► 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.

► 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.

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA takes delivery of first two of twenty A320s from Airbus.

South African Airways (SAA) has taken delivery of its first two A320s, (MCN 5637 | ZS-SZA) & (MCN 5680 | ZS-SZB), out of a total of twenty A320-200s ordered from Airbus. The development will allow SAA to expand its Sub-Sahara regional route network and boost revenue in the rapidly growing market.

► TUNISIA: Syphax Airlines firms its orders for three A320ceos, three A320neos.

Tunisia's Syphax Airlines (FS), has confirmed its order with Airbus to buy three A320neo and three A320ceo, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the deal at the recently ended 2013 Paris Air Show.

 

► TUNISIA: Tunisair eyes more Italian; sub-Saharan African routes.

During a recent meeting with Tunisian businessmen based in Italy, Tunisian Ambassador to Italy, Mr Naceur Mestiri, announced that Tunisair (TU) would soon begin flights from Tunis to the newly commissioned airport of Comiso, an ex-military base turned civilian airfield located in the Sicilian province of Ragusa, 5 km from Comiso and 15 km from Ragusa.

► LIBYA: Ghadames Air Transport takes delivery of another A320.

Libya's Ghadames Air Transport (0G) has taken delivery of an Airbus A320-200 (MCN 438 | 5A-WAT) to be operated by Gambian ACMI specialists, Aeolus Air (AAZ). The aircraft is currently in Tripoli awaiting deployment into service.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Afriqiyah to boost Tripoli - London Gatwick to 4x weekly from mid-July.

Libyan carrier, Afriqiyah (8U), will from 12JUL, increase its Tripoli - London Gatwick frequency from three times weekly, to four times weekly with the addition of a Friday flight. While flights are scheduled to operate with an Airbus A320, the use of a McDonnell Douglas MD83 leased from Spain's Swiftair (W3) is also likely.

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe mulling either the A330/777 for future long haul ops.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) is reportedly mulling leasing either the Airbus A330 or the Boeing 777 as a long haul replacement for its ageing pair of 767s, one of which, (MSN 24867 | Z-WPF), is reportedly undergoing a C-Check set to last 10-months. The other, (MSN 24713 | Z-WPE), is still serviceable though with the advent of the A320 on the airline's Harare - Johannesburg route, it has been parked and is now kept on standby for VVIP (i.e Presidential flights), charters and as a back up. Once refurbished, the aircraft should be deployed on London flights in November.

► NIGER: Air Niamey takes on its first A320; domestic ops in conjunction with Equaflight Niger to begin shortly.

Air Niamey (A7) has taken delivery of its first of two Airbus A320-200s, (MCN 314 | ex-N389VL). The A320 was transferred from the US aircraft registry to the Nigerien one on June 19.

■ FRANCE: AFI KLM E&M wins MRO contracts with Air Zimbabwe, Egyptair.

Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) has signed contracts with Air Zimbabwe (UM) covering component support for the Zimbabwean carrier's two Airbus A320s and has renewed an existing component support contract with Egyptair (MS) while at the same time extending its scope.

► TUNISIA: Syphax Airlines commits to the Airbus A320neo, A320ceo.

Tunisia's Syphax Airlines (FS), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus to buy three A320neo. The order is the first time an African based carrier has ordered the NEO and marks a significant breakthrough for Airbus in one of the world’s fastest developing markets.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Air Zimbabwe's A320 grounded in Johannesburg following birdstrike.

In a tale of very bad luck, Air Zimbabwe's (UM) first Airbus A320-200 (MCN 630 | Z-WPM) was today Wednesday May 29, temporarily grounded at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport following a reported birdstrike. The A320 had only just been put into active service with the airline this past week.

► ZIMBABWE: See Pics of Air Zimbabwe's first A320 fully painted in new colours.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) has taken re-delivery of its Airbus A320-200 (MCN 630 | Z-WPM) following recent pre-entry-into-service checks carried out at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport.

■ EGYPT: Air Arabia Egypt selects AJW Aviation for its A320 "power-by-the-hour" support.

AJW Aviation has been chosen by Air Arabia Egypt (E5), Egypt’s only low-cost carrier, to provide "power-by-the-hour" support and leased inventory for two of its A320 aircraft.

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA to finally take delivery of its long deferred A320 order beginning Q3.

South African Airways (SA) will at last, begin taking delivery of twenty Airbus A320s in the next quarter (i.e.. July - September), South African Minister of Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba, has said. The order has been repeatedly deferred owing to SAA's ongoing financial woes.

► DJIBOUTI: Turkish Airlines to boost Mogadishu, Djibouti flights to 5x weekly from October.

Turkish Airlines (EK) will, from 27OCT13, adding a 5th weekly frequency on its Istanbul – Djibouti – Mogadishu route, through the addition of a new Sunday flight from Istanbul, Mondays from Djibouti and Mogadishu. 

► CONGO (KINSHASA): CAA A320 suffers mass tyre blow out on take off roll at Kisangani; no injuries.

A CAA - Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation (FPY) Airbus A320-200 (MSN ? | "9Q-CAA") operating as flight FPY-343 on May 1 with 130 passengers and 6 crew onboard blew all four main gear tyres prior to commencing its take off roll from Kisangani en-route to Kinshasa. 

■ MOROCCO: Aerotechnic Industries expands scope to now include overhaul of Boeing 737NG airframes; secures RAM contract.

During a ceremony attended by Mr Driss Benhima, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Air Maroc (RAM) Group, and Mr Franck Terner, President, Air France Industries, the two partners officially announced a new phase in the development of their Aerotechnic Industries (ATI) joint venture. Set up in 2009, the 50/50 joint venture between the two groups is now extending the scope of its activities to the overhauling of Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) airframes. 

► RUSSIA: Tunisair starts Monastir - St Petersburg from late April.

Tunisian national carrier, Tunisair (TU), is to launch direct 2x weekly seasonal flights between the Mediterranean coastal city of Monastir and St Petersburg, Russia from 26 April onwards. Flights will operate with an Airbus A320.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA selects Rockwell Collins avionics suite for use in Airbus A320/A319 fleet.

South African Airways (SA) has selected  Rockwell Collins' communications, surveillance and navigation avionics for use on 20 new Airbus A320 aircraft. The selection includes Rockwell Collins' MultiScan Threat Detection System, GLU-925 Multi-Mode Receiver (MMR), and Iridium SATCOM system. Deliveries are scheduled to begin later this year. The airline also plans to retrofit MultiScan on its current fleet of 11 A319 aircraft.