Captain Hussein Mohamed Archives

Bluebird Aviation: Air Charter Business Drastically Impacted By Covid-19

by Mustafa Juma June 23, 2021

Air Charter business travel has been drastically impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic, regional airline Bluebird aviation has said.

In a press release sent to newsrooms, the airline said that the effect on the business comes as many customers opt to work from home.

According to the airline, the Covid-19 pandemic has also forced most business transactions to move online.

Air Charter

Air Charter is simply an Air Taxi where an airline takes you to a destination, waits for you to transact your business and then flies you back.

Drastic effects

According to Bluebird Aviation General Manager Captain Hussein Mohammed working from home has affected the air charter business.

This, Captain Mohammed said, because of people working from home, the business segment has been affected in terms of those dedicated charter airlines.

“This Business segment has been drastically affected by virtue of the fact that you can transact business in a zoom meeting and electronically you can now transact business. So technology has evolved to an extent where you are able to transact business without having to go to a physical destination like Singapore,” said captain Hussein Mohammed.

Captain Hussein Mohammed- General Manager, Bluebird Aviation. Photo/Courtesy

Medical Charter has also reduced drastically, since most patients being transferred from point A to point B are COVID-19 positive.

Captain Mohammed noted that there is No airline that wants to expose their staff, both cockpit and cabin crew to COVID.

“Most airlines want to first know the medical status of the passenger before they start evacuation. Most of these cases are referred to airlines that are specially equipped for medical evacuation,” he remarked.

However, commercial airlines business travel has been enhanced to a little extent by the virtue of the fact that those who can afford it and want to fly, there is sufficient social distancing and more room in the business

June 23, 2021 0 comment

Business

Bluebird Aviation’s Charter Flights On High Demand As Requests Soar

by Mustafa Juma April 23, 2021

written by Mustafa Juma

Bluebird Aviation’s private charter flights seem to be on a high demand.

This is evident following a slight rise in demand for the regional airline’s private charter flights since the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Covid-19 outbreak led to limited availability of commercial flights and health risks concerns.

According to Bluebird Aviation’s General Manager Captain Hussein Mohammed, while the usual private charterers have maintained their demand albeit at a reduced frequency, some airlines have witnessed additional demand for private charters from new clientele.

Through a press release sent to newsrooms, Captain Hussein Mohammed said travellers have been hesitant to utilize commercial flights , which has led to increased enquires .

“Whether its health risk concerns or just getting where you need to be, people and companies that have the means to fly privately, but had previously shunned it, are now looking at this alternative,” said Captain Mohammed.

Amid the rapid spread of the infectious disease and the declaration of a state of emergency in many countries, airlines have had to suspend passenger flights and cut schedules significantly, leaving most airlines with capacities below 50 per cent.

Regional airlines were also hit hard following president Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to lock five counties .

The five counties that were termed as disease infected zones are Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado and Nakuru.

The air charter aviation sub-sector has however, proven its ability to adjust in the past and in the current situation and supports the fight against Covid-19 with what it does best: transporting people and goods to where they are needed.

Captain Mohamed also noted that the Charter flights have helped in medical evacuation, air lifting of medical equipment and staff, carriage of vaccines, repatriation of travellers and contributed to maintaining supply chains during the Covid-19 crisis.

Research has found out that the headrest on a passenger seat has the most filth. It has been concluded that nearly half of the surfaces swabbed on airline flights contained levels of bacteria and yeast that could put a person at risk of infection.

“If youre a person who may have flown privately a few times, or not at all, and never justified the time savings, privacy, efficiency, and pandemic exposure, the time is now to reconsider your travel plans,” said Captain Mohammed.

April 23, 2021 0 comment

Business

Bluebird Aviation’s Cargo Flights To Continue Operating Normally

by Mustafa Juma April 7, 2021

written by Mustafa Juma

Bluebird Aviation’s air Cargo flights will continue operating normally, the company has said.

Through a press release dated April 2, 2021,the airline welcomed all cargo bookings from international clients, including dispatch of vaccines to various parts of the East African region and beyond.

The decision follows a notice issued by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority-KCAA that came after President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a Presidential Executive Order No. 2 Dated 26th March 2021 which suspended pasesenger commercial flights in and out of five counties teemed as COVID-19 infected areas.

This was to help curb the spread of Covid-19 in the wake of the third wave.

“We wish to clarify that our cargo flights remain operational and will run normally.We therefore, welcome all cargo bookings from international clients including dispatch of Vaccines to various parts of the East African region and beyond,” the airline’s statement reads in part.

The airline further noted that it is ready to play an integral role in fighting the pandemic by accommodating the extra cargo capacity brought by demand for COVID-19 Vaccines.

However, the airline’s Humanitarian based services will continue.

Bluebird Aviation is the leading provider for scheduled, non-scheduled and ad-hoc air charter services within the Eastern and Central African region and beyond.

Bluebird Aviation has grown into one of the leading air charter companies in the region, catering for not only the humanitarian sector, but private and government institutions as well.

April 7, 2021 0 comment