Air Afrique goes after leisure with holiday packages

The leisure market is the new target of Air Afrique, which until now has emphasised the corporate traveller bound for West Africa. The airline has commenced discussions with tour operators on the formulation of leisure packages, mainly to its home country of the Ivory Coast and neighbouring Senegal. One of these tour operators is Club Med, owner of a resort in 80km from Abidjan, capital of the Ivory Coast, and another two villages in Dakar, the Senegalese capital. Says sales representative, Sadiq Dindar, the plan is to release package details in good time for the area's high season, which runs from November through to April. An agent educational is also in the pipeline, to familiarise consultants with the product. Commercial manager for SA, Eugene Moussana, says the airline has also recorded encouraging interest from corporate clients regarding the incentive market. With flights going out on a Thursday and back early Monday morning, the timing lends itself to such groups. Flying time is six hours. In pursuit of leisure business, Air Afrique has expanded its sales staff, and a team of four sales executives are now out on the road calling on travel agencies. A current Air Afrique special offers a 50% discount on spouse fares for first-class passengers travelling to a number of West African destinations. A series of travel agents' incentives has been launched to run the course of the year. From March to June, agents who sell 30 business-class tickets stand to win two tickets to Paris. Further rewards will be announced for the months thereafter. Eugene and Sadiq believe the attractions of Ivory Coast and Senegal -- such as golf in the former and deep sea fishing in the latter, have strong South African appeal. The Ivory Coast's Basilica in Yamoussoukro, some two hours from Abidjan, is a replica of the Vatican, while the town Grande Bassam, 30 minutes' drive from the capital, has a strong French colonial flavour. Conscious of presenting a welcoming face to English-speaking travellers, the government of the Ivory Coast is encouraging locals to speak the language and English-speaking guides are available. South African passport holders require visas to visit the Ivory Coast, and must be inoculated for Yellow Fever. Air Afrique's frequent flyer programme, Club Preference, is undergoing some changes, and will offer two tiers, Silver and Gold, from May.