In today’s read;
- Ethiopia’s $500M airport project takes flight
- Luanda Declaration sets the pace for united African tourism
- ITA Airways deepens Lufthansa codeshare
Ethiopian Airlines and AfDB Finance Africa’s Largest New Airport Project
Ethiopian Airlines and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are joining forces on a significant undertaking: financing Africa’s largest new airport.
This ambitious project, located in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, will receive a substantial USD 500 million loan from the AfDB, with further funding to be secured. The airport is designed to initially handle 60 million passengers annually, scalable to 110 million, making it a major aviation hub.
The new airport aims to significantly boost regional connectivity, trade, and tourism. It will relieve pressure on Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport by handling all international passenger and cargo operations. The creation of an aerotropolis will further stimulate economic growth in the surrounding area.
This project aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Single Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiatives. It’s expected to create numerous jobs and significantly enhance logistics capacity, responding to the increasing demand for air travel across the region.
Luanda Declaration Advances Harmonized Travel Policies to Boost African Tourism
African nations have united to boost tourism.
The Luanda Declaration, a result of a recent ministerial conference, aims to harmonize travel policies across the continent. This means simpler visa processes and improved infrastructure. The goal is to make it easier and more attractive for people to travel within Africa.
Greater investment in airports and other transport links is planned. Public-private partnerships will play a key role in funding these improvements. This will lead to better connectivity and more options for travelers.
Sustainable tourism is central to the plan. The initiative promotes environmentally friendly practices and ensures local communities benefit from tourism growth. This creates opportunities for eco-conscious travel packages. Luanda, Angola, is also emerging as a major hub for conferences and events, thanks to a new convention center.
ITA Airways Expands Codeshare with Lufthansa to Boost Africa-Asia Connectivity
ITA Airways and Lufthansa are expanding their codeshare agreement.
This means more travel options between Africa and Asia for passengers.
Starting September 2nd, you can book flights to several African cities via Brussels Airport under the ITA Airways code. These cities include Abidjan, Douala, Freetown, Monrovia, Nairobi, and Ouagadougou. Conversely, Lufthansa Group flights to Delhi, Mumbai, and Seoul from Frankfurt and Munich will also carry the ITA Airways code.
The agreement works both ways. Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines customers can now book single tickets to various ITA Airways destinations via Rome Fiumicino. These destinations include Bangkok, Jeddah, Cairo, Riyadh, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Accra, Dakar, and Delhi. The expanded partnership benefits both airlines, providing increased global reach and access to frequent flyer programs like Volare and Miles & More.
That’s it for today, thank you for reading.