As previously speculated about, South African Airways (SA) and Brazil's TAM Linhas Aéreas (JJ) have implemented a code share agreement in which SAA will place its designator code “SA” on flights operated by TAM from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Brasília, Salvador, Florianopolis, Iguaçu Falls, Recife, Belo Horizonte. Likewise, TAM will place its designator code “JJ” on flights operated by SAA between Sao Paulo and Johannesburg, and to other cities within South Africa, namely, Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth.
Friday, August 30, 2013
► GAMBIA: Titan Airways leasing Gambia Bird one of its B757-200s.
British charter specialists, Titan Airways (ZT), says it has been operating one of its two B757-200s (MSN 29308 | G-POWH) to Gambian carrier, Gambia Bird (3G), on a short-term ACMI lease contract.
■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA Technical brokers deal with AUSA, breaks off talks with SATAWU over alleged incidents of violence.
South African Airways Technical (SAAT), the maintenance subsidiary of the national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), has resolved part of an ongoing strike with the signing of a wage deal with the Aviation Union of Southern Africa (AUSA), said to represent "a large portion of engineers and technical staff at SAAT", on Wednesday August 28, 2013. However, negotiations with the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) have now been called off following what SAA called "striking SATAWU members’ disregard of the picketing rules and intensified unruly behaviour."
■ CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Bangui M'poko Int'l Airport resumes partial operations following disturbances.
► CHINA: Kenya Airways announces Guangzhou as début 777-300ER route due in mid November.
Kenya Airways (KQ) is set to launch 3x weekly direct flights from its Nairobi hub to Guanghzhou, China this year using its new Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft, the first in the fleet, is due in East Africa in mid October in time for its deployment on November 19. At the moment, Kenya Airways flies to Guangzhou via Bangkok, daily.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
► INDONESIA: Fadel confirms Egyptair's new Jakarta route as a request for St. Catherine flights is put in.
Egyptair's (MS) previously outlined plans for a service to the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, are one step closer to reality following a recent meeting between the Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Abdel Aziz Fadel, and Mr Nurfaizi Suwandi, the Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt in which an agreement pertaining to the route (operated via Kuala Lumpur) is set to start operating from December 2.
► LIBYA: Air Libya, Chapman Freeborn sign deal for placement, operation of an An-26F in Libya.
Chapman Freeborn Airchartering has announced the formation of an exclusive partnership with Air Libya (7Q) to place and operationally manage an Antonov An-26 transport in Libya. The freighter will be based out of Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport (MJI) on a long-term lease agreement with immediate effect.
► SIERRA LEONE: Freetown now pitching to Ethiopian in the hopes of establishing direct flights to Addis Ababa.
The West African nation of Sierra Leone has taken its aviation road show to Ethiopia where the Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr Andrew Gbebay Bangali, has held talks with Ethiopian Airlines (ET) vice president for Alliances and Corporation and Strategic Planning, Mr Yissehak Zewoldi, regarding the possibility of direct flights between Addis Ababa and Freetown.
► SENEGAL: BinterCanarias begins weekly Las Palmas - Dakar flights from mid October.
■ TANZANIA: Air Tanzania streamlines its operations with hefty staff lay-offs.
National carrier, Air Tanzania (TC), has joined the growing list of Tanzanian airlines that have been forced to trim their workforces down with reports that 128 out its original 300-strong staff have now been let go.
► NIGERIA: Med-View Airline granted regional, international traffic rights; eyes Dubai by year end.
► TANZANIA: fastjet to start 3x weekly Dar es Salaam - Mbeya flights from November.
As previously reported, fastjet (FN) has announced the launch of flights from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya (Songwe airport) with effect from November 1. The route will operate 3x weekly on-board an Airbus A319. Reservations will open this week.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
► COMOROS: New Qatari-American start-up, Ola, also eyeing the Indianocéanie market.
The Indian Ocean region is set to see a battle of the start-ups with news that a new Qatari-American backed carrier, Ola, is planning to pre-empt the launch Air Austral's (UU) own start-up, Ewa. Ewa is set to take to the skies in November of this year using an ATR72-500.
■ MOZAMBIQUE: LAM posts strong rise in revenue, pax numbers for H1.
Mozambique's national carrier, LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM), has announced an 8% rise in its revenues for the first half of its 2013 Financial Year buoyed by the highest July passenger traffic the airline has seen since its inception in 1980, airline managing director, Marlene Manave, has announced.
► NIGERIA: Young whippersnapper survives 45minute ride in wheel-well of an Arik Air 737.
A teenage Nigerian stowaway survived a 45-minute flight from the southern Nigerian city of Benin to Lagos MMA in the wheel-well of an Arik Air (W3) B737-700 (MSN 33944 | 5N-MJG) on Saturday, August 24. On arrival in Lagos, the boy, Daniel Ihekina, was arrested by airport authorities when attempting to get down and handed over to the Nigerian State Security Services for further questioning.
■ TANZANIA: Omani consortium Al-Hayat resurfaces with its $100mln investment plans for Air Tanzania.
