flydubai adds three new routes in East Africa

Flydubai has announced the addition of three new East African routes, bringing the total number of destinations in the carrier's network to 80. With the launch of flights in September 2014 to Bujumbura in Burundi, Entebbe in Uganda and Kigali in Rwanda, flydubai will fly to nine destinations in Africa.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive officer of flydubai, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of three new East African destinations which also sees flydubai become the first national carrier from the UAE to fly to Rwanda and Burundi, underlining our commitment to opening up underserved markets.”

flydubai’s operation to these emerging markets will provide passengers with a reliable, direct and high-quality service. Business Class, which is made available for the first time between Dubai and Burundi, will give passengers travelling to these new destinations a more comfortable and personalised travel experience.

“We have announced 17 new destinations since the start of 2014, matching the total number of destinations flydubai launched last year. We look forward to continuing to expand our network as we remain committed to supporting Dubai’s trade and tourism sectors,” continued Al Ghaith.

In addition to operating between Dubai and these three new cities, flydubai has obtained the rights to carry passengers between Uganda and Burundi.

Rwanda and Burundi are home to some of the most biodiverse places. Filled with numerous volcanoes, nature reserves and the second deepest lake in the world, the two countries also have one third of the world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas and one third of Africa’s bird species. While tourism is the largest contributor to Rwanda and Burundi’s economies, Uganda is considered one of Africa’s most progressive economies and is emerging as one of the leading commercial centres within Africa.

Within Africa, flydubai currently operates flights to Alexandria in Egypt, Khartoum and Port Sudan in Sudan, Juba in South Sudan, Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa as well as Djibouti’s capital Djibouti.

Etihad Airways launches new ambulance service for employees

An ambulance service for Etihad Airways has started operations in Abu Dhabi, as part of the airline's commitment to provide world-class medical emergency response for its employees.

Based at the Etihad Airways Medical Centre in Etihad Plaza, the high-tech ambulance provides a 24/7 emergency medical service for the airline’s employees in the capital city. From today, employees can dial a special emergency number to call the ambulance. 

Operated by Abu Dhabi’s National Ambulance, the service is staffed by professionally trained and experienced emergency medical technicians (EMT). 

National Ambulance is accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), is fully licensed by the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi and has also attained ISO standards accreditations of 9001, 14001 and OHSAS 18001. 

Ray Gammell, Etihad Airways’ chief people and performance officer, said: “The launch of this unique service is part of our expanding employee healthcare program, aimed at providing our employees with the right care at the right time. 

“The new ambulance joins a range of best-in-class services for our employees, which support their health and wellbeing, and include fitness programs, family visa application assistance, children’s education assistance and an on-site nursery. 

“We take our duty of care very seriously. This service reinforces Etihad Airways as an employer of choice and reflects our commitment to the ongoing wellbeing of our employees.”

The ambulance is fitted with modern medical emergency equipment and supplies including heart defibrillators, oxygen cylinders, intravenous drips, spinal and traction splints, foldable stretchers and medicines. 

Dr Nadia Bastaki, Etihad Airways’ vice president of Medical Services, said: “In a medical emergency, we recognise the importance of providing a rapid response. Treatment starts as soon as the patient is onboard the ambulance and continues on the journey to the hospital. 

“Our number one priority is to provide an optimal level of care for an employee needing emergency support, which our EMTs are fully trained to deliver.” 

Employee medical services have been offered since 2004 with the Etihad Airways Medical Centre opening in 2010. Staffed by nearly 30 medical experts including 10 doctors, the Centre provides top quality medical services for 13,800 of the airline’s Abu Dhabi-based employees including radiology, full laboratory services, physiotherapy, mammography, dental, nutrition counselling, primary care and aviation health services.

- See more at: http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/etihad-airways-launches-new-ambulance-service-for-employees.html#sthash.fjYYu8Dt.dpuf

Turkish Airlines grows network in East Africa with flights to Asmara

Turkish Airlines, has announced flights to Asmara in Eritrea, the 27th country destination in Africa where the global carrier now flies to 42 destinations.

Turkish Airlines Asmara flights operate from Istanbul 3 days a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Promotional round trip fares are available from Istanbul to Asmara starting at €464, including all taxes. Miles&Smiles members receive 25% miles discount for tickets booked in first 6 months of operations to newly opened destinations, with the option of class upgrades. 

Emirates signs partnership deal with Nigeria's Arik Air

The two airlines currently have a one-way interline agreement, whereby Emirates passengers are connected throughout Nigeria and West Africa via Arik Air’s current domestic and regional network. The MoU was signed yesterday by Adnan Kazim, Emirates divisional senior vice president, planning, aeropolitical and industry affairs, and Chris Ndlulue, Arik Air’s managing director, at Emirates group headquarters in Dubai. “Both Emirates and Arik Air have expressed interest in exploring ways to expand on our existing commercial relationship and to look at different areas in which we can cooperate that will be mutually beneficial to both airlines, including seamless connectivity for our customers on our respective networks. We also intend to explore the potential of code share arrangements as passenger traffic flows mature between both parties’ networks,” said Kazim. “Arik Air is delighted to partner with Emirates. Both airlines share a similar vision of convenience and safety for our customers. While Arik Air is happy to open its network in Nigeria and West Africa to Emirates passengers, we are excited at the vast worldwide network of Emirates being made available to Arik Air’s passengers. The invaluable cooperation between the two airlines offers a lot of synergy to both airlines in achieving their objectives,” added Mr Ndlulue. Emirates and Arik Air will also explore other areas of cooperation for the future, including frequent flier programmes, passenger and cargo handling. Nigerian Arik Air is the largest airline in Western and Central Africa and has developed and successfully operates an extensive domestic route network in Nigeria, and regionally across Western Africa from its twin hubs in Lagos and Abuja, and to Johannesburg in South Africa and intercontinentally to New York and to London from its Lagos hub. - See more at: http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/emirates-signs-partnership-deal-with-nigeria-s-arik-air.html#sthash.iuQt9KtU.dpuf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYNoIdjosuY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYNoIdjosuY

Brussels Airport Poised to Become World’s First CEIV Pharma Certified Community

Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the decision of Brussels Airport to become the first European hub for pharmaceutical freight using IATA’s global certification program for shipping cold-chain pharmaceuticals. The IATA Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV Pharma) is a standardized global certification program that trains and conducts onsite assessments to provide the expertise needed adequately to transport cold-chain pharmaceutical products across the world.

