Decomposed body of a stowaway found on Arik aircraft in Jo’burg

The lifeless body of a stowaway was on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 found in the main wheel well of one of Arik Air’s A330-200 aircraft at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.

The aircraft operated the scheduled Lagos-Johannesburg flight that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 3:55pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 and arrived Johannesburg shortly before 11pm.

Engineers of South African Airways Technical facility at the Oliver Tambo International Airport where the aircraft was scheduled for a routine maintenance check discovered the body of the stowaway during inspection phase.

Investigations are ongoing to determine how the stowaway found his way into the aircraft’s main wheel well.

FG removes Sally Mbanefo, DG of NTDC

The Federal Government on Wednesday removed the Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo.

The Director General has been asked to handover the affairs of NTDC to the next most senior officer.

The removal of the Chief Executive was contained in a November 27, 2016 letter which was signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal.

The letter was titled “Notification of de-secondment from the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

The letter reads: “I refer to the attached letter, Ref. No. SGF.6/S.23/1/568 of 8th October, 2013 in respect of your secondment from the Keystone Bank Limited to serve as Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) for a period of two years with effect from 6th May 2013.

You may note from the foregoing that the period of your secondment at the corporation had since lapsed on 5th May 2016.

Consequently, you are to handover the affairs of the corporation to the most senior officer on or before Wednesday, 30th November, 2016.”

Tourism: New Victoria Falls Airport opens the 7 Wonders product to more people

An experience of the definitive panoramic, unforgettable allure of Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is one of life’s ‘must see’.

Victoria Falls, also known by the Locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya meaning “smoke that thunders”, is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Statistically speaking, it is the largest waterfall in the world. This recognition comes from combining the height and width together to create the largest single sheet of flowing water.

And in an effort to further open the Victoria Falls Wonder to more people all over the world, the government of Zimbabwe commissioned a new $150-million Victoria Falls International Airport, with its new and upgraded facilities, which was officially opened to the world on Friday November 18, 2016.

According to a report published on www.iol.co.za, an online news website, the new international airport, which now has the capacity to handle 1.5 million passengers per annum – tripling its previous volume – and is capable of landing some of the world’s largest aircraft, has been officially opened by President Robert Mugabe.

“The positive impact of the new Victoria Falls International Airport will be very significant and should take the destination and region to a new level in terms of arrivals,” says Africa Albida Tourism chief executive, Ross Kennedy. According to him, the socio-economic benefits will be widespread as increased and new access drives the tourism sector’s growth with arrivals from additional source markets.

Kennedy added that increased interest was shown in the new Victoria Falls International Airport at the World Travel Market – a major global travel trade show – held in London last week.

“I met with many tour operators, media and airlines at the show, and I can confirm that interest is very high and the travel industry is excited by the opening. “Zimbabwe remains a ‘hot destination’ on the schedules of many tour operators across the globe,” Kennedy said.

Annajulia Hungwe, PR & Communications Manager of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, said the new airport could accommodate more than three times as many passengers as before, and had been built to accommodate further expansion should rising tourist numbers in the future deem it necessary.

The new airport in Zimbabwe’s leading resort town has been fully operational since September. The development included the construction of a new international terminal building and the rehabilitation of the existing one into a domestic terminal.

The airport features a four-kilometre runway, a state-of-the-art control tower – which is one of the most advanced in Africa – and a fire station, equipped to respond to fire and medical emergencies.

Facilities at the international terminal include 14 check-in counters, nine boarding gates, three baggage carousels, a dozen shops, two restaurants, 28 aircraft parking bays and parking facilities for 400 vehicles.

The domestic terminal features six check-in counters, two passenger security-screening facilities, one restaurant and three coffee shops, eight other retail outlets and a business-class lounge.

The allure of Victoria Falls

Defining the magnificence that makes Victoria Falls a must see for everyone, at least once in a life time, Praise Mazhandu, Destination Marketing Head – Africa and Middle East for Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, in her write up explained why one of the Seven Wonders of the World, an acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the largest waterfall in the world is iconic and magnificent.

“The Victoria Falls located on the Zambezi River, the fourth largest river in the World. The noise of Victoria Falls can be heard from a distance, while the spray and mist from the falling water rises to a height of over 400 meters and can be seen from a distance as one is approaching the rainforest”, she says.

