Simply Flying A map displaying some of the direct flight routes from the US to continental Africa
DENVER — (AFRICA NEWS MATTERS)
Recently we learned Denver International Airport (DIA) and the city of Denver, fondly called the mile-high city, in the US state of Colorado, have begun exploring possibilities for direct flights to continental Africa. DIA has set up a team that is working on this initiative called Denver Air Service Committee.
What a great idea, especially for some of us who think this is long overdue. Or perhaps, not so long overdue because there may not be a market for it here. This is an important question, and it remains to be answered.
The international community in and around the Rocky Mountain region, especially the nonprofit, academic, and business communities, serves an African continent that needs greater attention and exploration.
Following this news, a few of the people I talked to expressed optimism about the idea. Some of them laid out frustrations about not being able to make frequent trips to their beloved continent as much as they wanted because of travel limitations, including costs and the difficulties navigating through major European capitals before getting to the continent.
The aviation publication Simply Flying lists 21 routes and 8 airlines that are already serving the continent with direct flights from the US.
Despite the news and the interest that it appears to have generated, a few questions quickly come to mind, especially when similar services are already in the offering by major global airlines, including Delta airlines. I ranked some of these questions by priority:
US Direct Flights to Continental Africa
- Is there a market for new, direct flights from Denver to cities across Africa?
- Which African cities will Denver service in the near or long term?
- How much will it cost to fly directly from Denver to any proposed African cities?
- Is this sustainable? Or will this service die off quickly, if not slowly, after it is introduced or launched?
- If it’s successful how much will this benefit the African peoples themselves and not the airlines that continue to seek profits above all.
The following publications have written about the newly introduced Denver Air Service:
April 5 — KDVR, Denver
Denver airport announces plan for flights to Africa
Denver airport announces plan for flights to Africa | FOX21 News Colorado
April 5 —Denver Post
Denver airport wants to attract new international service to a continent it doesn’t serve now
Denver flights to Africa the focus of new airport committee | FOX31 Denver (kdvr.com)
April 6 — Aviation Pros
Denver Airport Wants To Attract New International Service to a Continent it Doesn’t Serve Now
April 7 — Colorado Public Radio (CPR News)
DIA seeking direct flights to Africa in effort to boost traffic
