Kate

British Airways has expanded its African network by starting a twice-weekly service to the Seychelles. The inaugural flight touched down at Mahé International Airport on 25 March and the schedule will see flights departing Heathrow’s Terminal 5 on Wednesdays and Saturdays, returning on Thursdays and Sundays. BA is the only airline offering a non-stop service from the UK. The service is year-round...

Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore has installed 30 innovative PowerCollectors, a unique piece of technology which combines generation of thermal energy with the photovoltaic generation of electricity and produces one of the highest energy yields ever measured. When compared with traditional solar panels, the PowerCollector produces both electricity and hot water output up to 70°C and delivers three...

BON Hotels has launched their revamped BON Hotel Abuja. The hotel has recently undergone an upgrade and extension following the success of the previous 28-roomed offering. The four-star international standard BON Hotel Abuja, which was taken over by the BON Hotels group in October 2016, has completed phases 1 and 2 of a total revamp. The initial phases saw a refurbishment and...

Iberia has announced the delivery of the aircraft “Johannesburgo”. This plane completes the order of 12 A330-200 units and will operate the airline’s flights to destinations in Latin America, the United States, South Africa and Asia. The new aeroplane is named after the South African city of Johannesburg, which Iberia has served since August 2016 with three weekly flights. Since 2013, Iberia...

BON Hotels has added BON Hotel Sunshine Enugu to its Nigerian portfolio, bringing the number of properties it manages in the region up to 25 hotels across 14 cities. The hotel opened on 18 March and is conveniently located just 12 minutes from the airport and in close proximity to the city centre. The décor is stylish and understated, and the...

The Regency Apartment Hotel has been launched in Menlyn in Pretoria, with the luxury lifestyle development due for completion in June. The R350-million ($30m) development is positioned for ideal access to the Menlyn business district, the Menlyn Malls, and the nearby highway. The apartment-style hotel suites will be positioned for business and leisure accommodation. Each of the apartments is fitted with top...

British Airways is trialling biometric technology to speed up boarding and arrivals processes in Orlando, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. That’s in partnership with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, US Customs and Border Protection, and technology partner SITA. BA is the first and only airline to use this particular technology to board international flights. Customers in Orlando are joining those flying...

Ethiopian Airlines has announced the launch of weekly flights to Buenos Aires, Argentina, via Sao Paulo, Brazil. The flights will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Flight ET 0506 departs Addis Ababa at 09h30 and arrives in Sao Paulo at 17h10. The same flight will depart Sao Paulo at 18h10 and arrive in Buenos Aires at 19h40. Flight ET 0507 will...

Turkish Airlines has confirmed plans to buy at least 50 wide-body aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, as the airline ramps up its ambitions ahead of a move to a new Istanbul airport. The company has agreed to buy 25 Boeing B787-9 aircraft, known as the Dreamliner, and 25 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. In addition, it has the option to buy five more...

The Lufthansa Group and Tourvest Travel Services have unveiled the first New Distribution Capability (NDC) Direct Connect solution in the South African market. As the first TMC in South Africa to fully implement Direct Connect, effective March, Tourvest will receive Lufthansa Group content using a new NDC capable distribution channel. Tourvest will be in the position to receive differentiated, customised Lufthansa...

Lufthansa has announced that it will be introducing the A350-900 to its Munich – Cape Town route, starting in December. The aircraft can seat 293 passengers: 48 in business class, 21 in premium economy, and 224 in economy. Among its many features, the A350-900 consumes, on average, only 2.9 litres of kerosene per passenger per hundred kilometres – roughly one...

Virgin Atlantic has announced the launch of three new ways to fly economy, as part of a multi-million pound investment in the cabin. Virgin Atlantic is introducing ‘economy delight, ‘economy classic’ and ‘economy light’ tickets. The three new ways to fly will allow customers to choose the product that suits their budget and travel style – but never compromise on inclusive...