► KENYA: TUIfly Nordic to begin B787 Mombasa flights from December as Edelweiss pulls out from 2014.

TUIfly Nordic(6B), the Stockholm-based charter subsidiary of the TUI Travel international leisure travel group, is set to offer a once weekly B787 service between Scandinavia and Mombasa, Kenya with effect from December 22 until March 30, 2014.  

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines clarifies its 787 order plans in light of media mixup.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has moved to clarify various misleading international media reports regarding its 787-fleet ambitions. According to Ethiopian Television, it has been widely reported that the airline has an additional eight aircraft on order on top of the thirteen 787s it has currently signed up for, of which five have now been delivered. 

► COTE D'IVOIRE: Cameroon's Camair-Co starts Abidjan via Lagos from September.

Camair-Co (QC), the national airline of Cameroon, is set to expand its West African network with the launch of a long delayed 3x weekly flights to Abidjan, Ivory Coast via Lagos Nigeria effective September 2.

► MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius has no plans to acquire any new planes before 2020: Deenanath

Air Mauritius (MK) Vice President (Business Sector) Mr Raj Deenanath has stated that his airline does not plan to acquire any new aircraft before 2020 despite recent comments made by Chairman Appalsamy Thomas stating that new aircraft would be a "real game changer" for the struggling airline.

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA officially issues tenders to Boeing, Airbus for 23 widebodies.

Confirming former interim CEO Nico Bezuidenhout's statement regarding an order for 25-30 widebody aircraft, likely to be either 787s or A350s, South African Airways (SA) Chief Financial Officer, Mr Wolf Meyer, has confirmed that the airline has indeed issued a tender to both Boeing and Airbus for "twenty-three" aircraft, set to be delivered from 2017 onwards.

► UNITED KINGDOM: AAIB releases special bulletin on Ethiopian 787 fire as FAA moves to issue Airworthiness Directive for 787 ELTs.

The United Kingdom's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB)has issued a special bulletin pertaining to a fire onboard a parked Ethiopian Airlines (ET) Boeing 787-8 (MSN 34744 | ET-AOP) at London Heathrow Airport last week has been released. According to the report, suspicions thus far point to the aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) and its associated system wiring. On the basis of these initial findings and a recommendation from the AAIB, the US Federal Aviation Administration has said it is preparing to issue an Airworthiness Directive in the coming days that would make inspections of all ELTs aboard Boeing 787 aircraft, mandatory.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Fire aboard Ethiopian 787 parked at London Heathrow; carrier to continue 787 ops despite incident.

An Ethiopian Airlines (ET) Boeing 787-8 (MSN 34744 | ET-AOP) has been grounded at London Heathrow airport following an on-board fire which broke out while the aircraft was parked at a remote stand on Friday, July 12, 2013. The aircraft was empty when the incident was observed.

■ ETHIOPIA: US ExIm Bank okays $130million in financing to Ethiopian Airlines.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has authorized nearly USD130million in financing to support the export of General Electric-powered, Boeing long-range aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines (ET).

► NIGERIA: Arik Air to take delivery of two A330s this month; plans daily JFK flights from October.

Nigeria's largest carrier, Arik Air (W3), is poised to spread its wings further both regionally and internationally with plans to at long last, take delivery of two A330-200s on lease from Irish aviation specialists, Pembroke Group, later in the month.

► MOROCCO: Royal Air Maroc looking to acquire "20-30" Next Gen aircraft for fleet renewal.

Morocco's national carrier, Royal Air Maroc (AT), is planning to immediately acquire between "20 and 30 NextGen aircraft, including 15 medium-haul and 5 long-haul jets", airline Chief Executive Officer, Mr Driss Benhima, has announced.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Ethiopian wants more 787s as SAA eyes 25+ A350s or 787s for delivery from 2017 on.

During the ongoing International Air Transport Association's (IATA) 69th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Cape Town, South Africa,  two of Africa's heavyweights, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) and South African Airways (SA), have hinted at their proposed future fleet acquisition plans with Ethiopian looking for more 787s and SAA considering either the 787 or its rival Airbus' A350 offering.

► CHINA: Ethiopian to intermittently deploy 787 on Guangzhou route from May 'til mid June.

As per the 29MAY13 GDS timetable/inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is planning to deploy its fleet of 787 aircraft onto its Addis Ababa – Guangzhou route on selected dates between 31MAY13 and 14JUN13, replacing the current 777-200LR.

► KENYA: Kenya Airways eyes greater presence in Middle East, Africa as part of long term strategy.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has outlined further key developments in terms of its planned route network and fleet upgrades that form its previously announced 10 year vision, Project Mawingu.

► NIGERIA: Ethiopian deploys 787 onto Lagos route until late June.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET), from 27MAY13 to 30JUN13, are to change their operational aircraft on their Addis Ababa – Lagos route, where Boeing 787 aircraft now replace B777-200LR aircraft on a daily basis.

►► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian expecting "pleasant surprise" from Boeing in Addis next week; plans Dubai as first 787 destination from 25 April.

[UPDATE 17 MAY] Believing Boeing will have a "pleasant surprise" in store for the global aviation community next week, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has tentatively scheduled its Boeing 787-8s to resume operations from April 25 with Dubai lined up as the Dreamliner's first potential destination.

► INDIA: Ethiopian delays resumption of its 787 Mumbai flights until mid June.

As per 07MAY13 GDS timetable/inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines (ET), will delay its planned Boeing 787 service resumption on its Addis Ababa – Mumbai route until 16JUN.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Ethiopian to resume 787 services to Heathrow from May 8.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will, from 08MAY13 to 15JUN13, be offering a resumed Boeing 787 service on its Addis Ababa – London Heathrow route, where it’ll operate 6 weekly flights. For a run down of Ethiopian's other planned 787 resumptions, see this post.

► MAURITIUS: Thomson Airways plans 1x weekly Gatwick - Mauritius 787 flight from May 2014.

British charter outfit, Thomson Airways (BY), will, from May 2014, launch a 1x weekly service from London Gatwick to Mauritius on-board Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian plans changes to Johannesburg, Toronto from May/June.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is planning to deploy its B777-200LRs on its daily Johannesburg route effective 05MAY, replacing its current B767-300ER service, and as from 19JUN, a third weekly Addis Ababa - Toronto flight will be introduced using a B787-8.

► ALGERIA: Air Algérie now eyeing two Ethiopian Airlines MD11Fs for Cargo ops.

Air Algérie (AH) is planning to add two Ethiopian Airlines Cargo McDonnell Douglas MD-11Fs (possibly (MSN 48758 | ET-AML) and (MSN 48780 | ET-AND)) to its Cargo division as part of its fleet renewal and business turnaround plan.