Air Mauritius Re-Introduces Durban Festive Flights

After declaring the closure of the Durban route, as of 28 October, Air Mauritius has announced that the national carrier will re-introduce flights to the KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa market, for the festive season, spanning 21 December 2012 – 13 January 2013.
 A319 aircraft will be used to service this market. So, from 28 October, Air Mauritius will operate 10 weekly flights out of Johannesburg, and additional supplementary capacity during peak holiday season. Also from 28 October, Cape Town flight capacity will also be simultaneous boosted with three flights direct to Mauritius, return, per week.
Furthermore, and also effective as of 28 October, Air Mauritius will offer network connectivity within six hours to all destinations, beyond Mauritius. These include competitive rates offered via international routes inclusive of: Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, London, Paris, India, China, Reunion, Kenya, Madagascar and more.

1time Cuts Mombasa Route

 Troubled South African low-cost airline, 1time, has announced that it will halt operations between Johannesburg and Mombasa from 17 September.
 "While the debt relief process will allow 1time to continue operating while we resolve the outstanding issues and prepare to emerge as a healthier company, part of the process will be to strengthen our profitable routes and to terminate non-profitmaking destinations," said CEO, Blacky Komani.
Earlier in the week, 1Time Holdings filed for business rescue. The airline's board said it required business rescue because it was "financially distressed". The firm has about R320-million in short-term debt and has been in negotiations with creditors since March.
1Time's shares have fallen 91% over the past two years, from about 155c a share to close at 14c a share on Tuesday. In April, the company reported a R157-million loss.
 Earlier this year, another South African low-cost airline, Velvet Sky, went into liquidation after failing to convince a court that it was a candidate for business rescue.

Travelport Trials New Service

Travelport is trialling a new service which will allow travel agents to book private car transfers via the GDS. Targeting selected Galileo-connected travel agents in Asia, the new Travelport ‘Drive Me’ solution works with two car rental companies to provide access to 21 airports in China, India, the Philippines and Singapore.
 Pending the completion of a successful trial, Travelport plans to make this service available to all Galileo-connected travel agents worldwide. By booking with Travelport via the GDS, agents are able to automate the process and bookings are integrated back into the passenger name record (PNR).
The tool uses the functionality of the Galileo CarMaster system and transmits flight and destination details to the transfer provider. All bookings through Travelport Drive Me will be commissionable at between five and 10%.

Hertz to buy Dollar Thrifty

Hertz has entered into an agreement to acquire car hire rival, Dollar Thrifty, more than two years after first making a bid for the company.
 The final offer is apparently worth $87.50 per share, which totals approximately $2.56 billion – more than double Hertz’s original 2010 bid. Since then, Hertz has been embroiled in a bidding war with the Avis Budget Group, with the latter company finally pulling out earlier this year.
The Hertz deal, which has been unanimously approved by directors of both companies, will be an all cash transaction. The combined company will offer approximately 10,000 locations across the world.

Qantas Celebrates 60 Years of Flying Between Johannesburg & Australia

Qantas is set to celebrate a major milestone in its history, as the airline marks its 60th anniversary of passenger flights between Australia and South Africa on 1 September.
 Qantas first commenced passenger services to Johannesburg on 1 September 1952, when a Lockheed Constellation L-749A aircraft departed Sydney and arrived three days later on 4 September 1952. Following the first flight, there were fortnightly services on the route until 1957, when Qantas and SAA announced a partnership to operate flights between the two countries on alternate weeks. This agreement involved SAA operating DC7B aircraft between Johannesburg and Perth, and Qantas operating Super Constellations from Perth to Sydney and return.
Today, Qantas operates a daily non-stop flight service between Sydney and Johannesburg on a B747-400 aircraft, with a typical flight time of 14 hours and 10 minutes. The return leg is generally assisted by a favourable tailwind, with a typical flying time of only 11 hours and 45 minutes.

AVIAREPS To Represent Condor

German leisure carrier Condor and general sales agent, AVIAREPS, have announced their co-operation in the South African market. For the launch of new flights between Frankfurt and Cape Town in November, the Johannesburg team of AVIAREPS has been appointed for the positioning of Condor in the market and being a local point of contact for all sales and reservations queries in South Africa.
 Starting on 3 November, Condor offers non-stop flights from Frankfurt to Cape Town. Aircraft depart on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Germany, whilst return flights from Cape Town are offered on Wednesdays and Sundays. Passengers will benefit from convenient overnight connections. Frankfurt – Cape Town is scheduled from 22h05 – 10h50 +1 on Tuesdays and 20h40 – 09h25 + 1 on Saturdays.
Cape Town – Frankfurt is served at 23h20 – 10h20 on Wednesdays and 18h55 – 05h55 on Sundays. Condor offers different classes on its long-haul routes: Economy Class, Premium Economy and Comfort Class. All services are operated with a modern Boeing 767-300 and are already available for sale.

