Travel Butlers African Safari Blog.

AIRLINK has confirmed that it will operate a new route from Kruger to Livingstone (for Victoria Falls) from August 17.

Airlink’s service will operate directly from Kruger Mpumalanga / Nelspruit (airport code MQP) to Livingstone in Zambia (airport code LVI) initially on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with the intention to grow frequency corresponding with demand.

This will avoid the current need for Kruger travellers to stay overnight or connect in Johannesburg prior to flying to Livingstone. The opportunity is then for travellers to enjoy a game drive and breakfast at their bush lodge before travelling to Livingstone and enjoying, on the same day, an evening sunset cruise on the Zambezi. For people travelling from Livingstone to Kruger, they can enjoy a walk to the Falls in the morning, then breakfast and mid-morning activities before travelling to Kruger to enjoy dinner and the first night in the bush.

Flights will depart Nelspruit Kruger at 11.55 am, arriving in Livingstone at 1.50 pm. The return flight will depart Livingstone at 2.20 pm, arriving in Nelspruit Kruger at 4.45 pm.

Virgin Atlantic are celebrating their 25th birthday this year, and to celebrate they are running a number of special offers on flights including Johannesburg and Cape Town from only £499 return in Economy, £927 in Premium Economy, and £1998 in Upper Class.

These rates are only available on bookings confirmed by 17th February…

British Airways’ South Africa routes are doing well despite the current global slowdown, and the airline will be adding five more flights between Johannesburg and London for 2010, says BA chairman Martin Broughton.

“The immediate outlook for our South African routes is reasonably encouraging, and the 2010 World Cup should bolster demand from at least mid-2009,” Broughton said at the opening of the airline’s new lounges at OR Tambo International Airport at the weekend.

“We will up our current double-daily Johannesburg/London flights to 19 a week from May next year, and will operate our expanded Cape Town schedule over the South African summer peak from the end of October”.

Broughton said that despite the current challenges, “we remain absolutely focused on the interests of our customers”.

The combination of declining demand due to the global economic downturn, oil prices and a fall in consumer confidence had created the “perfect storm” for BA to soar, he said.

Nationwide has confirmed this afternoon - 29 April 08 - that all flights have been cancelled until further notice. The airline is said to have grounded its flights due to cash-flow problems.

Nationwide tickets will unfortunately not be honoured by other airlines.

Anyone travelling in South Africa currently or within the next couple of days and who have flights booked on Nationwide Airlines are requested to arrive very early at all airports in order to make alternative arrangements with other airlines.

Should anyone request a refund for their Nationwide Flights, the airline has advised that paperwork will need to be completed and this will be followed up by the airline directly.

It has been announced yesterday that Nationwide Airlines are able to issue airline tickets again.

Long-haul flights between Johannesburg and London-Gatwick have now resumed and limited domestic flights have started again from last Sunday.

Nationwide Airlines resumed its long-haul flights between London-Gatwick and Johannesburg on Saturday 8th December and limited domestic flights also resumed yesterday (Sunday 9th December).

This follows the SA Civil Aviation Authority reinstating Nationwides Certificate of Airworthiness, which had been suspended since 30th November.

Domestic flights will return to normal over the next few days as more aircraft are cleared to fly, meanwhile Nationwide say they are contacting customers to notify them of any changes to their schedule for flights over the coming days.

Further information is available from Nationwide Airlines call centre in South Africa (tel: 0861 737 737), ticketing offices and on www.flynationwide.co.za