Speaking on the best time to visit the falls, Praise explained that while Victoria Falls is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is classified as the largest, based on its combined width of 1,708 meters (5,604 ft) and height of 108 meters (354 ft), resulting in the world’s largest sheet of falling water.

“Victoria Falls is the only waterfall in the world with a length of more than a kilometer and a height of more than hundred meters. The water level varies throughout the year; it is at its peak in April, at the end of the rainy season when on average 500,000,000 liters of water flow and it is at its lowest level in October and early November. Each season offers a different feel to the experience. One would imagine the rainy season with more water would make the falls magnifique but alas the mist in the air makes it impossible to see the base of the falls and the pictures can be a challenge for that memorabia."

She advised that June, July and August would be the best times to view the falls as water levels are still high enough to show the awesome wonder in full splendor as there is less spray and more visibility.

It would be noted that the dry season presents more of rock face on the Zambian side of the falls however; it brings on unique, adventure thumping activities of walking across the falls and swimming on the edge popularly known as the Devils Pool. So in a nutshell Victoria Falls anytime will be exhilarant to the tourist.

A panoramic, unforgettable view

Praise captures a step by step detail of the growing anticipation and excitement one experience getting closer to the waterfall. ‘As one walks down a path towards the Falls, a veritable tropical jungle hems you in: tall swaying trees and thick branches and leaves cutting off the sunlight trying to sneak its way in. Water drops sit on or drop thick green leaves, glinting like diamonds.

‘The air is thick with moisture and the ground damp from the waterfall spray, while all around a thunderous roar hits the ears making one quick to understand the name, ‘smoke that thunders’. The noise increases with each step one takes towards the falls. There are various viewing points on the Zimbabwean side which provide visitors with the greater panoramic view of the falls’, she enthused.

She went on to explain that interestingly, during the dry season the water level in the Zambezi River drops sharply, and it becomes possible to walk through some parts of the waterfall adding onto the to-do list of the world’s adventure capital. However, during the rest of the year Victoria Falls is thunderous with a constant roar from the waters.

Going down the annals of history, it should not be forgotten that Victoria Falls was first marketed to the world by the Scottish missionary and famous explorer David Livingstone in 1855 and named it after his Queen Victoria.

Describing the Falls, Livingstone wrote, “…..…scenes so lovely must have been gazed by angels on their flight ’’, is how well he described the awe inspiring falls. A definitive example of breath-taking power and splendid beauty wrapped up in one package – a place which everyone should try see at least once in their life time. The view from the air is the most impressive and can be accomplished by a helicopter. There is a fair chance to view game as one takes this amazing experience.

Things to do around Falls

But the Falls themselves are not the only attraction in the area, with over 50 activities to choose from, Victoria Falls is truly the Worlds adventure capital.

‘From Adrenaline rush activities which include the 111meter bungee jump from The Victoria Falls Bridge, White water rafting in the Zambezi river gorge, Crocodile cage diving to High wire activities over the gorges. The power is ready to be unleashed on anyone who dares try. More sedate activities which include sunset cruises experiencing the breath-taking African sunset, golfing, game viewing, canoeing or simply relaxing, having a cocktail or high tea overlooking the Falls are but a few activities one can choose from.

‘A visit to the village adds to the list of the activities cultural enthusiasts would enjoy. Stop and gaze at century old majestic Baobab trees or be mesmerized by a pride of lions tussling over a morning kill or maybe just give way to herd of elephant crossing the road , such is the way of life in our world of wonders – in harmony with nature’, Praise explains.

Where to stay

Ranging from backpackers to celebrities, Victoria Falls is the address for discerning travelers. Five star accommodations to camping facilities are available for all type of tourists to fit the different budgets. Excellent conferencing facilities are offered within the resort town which has emerged as a popular incentive travel destination.

Welcome, Tigashire, Sethule to Zimbabwe – A World of Wonders

‘There are just certain places on earth you just have to experience for yourself. Places so unique in landscape and so rich in culture and heritage that only a first-hand encounter will do them justice. Why not visit and share with us our unique and diverse cultures, warmth, hospitality and friendliness,’ she drops her pen.

Culled from ATQ News

Lufthansa strike gets worse as over 315,000 passengers affected

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilots’ union has extended the strike that has been ongoing since Wednesday. The extension has affected all Lufthansa flights within Germany and Europe, a situation that has triggered a scaled-down special flight schedule which has taken effect from today, Friday, November 25, 2016.