Deadline Looms for Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards

Tourism and hospitality businesses in Africa have until Friday 31 August to enter the 2012 Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards programme. Imvelo awards businesses that implement sustained responsible tourism programmes.
Organised by the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) in conjunction with Absa, the National Department of Tourism, Eskom, the Industrial Development Corporation and the Department of Water Affairs, Imvelo is open to any type of tourism and hospitality business.
FEDHASA Chairman, Eddy Khosa says Imvelo is now the leading responsible tourism project in South Africa and has made a huge impact on the industry.
Imvelo means ‘nature’ in South Africa’s Nguni languages. According to Khosa, the awards are in line with the National Minimum Standard for Responsible Tourism and the UN World Tourism Organisation’s code of ethics, and are supported by the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme.
 He says Imvelo has created significant awareness of environmental management issues in the tourism industry. “Over the years, the awards have found and recognised world-class examples of responsible tourism practice.”
Awards will be made in the following categories: Best Social Involvement Programme; Best Practice – Economic Impact; Best Overall Environmental Management System and Best Single Resource Management Programme – for Water, Energy and Waste, Most Empowered Tourism Business and Investing in People. An overall Imvelo winner will be selected.
 A Chairman’s Award could be made at the discretion of the FEDHASA chairman, to any Imvelo entrant or any other organisation in the tourism industry that made a significant contribution to responsible tourism over the past year. Entrants may enter in more than one category, but entries must stipulate the category/categories that apply.
Entries will be judged by a panel of specialists in responsible tourism practice and finalists will be visited personally to verify and evaluate their entries.
Winners will receive their awards at an awards ceremony to be held in Johannesburg on 31 October.
For more information, contact Cheryl Stevens on 0861 333 628 or visit www.imveloawards.co.za.

SATTIC Conference: 2- 4 September 2012

Expanding South Africa’s tourist market share is one of the key issues to be debated at the inaugural South African Travel and Tourism Industry Conference (SATTIC), which will take place at the Protea Hotel O.R. Tambo, in Ekurhuleni, to the east of Johannesburg.
Timed to kick off Tourism Month, the conference is expected to provide the opportunity for all industry thought and opinion leaders, across the total value chain, to get to grips with what it will take for South Africa to become a successful tourism nation.
 SATTIC will be opened and addressed by the Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk. The Minister’s opening speech will be followed by a high level discussion of the industry’s competitiveness, led by a presentation of the 2012 World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness report by Professor Geoffery Lipman, advisor to the UNWTO and WEF, and a presentation by David Scowsill, CEO and President of the World Travel and Tourism Council. The session, titled “Is South Africa getting its fair share of tourist arrivals?” will delve more into the dynamics impacting on the country’s ability to expand its market share and explore possible solutions.
 This session will be moderated by Wayne Duvenage, previous CEO of Avis Car Rental and current Chairman of the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA), and will feature the following industry leaders: Thulani Nzima, CEO of SA Tourism; Martin Wiest, CEO of Tourvest Destination Management Services and Bongani Maseko, Acting MD of Airport Company South Africa (ACSA).
There are only 11 days left to register for the conference. Register online at www.sattic.co.za or www.tourismvision2020.co.za.

Etihad Increases Service

Etihad Airways will increase its services to Casablanca, to provide daily flights from 28 March, 2013. Etihad currently flies five times a week between Abu Dhabi and Casablanca, and in June celebrated the seventh anniversary of operations to the Moroccan capital.
The daily service will support traffic growth between Abu Dhabi and Casablanca, and connecting traffic to many popular onward destinations, including Jeddah, and a choice of Asian cities such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila, and Sydney in Australia.
The additional services will improve the connectivity in Abu Dhabi by 50%. The daily service will also strengthen connectivity with codeshare partner, Royal Air Maroc, allowing Etihad Airways passengers more choice to connect to domestic Moroccan destinations and other points in West Africa.
Etihad Airways operates a three cabin A330-300 aircraft between Abu Dhabi and Casablanca, configured to carry eight passengers in Diamond First Class, 32 passengers in Pearl Business Class, and 191 passengers in Coral Economy Class.

1time Needs Financial Rescue

1Time Holdings has filed for business rescue. The airline's board said it required business rescue because it was "financially distressed". The firm has about R320-million in short-term debt and has been in negotiations with creditors since March.
1Time chief executive, Blacky Komani said that the airline would continue scheduled services. The firm has been carrying the debt for two years. "It is money that we owe for services and for some operational costs. We inherited it," Komani said. 1Time's shares have fallen 91% over the past two years, from about 155c a share to close at 14c a share on Tuesday.
In April, the company reported a R157-million loss. "What we need is time to present a turnaround strategy for the business, which will be sold to creditors and investors," Komani told South Africa’s Business Day. "Business rescue gives you protection from creditors that may want to file for liquidation, while you are turning the business around."
Earlier this year, another low-cost airline, Velvet Sky, went into liquidation after failing to convince a court that it was a candidate for business rescue.

