Emirates Announces Capacity Increase to St Petersburg

Emirates reinforces its commitment to Russia by announcing the upgrade of the aircraft servicing the St Petersburg route to a Boeing 777-300ER, increasing capacity and offering an enhanced on board experience.

Six weekly EK175/176 flights, from Dubai to St Petersburg, will be operated with an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER from 25 October 2015, instead of an Airbus 330-200. The up-gauge will be applied to a seventh flight per week on the 1 December 2015.

By replacing the A330-200 with the Boeing 777-300ER, Emirates will be adding a capacity increase of 50% to the route, which launched in November 2011. The new aircraft will also introduce the Emirates First Class Suite, a first for the route, plus 42 lie-flat Business Class seats and 310 spacious Economy Class seats.

As the only airline to offer First Class Suites from St Petersburg, Emirates is bringing a new level of comfort and quality to the market, previously unavailable from St Petersburg on a commercial airline.

“Since 2011, when Emirates launched flights to and from St Petersburg, we have carried over 500,000 passengers on the route. Counting these figures alongside our double-daily flights to Moscow, takes the total to over 3.6million passengers traveling on Emirates to and from Russia in the 12 years of operation, making it an important market not only for Emirates, but for Dubai as a destination,” said Thierry Aucoc, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations – Europe and Russian Federation.

“Operating these flights to and from St Petersburg on a 777-300ER brings consistency to the Russian customer. Whether traveling from St Petersburg or Moscow, they will be confident that the level of experience they receive is in line with what is expected from Emirates.”

On board the Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, passengers in all three cabins can enjoy more than 2,000 channels of the latest movies, TV shows and music from around the world on the award-winning ice inflight entertainment system, all while enjoying specially created gourmet cuisine served by Emirates’ multi-lingual cabin crew. As with all Emirates flights, passengers traveling on the route will be able to accumulate Skywards miles and benefit from a generous baggage allowance of 30kg in Economy Class, 40kg in Business Class and 50kg in First Class.

Emirates’ flight EK175 departs Dubai International Airport at 09:20 and arrives in St Petersburg at 14:35. The outbound flight EK176 departs from St Petersburg at 16:35 and arrives in Dubai at 23:45.

From Dubai, Russian passengers are able to easily connect to Emirates’ vast network of destinations in Asia and beyond, including the new service to Bali, the Thai island of Phuket and exciting cities in Australia. From Asia, Middle East, Australia and Africa, St Petersburg is just a short stop in Dubai away, offering a convenient option for business and leisure passengers to connect with Russia.

Airtel Uganda, AIESEC sign Digital Youth Empowerment Agreement

Telecom giant, Airtel Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences (AIESEC) to carry out a Digital Youth Empowerment Programme and training in ten universities in Uganda.

AIESEC, an international platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential, is the world’s largest student-run organization that focuses on developing students on a global scale into responsible and entrepreneurial leaders. It was started in Uganda in 1996 at Makerere University and currently has close to 300 members in seven universities.

Mr. Tom Gutjahr, the Managing Director Airtel Uganda expressed his excitement towards this partnership, adding that he believes AIESEC is for focused individuals who are open to working in other cultures, getting exposure and using it to develop their own countries.

“Airtel Uganda has and will always welcome ideas that focus on empowerment of the youth, not only by providing them with better telecommunications solutions, but also by giving them opportunities to better their loves through the kind of exposure that AIESEC provides,” he added.

“In the core of our leadership development that we provide to young people, we are collaborating with Airtel to bring about this perspective of Digital Youth Empowerment which is such a needed thing for young leaders today,” commented Ms. Marie Kvendset, the President of AIESEC in Uganda during the signing ceremony, adding that last year alone, AIESEC brought approximately 300 people to Uganda under their exchange program.

As part of the MoU, Airtel Uganda will be offering 3G capable devices - Wingles (Wifi Dongles) and Smart Watchestosome students at the various universities during the programme. These unique products will demonstrate Airtel Uganda’s leadership and innovation in the mobile data space as it tailors telecommunications solutions to the students.

