Emirates to Have Busy Weekend

Emirates expects higher than normal passenger traffic on its flights this upcoming weekend, as travelers head home or abroad for the summer holiday season.

Over 62,000 travelers will board an Emirates flight from Dubai on Friday 26th June, and consistently high passenger loads are also expected from 25 to 28 June.

Emirates is reminding customers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before flight departure, and plan extra time to get to the airport. Passengers can check in as early as six hours before departure. Emirates also recently introduced special areas for families consisting of 10 check in counters in Terminal 3 that are designed with their needs in mind.

Customers who check in less than 60 minutes prior to their scheduled flight departure will not be accepted for travel. These time checks are in place to ensure the minimization of delays and missed connections. Passengers are also advised to make sure they get to their boarding gate on time. Boarding starts 45 minutes before each flight and gates close 20 minutes before departure. If passengers report late Emirates will not be able to accept them for travel.

Customers are also urged to check-in online, use the convenient Self Service Kiosks or baggage drop facilities to expedite their airport experience. Those checking in online are required to check in their luggage no later than 90 minutes prior to departure. Customers holding an e-boarding pass and traveling with carry-on bags only, can proceed directly to passport control and security clearance.

Customers traveling to the United States, Canada and the UK are reminded to charge their electronic devices before getting to the airport, as they will be required to switch on these devices on at the relevant boarding gates where screenings will take place, or risk being denied access to fly. During busy travel periods passengers may experience longer queues due to heightened security measures.

For more information, please visit http://www.emirates.com/english/flying/emirates-app/index.aspx

Airtel Africa announces Yaya Toure as new brand ambassador

Bharti Airtel Africa, a leading telecommunications service provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, has today announced Yaya Touré as the new African face for its upcoming continental campaign.

Airtel’s partnership with the Ivory Coast’s captain and Manchester City’s midfield will launch the brand’s “It’s Now” campaign which seeks to nurture and grow talent in Africa through various consumer touchpoints such as sports, lifestyle and music while providing customers with access to connectivity and technological solutions that will enable them explore opportunities around them.

Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer, Christian de Faria, said that the campaign reiterates the company’s commitment to support the youth in Africa as well as drive economic growth by unlocking people’s potential.

“We are excited to be signing the pact with Mr. Touré who is respected in Africa and beyond. As the first player to win African Player of the Year four consecutive times, Touré is an inspiration to everyone working to achieve their potential and striving to be their best every day,” said Mr. de Faria.

Speaking on his partnership with Airtel Africa, Mr. Touré said, “Throughout my career I have been fortunate to have a great deal of success on the field. However, I know that the strongest performances come only when you commit 100 percent to the task at hand and display the strength and mettle to give it your all.  “It’s Now” is a campaign that is close to my heart as it calls on Africans to embrace the opportunities around them to better their lives. I am glad to be working with Airtel, with its wide reach within Africa, in order to inspire many people.”

The partnership will see Mr. Touré support Airtel’s corporate social responsibility particularly in youth empowerment for development.

Having entered the African market in 2010, Airtel Africa has steadily increased its customer base in Africa to reach over 70 million people. Airtel currently has Africa’s widest 3G footprint across 17 countries, coupled with the widest mobile commerce footprint in Africa with Airtel Money.

About Bharti Airtel  

Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the company ranks amongst the top 4 mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers. In India, the company's product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services, mobile commerce, fixed line services, high speed DSL broadband, IPTV, DTH, enterprise services including national & international long distance services to carriers. In the rest of the geographies, it offers 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services and mobile commerce. Bharti Airtel had over 324 million customers across its operations at the end of March 2015. To know more please visit, www.airtel.com

Airtel Uganda Unveils New Campaign – “its NOW”

Airtel Uganda has announced a new campaign which seeks to nurture and grow talent in Africa through various consumer touch points such as education, lifestyle and music while providing customers with access to connectivity and technological solutions that will enable them explore opportunities around them.

Dubbed ‘It’s Now’, the campaign has been simultaneously launched in 17 countries across Africa with Airtel operations by new Airtel Ambassador, Ivory Coast’s captain and Manchester City’s midfielder  Yaya Toure.

Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer, Christian de Faria, said that the campaign reiterates the company’s commitment to support the youth in Africa as well as drive economic growth by unlocking people’s potential.

“We are excited to be signing the pact with Mr. Touré who is respected in Africa and beyond. As the first player to win African Player of the Year four consecutive times, Touré is an inspiration to everyone working to achieve their potential and striving to be their best every day,” said Mr. de Faria.

Speaking on his partnership with Airtel Africa, Mr. Touré said, “Throughout my career I have been fortunate to have a great deal of success on the field. However, I know that the strongest performances come only when you commit 100 percent to the task at hand and display the strength and mettle to give it your all.  “It’s Now” is a campaign that is close to my heart as it calls on Africans to embrace the opportunities around them to better their lives. I am glad to be working with Airtel, with its wide reach within Africa, in order to inspire many people.”

To kick off the ‘It’s Now’ campaign, Airtel Uganda has launched the fifth Season of the Airtel Rising Stars – a Grass root football talent search thataims at identifying talent and nurturing upcoming footballers. The Airtel Rising Stars championship will provide an opportunity for budding stars around Africa to showcase their football skills and to gauge their raw talent against continental peers during the transcontinental African championships to be held later this year.

Speaking during the Uganda launch, Airtel Uganda Marketing Director, Mr. Prasoon Lal said, “We believe emphatically that nurturing young talent is the means by which we will ensure our youth grow into passionate and responsible members of the country.”

“As part of this ‘It’s Now’ Campaign, Airtel Uganda will continue to support the Ugandan youth segment through their passion points - education, lifestyle and music with the ultimate goal being unlocking the power of potential in the hearts and minds of all our customers,” he added.

Under the new ‘It’s Now” campaign, Airtel Uganda will reinforce its vision and mission of connecting inspired Ugandans to knowledge and opportunities by providing them the tools they need to propel this great continent into the future.

About Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the company ranks amongst the top 4 mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers. In India, the company's product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G wireless services, mobile commerce, fixed line services, high speed DSL broadband, IPTV, DTH, enterprise services including national & international long distance services to carriers. In the rest of the geographies, it offers 2G, 3G wireless services and mobile commerce. Bharti Airtel had over 297 million customers across its operations at the end of April 2014. To know more please visit, www.airtel.com

34th Fête de la Musique – World Music Day

Fête de la Musique was founded in France in 1982. It has been a tremendous, popular event free and open to all. Its purpose is to celebrate lively music and showcase a variety of musical customs and genres. For the 34th edition, the French Ministry of Culture and Communication has chosen to extol the virtues of togetherness and of exploring and sharing different cultures. To do this, the Ministry has chosen as its theme “Living music together”.

In Uganda, Fête de la Musique goes by the name of World Music Day and is a hands-on, collective, festive event for the public organized by the Alliance Française de Kampala in collaboration with the Bayimba Cultural Foundation and the Uganda National Cultural Centre. It will be held on June 20th at the National Theatre, Upper gardens, from 7pm. All are invited to come and listen to music in a public space and share a moment of togetherness, while enjoying concerts put on by amateurs and professionals alike. The event is also meant to inspire novices to discover music and perhaps learn to play it themselves.

The festival has been a smash success from the beginning, and in 2014, over 1000 people gathered to hear concerts on the streets of Kampala and at the National theatre where the main performances were staged. Fête de la Musique has grown to over 120 countries and 700 cities around the world, transforming the event into an iconic international music affair. For its 34th edition, the festival will continue its expansion by taking to the internet, the site of so many creations and exchanges, and eliminating all borders through the use of various digital platforms.

In 2015, Fête de la Musique will continue to reach as many people as possible in order to “live music together”!

 Follow alliancefrancaisekampala for all the latest news on Fête de la Musique 2015:

• Website:afkampala.org

• Twitter:@AFKampala

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alliancefrancaisekampala.afk

• Official website: http://fetedelamusique.culturecommunication.gouv.fr/