Turkish Airlines is expanding to destinations in Africa shunned by others. Courtesy Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines is expanding to destinations in Africa shunned by others. Courtesy Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines banks on Africa expansion to fuel growth



When Turkish Airlines opened a direct daily route to a war-ravaged African failed state plagued by Islamist militants, industry insiders were sceptical.

Not anymore.

"Somalia is one of our most profitable destinations worldwide," Mustafa Ozkahraman, Kenya country manager for Turkish Airlines, said in an interview. "Because we are the only (international airline). The first and the only one."

The Istanbul-based carrier is replicating the move across Africa, expanding to destinations shunned by others. The move comes as political unrest at home last year pushed the airline into the red for the first time in 17 years.

In 2011, Turkish Airlines flew to 14 African cities. By the end of this year, it will operate 52 routes from Istanbul across Africa, after launching a route to Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.

From January to June, just under a 10th of total passenger and cargo revenues came from Africa, according to results for the first half of 2017 that showed a net loss of US$434 million.

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Rival Emirates has less than 30 routes. Last year, the Dubai-based airline cut one African flight and reduced the frequency of several others.

It cited weak economic conditions in Africa, where many countries dependent on revenues from commodities exports have seen economic growth fall below population growth.

But Turkish Airlines, which is 49 percent state-owned, is bullish on Africa, a continent of 1 billion people.

Mr Ozkahraman denied the growing ties between Ankara and many African states drove the airline's strategy.

"A lot of people would think our flights to Somalia were not business-related," he said. "(But) we do the feasibility and we have to believe the route will be profitable, either now or imminently."

He declined to give a specific breakdown on profits for African flights, but said routes like the daily flight on a wide-body jet from the Nigerian city of Lagos were critical to the airline's bottom line.

Despite challenges like poor security or electricity cuts at some airports, such flights feed passengers into Turkish Airline's hub, making routes like Istanbul to London profitable.

"You have to have those destinations to make your hub busy and your profitable destinations more profitable," he said.

Last year the company posted a net loss for the first time since 2000, after a demand slump caused by political turmoil and militant attacks at home. Mr Ozkahraman said some of the shortfall was also due to new planes - 210 have been ordered, he said.

Load factors - a measure of how full planes are - are over 70 percent on many African routes, just below the airline's global average of 80 percent, he added.

The wide network means that, unlike Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish does not partner with smaller African carriers notorious for poor service.

It opened a business class lounge in Nairobi's airport in July 2016, its second international lounge after Moscow. British Airlines and Emirates began renting the Nairobi lounge for their business class travellers earlier this year, Mr Ozkahraman said.

No more lice

Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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Sanchez's club career

2005-2006: Cobreloa

2006-2011 Udinese

2006-2007 Colo-Colo (on loan)

2007-2008 River Plate (on loan)

2011-2014 Barcelona

2014–Present Arsenal

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