behramjee Ghadially, an aviation consultant with over 20 years of experience (9 of which has been in Africa) supporting airlines globally with their network planning and strategy. 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

This episode was recorded 7th November 2023 on location in Windhoek, Namibia I spoke with Bisey Uirab, the CEO of the Namibia Airports Company, who is responsible for the operation and development of the country's airports.  Bisey himself has a long history of leading multiple private sector and state organizations including the Namibia Ports Authority, where he served as CEO for 10 years before becoming CEO of NAC in 2019.  In the episode, we discuss: The connectivity and aviation development ambitions of Namibia  The factors attracting new carriers to the country Airport infrastructure development and investment plans What Namibia hopes to achieve by hosting AviaDev Africa 2024 You can follow NAC via LinkedIn here   Check out www.AviaDev.com to sign up for event updates.  Finally,  if you enjoyed this episode, don't hesitate to subscribe for free to ensure you never miss another episode.

This episode was recorded on 7th November on location in Windhoek, Namibia, where AviaDev Africa 2024 will take place June 19-21. Today’s guest is at the helm of one of the most important stakeholders, FlyNamibia, who will be heavily involved in the event as an official carrier Andre Compion is a well-known Namibian businessman and the Managing Director of FlyNamibia. In the episode, we discuss:  How and why Fly Namibia was created The thinking behind the equity stake from Airlink The current network and fleet The recent IATA membership and what the airline aims to do with this New route developments You can follow FlyNamibia’s  via their social media handles here: LinkedIn Instagram To find out more about 2024's event, visit www.aviadev.com to sign up for event updates.  Finally, if you enjoyed this episode, don't hesitate to subscribe for free to ensure you never miss another episode.

In this episode, we dive into a topic that has been dominating conversations over the last couple of years, specifically aviation’s role in supporting the drive towards net zero and a more sustainable industry. To do this I am joined by Dirk Singer, the Head of Sustainability at Simpliflying, a consulting firm that is dedicated to supporting a greener and more environmentally sustainable future for air travel.  Together we discuss: How best to address the topic of sustainability with industry stakeholders? What Simpliflying is aiming to achieve with the book?  Should Africa be subject to the same sustainability targets as everyone else, when its aviation industry is unprofitable? Who should finance sustainability? What can African aviation and governmental stakeholders be doing now to capitalise on the opportunity? Buy the book here Listen to the sustainability in the air podcast now here or find it on all platforms Follow Dirk on LinkedIn Follow Simpliflying on LinkedIn If you enjoyed this episode, click s

This episode is the second 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.  My guests for this podcast are: Aviation consultant, analyst and commentator, Sean Mendis, who brings over 20 years of experience in the industry, including stints managing airports, commercial airlines, and also cargo airlines in Africa and the Middle East. Tatenda Karuwa - a journalist writing for Simple Flying, the largest aviation website globally https://simpleflying.com/ In this episode, we cover: SAA to launch Sao Paulo from both CPT and JHB SAA opening Abidjan Uganda Airlines launching Mumbai and Lagos Ibom Air launching Accra Air Tanzania swapping Mumbai to the Boeing 737 MAX 9 Ethiopian Airlines increasing Accra and Seychelles Fastjet increasing frequencies from Bulawayo to Johannesburg Rumour Mill: Emirates to return to Nigeria Ghana Airlines latest TAAG to launch LGW Did we miss a route? Let me know Email Jon

This podcast was recorded on 18th October in Dakar, Senegal, where I was attending the ACI Africa Annual General Assembly.  Senegal is also the home base of the African Civil Aviation Commission or AFCAC who have been very visible and busy sensitising stakeholders in terms of the benefits of the single African air transport market. In June at AviaDev, AFCAC and AviaDev signed an MoU to support each other in the fields of communication and route development.  In this episode, Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General, AFCAC and I discuss: Status update. What is the current state of progress? How do you respond to airline CEOs who don't necessarily support SAATM? Have there been new intra-African routes launched that may not have happened before SAATM? Have AFCAC been successful in solving market access disputes? Are AFCAC lobbying for visa reform? The goals and objectives of the next 2 years Follow AFCAC on LinkedIn here Watch Adefunke's lifetime achievement award interview here As always, if you enjoyed this epis