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Lower air fares to West Africa via Air Afrique Air Afrique's Manhattan.offices are a short hop from our Africa Travel Association (ATA) headquarters opposite New York's Empire State Building. Here our editors spent some quality time with Sales Coordinator Pierre Meslin and Mr. T. Komaclo, getting an update on the airline's many destinations and services. Looking at the artistic gallery of posters decorating the large waiting room, corridors office walls, one can easily see what a tourism smorgasbord this great airline offers. Many of these exotic destinations are included on this site, and we'll cover even more in Africa Travel Magazine's coming editions.,, NEW YORK-ABIDJAN NONSTOP: 38 Years of service - Abidjan-Abu Dhabi- Bamako- Bangui- Bunjul- Bordeaux- Brazzaville-Casablanca- Conakry- Cotonou- Dakar- Douala- Jeddah- Johannesburg- Lagos- Libreville- Lisbon- Lome- Malabo- Marseille- Monrovia- Nairobi- Ndjamena- New York - Niamey- Nouakchott - Ouagadougou- Paris - Pointe Noire - Rome. MONROVIA: New service to Monrovia Liberia (via Dakar) leave New York Sunday 10 pm, arrives Monrovia Monday 2:50 pm Leave Monrovia Sunday 9 am arrive New York same day 5:55 p.m. Air Afrique Background: Shortly after achieving political independence, the heads of state of 11 Central and Western African nations met in Yaounde, Cameroon. The date was March 28, 1961, and their purpose was to initiate joint action toward the common goals transcending the artificial barriers left over from the Colonial era, and thus achieve a more meaningful and complete form of independence. Transportation was on the top of their agenda because, at that time, intra-African air transportation was a very rudimentary stage. One had to rely on foreign carriers transiting via Europe to travel from one African state to another. The Yaounde summit, therefore, produced the historic decision to create an African airline owned and operated by the member states. The airlines was commissioned to develop better links among African nations, thereby promoting the images of Africa worldwide and reinforcing the concept of African unity. Thus was born Air Afrique, an experiment in multi- national cooperation. The challenges facing the new company were rather formidable. In fact, it is hard to believe today, as the regular and wide bodied jets of Air Afrique carry the now-familiar green colors and horse-antelope logo of the airline to some 30 countries on 5 continents (Africa, Europe, Asia Minor, North and South America) , that this international carrier actually began operations in the early 60s with a team of only eight employees housed in makeshift quarters in downtown Abidjan, flying piston aircraft borrowed from other airlines. But what they lacked in resources, the pioneers of Air Afrique made up in enthusiasm, foresight and determination. Exploiting the extensive air traffic rights of its member nations was but part of the new company's mission -- it also had to make sure the continent's travel infrastructures were up to international standards. ATA thanks Air Afrique and its excellent in-flight review Balafon for images and excerpts on Togo, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Benin, Senegal, Guinee and other destinations. Hotel development follows: Air Afrique became a catalyst in the development of hotels throughout West and Central Africa, through its own subsidiary, Hotafric, which eventually ceased functioning as major international hotel chains picked up the great challenge. Air Afrique developed, and still manages, a number of game fishing centers, hunting camps and birds sanctuaries, making the wildlife wonders of Africa more easily accessible. Instrumental in promoting incoming tourism, Air Afrique created a variety of tour itineraries throughout Africa, which it distributed to tour operators and travel agents in Europe and the U.S.A. Finally, in order to fulfill its mission as a competitive international carrier, Air Afrique undertook the responsibility to train, over the years, its own administrative, commercial and technical personnel in collaboration with major aeronautical schools overseas and through its own training centers in Dakar, and Abidjan. Today, Air Afrique employs over 5,000 persons (over 90% African). With a modern jet fleet made up of DC10s and Airbuses, and a worldwide network linked through the technologically advanced Alpha III satellite reservation system including such other US facilities offered by PARS. Apollo/ Covia, Sabre, and System One. Air Afrique has gained recognition as one of the world's major carriers. The young member nations of Africa can be justly proud of this joint effort. Together, they have written one of the success stories of modern aviation. In real economic terms, the fruits of this success story are indeed beginning to roll for Air Afrique - reflecting on the complex and acutely competitive US market. ..