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Air Tanzania Expands International Footprint with New Routes to Accra, Cape Town and Victoria Falls

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Air Tanzania Expands International Footprint with New Routes to Accra, Cape Town and Victoria Falls

Air Tanzania has launched a significant expansion of its international network, adding direct flights to Accra, Ghana; Cape Town, South Africa; and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This strategic move shifts the airline’s role from a regional operator to a key connector across East, West, and Southern Africa.

Strategic Rationale for New Routes:

  • Accra: Establishes a rare direct air link between East and West Africa, drastically reducing travel time and supporting intra-African trade and cargo under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
  • Cape Town: Targets high-value tourism and business traffic, creating new opportunities to link South Africa’s premium travellers with Tanzania’s safari and beach destinations while opening air cargo channels for perishable exports.
  • Victoria Falls: Capitalizes on the growing demand for multi-destination African tourism, enabling seamless combined itineraries such as “Victoria Falls to Zanzibar.”

The expansion is designed to strengthen Dar es Salaam as a continental aviation hub, boosting connecting traffic and related economic activity. However, the airline faces significant challenges, including higher operational costs on longer routes and intense competition from established carriers like Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. The success of this bold network strategy will depend on securing strong passenger demand and cargo contracts to transform these new routes into sustainable drivers of Tanzanian trade and tourism.

Falcon Air Launches Domestic Route Between Harare and Beitbridge

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Falcon Air Launches Domestic Route Between Harare and Beitbridge

A new domestic air link between Harare and Beitbridge has been inaugurated by Falcon Air, an airline under the government’s Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA). The launch, attended by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ), marks a step in expanding domestic air connectivity.

In his remarks, the CAAZ Director General emphasized that air travel is a critical economic enabler for trade, investment, and tourism, aligning with the goals of National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and the national Vision 2030. He highlighted the strategic importance of connecting Beitbridge—Zimbabwe’s primary gateway to South Africa—to enhance regional integration and support the government’s pledge to “leave no one and no place behind.”

The route is expected to improve access for passengers, goods, and services to and from the southern region, while fostering closer community and business ties.

Tourism Now Tops Zimbabwe’s GDP, Faces “Historic Crossroads”

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Tourism Now Tops Zimbabwe’s GDP, Faces “Historic Crossroads”

At the 2025 Hospitality Summit, officials announced that tourism has become the leading contributor to Zimbabwe’s GDP, surpassing mining and agriculture. This milestone follows international recognition, including Forbes naming Zimbabwe the “best country to visit in 2025.”

Key Summit Highlights:

  • Strong Growth: International arrivals grew 9% year-on-year for the first nine months of 2025, with domestic travel surging 20.9%. The sector has generated $922 million in revenue so far this year.
  • Strategic Pillars: Tourism Minister Barbra Rwodzi outlined a five-pillar plan for sustaining growth, focusing on digital transformation, sustainability, human capital, infrastructure, and market diversification. She also announced plans to reduce tourism fees by up to 50% to lower business costs.
  • Global Spotlight: Industry leaders highlighted Zimbabwe’s elevated global standing, noting the Minister’s election as Vice President of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa.
  • Call for Innovation: Stakeholders emphasized that maintaining this top position requires continuous adaptation, innovation, and collaboration to meet evolving global travel trends and consumer behaviors.

The summit framed the current boom as a pivotal moment to solidify Zimbabwe’s reputation as a premier destination through strategic investment and partnership.

New train dining experience in Victoria Falls

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New train dining experience in Victoria Falls

Bushtracks Africa is proud to announce the launch of Stimela Trackside Dining, Victoria Falls’ newest and most unique dining experience. Combining the elegance of luxury dining with the charm of heritage rail, Stimela offers guests a three-course menu served aboard a beautifully restored train stationed on the siding in the centre of Victoria Falls.

Stimela Trackside Dining delivers a sophisticated experience, featuring locally inspired dishes and warm, attentive service in a setting that blends history and contemporary style. Guests can enjoy an unforgettable evening in Victoria Falls, whether for a romantic night out, a family celebration, or a special occasion.

“Stimela is our newest dining experience in Victoria Falls, offering guests a chance to enjoy fine dining aboard a heritage train on nights when the iconic Express trains aren’t running to the bridge,” said Christopher Tett, CEO of Bushtracks Africa. “It’s a more accessible way to enjoy our signature service, heritage setting, and locally inspired cuisine, without missing out on the atmosphere that makes Bushtracks experiences unique.”

