At least nine international airlines have shown interest in doing business in Botswana and some of them are ready to start operations before the end of the year, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Frank Ramsden told Parliament on Monday.
He said that Botswana has signed eight Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) with Belgium, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe. "The ninth with Qatar will be signed on April 12, 2011. We also have a memoranda of understanding with Angola, Egypt,Ethiopia, Germany, France, Netherlands, Pakistan, Tanzania and United Arab Emirates,"he said.
Ramsden stated that BASAs are intended to create a conducive environment for attracting more operators, including major airlines that will link Botswana with major destinations in the world. He said that Air Botswana is working on re-registering with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) by end of this year. The airline was de-registered after it failed to comply with IATA audit, safety and human resource requirements. "In preparation for re-fleeting, the airline has identified new routes locally and most of the regional capitals and a few overseas destinations. Air Botswana lost P45 million in 2009-2010. The anticipated loss for 2010-2011 is around P23 million," Ramsden said.
Outlining some of the major projects his ministry intends to undertake this year, he explained that the construction of the much-talked-about Kazungula Bridge will start before the end of the year. "The signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to facilitate building of a railway line joining the three countries will be signed on April 15, 2011 in Maputo," he said. He stated that the Central Transport Organisation (CTO), which was allocated over 40 percent of the budget in his ministry sold 538 vehicles last year bringing P21 million into government coffers.
The loss-making Botswana Railways is going to purchase 160 wagons and fuel tankers to meet growing demand for commodities such as salt, soda ash and coal. "Botswana Railways (BR) continues to make operating losses.
The semi-audited Income Statement for 2009/10 indicates a net loss of P20.7 million that is equal to the organisation's operating losses, attributed to the overhaul of locomotives, wagons including fuel and wagon hire," he said.
He added that BR intends to build a major wagon and locomotive maintenance and repairs workshop during the 2011-2012 financial year. "A temporary dry port is being established in Palapye to service developments such as the construction of Morupule B Power Station, the BIUST and the glass factory. Continuation of this port is being considered to service the glass factory operations and leverage other industries beyond construction phase," said Ramsden.
Meanwhile, the minister announced that government has adopted a system of re-sealing roads that have exceeded their life-span such as the Boatle-Gaborone road instead of re-constructing them. He said the Btv and Molapo crossing traffic circles are going to be replaced with overhead bridges during the 2011-2012 financial year.
By late last evening, MPs had finished debating the budget and a majority of them called for re-introduction of passenger train, which was halted in April 2009.
Source: Mmegi Online
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Airlines up services between US and UK
Flights between the US and UK are set to get easier thanks to a tie-up between two major transatlantic carriers. American Airlines and British Airways announced March 17 that they are to set up a shuttle service which will operate between New York's JFK and London Heathrow, dubbed the "London Express."
Under the plans, the two carriers will align their timetables so that flights are spaced evenly throughout the day - offering a departure from the UK to New York hourly for much of the afternoon and into the evening. For the return hop, schedules have been smoothed to provide same-day arrivals with more logical departure times - instead of two flights leaving JFK at 8:30 AM, one will depart at 8 AM and one at 9:30 AM.
When the new timetable goes into operation on March 27, there will be 15 flights a day between the two cities, up from the 11 daily which fly currently and more than ever before. The new services are being set up as a result of the merger of American, BA and Iberia, with several other new changes being planned which will affect flights between London and Chicago, Miami and Boston.
Source: The Move Channel
Under the plans, the two carriers will align their timetables so that flights are spaced evenly throughout the day - offering a departure from the UK to New York hourly for much of the afternoon and into the evening. For the return hop, schedules have been smoothed to provide same-day arrivals with more logical departure times - instead of two flights leaving JFK at 8:30 AM, one will depart at 8 AM and one at 9:30 AM.
When the new timetable goes into operation on March 27, there will be 15 flights a day between the two cities, up from the 11 daily which fly currently and more than ever before. The new services are being set up as a result of the merger of American, BA and Iberia, with several other new changes being planned which will affect flights between London and Chicago, Miami and Boston.