► SOUTH AFRICA: And suddenly a new LCC, FlySafair, appears aiming for a Q4 launch.
South Africa’s Air Service Licensing Council has given local ACMI & MRO specialists, Safair (FA), the go ahead for its LCC startup, FlySafair, to launch domestic operations in the last quarter of this year. Tickets for its planned Cape Town - Johannesburg (OR Tambo International) route are expected to go on sale in September.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
■ LIBYA: LYCAA selects Comsoft for aeronautical infrastructure & communications upgrade.
The Libyan Civil Aviation Authority (مصلحة الطيران المدني - LYCAA) has awarded a contract to upgrade all of Libya's existing Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) infrastructure to Germany's Comsoft. The initiative is being undertaken as part of the Libyan government's ongoing infrastructural refurbishment plan and will ultimately result in safer skies over the country.
► SOMALIA: Jubba Airways begins wetlease of an An30F from Congo's Aéro-Frêt Business.
► NIGERIA: Ethiopian Airlines now eyes a return to Kano as more carriers show interest.
With recent inauguration of 4x weekly flights from Addis Ababa to the south-eastern Nigerian city of Enugu, Ethiopian Airlines has now stated it plans to resume flights to Kano, suspended over ten years ago.
■ EGYPT: Despite heavy sustained losses, Fadel outlines his longterm vision for Egyptair.
Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Abdul Aziz Fadel, says the current Egyptian government is determined to map out the future for a
New Egypt by leveraging the country's aviation and tourism sectors to help kick start the stalled economy. The minister's comments come against the back drop of plunging tourist arrivals caused by the country's ongoing political and social unrest which thus far have cost national carrier, Egyptair (MS), "considerable losses". Previous reports stated the national airline's arrivals had dropped 10% since the military coup of July 3 and the ensuing civil unrest.
► CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: (Pics) Karinou Airlines' first B737-300 rolls out the paint shop!
The Central African Republic's Karinou Airlines (U5) first B737-300 (MSN ? | TL-TSM) has rolled out the paint shop at the CAC Aircraft Services hangar in Florida. Previously due in early Q2 of this year, the aircraft is currently parked in Miami awaiting its ferry flight to Bangui M'poko International. Its exact details are not available at this time (i.e whether it is a lease or an outright acquisition).
■ CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Second module at Brazzaville Maya-Maya International set to become operational.
The second module of the terminal building at Brazzaville's Maya-Maya International Airport is set to come online shortly, the Congolese Minister at the Presidency for Spatial Planning, Jean Jacques Bouya, has disclosed. The works are part of the government's plan to develop Brazzaville into a strong regional hub with modern facilities.
► MAURITIUS: Transaero to operate Moscow - Mauritius from late December; eyes additional frequencies.
Monday, August 26, 2013
► SOMALIA: An26 overruns runway on landing at Guri'el airstrip, impacts rock; one injured.
A Ukrainian Antonov An-26 (MCN 57314101 | EK-26818) operated by South Airlines overran the runway on touchdown at Guri'el airstrip in Somalia's central Galgadud region on Sunday, August 25, injuring one crew member. The flight, inbound from Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport, was reportedly carrying the region's newly appointed governor, Husein Ali Wahliye, on a trip to visit Dhusamareb, Guri'el and Abudwaq.
■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA Technical staff affiliated with SATAWU go on strike; some flights to be affected.
■ NIGERIA: Nigeria One due to be presented in early October; operations now due by year end.
Nigeria One, the planned new Nigerian national carrier, will officially be unveiled to the Nigerian public on the country's 53rd Independence Day on October 1. The carrier's core will reportedly be formed from various local airlines who are indebted to the Nigerian government via its Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) with Aero (AJ) and the now defunct Air Nigeria (VK) listed among them.
► SOUTH AFRICA: Airlink, FedAir, Lion Sands consortium wins Skukuza upgrade contract; flights due in March 2014.
SA Airlink (4Z) is set to launch direct flights to Skukuza airport in the Kruger National Park, commencing March 2014. This will see the re-establishment of scheduled air services to one of South Africa's most visited tourist attractions, following the closure of its airport to airline traffic over a decade ago. In 2001, Skukuza Airport's licence was not renewed by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) after it failed to comply with aviation regulations pertaining to the operation of a commercial aerodrome.
►► UNITED KINGDOM: Ethiopian Cargo to start weekly ops to East Midlands Airport.
■ BURKINA FASO: Ouagadougou calls for talks with AKFED over Air Burkina's future.
► KUWAIT: Egyptair Express starts 3x weekly Sohag - Kuwait City flights.
► TUNISIA: Syphax Airlines deploys its A330 into revenue service on Paris CDG flights.
With its first A330-200 (MCN 345 | TS-IRA) now good to go, Tunisian carrier, Syphax Airlines (FS), has deployed the aircraft on its first revenue flights with effect from Thursday August 22. According to the airline, the first routes serviced have been its high frequency/high demand Summer high season flights to Paris CDG.
► EGYPT: Egyptair outlines further changes to its Winter 2013/14 schedule.