Stimela Trackside Dining1

Bushtracks Africa invites partners to share this exciting addition with their clients and encourage reservations.

For those seeking the full moving train experience, with a sunset stop on the Victoria Falls Bridge, the Bushtracks Express remains available on Tuesdays and Fridays on the Zimbabwe side and the Royal Livingstone Express remains available on Wednesdays and Saturdays on the Zambia side.

About Bushtracks Africa
Bushtracks Africa is a luxury destination management company and tour operator in Victoria Falls, offering a selection of travel experiences including safaris, river cruises, and iconic rail journeys. Our experiences combine local knowledge, high-end service, and a commitment to creating memorable moments for travellers.

Image gallery: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pvyTfCGd9d1NrQ5g9

Qatar Airways and Google Launch Industry-First “Sky Studio Challenge” Powered by Starlink, Proving Full Commercials Can Be Produced at 35,000 Feet

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Qatar Airways and Google Launch Industry-First “Sky Studio Challenge” Powered by Starlink, Proving Full Commercials Can Be Produced at 35,000 Feet

The World’s Best Airline and Google set a new industry benchmark with the first-ever inflight commercial production powered entirely by the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky and Gemini’s image and video generation models

The activation marks Qatar Airways’ latest Starlink rollout achievement – the free-for-all Wi-Fi is now offered on over 100 widebody aircraft, a mix of Boeing 777 and Airbus A350, operating the airline’s longest and most demanding global routes

DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways, the operator of the largest number of Starlink-equipped widebody aircraft, unveiled the “Sky Studio Challenge”, an industry-first Starlink-powered creative experiment developed in collaboration with Google. The challenge successfully demonstrated for the first time that full commercials can be generated, produced, finalised, and uploaded onboard during a single, ultra-long-haul flight at 35,000 feet using Qatar Airways’ free, gate-to-gate*, high-speed Starlink connectivity.

The activation took place on 17 November 2025 onboard a Qatar Airways Starlink-enabled Airbus A350 operating a 15-hour flight from Doha to Atlanta. Using Google’s latest Gemini video and image AI generation models, two commercials were created entirely inflight. As the first global challenge to generate, render, edit, and publish full AI-produced films before landing, the “Sky Studio Challenge” relied on Starlink speeds that rival most home broadband networks, enabling heavy file transfers, complex scene generation, real-time cloud workflows, and live collaboration with teams on the ground.

The challenge brought together two of the most influential figures in AI film-making: PJ Accetturo and Torey Kohara. Accetturo is known for the viral Kalshi NBA Finals spot and collaborations with Grok and IM8. He is recognised for developing bold visual concepts, dynamic pacing, and high-impact storytelling. Kohara, a prolific tech-focused director behind major Google campaigns, is celebrated for soft, cinematic narratives that transform complex technical concepts into emotionally resonant films. Their contrasting creative approaches presented the breadth of possibilities when cutting-edge AI tools are paired with reliable, high-speed inflight connectivity.

Launched one day after the World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, announced it now operates over 100 Starlink-enabled widebody aircraft, the challenge served as a compelling application of this milestone in practice. With more than half of the airline’s widebody fleet now fitted with the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky, the service is embedded across Qatar Airways’ long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes operated by the airline’s Starlink-equipped Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft. These aircraft serve the majority of the airline’s destinations in the Americas and Australia, as well as prominent routes in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. This scale of real, in-service delivery reinforces Qatar Airways’ position as the world’s leading airline in inflight connectivity, and the operator of the world’s largest number of Starlink-enabled widebody aircraft.

Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mr. Babar Rahman, said: “This first-of-its-kind challenge demonstrates why Qatar Airways is leading the industry in inflight connectivity, which our passengers can experience today rather than months or years from now. As the first airline to offer Starlink in the MENA region, we are already setting new benchmarks and delivering industry-first achievements at an unprecedented pace. It has been incredibly exciting to work with Google and two world-renowned AI filmmakers, PJ Accetturo and Torey Kohara, and to see Gemini’s capabilities utilised onboard to showcase the level of connectivity our passengers enjoy on every Starlink-enabled flight, delivering what is essentially a faster-than-home Wi-Fi experience. Completing two full commercial films during a single 15-hour flight was only possible because our Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft already fly with the fastest and most reliable Wi-Fi in the sky. This proves that Qatar Airways has moved beyond talking about the future of inflight connectivity to delivering it increasingly and at scale across our global network of over 170 destinations today.”