Source: The Move Channel
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thai AirAsia giving up on Taipei flights
Heavy fare discounts by at least two international full-service airlines and soaring fuel prices have prompted Thai AirAsia (TAA) to discontinue its service between Bangkok and Taipei later this month.
It is one of the few routes the budget carrier has decided to abandon in recent years as it is unable to match the "almost give-away" fares offered by KLM and EVA Air that simply want to fill empty seats on intercontinental flights from Taipei that stop over in Bangkok.
With jet fuel prices surging to around US$130 a barrel and the relatively long flight time of three hours and 40 minutes, it became difficult for TAA to profit even if it raised fares, said chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld.
Competing full-service carriers charge as little as 6,000 to 7,000 baht for round-trip Bangkok-Taipei flights, according to airline sources.
TAA recorded a relatively good load factor, most recently 75-78% on the route. TAA inaugurated the service in September 2009 and operates four flights a week using a 180-seat Airbus A320. The last flight is scheduled for March 25.
Mr Tassapon said TAA was better off shifting the capacity to the Bangkok-Singapore route, a shorter trip with strong demand. It will introduce a fourth daily Bangkok-Singapore flight on April 1.
With fuel prices high, he said, TAA would have to be more cautious about introducing new routes where traffic demand has yet to be proven.
It has therefore suspended its plan to launch regular flights from Bangkok to Hangzhou, China, initially scheduled at three a week. It takes about four hours to fly to Hangzhou, and the fuel cost is the primary concern.
TAA would rather focus on the new market it entered last December: daily flights from Bangkok to Kolkata and Delhi, which are producing high load factors.
The airline is looking to serve more Indian cities, such as Bangalore and Chennai, in the future.
With the termination of Taipei service, TAA serves 13 international destinations and 10 domestic.
Source: Bangkok Post
It is one of the few routes the budget carrier has decided to abandon in recent years as it is unable to match the "almost give-away" fares offered by KLM and EVA Air that simply want to fill empty seats on intercontinental flights from Taipei that stop over in Bangkok.
With jet fuel prices surging to around US$130 a barrel and the relatively long flight time of three hours and 40 minutes, it became difficult for TAA to profit even if it raised fares, said chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld.
Competing full-service carriers charge as little as 6,000 to 7,000 baht for round-trip Bangkok-Taipei flights, according to airline sources.
TAA recorded a relatively good load factor, most recently 75-78% on the route. TAA inaugurated the service in September 2009 and operates four flights a week using a 180-seat Airbus A320. The last flight is scheduled for March 25.
Mr Tassapon said TAA was better off shifting the capacity to the Bangkok-Singapore route, a shorter trip with strong demand. It will introduce a fourth daily Bangkok-Singapore flight on April 1.
With fuel prices high, he said, TAA would have to be more cautious about introducing new routes where traffic demand has yet to be proven.
It has therefore suspended its plan to launch regular flights from Bangkok to Hangzhou, China, initially scheduled at three a week. It takes about four hours to fly to Hangzhou, and the fuel cost is the primary concern.
TAA would rather focus on the new market it entered last December: daily flights from Bangkok to Kolkata and Delhi, which are producing high load factors.
The airline is looking to serve more Indian cities, such as Bangalore and Chennai, in the future.
With the termination of Taipei service, TAA serves 13 international destinations and 10 domestic.
Source: Bangkok Post
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Travelers Can Now Buy Malaysia Airlines Tickets on Facebook
It’s great to know that businesses in Asia are keeping up with the trend. This time, Malaysia Airlines has integrated its ticket booking system with its Facebook page. Yes, travelers can now buy tickets directly via Facebook without leaving the social network.
If I haven’t not mistaken, Malaysia Airlines is probably the first Asia-based airline to adopt Facebook as a sales channel (F-commerce).
Buying a ticket is just 5 steps away. Within Facebook itself, the system could check whether tickets are available. If it isn’t, it will offer tickets closest to your desired date of travel. The Facebook application (MHbuddy) will also alert you if any of your friends happened to travel to the same destination with Malaysia Airlines as well.
