Proflight Zambia’s Fly5 supergroup, who will be performing at the City of Stars festival this month

Zambian airline Proflight will be boosting cultural ties with neighbouring Malawi this month when its Fly5 supergroup of brand ambassadors –  JK, Slap Dee, Pompi, Cactus Agony and Petita Mwanza – will be performing at the celebrated ‘City of Stars’ festival in Lilongwe.

The world renowned music festival, previously known as the Lake of Stars, draws artistes and fans from around the globe and this year celebrates its tenth anniversary with a two-day, multi-venue arts festival and conference showcasing the best in emerging and acclaimed talent from Malawi and beyond at Sanctuary Lodge in Lilongwe, Malawi, from September 27 to 28, 2013.

On top of supporting the festival by bringing the Fly5 artists to the festival, Proflight Zambia has put on a special flight from Lusaka to Lilongwe on September 27, returning September 29, with a 30 percent discount when booked online using promotional code CITYOFSTARS2013. Bookings for the flight, which is expected to carry the Fly5 stars, can also be made  using the code through an agent in Zambia or Malawi.

The Fly5 will be joining South African superstar, Tumi, Kenyan Afro-pop band Sauti Sol , UK’s George the Poet, Swedish/Malawian outfit The Very Best, UK based Algerian singer YaDi, Malawian Reggae veteran Sally Nyundo and Blantyre based hip-hop hero, Piksy on the list of headliners for the festival.

City of Stars will feature an eclectic programme of live music, film, theatre, literature, exhibitions and speakers, and will promote Malawian culture and creativity as well as attracting international artists and performers.

Other confirmed Malawians on the bill include lead vocalist for Konkalazi, Sirius, Q Malewezi, Lulu, Malawi Mouse Boys, Mwezi Arts Theatre, Wendy Harawa and Blantyre’s hip-hop queen, Rina.

The festival will also include a Family Day that will see special line up and range of activities for children on Saturday, September 28 including face-painting, storytelling and jumping castles. Malawian artistic and media partners include Music Crossroads, and Rhythm of Life Malawi, Weekend Times and Capital Radio Malawi.

Meanwhile Proflight Zambia has also extended its Fly500 Special fare to Lilongwe of K500 plus taxes one-way, or K1,000 plus taxes return, which is now available until September 30.

Proflight Zambia added Lilongwe to its route network in June this year as its first international schedule destination. The airline has been operating for more than 22 years and has scheduled flights to nine destinations within Zambia. Malawi is the first country that Proflight Zambia has operated schedules to outside of Zambia and hopes this is the first of many other regional destinations. The Lilongwe route began with three flights per week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and the airline will be adding a fourth flight on Fridays later this month.

“The airline is confident that the flights between Lusaka and Lilongwe will make a difference to both the businessmen of both countries and will promote regional tourism beyond borders,” said Proflight Director of Government and Industry Affairs Capt. Philip Lemba.

City of Stars is supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lilongwe, Live Nation, Malawi’s Latitude 13 hotel and Scotland’s David Livingstone 200 Fund.

Since 2004 the Lake of Stars project has staged an award-winning festival on the shores of Lake Malawi, alongside other events in the UK and across the globe. The project has reached more than 200 million people through international and local media coverage.  It has generated over $3 million spend and 200 employment opportunities in Malawi.

About Proflight Zambia

Proflight Zambia was established in 1991 and is Zambia’s only scheduled airline. From its base in Lusaka it flies to Livingstone, Mfuwe, Lower Zambezi, Ndola, Solwezi, Chipata, Mansa and Kasama, and to Lilongwe in Malawi.

The airline prides itself in providing a safe, reliable, efficient and friendly service, and offering good value to business and leisure travellers locally and internationally.

The airline operates Boeing 737; two 29-seater Jetstream 41 aircraft; three 18-seater Jetstream 32s; and three 12-seater Cessna Caravan C208 aircraft.