Two airlines take off in Malawi skies

Two new Malawian-owned airlines have taken to the skies in an attempt to connect the country’s major tourism and commercial centres.

Malawi Travel Marketing Consortium said the new airlines – Ulendo Airlink and Swift Air – have been launched to make travelling around the country easier for entrepreneurs and travellers.

"Ulendo Airlink operates a fleet of four Turbo Prop Aircraft and is committed to delivering a reliable service that both passengers and agents can book with confidence," said a statement emailed to Nyasa Times.

Ulendo plane

Ulendo Airlink serves the destinations of Lilongwe, Blantyre, Club Makokola, Likoma Island, Chelinda and Mfuwe.

The airline’s domestic service timetable ‘compliments’ existing routes already offered by national carrier Air Malawi with connections to International flights from Kamuzu International to Johannesburg, Nairobi and Addis Ababa.

Ulendo Airlink is also available to quote for private charters.

Lilongwe based Swift Air is equipped initially with a single Beechcraft 1900D with four more planned to follow.

Swift Air commutes between Blantyre and Lilongwe to destinations on Lake Malawi such as Monkey Bay, Salima and Nkhata Bay.

"Big investments are planned for Swift Air and the company hopes to introduce two new 30-passenger amphibian planes to their fleet. These will be used to fly passengers to more remote Lake Malawi beach resorts to boost tourism in the area," the statement said.

Kelly White, managing director of the Malawi Travel Marketing Consortium commented: "We are delighted to witness such significant developments to Malawi's air transportation network, and are very excited about the potential positive knock-on effect this new accessibility will have on both business and leisure travel."

"The emergence of not one, but two new airlines in such a short space of time firmly cements Malawi's position as one of Africa's most exciting and fastest developing travel destinations."

Additionally, the likelihood of Swift Air introducing a cross border service to Lusaka, Zambia via Mfue in South Luangwa National Park has enormous potential for tourism development.

Suitably linked, White said, this connection could create a unique high-end safari and beach combination product; we watch this space with interest.

Nyasa Times 26 Sep, 2011

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Source: http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2011/09/26/two-airlines-take-off-in-malawi-skies/
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