The Lufthansa Group has approved 3,000 scheduled flights to be operated as planned. And being the third consecutive day of the strike, over 100,000 passengers will be affected due to the cancellations of 830 short- and medium-haul flights. Long-haul flights will be operating almost as scheduled, although there may be occasional cancellations of these flights resulting from the strikes on the previous days. In total, over 315,000 passengers have been affected by the cancellation of 2,618 flights.

Lufthansa is calling on the pilots’ union once more to develop a joint solution for the dispute through arbitration. Harry Hohmeister, Chief Officer Hub Management of Deutsche Lufthansa AG: “The status quo is that we pay our pilots significantly more than our competitors do. As members of the executive board, we are responsible for more than 120,000 employees and want to keep Lufthansa viable for the future. That will not be possible with a demand for a 20 percent increase in pay.”

The Group airlines Eurowings, Germanwings, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Air Dolomiti and Brussels Airlines are not affected by the strike. The pilots of Lufthansa Cargo have also not been called on to strike. Flights to and from Germany that are operated by Group airlines are proceeding as scheduled. Austrian Airlines and SWISS have also increased their capacity on flights to Germany by using larger aircraft for the time being.

Customers whose flights have been cancelled due to the strike have the one-time option to transfer or cancel their booking free of charge. In addition to this, all passengers with tickets for flights travelling to, from or through Germany by tomorrow have the one-time option to transfer their booking at no cost. For routes within Germany, there is also the option to exchange the flight ticket for a Deutsche Bahn voucher. On LH.com, passengers can find additional information under “Aktuelle Fluginformationen” (current travel information).

Lufthansa is doing everything in its power to minimize the impact of the strike on its guests. Thousands of hotel rooms have been booked in the Rhine-Main and Munich areas. For passengers who cannot enter Germany due to visa restrictions, Lufthansa has set up folding cots in cooperation with Fraport. Employees are providing passengers in the terminals who have been affected by the strike with beverages, snacks and telecommunication options. Lufthansa is notifying all passengers that have provided contact information in their customer profiles of any cancellations by e-mail or SMS.

The airline has appealed to all its customers to take precaution by checking the status of their flight on LH.com before travelling to the airport. Customers in Germany can also call our free hotline at 0800 850 60 70 for information (free from German landlines).

Etihad Aviation Group targets UAE innovators and entrepreneurs

As part of the UAE’s Innovation Week, Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) has launched Fikra, a UAE-based competition aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and innovation across the country.

Fikra means ‘idea’ in Arabic and the competition aims to encourage students to deliver solutions to some of the major challenges facing the aviation industry in today’s ever-competitive environment.

The challenges of the competition are focussed on ten areas where the travel group is looking for specific ideas. They are aimed at delivering ideas around digital evolution, stopover visits, ancillary sales opportunities, improving loyalty schemes, specialist cargo, social media, youth engagement, airport experience and the environment. In addition there is a special category called ‘Out of the Box’ that allows the next generation to pitch game changing ideas, in line with some of the concepts that the airline has already launched such as The Residence.

Fatima Al Jefri, Director at the Department of Science, Technology and Research in the Ministry of Education, said: “The Ministry believes that education and research are important ways to acquire, develop and learn knowledge so we strongly support Etihad Airways in their Fikra initiative, as it will engage the students in innovation and business development. The project will invest in our youth and help them to pave the way forward to a sustainable and prosperous future.”

Ray Gammell, Chief People and Performance Officer for EAG, said: “Innovation is key to how we do business and how we will continue to grow as a travel group. We’ve reached the size we are today by innovating quickly and supporting an entrepreneurial spirit throughout our business units. That commitment doesn’t stop, the new Fikra project gives us an opportunity to hear from the country’s next generation and we hope it will deliver ideas that can push us to the next level of our development.”

The first phase of the competition will see all submissions evaluated, appraised and scored on their merits. The 20 highest scoring participants will move forward to the next phase of the competition.

In the second stage, the top two ideas in each challenge will get the opportunity to work closely with and be mentored by a subject matter expert from EAG. The 20 successful participants will work to develop their ideas into achievable business plans under the guidance of the travel group’s management. Those participants will also be given the opportunity to present their business plans to the senior management of EAG who will choose the top ten winning ideas.

