Departures
FLYING TO...
...Africa
NO ONE knows the exact population of Africa, writes Colin Ellson. Struggle as they obviously have, statisticians seem to have called time on counting heads around a continent of 54 countries, 3,000 ethnic groups, and over 2,000 languages mostly incomprehensible to the westerner; the Zulus, for example have 39 words for ‘green’. Small wonder that the Victorians dubbed Africa The Dark Continent. According to UK Trade and Invest, however, globalisation is throwing light on a continent with a reputation for civil war and corruption, poverty and immense riches. There have been, it says, significant improvements in Africa’s prospects for growth, and it is already the second-fastest growing region in the world. The proof comes in the shape of sustained development in all sectors, from retail to agriculture and transport to telecommunications, with further opportunities opening up as economies diversify, expand and welcome foreign investment. For UK companies yet to explore the business potential in a land 2,895 miles long and the same distance from west to east, the prospect will be daunting. Against this must be set glittering opportunities in virtually every field as emerging nations with growing spending power seek to catch up with the developed world. To whet the appetite, Nigeria and Uganda are looking to build airports, South Africa is
seeking suppliers of automotive components, Kenya needs input for its growing solar power industry, Ghana wishes to expand its banking and financial services sector, and Zambia would like to hear from providers of mobile phone services. Having researched the potential in a variety
of diverse markets, flying staff to them is a relative doddle. There are direct services to many of these destinations from the UK, and where these are not available, connecting flights are offered from the near-continent and hub airports in the Gulf. The last guess at the population of Africa put
it at around one billion. Included in that figure must be an awful lot of customers for your company’s goods and services.
Algeria Algiers Located on the Mediterranean and noted for its glistening white buildings, Algeria’s capital is an important economic, commercial and financial centre. Among the world’s top ten in reserves of natural gas, it has an economy based largely on fossil fuels. British Airways and Air Algerie both fly from London Heathrow to Algiers on a daily basis. Air France, meanwhile, serves the capital city from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport six times a day, while Lufthansa flies ten times a week out of Frankfurt.
Egypt Cairo The Egyptian capital was at the forefront of the unrest encapsulated in the so-called Arab Spring, with mass protests leading to the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak. The country’s interim military rulers have promised elections for a civil government by the end of 2011. Meanwhile, Cairo’s dominant tourism industry is suffering from adverse publicity. From Heathrow, BA flies to Cairo daily and Egyptair flies 11 times a week. Lufthansa flies to the Egyptian capital twice a day from Frankfurt and 11 times a week from Munich.
Morocco Casablanca Located on the Atlantic Ocean, Casablanca is home to the country’s main industrial complex and has the largest port in North Africa. It is the headquarters of numerous Moroccan and international companies, with an economy based largely on the export of phosphates. Royal Air Maroc flies from Heathrow to Casablanca daily. Other routings include Air France, Lufthansa, and Brussels Airlines from their continental hubs.
Marrakech In the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, Marrakech has chosen to promote tourism as the trigger of its economy. Now the
84 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
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