“Our customers are spending more and more time on social networks and Malaysia Airlines is one of the most active airlines using social media to drive revenue. We have over 380,000 fans who actively engage with us on our existing social media channels,” said Dr. Amin Khan, Malaysia Airlines Executive Vice President Commercial Strategy in a statement.
Besides purchasing tickets, consumers can also retrieve flight details and check-in via Facebook before boarding. Although other airlines (e.g Delta) have also allowed consumers to purchase tickets on Facebook, checking-in is something new in the airline industry.
Malaysia Airlines has been quick to adopt technology to improve consumer experience and convenience. Prior to this Facebook application, the airline introduced an augmented reality iPhone application that allows customers to pick up the best airline deals from near airport. In 2009, the airline also launched the popular MHmobile which enables travelers to book flights and access up to date travel information while on the move.
Source: Penn Olson
If I haven’t not mistaken, Malaysia Airlines is probably the first Asia-based airline to adopt Facebook as a sales channel (F-commerce).
Buying a ticket is just 5 steps away. Within Facebook itself, the system could check whether tickets are available. If it isn’t, it will offer tickets closest to your desired date of travel. The Facebook application (MHbuddy) will also alert you if any of your friends happened to travel to the same destination with Malaysia Airlines as well.
“Our customers are spending more and more time on social networks and Malaysia Airlines is one of the most active airlines using social media to drive revenue. We have over 380,000 fans who actively engage with us on our existing social media channels,” said Dr. Amin Khan, Malaysia Airlines Executive Vice President Commercial Strategy in a statement.
Besides purchasing tickets, consumers can also retrieve flight details and check-in via Facebook before boarding. Although other airlines (e.g Delta) have also allowed consumers to purchase tickets on Facebook, checking-in is something new in the airline industry.
Malaysia Airlines has been quick to adopt technology to improve consumer experience and convenience. Prior to this Facebook application, the airline introduced an augmented reality iPhone application that allows customers to pick up the best airline deals from near airport. In 2009, the airline also launched the popular MHmobile which enables travelers to book flights and access up to date travel information while on the move.
Source: Penn Olson
Friday, March 4, 2011
Family Claims Flight Crew Did Not Help Dying Passenger
A 70-year-old Houston grandmother suffered a heart attack on an Emirates airlines flight and later died, and now her family is suing the Dubai-based carrier saying the plane's crew did nothing to help her.
Carol Wilson had just celebrated her birthday on a dream trip to see friends in the Philippines and was flying from Dubai home to Houston in April when she became ill, her family says.
"Emirates airlines really let my mother die on that flight," Wilson's daughter, Tamala White, tells AOL Travel News. "It was horrible."
Wilson was traveling home with her son, Shawn Carriker, who had flown to the Philippines from Afghanistan where he worked as a government contractor, to help his mom celebrate her birthday. White says shortly before the plane landed Wilson told her son she had to use the restroom.
When Wilson did not return to her seat after an announcement was made to prepare for landing, a flight attendant called over Carriker, White says.
"Shawn knocked on the door and no one responded. When they opened the door they found my mother slumped over and unconscious with her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Her pants were pulled down. My brother had to dress my mother. She was gasping for air," White says.
Yet White, who works as a human resources supervisor for a medical billing company in Houston, says "the flight attendant didn't want to help Shawn."
Her brother tried to move Wilson out of the bathroom on his own, but she was "dead weight, too heavy," White says.
A male flight attendant eventually, on Carriker's request, helped move Wilson to the floor in the middle of the aisle, "But they did nothing. They gave her no CPR. The captain did not say there was a medical emergency," White says. She adds a flight attendant did hand her brother an oxygen mask, but she says he had to put it on Wilson himself.
The flight attendants then decided to move Wilson to a jump seat.
"They strapped her in there. She is still unconscious and slumped over, arms, everything. And then the flight attendant strapped in for landing," White says.
While Emirates says on its website it has defibrillators on its planes, none was ever brought out, White says.
"No type of means of life support was used to assist my mother. They just let her die. By the time we landed – and they let the people off the plane first and then they let paramedics on the plane – it was too late."
Meanwhile, White was waiting in the terminal to meet the flight and says she started getting frantic calls from her brother.
