Gabon is stepping up its efforts to court the Nigerian outbound travel market and forge deeper tourism partnerships with fellow African nations, as the Central African country seeks to reposition itself as one of the continent’s most compelling destinations for wildlife, nature and cultural experiences. The renewed push was unveiled on the sidelines of the recently concluded 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos, where Gabonese tourism representatives made a determined case for stronger commercial ties across the region.Leading the charge was Grace Ntahinta Mboumba, Chief Executive Officer of Gabon Highlights Tourism and Beyond Africa Travel Highlights and convener of…
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Madagascar’s northern railway network is entering a decisive new phase, as authorities move to rescue MADARAIL from a period of sharp decline and prepare the ground for a broader modernisation of the country’s freight logistics system. For the African travel and transport community, the planned rehabilitation programme represents both a lifeline for one of the island’s most strategically important economic corridors and a potential turning point for regional trade competitiveness in the Indian Ocean.The scale of the operational challenge is stark. Freight volumes on MADARAIL’s Tananarive–Côte Est line have collapsed from more than 400,000 tonnes in 2011 to just 118,000…
Central African aviation is set for a landmark moment as Royal Airways, the Chadian private carrier, prepares to launch a brand-new direct service between N’Djamena and Bangui from 7 October 2026. The route fills a critical gap in the regional aviation map, offering a direct link between Chad and the Central African Republic that has long been missing from the continent’s connectivity landscape. For African travel professionals, this development marks another important step in the wider effort to reconnect Central Africa following the collapse of the region’s former national carrier.Royal Airways, operational since 2021, has been steadily building its reputation…
Royal Airways, Chad’s private airline, has taken a decisive step forward in its ambitious growth journey with the induction of its first Airbus-family ATR 72-500 turboprop. The aircraft, registered TT-ROD, touched down in N’Djamena on Saturday, 6 September 2026, following a stop in Johannesburg where it received a full repaint into the carrier’s fresh new livery. For an airline that has been quietly rebuilding Chad’s air connectivity since the collapse of Tchadia Airlines in 2022, the arrival marks a significant milestone with important implications for the broader Central and West African aviation trade.The 72-seat turboprop joins a fleet that has…
A significant regulatory shake-up has taken place in Central Africa’s aviation sector, as the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation, and Merchant Marine of the Republic of Congo has officially withdrawn the operating licences of sixteen domestic airlines. The decision, formalised through a series of decrees published in the country’s official gazette on Thursday, 27 August 2026, marks one of the most sweeping regulatory interventions the Congolese aviation industry has witnessed in recent memory.For travel professionals across sub-Saharan Africa, this development carries substantial implications. The Republic of Congo occupies a strategic position within Central Africa, serving as a gateway for both…
Ghana’s tourism industry has taken a bold step into the future. The Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) has partnered with Africon, an AI education and consultancy services provider, to strengthen the digital capabilities of tour operators through a targeted one-day capacity-building programme. Focused on the practical application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tourism marketing and business operations, the training marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to modernise its tourism sector and equip its professionals for a rapidly evolving global marketplace.Held at the Sunlodge Hotel in Accra, the programme brought together TOUGHA members for hands-on learning and structured knowledge…
Cameroon is once again turning its attention to one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects on its national agenda. The government has revived long-standing discussions over a brand-new international airport to serve Douala, the country’s economic capital, with US engineering firm A. Epstein and Sons International and financial partner Integrated Trade Finance (ITF) in talks over a proposed \$2 billion development in the Littoral region. For sub-Saharan Africa’s travel trade, the announcement signals renewed momentum behind one of Central Africa’s most anticipated aviation projects.The proposed airport would represent a significant…
Nigeria’s Ibom Air has firmly rejected suggestions that it operates a monopoly at Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, insisting that it holds no regulatory authority to bar other carriers from operating at the facility. The airline’s response, issued through its Media Relations Unit, seeks to clarify long-standing misconceptions about its role at the airport it calls home, while also signalling openness to greater competition in one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing regional aviation markets.The carrier pointed out that the power to authorise, regulate, suspend or permit airline operations rests solely with Nigeria’s aviation regulatory…
Chad’s private carrier Royal Airways is preparing to take delivery of a pre-owned ATR 72-500, marking another significant step in its ambitious fleet expansion strategy across West and Central Africa. This latest acquisition strengthens the airline’s growing presence in a region that African aviation observers increasingly view as one of the continent’s most promising growth corridors.The move follows Royal Airways’ recent launch of scheduled international services and its active pursuit of fresh route approvals to markets including Nigeria and Benin, with further destinations expected to follow. Founded as a fully Chadian-owned private…
Cameroon’s national airline is once again at the centre of a heated debate about its future, as the country’s Chamber of Accounts (Chambre des comptes) has recommended suspending a proposed bank loan of 128 million US dollars intended to expand the fleet of Camair-Co. The recommendation comes at a moment when two banks have already tabled financing proposals, but growing concerns about the airline’s fragile financial condition have prompted auditors to hit the brakes. For African travel professionals monitoring the evolution of the continent’s national carriers, the development highlights the difficult balance…