► KENYA: First photos of Kenya Airways' first B777-300ER emerge.

The first photos of Kenya Airways' (KQ) first B777-300(ER) (MSN ? | 5Y-KFA) have emerged with the airliner now set to undergo painting and a B1 test flight ahead of its planned delivery to Nairobi next month. The aircraft, one of two on 12 year-leases with General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), is set to début operations with a Nairobi - Guangzhou flight due on November 19. 5Y-KFA will feature 28 Business Class seats in a 2-3-2 layout and 369 Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 Layout. The second B777-300ER is due in May 2014.

► 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.

► ANGOLA: TAAG to serve either London or Paris from June/July 2014 - Carreira.

TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT) will launch flights to either London or Paris CDG during the second half of 2014, the airline's director of operations, Mr. Rui Carreira, has disclosed. The route's launch, however, will hinge upon the delivery of a new Boeing 777-300ER, due in May 2014, he added.

► DUBAI: Emirates to deploy A340 to Lusaka/Harare, 777-300ER to Cape Town from September.

Emirates (EK) will from 1 September switch the operational aircraft currently deployed on its Dubai to Cape Town and Dubai to Harare via Lusaka flights. According to AirlineRoute, Harare/Lusaka will switch from the current 777-300ER to the Airbus A340-300 while Cape Town will see flights EK772/773 switch from the A340-300 to a 777-300ER. 

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian secures lease with ALC for two 777-300ERs due to arrive in mid-2015.

Los Angeles-based Air Lease Corporation has announced the signing of a 12-year lease agreement with Ethiopian Airlines (ET) for two new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in May and June 2015.

► KENYA: Kenya Airways outlines first B777-300ER routes due in early November.

AirlineRoute writes that as per the 03APR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Kenya Airways( is to introduce Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to its operation starting November 2013, initially on flights to Amsterdam and London Heathrow. Planned Boeing 777-300ER service as follow.

► ANGOLA: TAAG set to order 3 additional 777-300ERs for delivery from 2019 onwards.

On the back of an 11% increase in passenger numbers posted for 2012, TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), Angola's national carrier, is to purchase an additional three Boeing 777-300ERs due for delivery from 2019/2020.