Brussels Airport is inviting a group of ten local stakeholders (ground handlers, freight forwarders, truckers and airlines) to undergo the CEIV Pharma training, bringing the cargo community together for the common goal of becoming certified. This will allow those Brussels-based stakeholders to offer pharmaceutical companies the competitive advantage of assuring cold-chain integrity to their clients.

Since the program goes beyond the Good Distribution Practices (GDP) covering air transport requirements, it is particularly attractive to forward-looking stakeholders who value the extra confidence this certification brings to their pharmaceutical clients. In February, SATS Coolport (Singapore)--which handled more than 15,200 tonnes of pharmaceuticals in 2013—received its CEIV Pharma certification. 

The pharmaceutical industry has relied heavily on the airline industry for its speed and efficiency in transporting high-value, time- and temperature-sensitive cargo. However, until this year, there were no global certification standards that could be internationally recognized and implemented.

“IATA has been working very hard with our stakeholders to ensure product integrity for these types of shipments,” said Tony Tyler, IATA Director General and CEO. “The CEIV Pharma certification program provides participants in the air cargo value chain with the tools to ensure that they are operating to the highest standards for the transport of what in many cases are life-saving drugs and medicines. And it will give pharmaceutical companies confidence and assurance that their cold-chain logistics requirements are being met through an independent certification process.”
 
The global pharmaceutical industry will spend $8.36 billion on cold chain logistics in 2014 and is expected to expand to more than $10 billion by 2018 (1). 

“Brussels Airport is aiming to strengthen its position as a leading gateway for the handling and transportation of pharmaceutical freight in Europe,” said Steven Polmans, Head of Cargo at Brussels Airport. “We hope that our leadership in being recognized as a CEIV Pharma certified community will persuade other airports to do the same. It is important that cold-chain pharmaceutical products can be transported in a standardized, sanitary and secure way throughout the world.” 

Joint Statement on Travel and Transport in Relation to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak

The current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak is believed to have begun in Guinea in December 2013. This outbreak now involves community transmission in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and recently an ill traveller from Liberia infected a small number of people in Nigeria with whom he had direct contact.

On 8 August 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005).

In order to support the global efforts to contain the spread of the disease and provide a coordinated international response for the travel and tourism sector, the heads of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Airports Council International (ACI), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) decided to activate a Travel and Transport Task Force which will monitor the situation and provide timely information to the travel and tourism sector as well as to travellers.

The risk of transmission of Ebola virus disease during air travel is low. Unlike infections such as influenza or tuberculosis, Ebola is not spread by breathing air (and the airborne particles it contains) from an infected person. Transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animals, all unlikely exposures for the average traveller. Travellers are, in any event, advised to avoid all such contacts and routinely practice careful hygiene, like hand washing.

The risk of getting infected on an aircraft is also small as sick persons usually feel so unwell that they cannot travel and infection requires direct contact with the body fluids of the infected person.

Most infections in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, are taking place in the community when family members or friends take care of someone who is ill or when funeral preparation and burial ceremonies do not follow strict infection prevention and control measures.

A second important place where transmission can occur is in clinics and other health care settings, when health care workers, patients, and other persons have unprotected contact with a person who is infected. In Nigeria, cases are related only to persons who had direct contact with a single traveller who was hospitalized upon arrival in Lagos.

It is important to note that a person who is infected is only able to spread the virus to others after the infected person has started to have symptoms. A person usually has no symptoms for two to 21 days (the “incubation period”). Symptoms include fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, and in some cases, bleeding.

The risk of a traveller becoming infected with the Ebola virus during a visit to the affected countries and developing disease after returning is very low, even if the visit includes travel to areas in which cases have been reported.

If a person, including a traveller, stayed in the areas where Ebola cases have been recently reported, he/she should seek medical attention at the first sign of illness (fever, headache, achiness, sore throat, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, rash, red eyes, and in some cases, bleeding). Early treatment can improve prognosis.

Strengthened international cooperation is needed, and should support action to contain the virus, stop transmission to other countries and mitigate the effects in those affected.

Affected countries are requested to conduct exit screening of all persons at international airports, seaports and major land crossings, for unexplained febrile illness consistent with potential Ebola infection. Any person with an illness consistent with EVD should not be allowed to travel unless the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation. There should be no international travel of Ebola contacts or cases, unless the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation.

Non-affected countries need to strengthen the capacity to detect and immediately contain new cases, while avoiding measures that will create unnecessary interference with international travel or trade.

The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend any ban on international travel or trade, in accordance with advice from the WHO Ebola Emergency Committee.

Travel restrictions and active screening of passengers on arrival at sea ports, airports or ground crossings in non-affected countries that do not share borders with affected countries are not currently recommended by WHO.

Worldwide, countries should provide their citizens traveling to Ebola-affected countries with accurate and relevant information on the Ebola outbreak and measures to reduce the risk of exposure.