Google Regional Marketing Director Middle East and Africa, Mr. Najeeb Jarrar, said: “It’s amazing to see our AI tools and models, including our state-of-the-art video generation model, Veo 3.1, being utilised to tell the story of Qatar Airways in an interactive and creative way. As a marketer, this allows us to create ads and deliver great work with a brief-to-launch timeline measured in hours. A huge thanks to both PJ Accetturo and Torey Kohara for accepting the challenge, and for being able to steer the video generation process. We are very happy with the collaboration with Qatar Airways and we look forward to experimenting together with more tools and technologies in the future.”

While commercials have been filmed inside aircraft before, no brand has ever produced complete AI-generated films during a single flight and published them before landing. Starlink’s bandwidth and reliability enabled a level of capability previously unattainable in aviation, from complex multi-layer editing and rendering to high-volume cloud processing typically restricted to the ground.

The films produced on 17 November 2025 are live on Qatar Airways’ YouTube channel. The winning commercial will be determined by the audience engagement it receives over the course of one week. Films, behind-the-scenes content, and onboard footage are available in the following Qatar Airways’ YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPRzM4WEgNXNi51uBVlzkhZprr_Z7CpIL

Qatar Airways and Google share a longstanding collaboration across multiple innovation-led initiatives. Gemini’s latest image and video AI generation models were selected for their ability to produce high-quality footage quickly – a performance that relies heavily on high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity. Without Starlink, now available on our Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft, an activation of this scale would not have been technically achievable.

*Gate-to-gate access may be unavailable at certain airports due to local regulatory requirements.

Zimbabwe and Zambia Advance Seamless Travel Corridor at Key Meeting

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Zimbabwe and Zambia Advance Seamless Travel Corridor at Key Meeting

Tourism and border officials from Zimbabwe and Zambia have met in Livingstone to accelerate the creation of a seamless travel corridor between the two nations. The high-level meeting, chaired by their respective tourism deputy ministers, advanced a shared presidential vision for free and easy cross-border movement for tourists, traders, and citizens.

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Key outcomes and focus areas included:

  • Building on Recent Momentum: The dialogue follows the landmark decision to operate the Victoria Falls Border Post 24/7, a move designed to significantly boost tourist flows within the wider KAZA (Kavango-Zambezi) region.
  • Harmonizing Systems: Agencies responsible for tourism, immigration, customs, transport, and security worked to align procedures and modernize the tourist experience.
  • Action-Oriented Plan: Supported by World Bank findings, delegates committed to developing a clear, time-bound action plan to address infrastructure and service gaps, enhance the competitiveness of both nations’ tourism hubs, and ensure the preservation of their shared natural heritage.

The collaboration underscores a strong commitment to transforming the shared border from a barrier into a gateway for mutual economic growth.

Victoria Falls border now open 24 hours

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Victoria Falls border now open 24 hours

The Victoria Falls border post between Zambia and Zimbabwe is now operating 24 hours a day. The decision came into effect immediately on November 13 following a government gazette from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.

The border post previously operated from 06h00 to 22h00 on the Zimbabwe side. Running over the Victoria Falls Bridge, the border crossing accommodates rail, road and pedestrian traffic and is regularly used by tourists visiting both sides of the Victoria Falls

Qatar Airways Sets New Benchmark with Over 100 Starlink-Enabled Widebody Aircraft

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Qatar Airways Sets New Benchmark with Over 100 Starlink-Enabled Widebody Aircraft

The World’s Best Airline has accelerated its Starlink installation programme to deliver the fastest, gate-to-gate* Wi-Fi rollout on a widebody fleet – ahead of schedule

Since its launch of the world’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing 777 in October 2024, Qatar Airways has operated over 30,000 flights across six continents, including key destinations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas

DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways, operator of the largest number of Starlink-equipped widebody aircraft, has achieved a major milestone in its Starlink rollout programme and equipped over 100 widebody aircraft with the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky. This achievement represents one of the most rapid and ambitious Starlink installation programmes in the aviation industry, that’s being implemented ahead of the initially expected schedule, to bring the service to passengers even sooner.

