► 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.

► TUNISIA: Tunisair believed to have cancelled its order for three A350-800s.

Tunisia's national carrier, Tunisair (TU), has apparently backed out of plans to acquire three Airbus A350-800s, the shortest fuselage version in Airbus' new A350 XWB family of mid-sized widebody airliners, after the European aircraft manufacturer failed to list the order in its May 2013 orders summary.

► 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.

► LIBYA: Afriqiyah orders 4 more A350-900s in preparation for future US, Asia route launches.

Libya's Afriqiyah Airways (8U) has announced an increase in its Airbus A350 XWB fleet with a new firm order for four A350-900s. The carrier has also converted its original order for six Airbus A350-800s into six of the larger A350-900 model bringing Afriqiyah’s total number of the type on order to ten Airbus A350-900s. 

■ TUNISIA: Tunisair plans massive layoffs after posting $98m loss for 2011.

Following its AGM last night in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, Tunisair's boss (TU) has officially outlined controversial plans to restructure the state-owned airline after it declared a whooping USD98.3million (EUR77.2million) loss for 2011. The move is certain to earn it the wrath of its powerful unions who, in the past, have played a pivotal role in protecting the carrier from both local and foreign competition.

► MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius wants either 787s or A350s for fleet renewal; announces further Africa route changes.

Mauritian national carrier Air Mauritius (MK) has gone on record as saying it is considering finding a suitable strategic partner in the form of a larger airline "to help it" in its fleet rejuvenation plans, something akin to Air Seychelles' (HM) deal with Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways (EY) which has already seen the struggling Seychellois carrier receiving its first A330 as part of its turnaround efforts.

Air Mauritius boss Andre Viljoen said the objective was for Air Mauritius to be rid of its A340s by 2017 at the latest, and for them to be replaced by either Boeing 787 Dreamliners or Airbus A350s.

“A strategic partner may assist with our own required future fleet requirements,” he said in the presentation, adding that new twin-jet planes will be a “game-changer,” offering a saving of as much as 30 percent over the four-engine A340s."

Read More Here [Air Mauritius]

For the recent financial year, Air Mauritius posted a €30million loss compared with a €6.3million profit a year earlier, with operating expenses rising 14 percent. Viljoen was adamant though that in order for Air Mauritius to achieve its most important short term goal of returning to profitability in 2013/2014, it would have to undergo some much needed belt tightening in the form of route cancellations and modifications amongst which Durban, South Africa.will be dropped effective October 2012.

In the meantime, Air Mauritius has announced various operational changes to its African routes effective 28 October 2012 (European Winter) 2012).

Air Mauritius' Africa Network.

 

● Air Mauritius Africa Operational Changes Winter 2012 ●

-Effective 28 October 2012

-Additional changes remain possible:

Mauritius – Antananarivo, Madagascar

- Service increases from 4 to 5 weekly, with operational aircraft changes. Previously the airline planned to operate 6 weekly flights
- Service until 27October 2012 operates 4x weekly with an Airbus A340-300

• MK288 MRU1430 – 1510TNR 343 247
• MK288 MRU1430 – 1525TNR 319 35
• MK289 TNR1655 – 1940MRU 343 247
• MK289 TNR1655 – 1940MRU 319 35

Mauritius – Cape Town, South Africa 

- Planned service increase from 2x to 3x weekly remains unchanged

• MK843 MRU0900 – 1305CPT 319 246
• MK844 CPT1355 – 2110MRU 319 246

Mauritius – Johannesburg, South Africa

- Service increases from 5x to 10x weekly. Previously the airline planned to increase flights to 14x weekly.

• SA851 MRU0915 – 1150JNB 343 246
• SA851 MRU0915 – 1150JNB 319 x246
• SA847 MRU2040 – 2315JNB 319 246
• SA848 JNB0005 – 0605MRU 319 357
• SA852 JNB1335 – 1935MRU 343 246
• SA852 JNB1335 – 1935MRU 319 x246

Mauritius – Durban, South Africa 

- Service ceases from 28 October 2012.

Mauritius – Nairobi, Kenya

- Planned service increase from 2 weekly to 3 weekly remains unchanged

• MK534 MRU0855 – 1215NBO 319 246
• MK535 NBO1305 – 1820MRU 319 246

Read More Here [Airline Route]

► ETHIOPIA: Airbus pitches A330 to Ethiopian.

European aircraft manufacturers, Airbus Industrie, were recently in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, showcasing their A330 in an attempt to woo potential orders from carrier, Ethiopian Airlines (ET). This follows on from a technical presentation made last year in November.

In 1998, Ethiopian placed an order for two A340s to use on its Addis Ababa - Washington DC route, both of which were never delivered, instead being replaced by the airline's present Boeing 767-300s.

The Ethiopian A340 that never was. (Eric Pajaud)

"Crawford Hamilton, director of the A330 programme, told The Reporter that executives of Ethiopian were evaluating the A330 aircraft.

Hamilton said last November an Airbus technical team made a technical presentation to senior officials of Ethiopian in Addis Ababa. “The A330 is a very good long-range aircraft,” says Hamilton. “Ethiopian Airlines is one of the leading airlines in Africa. It is a reliable customer. It is self-sufficient. So we are trying to sell a very good aircraft to a very good airline.”"

Read More Here [EthioSports Ethiopia]

Though a very loyal Boeing operator (of its 48 aircraft at present, 40 of them are Boeing), Ethiopian Airlines did place an order worth some USD$3billion for 12 Airbus A350-900 XWBs at the 2009 Dubai Airshow, for use on its "Far East and the American operations" and with further strong growth forecast in the next 20 years, the airline could be doing a lot more business with Airbus in the near future.