FAST FACTS - MALAWI
Head of State:Bakili Muluzi
Land Area: 118,480 km2 (94,080 km2 land;
24,400 km2 water)
Population:10,000,416 ( July 1999)
Currency: Malawi Kwatcha (MK)
Capital city:
Blantyre
Climate: Subtropical
Summer:
January – March , Winter:
June – July
Languages: Official language: English.
Chichewa
most commonly spoken
Measures: Metric System
Time: GMT +2 hours
Business Hours:
Private sector
Monday - Friday: 8:00am - 4:30pm
Government offices: Monday - Friday: 7:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday: Government offices are closed but the commercial sector
opens in the morning until 1:00pm.
Public Holidays:
New Year’s Day 1 January
John Chilembwe Day 15 January
Martyr’s Day 3 March
Good Friday (varies)
Labour Day 1 May
Freedom Day 14 June
Republic Day 6 July
Mother’s Day (2nd Monday of October)
National Tree Planting Day
(2nd Monday of December)
Christmas Day 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December
NEWSFLASH: NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN UK AND MALAWI
In a code share with Air Zimbabwe, Air Malawi has re-started its service between London-Gatwick and Lilongwe International. The demand for a direct, non-stop service has been growing in the last few years and has finally been met by the introduction of weekly flights between the two capital cities.
Overnight flights, with a flying time of 10 hours and using Boeing 767 aircraft, will fly the leg to London (Flight QM 724) departing Lilongwe on Wednesdays at 22.40 hrs (arriving 06.40 hrs on Thursdays). The Gatwick to Lilongwe service (Flight QM725) departs on Saturdays at 17.30 hrs (arriving 05.30 hrs on Sundays).
The service was inaugurated in December 06 and already there has been an impressive demand for seats. Return fares, at around GBP450, are highly competitive with alternative routes and the convenience of these non-stop flights is appreciated by leisure and business passengers alike.
With Malawi¹s tourist industry showing significant growth in the last few years, this service is likely to be a winner and be a further boost to the country as a holiday destination.
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