Below is a schedule of the confirmed dates and venues for the activations;

9th Sept: Ndejje University - Kampala Campus 

10th Sept: UMU – Cardinal Wamala Auditorium

11th Sept: MUST - Main conference hall

14th Sept: MUBS – Walusansa Hall

15th Sept: KYU – Dining Hall West End

16th Sept: UCU – Library

17th Sept: Cavendish & IUEA – Basement Room 1

18th Sept: MUK – CEDAT Conference Hall

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 3 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 328 million customers across its operations at the end of May 2015. To know more please visit, www.airtel.com

MTN Junior’s Robotics Camp: Creating the Next big thing!

MTN Uganda facilitates digital initiative for 50 children in 10 schools to receive training in robotics design.

Building and programming a robot from scratch may sound like an impossible task in the minds of most primary school pupils and parents. But MTN Uganda, in partnership with FundiBots a Ugandan based organization that focuses on robotics training in schools is aiming to change that mind-set. The two are  organizing a training camp, aimed at equipping Juniors aged between 9-12 years with skills that can enable them solve real-world problems through digital design.

The 3 day event dubbed the ‘MTN Junior’s Robotics Camp’ will have 50 children from 10 schools in Kampala with each school being represented by five children.The training commenced on, the 11^th of September 2015 and will go on for 3 days at the MTN Towers on Hunington road.

According to Ms. Mapula Bodibe, MTN Uganda’s Chief Marketing Officer, the goal of the camp is to introduce and teach the children;digital skills used in the building of robots from a more practical, fun and open environment and in the process, expose them to new ways of thinking.

“MTN is proud to partner with Fundi Bots, which is a pioneer provider of robotics design training in Ugandan schools. Our intention is to create and inspire a new generation of Ugandan children to be the future problem solvers, innovators and change makers,” Ms. Bodibe said.

“We hope the children will leave the program with a new love and passion for design facilitated by innovations in the digital space. We also want them to know that anyone, regardless of age, gender or background can use digital platforms in a creative and innovative ways,” she added.

Ms. Bodibe further highlighted the significance of initiatives like the Junior Robotics Camp in solving problems like youth unemployment and lack of practical skills.

“One of the biggest challenges facing Uganda today is youth unemployment. We believe that as we inspire children to harness innovation and become problem solvers at a very young age, we will create a generation of job-creating youth that will be the future economic engine of this country,” she concluded.

During the training,participants will be introduced to the principles of programming inan interactive and friendly environment. Fundi Bots Founder Solomon King Benge said he wants young people to develop a creative set of skills they can apply to solve issues specific to their lives.

“A number of Ugandan schools remain slow in catching up with these kind of innovations and alternative ways of solving simple problems in peoples’ lives. At Fundi Bots, we focus a little more on the technological process of building robots as a way for students to look at the world around them from a solution oriented perspective,” Benge said.

“By guiding students through problem identification, brainstorming, collaboration, construction, programming, final deployment and system feedback, we will show them how life’s challenges can be solved using digital and technological tools,” he added.

The children will each receive a certificate of participation at the end of the 3 days event.

Primary schools participating:

1. Lohana Academy

2. Vine Academy

3.  Ntinda Primary School

4. Nakasero Primary School

5. Buganda Road Primary School

6 Kiswa Primary School7. Kitante Primary School

8. Daffodils Academy

9. Kampala Parents School

10.  St. Kizito Primary School

Gulu Marks Sensational Close to Airtel Rising Stars Regional Tournaments

…National finals to be played next month in Mbarara.

The Airtel Rising Stars North and West Nile regional qualifier games were held in Gulu town over the weekend. The games were played at different venues in Gulu with the finals being held at Pece Stadium.

The regional games took place on Saturday 12^thand Sunday 13^thof September with Destiny Sports Academy (boys from Northern region), King James (girls from Northern region) and Adjumani boys (boys from West Nile region), Adjumani Girls (girls from West Nile region) emerging as the winning teams from the two regions.