Trouble for Signature Life

South African hotel management company, Signature Life Hospitality, has been wound up and now a liquidator will begin probing allegations that money was misappropriated. In a last-minute affidavit submitted to the Durban High Court, former CEO, Alan Vels, denied allegations that he or his co-director, Donald Pitt, were involved in a “pyramid scheme”. The allegation was made by Docklands Hotel manager, James Murray, in his affidavit in support of the liquidation application launched last month. Murray, who claimed Signature Life owed Docklands about R2 million, said a liquidator needed to take control, preserve documentation and interrogate direction, to determine “where did the monies go?” He said Signature Life had unlawfully “mingled funds” between the various businesses it operated. Murray also alleged that the company had misappropriated millions of rands this way, and yet it did not own any fixed assets or assets of any value. He said there had also been non-disclosures to the court regarding the so-called indebtedness of Signature Life to Docklands and another hotel, Hotel 54 on Gordon.

Travelport Appoints Christie

Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, has announced the appointment of seasoned industry professional, Robyn Christie, as its new general manager for Southern Africa.
Based at Travelport’s offices in Johannesburg from 1 October, Christie will have overall responsibility for Travelport’s strategic objectives and commercial operations in Southern Africa, as well as overseeing the introduction of new Travelport technology to customers in the region. Christie’s career spans over 30 years in the corporate world, spending the past 15 years in the retail travel industry.
She joins Travelport from ASATA (Association of South African Travel Agents), where she has held the position of CEO since 2007.

Ethiopian Airlines Celebrates First Dreamliner

 The African airline has become the first airline in the world outside Japan to receive this technologically-advanced aircraft. The 787 Dreamliner is composed of light-weight composites and features numerous system, engine and aerodynamic advancements, making it more efficient to operate.
 It is the first mid-sized airplane capable of flying long-range routes, enabling airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by passengers. After taking delivery, Ethiopian will fly its Dreamliner to Washington D.C. where the aircraft will be on display. The aircraft will then make its inaugural trip to Africa with its first revenue flight from Dulles International Airport to Bole Addis Ababa International Airport.
Ethiopian Airways has nine more 787 Dreamliners remaining on order. The airline was the first African airline to operate the 777-200LR, the first to order the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and the first to order the 777 Freighter. Ethiopian Airlines currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 737, 757, 767 and 777, and now 787 airplanes in passenger service.

Gigaba Clips Wings of SA Express Board

South Africa’s Public Enterprises Minister, Malusi Gigaba, has fired the board of the state-owned regional airline, South African Express, after the airline failed to present audited financial statements.
With the exception of Bridget Ssamula, the entire board was removed, because of its failure to present its 2011-12 financial statements to Gigaba at its annual general meeting.
 This comes after South African Express’s accounts were withdrawn last year, after it emerged that they were unreliable. The auditors cited numerous significant adjustments which were not substantiated with the appropriate audit evidence, reportable irregularities and cast doubt over the future of SA Express.
 A new board has been appointed and the chairperson is Andile Mabizela, who has a background in strategy, aviation and law.
He will be supported by a board of directors and their primary mandate is to turn the airline around. The newly-appointed board is required to address a number of critical issues facing the airline - among those: crisis management, stabilising operations and building brand and reputational confidence.

Emirates Offers Easy Access into Dubai

Emirates Airline will be offering extra convenience to South Africa travellers by providing a UAE entry visa with each ticket when booked between the 13th through the 17th of August for travel from the 6th of September to 5th October, 2012.
 The offer is available through all Emirates classes (First, Business and Economy) to enable easy passage into Dubai from any one of Emirates’ three gateways in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Travelling to Dubai will now be a lot easier for South African merchants, business people and leisure travellers visiting the region in the months of September and October.

SAA Introduces New Baggage Policy

South African Airways is introducing a new check-in baggage policy, in line with most of the larger Star Alliance member carriers.
 From 5 September, SAA will move to a checked baggage policy that restricts the number of pieces of baggage a passenger may check in, rather than the total weight of the passenger’s checked baggage. Each of these pieces will be subject to weight and size restrictions.
The new policy describes the number of baggage pieces a passenger may check-in, as well as the weight restrictions for each piece, according to route and class of travel.
Excess baggage, ie. additional items, or where the baggage exceeds the weight and or size allowance, will be charged at a flat rate per piece of luggage. This is a change from the current policy where excess baggage is charged per kilogram. In addition, and to comply with airport loading equipment limits, SAA cannot accept any check-in items weighing more than 32kg. Any items exceeding this limit will either have to be repacked into separate bags or checked in at the SAA Cargo counter and flown at cargo rates.

Monarch Hotel Opens Doors, Once Again

The Monarch Hotel, part of the Mantis Collection, is located in Rosebank in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs and has re-opened its doors to guests, after recent refurbishments.
The building was constructed in the 1930s and used as a post office until the 1990s, but the hotel closed its doors temporarily, to coincide with the scheduled road maintenance necessitated by the building of the Gautrain’s Rosebank station, which is conveniently accessible from the hotel.
Guests can enjoy the choice of six luxury or five royal suites equipped with all the technological comforts of today’s age. All suites come standard with electronic safe, flat-screen TV, selected DSTV channels, DVD player, under-floor heating, air-conditioning, Internet, heated towel rails, hair dryer, private bar and tea & coffee-making facilities. Courtesy vehicles are available to transport guests.