The winners will get the opportunity to take up a coveted internship with one of the EAG businesses to help convert their idea into reality or alternatively can choose an internship with some of EAG’s key strategic partners including BT, Cognizant, SAP, TATA Consultancy Services, IBM, Sabre, Stelia Aerospace, Zodiac Aerospace, CAE Inc, B/E Aerospace Inc, Recaro Aircraft Seating and Thales Avionics Inc. These internships will give the students a chance to take their ideas even further in a professional environment and to experience first-hand how major multinational businesses use and benefit from innovation on a day to day basis.

Hareb Al Muhairy, Senior Vice President for Corporate and International Affairs at EAG, said: “The competition will provide another opportunity for the youth of the UAE to tell us about their ideas so we can continue to build both the best airline but also one fit for the challenges of the future. Innovation is essential to the development of our airline and we’re excited about the ideas we’re going to see and the possibilities ahead.”

EAG is now inviting students from universities across the UAE to participate in the competition. All students from universities in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khema, Um Quiwan and Fujairah may apply. It is open to all UAE university students regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, topic or year of study. All students who register will be entered into a free raffle with some fantastic travel, sporting and cultural prizes on offer.

UAE Innovation Week is taking place between Sunday November 20 and Saturday November 26 during 2016. The week is a nationwide celebration of innovation in line with the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. It is one of the largest innovation initiatives in the world and combines a consolidated effort by the government, the private sector and individuals to help create a widespread culture in the UAE, to strengthen its position as a global hub for innovation.

Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport closes ahead of Independence Day

Preparations are ongoing for the celebrations of Kenya’s Independence Day on the 12th of December. Subsequently, in order to allow Kenya’s air force to train for their fly by maneuvers on the date, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will be temporarily closed today, 25th of November from 11.00 AM to 12.00 noon, and on the 07th of December the same time, sources have disclosed.

Again, on the very date of independence -- 12th of December, the same restriction will apply and flights into and out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will be delayed accordingly until after the air force’s aerial display is completed.

TTW has gathered that in accordance with these restrictions, RwandAir has subsequently issued a delay warning for its flight from Entebbe via Nairobi to Kigali to accommodate the airspace closure.

New terror attacks: Israel is burning! Tourists are put on alert

Israel is on fire and according to the prime minister, it’s a new form of terrorism, arson. Tourists visiting Israel should be aware of the ongoing crisis in that country. The Israeli Prime Minister is treating the situation as a terror attack and accepted help from friendly countries including, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Turkey and Russia offered help, with several aircraft already joining efforts to quell the blaze, dropping fire-retardant material to try to douse the heaviest fires and stem their spread. Palestine also offered assistance.

Ten thousands of residents are fleeing cities like Haifa, while arsonists continue to make the situation worse.

Television pictures showed a wall of flames raging through central neighborhoods of Israel’s third largest city. Firefighters dowsed a petrol station with water as the blaze edged closer.

The fires have been burning in multiple locations for the past three days but intensified on Thursday, fueled by unseasonably dry weather and strong easterly winds.

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan referred to “arson terrorism” and said there had been a small number of arrests, providing no other details.

On social media, some Arabs and Palestinians celebrated the fires and the hashtag #Israelisburning was trending on Twitter. 

Netanyahu said he had asked for a “Super Tanker” firefighting aircraft to be sent from the United States.

A lack of rain combined with very dry air and strong easterly winds have spread the fires this week across the center and north of the country, as well as parts of the West Bank. Hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed but no deaths or serious injuries have been reported.

Highway 443, which links Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as it cuts through a southern flank of the West Bank, was temporarily closed to morning rush-hour traffic as flames reached the city of Modi’in, about half way between the two conurbations.

Africa’s travel cost to rise 24% with introduction of new AU passport

New research released by global travel technology provider, Sabre Corporation, has revealed that African air travel spend is expected to rise 24% with the introduction of the pan-African passport in 2018.

The new passport will enable African travelers to visit other countries on the continent without a visa.

The comprehensive survey by Sabre aimed to uncover the opportunities and challenges faced by travelers in Africa today, to help airlines’ growth and provide African travelers an overall better journey.

Travelers from four countries – South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt were surveyed, with those having flown in the past 24 months saying they would spend 24 percent more with the introduction of the passport (from $1,100 to $1,500 annually).

