Air China will start Beijing-Johannesburg nonstop service using B777-300ER aircraft from 29 October 2015, which will be the first air link offered by a Chinese carrier between Mainland China and South Africa and also Air China's first route to Africa since the 1970s when it had one nonstop service to the continent. South Africa accounts for about one third of Africa's GDP and is also China's biggest trading partner in Africa. Currently, nearly 1.2 million Chinese live in South Africa and the … [Read more...] about Air China to open two Africa routes
Editor's Choice
Virgin calls for industry-wide ethical cargo policy
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has welcomed the latest moves by other airlines to ban the carriage of hunting trophies and says it is now time for the airline cargo industry to adopt a strict ethical cargo policy to clearly identify shipments not acceptable for carriage. Virgin Atlantic Cargo adopted its own ethical policy over three years ago and says an industry-wide agreement that all airlines would be duty-bound to implement would eliminate shipments such as hunting trophies and endangered … [Read more...] about Virgin calls for industry-wide ethical cargo policy
China Southern kicks off Guangzhou-Nairobi service
China Southern Airlines on Wednesday made its maiden flight to Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, as it kicked off direct three-times weekly flights from Guangzhou-Nairobi using A330-200 aircraft. This will be the airline’s second direct route to Africa (after Mauritius), and will capitalise on the growing tourism and business travel volume between Asia and Africa, particularly to Nairobi. Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Hon. Phyllis Kandie, said: … [Read more...] about China Southern kicks off Guangzhou-Nairobi service
IAG, Qatar extend capacity partnership
IAG Cargo has announced a significant extension of its capacity partnership with Qatar Airways, one year on from the signing of their landmark freighter deal. In addition to an indefinite contract extension, IAG Cargo and Qatar Airways have created what they say is one of the broadest collaborations in the cargo industry by expanding the number of destinations the deal covers to nine routes. A new Shanghai to Madrid service and a new feed from Islamabad to the IAG Cargo network have launched, … [Read more...] about IAG, Qatar extend capacity partnership
Yields down as much as -41% since 2008: WorldACD
With the topic of yields dominating any discussion about the current business environment, WorldACD has clearly demonstrated the dismal state of affairs through a comparison of USD-yields between June 2008 and June 2015, with not one single market showing a yield increase over that period. The good news first: North America to Asia Pacific saw the smallest yield decline at only -9 per cent. This contrasts with all of the other markets that saw decreases ranging from -22 per cent (Middle East … [Read more...] about Yields down as much as -41% since 2008: WorldACD
Debris found on Reunion Island studied for links to MH370
France’s air crash investigation agency - Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) - is studying a piece of plane debris found on Reunion Island off the east coast of Africa, but officials say its still to it was too early to say if it came from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. The debris was found on Wednesday 29 July and a source familiar with the investigation said the debris was most likely from a B777, but that it was not yet established if it was from MH370, according to a … [Read more...] about Debris found on Reunion Island studied for links to MH370