Further to the last post on the subject, AirlineRoute reports that Egyptair (MS) has unveiled further planned changes & developments to its Winter 2013/14 Timetable set to come into effect from October 27.
Friday, August 23, 2013
► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Gomair, Ghadames Air Transport, Air Niamey, AV Cargo and the Cameroon Air Force.
The following is a fleet update bulletin for aircraft that are in use, have been in use or will be in use for these listed airlines: Gomair, Ghadames Air Transport (0G), Air Niamey (A7), AV Cargo (Z3) and the Cameroon Air Force.
► TANZANIA: fastjet to embark on a staff-cutting exercise in bid to ease financial pressure.
■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Government once more looking for a strategic partner in its planned national carrier.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA renews, expands contract with ARINC for its Aircraft Comms systems.
South African Airways (SA) has signed a five year exclusive data link contract with US-based Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC) for its GLOBALink Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) Services. This new agreement configures ARINC for all VHF, HF and Satellite ACARS traffic. ARINC also provides cabin connectivity on South African Airways long haul flights.
► GUINEA BISSAU: ASKY Airlines eyes a mid September launch date for Bissau flights.
As the saying goes, better 2 months late than never, ASKY Airlines (KP) has at long last unveiled a possible launch date for flights to the capital of Guinea-Bissau, Bissau. Operations should commence from September 15 with a 2x weekly flight extending the current Lome - Accra - Monrovia (James Spriggs Payne Airport) route flown by a Q400.
► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia issues further amendments to timetable for early - late September.
Namibian national carrier, Air Namibia (SW), has issued yet another advisory regarding an impending reorganization of its flights over the period September 9 to 23. In a statement, the airline said the move is necessary as one of its Airbus A319s and another Embraer ERJ135 are due to undergo mandatory maintenance over the period.
■ SOUTH AFRICA: mango seals deal with Acro Aircraft Seating for its 737 fleet.
South African LCC, mango (JE), has sealed a contract with UK-based passenger aircraft seat manufacturer, Acro Aircraft Seating, for the manufacture and installation of its Ultra R seats aboard mango's entire fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The deal, which includes six shipsets and equates to 1116 economy class seats, marks the first major African client for the Redhill, Surrey-based manufacturer.
► LIBYA: Afriqiyah launches Misrata - Cairo as Libyan Airlines upgrades Istanbul, Casablanca to the A330.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
► NIGERIA: Ghana's Africa World Airlines eyes Nigeria ops from October; claims rights granted.
In yet another development related to Ghanaian carrier, Africa World Airlines (AW), Chief Operating Officer, Mr Apiigy Afene, has revealed that the airline has at long last been granted rights to serve Nigeria by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Flights are scheduled to commence in October he said.
► MALAWI: Zimbabwe, Malawi sign revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement.
Malawi and Zimbabwe have announced the signing of a revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) that will see greater flexibility and freedom for each country's designatedcarriers. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State Summit recently held in Lilongwe, Malawi.
■ MAYOTTE: New terminal at Dzaoudzi Pamandzi Int'l Airport due to open in February 2014.
The archipelago of Mayotte, a French overseas department located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, will unveil its new passenger terminal at Dzaoudzi Pamandzi International Airport in February 2014, with works expected to be complete by the end of the year. Originally due to come online this year, delays have been experienced owing to what the Mahoran press have described as "logistical difficulties."
► KENYA: Qatar Airways ramps up Nairobi to 18x weekly from September.
Qatar Airways (QR) has announced an increase in flights from Doha, Qatar to Nairobi, Kenya with effect from September 1. In its press release, the carrier said service will increase from 14x to 18x weekly using an Airbus A320 and comes as demand for flights to the Kenyan capital has steadily increased over the past three years.
► MALAWI: Air Cargo Malawi Ltd reiterates it is still fully operational despite Air Malawi's winding up.
Air Cargo Malawi Limited (ACL) has reiterated that it is still business as usual for the freight specialists despite its former parent, Air Malawi Ltd (QM), having been dissolved and its assets disposed of earlier this year. The firm specializes in the import and export of goods and freight to and from Malawi.
■ SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng calls for study on potential new international airport for Johannesburg as part of 25-Year Transport Plan.
► SAUDI ARABIA: AlMasria Universal Airlines launches 2x weekly Cairo - Abha flights.
Egyptian domestic and regional operator, AlMasria Universal Airlines (UJ), has launched twice weekly flights between Cairo and Abha, Saudi Arabia. According to ch-aviation, the flights operate on-board an Airbus A320.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
► EGYPT: Egyptair planning Ndjamena, Jakarta flights this December.
In line with previously announced plans to expand its international network during the Winter 2013/14 season, Egyptair (MS) has outlined its initial plans for services to Ndjamena, Chad and Jakarta, Indonesia beginning in mid December this year. Jakarta will tentatively operate 4x weekly via Kuala Lumpur onboard an A330 beginning December 2 while Ndjamena flights, scheduled to begin on December 17, will operate 3x weekly on-board an A320. The operations at this stage are still subject to changes, postponements and cancellations.