Africa Aviation Trails: Week 4, 2024 highlights

Week 4 of 2024 unfolded with the skies buzzing with excitement as the african aviation scene marked significant milestones, unveiled new routes, navigated the ebb and flow of operations, expanded their fleets, witnessed infrastructural transformations, and made noteworthy appointments. Below we delve into the highlights of the past week of the African aviation landscape.

Let’s kick things off with a toast to the skies! Kenya Airways soared to new heights as it celebrated an impressive 47 years of weaving through the vast expanse above. Born in 1977 from the ashes of the East Africa Community, the airline’s journey has been a testament to resilience and progress. Meanwhile, Safarilink Aviation, the embodiment of adventure in the Kenyan skies, marked two glorious decades since its inaugural flight in January 2004. From a humble start of 69 passengers in their maiden month, the airline now commands the skies with around 29,000 passengers per month, boasting a staggering 360,000 passengers in 2023 alone. LIFT , the rising star of the South African aviation scene and pandemic-born prodigy, made waves by clinching the title of the best new airline brand for 2023 according to the prestigious @Global Brand Magazine.

Amidst the jubilant milestone celebrations, Air Algérie and TUNISAIR soared to new heights with their remarkable performances in 2023. Air Algérie, carried over 7.2 million passengers, marking an impressive 47% surge compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, TUNISAIR dazzled with a 14% increase in passengers, welcoming a commendable 2.47 million travellers on board. Moreover, TUNISAIR proudly reported a staggering 16.4% boost in earnings during the same period.

Buoyed by the stellar performance, Air Algérie is ready to soar to even greater heights. The airline is primed to embark on an ambitious expansion plan, introducing thrilling new routes for 2024. Among these exciting destinations are Libreville in Gabon, N’Djamena in Chad and the dynamic capital of Abuja in Nigeria.

Week 4 also brought a whirlwind of activity in the realm of airline routes. conviasa, the Venezuelan carrier, made an audacious entry onto the African stage with the inauguration of its Caracas – Algiers flight, opening up exciting new connections between South America and North Africa. Meanwhile, EGYPTAIR, embarked on a diplomatic journey with Belarus to explore the potential for a direct airline link between the two nations, aiming to foster stronger bonds and promote tourism. In a bid to enhance regional connectivity, LAM – MOZAMBIQUE AIRLINES unveiled plans to introduce three new routes linking various destinations within the country to the bustling hub of Johannesburg in South Africa.