This week, we bring you a recap on the Top Ten (10) most important things in Uganda’s Tourism, the world of Aviation and Travel that have made rounds especially in this COVID-19 Era. As always, we will be giving you highlights that have made News rounds all through from start of the week till the End. Below are the highlights in precision.
01. Kenya Airways to take back to the Skies effective June 8th: Kenya’s national carrier – Kenya Airways (KQ) is set to reactivate flights come 8th June 2020 while the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) continues to enforce the required safety measures ahead of the opening of the country’s airports for passengers. It should be recalled that since 25th March, Kenya Airways grounded a big number of its fleet worth 36 aircraft, including 9 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 10 Boeing 737 aircraft, and 17 Embraers after Coronavirus had taken its toll especially in the world of travel as different Countries and Airports issued restrictions and travel bans on different Airlines across the World and Africa at large. Read more via https://bit.ly/302UDXr
02. Emirates airlines opens bookings for flights to some Arab countries: Dubai-based carrier is distributing free hygiene kits to passengers as part of increased health and safety measures.
Emirates airline is now taking bookings for flights from Dubai to 12 Arab countries from the start of July. Read more via https://bit.ly/2zWordL
03. Qatar Airways to recommence flights this June with up to 80 destinations: Qatar airways has been one of the few airlines that continued regular, scheduled flights during the global lockdowns to contain the novel coronavirus, maintaining services to about 30 worldwide destinations. Read more via https://bit.ly/3eIWkxo
04. Covid-19 shuts down Africa’s tourism industry: The Serena Hotel in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, is a luxurious complex of conference facilities, fine dining spaces and landscaped gardens.
In normal times Geoffrey Ssejongo, a waiter, would be serving dinner to business people and tourists in one of the Serena’s gleaming restaurants. But in April he was sitting at home, fretful for the future, as Uganda went into lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. He has lost income from tips, and worries he may lose his salary too if the crisis continues. Read more via https://bit.ly/3gReU8f
05. Airlines face failure even after State bailouts if Flights do not restart soon – Tim Clark: Emirates president Sir Tim Clark has said that airlines which have been bailed out by governments are “nowhere near out of the woods” and must start flying meaningfully and profitably soon or face failure further down the line. Some of the world’s largest airline groups, including the likes of Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, have secured state-funded bailout deals, allowing them to stay afloat during the coronavirus crisis, which has decimated travel demand and ripped out revenues. Read more via https://bit.ly/2Az7oOY
06. Qatar Airways forced to cut 20% of its workforce: Qatar Airways’ chief executive has said that the airline must lay off almost 20% of its entire workforce because of the impact of the coronavirus. Read more via https://bit.ly/2XPj1cg
07. Passenger traffic in Africa plummets more than 90%: Air passenger traffic among African airlines dropped 90.3% year-on-year in May, costing carriers billions of dollars in revenues. Data from the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) estimates that African airlines will lose more than $8 billion in revenues in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Read more via https://bit.ly/30aeEvv
08. Uganda Martyrs: Massacred for the love of Faith and now a Tourism Potential: When one narrates about the Uganda Martyrs, memories swiftly run to relate their death to Kabaka Mwanga II of the historical Buganda Kingdom and the Christian missionaries that came to spread the word of God in the land of Buganda, a major element that fuelled the brutal mass killings of the new faith oriented converts given Mwanga’s traditional Conservativeness and fear of the Colonial Agenda on the African land. Read more via https://bit.ly/3eXSKQj
09. South African Airways to receive more $1.2 Billion from Government: The fight continues to save struggling national carrier South African Airways. In May, the team of administrators overseeing the airline’s finances was given 25 days to come up with a plan to save the business. Today, a draft proposal has been announced, which includes a 21 billion rand ($1.2 billion) bailout loan to help the airline overcome the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. The mission to save South African Airways (SAA) has been ongoing since late last year, and it’s not over yet. The next stage in the rescue plan will see the South African government provide a substantial amount of money to help pay SAA’s creditors. Read more via https://bit.ly/2Ms1x0C
10. How Ethiopian Airlines is overcoming the Aviation Downturn: Despite the challenges brought about by the coronavirus crisis, Ethiopian Airlines has not reached out for state aid. It has not laid off any workers and has not canceled any of its outstanding aircraft orders. Clearly, the African giant is doing something right. CEO Tewolde GebreMariam has provided some insight into how his airline is succeeding where so many others have failed. With the bulk of the world’s legacy airlines reaching out for state support and laying off staff, Ethiopian Airlines has not done either of those things. In fact, it has no plans to downsize its workforce or to ask its country for assistance. CEO Tewolde GebreMariam narrates. Read more via https://bit.ly/3gJog6d
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