Three African airlines introduce new flight paths to Malawi

Tourism in Malawi is expected to gain an additional boost as more and more airlines chart new flight paths to the land-locked southern African country. The move increases the possibility of dual country holidays and widens itinerary options in Malawi, making ‘the Warm Heart of Africa’ even more accessible.

Major players that are beginning new and additional flights into Malawi are Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines who have revealed schedules for new flights into commercial city of Blantyre while Zambia-based airlineProflight has introduced flights from Lusaka International Airport to Malawi’s capital Lilongwe.

According to a statement on Malawi Tourism Guide published on Thursday, the development vastly increases itinerary options in the southern part of Malawi – where there is the greatest concentration of tourist attractions and lodges.

Graces Malawi skies:One of Proflight Zambia's Jetstream 41 aircraft being loaded in preparation for flight
Graces Malawi skies:One of Proflight Zambia’s Jetstream 41 aircraft being loaded in preparation for flight

“Majete Wildlife Reserve, Mount Mulanje, Thyolo Tea Estates, Lengwe National Park, Zomba Plateau and Liwonde National Park are all closer to Blantyre than Lilongwe. And utilising both Lilongwe and Blantyre for access allows itineraries to be linear rather than circular, and avoids some of the more lengthy last-day transfers back to the airport, “reads the statement in part.

The statement also says a regular connection to Lusaka not only allows for more Malawi and Zambia combinations, but also links Malawi in with that city’s international route network.

“The Proflight schedule is timed to link with Emirates flights into and out of Lusaka, but travellers can also benefit from utilising Lusaka’s other direct international connections, such as the British Airways flights to London.

“The new flights to Malawi comes just a couple of months after we announced the best results on record for Malawi’s media coverage and attention. After almost £2 million estimated editorial coverage in 2012, it was clear that interest in the country would only grow. These new flights clearly demonstrate that growing demands,” says the statement.

Kenya Airways’ new service will see three flights a week to Chileka Airport in Blantyre, commencing August 2nd. These complement their daily flights to Lilongwe, and allow connections through Nairobi to numerous global destinations, including Rome, Paris, Amsterdam and London.

Ethiopian Airlines, the front runner of Air travel in Africa started running flights to Blantyre in March this year. Ethiopian Airlines flies to 44 destinations in Africa including two in Malawi: Lilongwe and now Blantyre.

“Passengers to and from Blantyre can enjoy hassle free connections via Addis Ababa to the growing number of international destinations in the Ethiopian route network such as London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Washington D.C and Toronto,” says the statement.

Proflight, encouraged by the trade and tourism ties between Malawi and Zambia, begins a three times a week service to Lilongwe from Lusaka starting June 4th.

The company Director of Government and Industry Affairs, Capt. Philip Lemba says it is an exciting move for Proflight as it marks the company’s first international flight which was previously only flew nine domestic routes including Lusaka, Livingstone, Ndola and Mfuwe.

“We expect that the new three-times a week service will boost trade and tourism ties between the two countries, with all the economic benefits that that brings,” he says.

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