But despite a willingness among travelers to spend more on flights, travel in Africa still remains inaccessible to the majority, with only 23 percent of those surveyed having travelled abroad at all in the last two years. When asked what prevents them from traveling more, the top reasons were:

• 32% said travel is too expensive
• 31% said it is difficult obtaining VISAs
• 30% said it is too difficult to book travel
• 28% said there are no flights to their chosen destination

Travelers also expressed a number of gripes about their current experiences when travelling:

• 27% said the check-in process takes too long
• 22% said the check-in procedure is confusing
• 20% don’t like the food on aircrafts
• 19% think there is not enough to do at the airport

“The results suggest that while travel is inaccessible to many and is difficult for those who do travel, there is a still a strong desire to travel more,” said Dino Gelmetti, vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Airline Solutions, Sabre.

“Additionally, most of the pain points can be addressed by airlines, and these tweaks could make all the difference to travelers. African carriers currently face tough competition from international rivals that control 88 percent of African airspace but, as demand for travel increases, African airlines have a real opportunity to win the lion’s share of bookings by addressing the pain points of travelers and going the extra mile to improve their experience.”

Like many other travelers globally, Africans also expressed a strong interest in experiencing a travel journey that was more personalized and appealing to their taste. Respondents said that they would be willing to spend up to $104 per trip on an airline’s extra products and services – such as excess baggage, cabin class upgrades, and special food and beverage – if it improved and personalized their journey.

“Airlines, globally, currently pocket an average of just $16 per passenger on ancillaries, so the fact that African travelers are prepared to spend six times more than that represents a significant retail opportunity for carriers on the continent,” said Gelmetti.

“Airlines will flourish if they invest in technology that can make sense of customer data and use it to offer passengers the right product in the right context at the right time. This technology, which empowers airlines to mirror the personalized shopping tactics already mastered by the online retail industry has been proven to increase ancillary revenue by an average of 10 percent, and is being used by some of the world’s most forward-thinking carriers.”

As further encouragement for African carriers, Sabre’s survey respondents stated a number of reasons why people would choose to fly with their local carrier over a foreign airline; the top three reasons were:

• It offers cheaper tickets
• It offers the latest technology on board
• It offers greater comfort on board.

Thunder storm strikes Enugu International Airport

A very heavy thunder storm occurred at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu in the early hours of November 23, 2016, destroying some parts of the Airport Terminal Building and Pilot Lounge and General Aviation Terminal, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced.

The authority added in a statement that the storm also affected Electric Power Lines to the Airport, including FAAN Staff Secondary and Primary School Buildings. It also affected some private residential buildings.

However, FAAN Management took immediate remedial action which allowed flight operations in and out of the Airport. FAAN is currently doing its best to restore normalcy at the battered airport.  

FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, said: “There was no loss of life or injury and also flight operations were not affected at the Airport.

She added that the Management regrets the inconveniences caused by the incident and appealed to airport users and the general public to carry on with their travel arrangements without fear.

African Union Membership: Frustrated Morocco suspects Sabotage by Algeria

Nasser Bourita

Morocco’s long wait for its reinstatement into the African Union maybe taking its toll on the country as she has alleged that there are inside forces within the union delaying her reinstatement into the AU.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for the country, Nasser Bourita had expressed disappointment over the delay in reinstating the country four weeks after she had expressed her desire to return to the union.

Nasser Bourita stated that while Morocco’s request is being delayed by the union, South Sudan had its request approved after mere 18 days after the country applied.

According to moroccoworldnews.com, to speed up the process, King Mohamed VI had called Chad President, Idriss Déby earlier this month in an effort to help sway Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, leader of the Union, who also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Salaheddine Mezouar.

On November 4th, Dlamini-Zuma announced that Morocco’s request would be presented to all African Union member countries. But despite that and efforts made during the COP22 climate conference in Marrakech to show Morocco’s commitment to the African continent, no word has been made on Morocco’s request to rejoin the AU.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita seems to think that there’s more to the story. In an interview with Moroccan daily Assabah, Bourita denounced Algeria’s implication in trying to sabotage Morocco’s royal visit to East Africa. He also insisted that Morocco’s return to the AU does not change Morocco’s views on the Sahara.

In an interview with Le Monde conducted last week, Bourita said that “the fact that there is already a month of delay on the process is inexplicable. This is proof that there are manipulations and that African countries are not allowed to express their position freely.”

“In any case,” he added, “Morocco is not a foreigner, it is at home in Africa.”

Senegal Drums support for Morocco

Meanwhile, Morocco’s effort in trying to re-join the AU is beginning to pay-off as Fodé Sylla, Ambassador to the Office of the President of Senegal, has said that Morocco’s reintegration into the African Union would make the organization “stronger.”

