Meetings Africa 2023 will, for the first time this year, host an airline pavilion that aims to fast track the sector’s recovery from an airlift perspective.
In a move that is expected to yield significant benefits for the industry, the new pavilion has been designed to allow airlines to engage and collaborate on, amongst others, improved operational efficiencies, better customer experience and innovation.
Acting Chief Convention Bureau Officer at the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB), Zinhle Nzama, said the airline pavilion was an essential tool for the recovery of the tourism sector globally and, therefore, it was vital to use Meetings Africa to advance the growth of the aviation sector and provide a platform for collaboration.
“We recognise the immense impact that COVID-19 had on businesses of all sizes, including those in the aviation sector. To support these enterprises and provide them with the market access they deserve, we have introduced this new feature.
“By providing exhibitors in the airline pavilion with the same access to the show, including the diary system, we will level the playing field and offer a fair chance for all businesses to participate.
“This initiative is one of the many ways through which South African Tourism and the SANCB are assisting the sector towards full and inclusive recovery. We believe this pavilion will help pave the way for a brighter and more resilient future for the African airline industry," Nzama said.
Airlines showcasing at the pavilion are Airlink, Asky Airlines, Air Côte 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.
Forging new partnerships
Nzama reiterated that South African Tourism was committed to forging new partnerships by offering a platform for airline partners to meet with the global business events community.
"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,” she said.
Sustained efforts led by SA Tourism, industry players and government to increase airlift and connectivity to revive the tourism industry continued to bear fruit, highlighted Nzama.
According to her, the second half of 2022 saw 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.
The new route operated by United Airlines is set to increase the number of tourists from North America to South Africa, which is currently the second-largest overseas market for South Africa.
In addition to the new Washington DC route, the national carrier, South African Airways, had retained all its historic route traffic rights and had 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, said Nzama.
