Meetings Africa 2023 is introducing a new platform to boost efforts to improve connectivity across the continent. The Johannesburg-based MICE show will, for the first time this year (28 February-2 March), host an airline pavilion.
This new pavilion has been designed to allow airlines to engage and collaborate, a move expected to yield significant benefits for the industry, including improved operational efficiencies, better customer experience and innovation.
According to Zinhle Nzama (pictured), the acting chief convention bureau officer at the South African National Convention Bureau (SANBC), the airline pavilion is an essential tool for the recovery of the tourism sector globally.
“We recognise the immense impact that Covid-19 had on businesses of all sizes, including those in the aviation sector,” Nzama said. “To support these enterprises and provide them with the market access they deserve, we have introduced this new feature.”
“We believe this pavilion will help pave the way for a brighter and more resilient future for the African airline industry,” Nzama added.
Airlines showcasing at the pavilion are Airlink, Asky airlines, Air cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Lam Mozambique, Fly Namibia, Eswatini Airlines and FlySafair. Other airlines showcasing at Meetings Africa are South African Airways, Cemair, RwandAir, Proflight and Air Mauritius.
Welcoming the pavilion, Edwin Umejiaku, a West African aviation expert, pointed out that “the lack of flights, insufficient seating capacity, and limited frequencies have always been obstacles to air connectivity” on the continent.
The project also augurs well for South Africa’s strategic focus of achieving 21 million tourists by 2030.
“Meetings Africa has set its sights on aiding African business events players in restarting and expanding their operations. The goal is to generate opportunities for Africa’s business events sector, allowing for a more vibrant resurgence than ever before. Our new look represents this new injection of energy and underscores the importance we place on connections,” Nzama explained.
The second half of 2022 saw some significant developments when direct flights between South Africa and Belgium were announced in September. Two months later, a new non-stop airlift service between Washington DC and Cape Town was introduced. North America is currently the second-largest overseas market for South Africa.
In addition to the new Washington DC route, the national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), retained all its historical route traffic rights and also introduced flights to Blantyre and Lilongwe in Malawi, Windhoek in Namibia, and Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe, as well as increasing frequencies to other African destinations. The airline is also planning to launch its first post-restart intercontinental route this year.
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