In an interview with the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP) during the COP22 climate change conference, Fodé Sylla, Ambassador to the Office of President Macky Sall of Senegal, expressed his support of Morocco’s efforts to re-enter the African Union after it left it 32 years ago following the organization’s recognition of a “Western Sahara.”

“Morocco’s approach to joining the AU is more than legitimate. The Kingdom of Morocco has its place of choice in the African family,” said Sylla, adding that Morocco is one of the founders of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and plays an important role in the continent.

Sylla also did not fail to mention that Morocco has shown its commitment time and time again to the African continent, a commitment which was confirmed at the Marrakech COP22 conference, which was held from November 7 to November 18 and attended by more than 40,000 visitors from all over the world.

Africa’s role in the battle against climate change was highlighted at the Africa Summit of Action, which was presided by King Mohamed VI and that welcomed more than 50 heads of state. At the summit, the Moroccan monarch declared the need for a more “unified, solid, solidarity and strong Africa.”

The fight against climate change is a tough one, and a unified Africa has been a top priority at this COP22. Sylla reiterated the success of COP22 and the conclusions of its final declaration.

The country has left no one in doubt that she is eager and desirous to return to the African Union. Morocco has taken steps in showing its desire to return to the union. Earlier, the Moroccan King Mohammed VI went on a tour of some East African countries accompanied by top Moroccan business community.

The tour encompassed Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. All three countries that recognize the Polisario-backed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), contrary to the kingdom’s wishes.

According to moroccoworldnews.com, the corporate elites that travelled with the monarch were to strengthening ties with the East African countries with growing and modernizing Moroccan economy, in hopes to suspend the trio’s recognition of the Western Sahara separatist group’s puppet government.

The General Confederation of Moroccan Companies had assembled the group of prominent businessmen on the tour, which started in Rwanda.

The CEO’s of BMCE Bank, Attijariwafa Bank, the People’s Bank (Bank Populaire), and Credit Agricole Morocco, the head of Casablanca Finance City Authority, and the Moroccan tourism and insurance sectors will be part of the delegation accompanying the king.

The country had earlier written to the AU seeking to be readmitted into the union it left 32 years ago.

The country was one of the founders of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor of the present “Union.” It was in Casablanca that the OAU was first launched. As the group worked to conceptualize its mission and purpose, only Moroccan diplomats express reservations about the principle that the borders of African states inherited from colonialism should be inviolable. In doing so, they had the Sahara conflict in mind.

For more than three decades, Morocco has refused to be part of the organisation. But with the turn of events in recent times, the country is pulling every string to ensure she is readmitted into the union.

Ethiopian graduates 322 Aviation Professionals

Group CEO, Ethiopian, Tewolde GebreMariam (left) presenting award to one of the graduates

Ethiopian Aviation Academy (EAA), the largest aviation academy in Africa, a full ICAO Trainer Plus Member and IATA Authorized Global Training Center, has graduated 47 pilots, 92 aviation maintenance technicians, 50 cabin crew and 133 marketing professionals in a graduation ceremony held at Ethiopian Headquarters on November 17, 2016, the airline announced.

At the ceremony, the group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, congratulated and welcomed the new graduates to the airline’s dedicated workforce, gave out diplomas to all the graduates, flight wings to graduating pilots and cabin crew and achievement award to graduates with outstanding academic performance.

Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam remarked: “We believe education is the greatest equalizer in the 21^st century and Ethiopian Aviation Academy has strategically positioned itself to train the African youth in the latest Aviation technology and skills to own, manage and operate their own indigenous home grown African Airlines to lead safe, economical and reliable aviation industry with global standards. We shall continue to scale up our capacity and continue nurturing the youth and prepare them for the 21^st century African Aviation development.”

The EAA has been operating successfully for the past six decades since its establishment in 1956, and has significantly contributed towards alleviating the critical shortage of skilled aviation professionals.

Currently, the academy trains 1500 youths per annum and it envisages to enhance its intake capacity to 4000 by 2025. No doubt, this is in line with the airline’s 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven business centers: Ethiopian Domestic and Regional Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airline; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services; and Ethiopian Ground Service.

The EAA is certified by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, the U.S Federal Aviation Administration, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and IATA Safety Audit (IOSA).

The new batch of graduates are lucky to be trained and absorbed by Africa’s fastest growing airline. In just seven decades of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

The airline commands the lion’s share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network, operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 95 international destinations across five continents.

Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.