African Briefs
Rwanda Africa’s fastest-growing air market
Rwanda is the fastest growing aviation market in Africa, according to a new report. OAG’s latest Market Analysis report revealed that the number of scheduled air seats in Rwanda increased by 22% per year between 2008 and 2012 – ahead of Sao Tome & Principe (+21%) and Angola (+17%). South Africa remains the best served country in Africa, although it grew just 1% in the past 12 months. Egypt is second, followed by Nigeria, Morocco and Algeria.
Hilton expands in North Africa
Hilton Worldwide has signed three new hotels in North Africa, including its first two in the Moroccan city of Tangier. The Hilton Tangier City Center Hotel & Residences and Hilton Garden Inn Tangier City Center (pictured) will mark Hilton’s debut in the north Moroccan city when they open in 2015, while the company will also expand its portfolio in Egypt with the addition of the 390-room Hilton Giza Pyramids and the 195-room Hilton Alexandria King’s Ranch Resort.
UNESCO urges end to Timbuktu destruction
UNESCO has called for an end to the destruction of heritage sites in Timbuktu. The town in northern Mali was seized by the Al Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine insurgents recently, and the Islamist group is reported to have destroyed three tombs that form part of the Timbuktu World Heritage site. UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova called the reports “extremely distressing” and said there is “no justification for such wanton destruction”.
Etihad launches flights to Nigeria
Etihad Airways has commenced a new service between Abu Dhabi and Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos. The carrier will operate the route six times a week using an A330-200 aircraft with 262 seats – 22 in business class and 240 in economy class. The launch flight was operated using a special sky blue aircraft in the colours of English football team, Manchester City. The service builds on Etihad’s existing flights to Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Nairobi and Tripoli.
Coastal Aviation expands with Rwanda flights
Tanzania’s Coastal Aviation has announced the launch of a new service to Rwanda. The airline will connect to the Rwandan capital Kigali with a daily flight from Mwanza, in northeast Tanzania, just south of Lake Victoria. Passengers will also be able to connect from Mwanza to from the Serengeti and Maasai Mara, enabling tourists to experience a multi-stop safari taking in Rwanda’s mountain gorillas and the famous east Africa game reserves.