Platinum Airways’ Destination of the Week goes on safari

[Stijn 21]

Platinum Airways, the very virtual Open Skies airline, has revealed its upcoming Destination of the Week theme. For four successive weeks, its pilots will be spotting the Big Five on an African Safari. Platinum Airways’ Destination of the Week (DOTW) theme has proven to be very popular among its pilots and the upcoming theme will be no different. After having explored the world’s highest altitude commercial airports with a regular service, the Open Skies pilots will have a break. They will go on an African Safari. On the agenda are four gateways to some of Africa’s most stunning game reserves: Skukuza (FASZ) in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Maun (FBMN) near the Okavango in Botswana, Kilimanjaro (HTKJ) near Tanzania’s Nogorongoro and Serengeti Parks and finally Livingstone airport (FLLI) on the Zambian side of the famous Victoria Falls and near Chobe Lodge. As Southern Africa is heading for “winter”, game viewing is at its best. Temperatures are becoming bearable and as the trees are losing their leaves, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for the game to hide. For decades, Skukuza had a regular service into Johannesburg International (FAJS). However, this licence was suspended and most flights into Kruger pass via Hoedspruit (FAHS) and Kruger Mpumalanga (FAKN) airport. Only charter flights are allowed, which means that pilots must first obtain the park director’s landing approval. The Okavango is one of the world’s most sensational parks. Its hot and humid summers and cold winter nights are the main reasons why visiting the delta is at its best in May. Ngonrongoro and Serengeti easily rank in Africa’s top 5 game reserves. May usually sees the start of the annual migration, during which thousands of wildebeest move away from the exhausted grass plains to permanent waters in the north of the park. Livingstone offers a very nice combination with Vic Falls and Chobe (in northern Botswana). Africa Safari promises to be a wonderful experience. Platinum Airways focuses on virtual pilots whose mainly want to enjoy their hobby. It is probably the only virtual airline to combine an Open Skies policy, allowing its pilots to fly any mission of their choice with the aircraft of their choice at the time of their choice, with a strategic hub network consisting of Newark (KEWR), Dallas-Fort Worth (KDFW), Vancouver (CYVR), Perth (YPPH) and Brussels (EBBR). In addition, Platinum Airways also has a relief division that shuttles emergency relief to any disaster area around the world. Applying the KISS principle (Keep It Straight and Simple), Platinum Airways aims to be low on rules and high in content. It hosts an active forum and a screenshot of the month competition, with the winner providing the main picture on its home page for the next month. For more information, please visit www.platinumairways.org