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Theoneste Bagosora, a former Rwandan army colonel, widely regarded as the architect of the 1994 genocide, died in a hospital in Mali last weekend.(Photo credit should read TONY KARUMBA/AFP via Getty Images)

Africa in brief: 25 September – 2 October

In the round-up: The ‘architect’ of the Rwandan 1994 genocide dies; the Nigerian government kills its citizens and the Twitter ban is lifted

(Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

SAA 2.0 hopes to start lean and grow from next year

Draft agreement document spells out that R1.5-billion will be needed to fund severance packages for 2 400 of the airline’s employees

Passengers are seen on the balconies of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3 600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikaku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama port on February 12, 2020. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP)

The great untethering and the airlines’ flat spin

If record vinyls and iTunes can co-exist in the Technological Age, Wi-Fi will allow ocean liners a slice of the airlines’ global travel monopoly

It is safe to say that, given the risk factor involved, the pandemic has exacerbated online activities, and even if, as the severity of its effect decreases (when a vaccine has been developed, for instance), people return physically to their places of work, the current expansion of online work practices means it is likely to remain so to a significant degree.

The coronavirus and the rise of the network society

Two kinds of virus, one biological and the other digital, have spread around the world, changing society and creating social elites

A Kenya Airways plane. The AU wants to create single unified air transport market for Africa.

AU gives continent-wide air travel a long-awaited boost

Despite boasting 15% of the world’s population, Africa accounts for just 3% of global air traffic because flights are expensive and often inconvenient

Saddled with debt of more than $100-million

Low-cost airline Fly Africa takes to the skies against Air Zimbabwe

Low-cost airline Fly Africa opens one route in September and looks into more, which may upset Air Zimbabwe’s popular Harare-Bulawayo route.

Fastjet chief executive Ed Winter’s South African embarkation has experienced delays. (Clarissa Sosin, M&G)

Looking skyward for a price war

The carrier’s African plan is poised for take off, but industry experts are not on board.

Luxurious interiors and the ability to have confidential meetings while  you travel have made chartered flights attractive to executives on the move. (Courtesy of Business Traveller magazine)

Corporate travellers fly solo

Chartered flights are becoming more popular as companies save executives’ time.

Despite international military intervention

Why budget flights aren’t for the faint of heart

For just £370, a flight from London to Johannesburg with one short ­layover in exotic Addis Ababa seemed like a great idea.

s a revamped operation, Eswatini Air said it was taking a cautious approach to ensure a smooth entry in the market by introducing its service in four phases.

Samoa Air defends pay-as-you-weigh policy

The airline says its world-first plan to charge passengers by their weight rather than per seat is the fairest way to fly.

The deadline for baseline emissions data has been extended for Indian and Chinese companies that did not comply.

Ten airlines spurn EU emissions scheme

More than 99% of all major global airlines have complied with the first step of Europe’s scheme to charge them for their carbon emissions.

Velvet Sky’s pay now

Velvet Sky’s pay now, fly later scheme

Troubled low-cost airline Velvet Sky stands accused by petrol giant BP of resorting to "desperate cash-raising measures to stave off bankruptcy".

Budget airlines not so cheap after all

It costs £40 for a flight from London to Malaga. Add a £15 administration fee, £15 for luggage and £5 for paying by debit card.

Turbulence over Africa

Turbulence over Africa

Although open-skies policies on in Africa bode well for the airline industry, ageing fleets and tight margins are significant challenges.

EU firm on airline carbon tax

United States airlines are wrong to think that they can force the European Union to back down on plans to make carriers pay for emitting carbon.

Airline security: ‘Looking for bad people, not bad objects’

Eye scanners may soon be coming to an airport near you as the airline industry seeks to sharply reduce security check-in time.

Fifty-six Indian airline pilots fail alcohol tests two years

Fifty-six pilots working for Indian airlines have failed alcohol tests in the last two years, according to a list issued by the civil aviation ministry.

Western, Mideast airlines step up interest in Africa

Western and Middle Eastern airlines are planning a pronounced push into Africa, adding routes and boosting passenger capacity.

Europe’s airways reopen for business

Europe’s airways reopen for business

Swarms of stranded passengers scrambled on Wednesday to hitch a flight home after Europe’s air embargo ended.

BA, Iberia sign merger deal to create global giant

BA and Spanish flag carrier Iberia on Thursday announced a merger deal to create one of the world’s biggest airlines.