The Winning teams for both boys and girls from the East and North Eastern regions, won trophies, certificates, balls, kits and cash prize of UGX 1,000,000 each. While the boys’ and girls’ first runners up, took home trophies, certificates, and a cash of UGX 500,000 each.

The boys and girls that exhibited remarkable talent were selected from the different regional teams to represent their regions in the national championships to take place in Mbarara in October.

Speaking at the games in Gulu, Airtel Uganda Brands Assets and Properties Executive, Musa Mayanja, said; “Airtel is dedicated to nurturing young talent through the Under 17 grassroots football initiative that enables us to reach out to the youth.”

“It is our desire to see young people live their dream and soccer is one of our major platforms in doing so.This soccer tournament provides this opportunity to the youngsters and creates a great opportunity for the players to engage more in the game,” Mayanja added.

The Airtel Rising Stars football initiative is the biggest Under-17 grassroots tournament on the African continent and aims at identifying talent and nurturing upcoming footballers. This is one of the few football equal opportunity initiatives that targets boys and girls. Over the years, the Airtel Rising Stars initiative has yielded many success stories and has enabled several upcoming soccer talents to join Africa Premier League clubs and their countries’ national teams.

The West Nile and Northern regional games mark the end of the countrywide regional qualifiers that have witnessed action through every part of the country. Airtel, currently the largest supporter of youth football on the continent, has partnered with FUFA to ensure that football regulations are followed in Uganda.

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 3 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 328 million customers across its operations at the end of May 2015. To know more please visit:www.airtel.com

Emirates Enhances Algiers Service

Deployment of Boeing 777-300 on route from 1st October to add seats and upgrade travel experience for customers.

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, will be able to connect even more people and cargo with Algiers on 1st October when it switches from its Airbus A340-300 currently operating the route to a larger Boeing 777-300 aircraft.

“In line with the healthy commercial demand, we are pleased to introduce our Boeing 777-300 aircraft onto our Algiers route, offering our customers more seats and an enhanced on board experience,” said Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations for Northern and Western Africa. “Emirates constantly strives to provide its passengers with the very best service and we are confident that our Boeing 777-300 service will raise the bar for travel experience in the Algerian market. Our 777-300 will offer Emirates’ renowned cabin comforts and facilities, including our award-winning ice entertainment system in every seat, luxurious seats in Business Class and First Class, and extra legroom in Economy Class.”

Emirates launched services to Algiers on 1^stMarch 2013. In less than three years, the route has carried over 272,000 passengers and 12,500 tonnes of cargo to date. The increase in capacity will offer 97 additional Economy Class seats per flight, representing a 45 per cent increase in economy seating capacity. The number of premium cabin seats remains unchanged, offering customers a choice of twelve First Class flat-bed seats and 42 Business Class seats.

Emirates’ Boeing 777-300 will also offer increased belly hold capacity, and can carry over 20 tonnes of cargo per flight. Some of the key import products being carried on Emirates SkyCargo into Algiers include pharmaceutical products, electronics, automotive, apparel and equipment for oil and gas sector. Exports include fruit products mainly date.

Algiers is home to a rich variety of architecture and a vibrant cultural scene with a diverse heritage of Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and French influences. The country also boasts some of the world’s most spectacular coastlines as well as vast mountainous and desert landscapes.

On-board, passengers can discover ice, Emirates’ award winning entertainment system offering up to 2,000 channels of on-demand entertainment at every seat, dedicated children’s menus and activities, and gourmet regionally inspired dishes with complimentary beverages, while being served by Emirates’ multi-lingual Cabin Crew, including Algerian nationals. Emirates customers also have the added bonus of a generous baggage allowance with 30 kilograms for those travelling in Economy Class, 40 kilograms for Business Class, and 50 kilograms for First Class.

EK757 leaves Dubai every Sunday, Wednesday Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 0845hrs and arrives at Houari Boumediene Airport at 1310hrs. The return flight, EK 758, departs Algiers at 1545hrs and lands in Dubai at 0125 hrs the next day.