With more than 50 percent of its widebody fleet now Starlink-connected, the World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, has already operated over 30,000 flights with uninterrupted, high-speed, gate-to-gate* connectivity. This pace further cements Qatar Airways’ position as the only carrier in the MENA region to currently offer Starlink onboard, and a global leader in Starlink-enabled long-haul and ultra-long-haul connectivity.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “Qatar Airways continues to lead the industry by setting new benchmarks with action, and not just intent. We have expedited our Starlink rollout, which is now advancing ahead of schedule as Qatar Airways brings the best travel experience to our passengers as an immediate priority, not a future ambition. Equipping over 100 widebody aircraft since the launch of our first Starlink-equipped flight in October 2024 reflects this commitment. We now operate up to 200 daily Starlink-connected flights to key destinations to ensure our passengers stay seamlessly connected, ensuring passengers stay seamlessly connected with speeds faster than many home Wi-Fi services. Whether working, streaming movies and sports, or staying in touch with friends and family, staying connected at 35,000 feet has never been more convenient.”

To date, Qatar Airways has completed the Boeing 777 rollout programme and is rapidly finalising the Starlink rollout across its Airbus A350 aircraft, also set to be completed in record time. As the airline continues to extend Starlink connectivity across its global flight network spanning over 170 destinations, passengers in every cabin enjoy free, ultra-fast, gate-to-gate* connectivity on flights spanning six continents, including flights to the majority of destinations served by Qatar Airways in the Americas and Australia, and on prominent routes in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

This game-changing service is transforming the onboard experience for both business and leisure travellers by enabling streaming, gaming, and working at 35,000 feet. Qatar Airways is the operator of the largest number of Starlink-equipped widebody aircraft and the only carrier in the MENA region currently offering Starlink in-flight connectivity, reaffirming its position as the world’s leading airline for innovation, reliability, and unmatched passenger experience.

*Gate-to-gate access may be unavailable at certain airports due to local regulatory requirements.

Zimbabwe’s Tourism Roars Back: Record 1.6 Million Visitors Fuel 2024 Resurgence

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Zimbabwe’s Tourism Roars Back: Record 1.6 Million Visitors Fuel 2024 Resurgence

Zimbabwe’s tourism sector has achieved a remarkable post-pandemic recovery, welcoming over 1.6 million international arrivals in 2024. This surge is credited to two key drivers: significantly improved air connectivity and a major expansion of the hospitality sector.

Enhanced Air Access: A primary catalyst has been the expansion of flights by major carriers, most notably Ethiopian Airlines, which offers daily connections to Harare and Victoria Falls from its global hub in Addis Ababa. This has greatly improved access from key markets like Europe, the US, and Asia. Regional airlines, including Air Zimbabwe and Fastjet, have also increased capacity, making travel within Southern Africa easier.

Hospitality Boom: The country has responded to increased demand with a wave of new investments in accommodation. The sector now ranges from new luxury lodges and international hotel brands in prime locations like Victoria Falls to a growing number of eco-lodges and boutique hotels, catering to all types of travelers.

Economic Impact: This tourism boom has had a substantial positive effect, contributing an estimated 17% to GDP growth and creating thousands of jobs in hospitality, transport, and guiding. Local communities near major attractions have particularly benefited from the influx.

Looking Ahead: With upgraded airports, a diverse range of new accommodations, and its recognition as a top destination for 2025, Zimbabwe is solidifying its position as one of Africa’s most dynamic and recovering tourism hotspots.

Airlink applies for Lanseria-Zimbabwe flights

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Airlink applies for Lanseria-Zimbabwe flights

Airlink has applied to the International Air Services Council for rights to operate flights between Lanseria International Airport and two Zimbabwean airports.

The application requests an amendment to its certificate to operate two daily flights from Lanseria to Harare and one daily flight from Lanseria to Bulawayo.

According to aviation consultant, Sean Mendis, this is a strategic move by the airline to address demand and maximise the utilisation of its fleet.

“Airlink has got a huge number of the smaller Embraer 135s and 140s and it needs to find markets to deploy them profitably. It’s very difficult to compete with the smaller 35- to 50-seat planes on the trunk routes (to and from OR Tambo International) without heavy frequencies,” said Mendis.

He explained that Lanseria was also a convenient option for those in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg to fly out of, as it was much closer than OR Tambo.

“Zimbabwe also has a significant amount of business traffic and this is supported by South Africa and Zimbabwe’s significantly liberalised air market. The agreement was initially signed in 2021 and it was phased in, but, as of last year, it allows for near open skies. Consequently, there’s no longer restrictions in terms of how many frequencies each side can operate.”

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