"He was on the cell saying 'Tammi, Tammi she's not breathing. What should I do?'"
White tried to get Emirates personnel to give her further information on what was going on.
"They sent a ticket agent out to answer my questions, but they just gave me an 800 number to find out what was going on," White says, admitting that she was getting hysterical at this point.
She found police officers who were eventually able to get information. Her mother, who White says had no previous health problems, was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
White says the family never heard from the carrier. "No remorse, no phone calls, no nothing," she says.
Attorney Kerry Guidry has filed suit on behalf of the family at U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. A court date has been set for Sept. 19.
"There's policies and procedures in place when a medical emergency arises and Emirates failed to follow those policies and procedures and that contributed to Carol's death," Guidry tells AOL Travel News. "She suffered cardiac arrest. The first seven to 10 minutes are critical in cardiac arrest, and they (Emirates) did nothing, and that's what we believe led to her death."
He says there's a lesson here for all air passengers.
"We put our lives in (the crew's) hands when we're in planes and they're supposed to be professional and know what to do," Guidry says. "This (case) should be a concern for anyone who flies."
Emirates airlines declined to comment.
Source: AOL Travel
Carol Wilson had just celebrated her birthday on a dream trip to see friends in the Philippines and was flying from Dubai home to Houston in April when she became ill, her family says.
"Emirates airlines really let my mother die on that flight," Wilson's daughter, Tamala White, tells AOL Travel News. "It was horrible."
Wilson was traveling home with her son, Shawn Carriker, who had flown to the Philippines from Afghanistan where he worked as a government contractor, to help his mom celebrate her birthday. White says shortly before the plane landed Wilson told her son she had to use the restroom.
When Wilson did not return to her seat after an announcement was made to prepare for landing, a flight attendant called over Carriker, White says.
"Shawn knocked on the door and no one responded. When they opened the door they found my mother slumped over and unconscious with her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Her pants were pulled down. My brother had to dress my mother. She was gasping for air," White says.
Yet White, who works as a human resources supervisor for a medical billing company in Houston, says "the flight attendant didn't want to help Shawn."
Her brother tried to move Wilson out of the bathroom on his own, but she was "dead weight, too heavy," White says.
A male flight attendant eventually, on Carriker's request, helped move Wilson to the floor in the middle of the aisle, "But they did nothing. They gave her no CPR. The captain did not say there was a medical emergency," White says. She adds a flight attendant did hand her brother an oxygen mask, but she says he had to put it on Wilson himself.
The flight attendants then decided to move Wilson to a jump seat.
"They strapped her in there. She is still unconscious and slumped over, arms, everything. And then the flight attendant strapped in for landing," White says.
While Emirates says on its website it has defibrillators on its planes, none was ever brought out, White says.
"No type of means of life support was used to assist my mother. They just let her die. By the time we landed – and they let the people off the plane first and then they let paramedics on the plane – it was too late."
Meanwhile, White was waiting in the terminal to meet the flight and says she started getting frantic calls from her brother.
"He was on the cell saying 'Tammi, Tammi she's not breathing. What should I do?'"
White tried to get Emirates personnel to give her further information on what was going on.
"They sent a ticket agent out to answer my questions, but they just gave me an 800 number to find out what was going on," White says, admitting that she was getting hysterical at this point.
She found police officers who were eventually able to get information. Her mother, who White says had no previous health problems, was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
White says the family never heard from the carrier. "No remorse, no phone calls, no nothing," she says.
Attorney Kerry Guidry has filed suit on behalf of the family at U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. A court date has been set for Sept. 19.
"There's policies and procedures in place when a medical emergency arises and Emirates failed to follow those policies and procedures and that contributed to Carol's death," Guidry tells AOL Travel News. "She suffered cardiac arrest. The first seven to 10 minutes are critical in cardiac arrest, and they (Emirates) did nothing, and that's what we believe led to her death."
He says there's a lesson here for all air passengers.
"We put our lives in (the crew's) hands when we're in planes and they're supposed to be professional and know what to do," Guidry says. "This (case) should be a concern for anyone who flies."
Emirates airlines declined to comment.
Source: AOL Travel
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