■ NIGERIA: New law banning wet-leases for longer than 6 months comes into effect from October 1.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority's (NCAA) decree that no Nigerian carrier, whether scheduled or charter, will be able to wet-lease foreign aircraft for the purposes of commercial operations for periods longer than six months is set to come into effect from October 1.

► KENYA: Astral Aviation signs lease deal with Atlas Air Worldwide for one B747-400F due shortly.

Kenyan cargo carrier, Astral Aviation (8V), has signed a deal with US-based ACMI specialists Atlas Air Worldwide for the lease of one B747-400(F), Astral's first widebody freighter, for use in expanding its Africa-Europe cargo operations.

► CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Trans Air Congo adds a fourth B737-300 on lease from Star Air.

The Republic of Congo's Trans Air Congo - TAC (Q8) has bolstered its operations with the addition of yet another South African B737-300, (MSN 27346 | ZS-VDP), on lease from Johannesburg-based ACMI specialists, Star Air (BRH).

► 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.

► SOMALIA: Jubba Airways begins wetlease of an An30F from Congo's Aéro-Frêt Business.

Somalia's Jubba Airways (6J) has reportedly wet-leased an Antonov An-30 freighter, TN-AHP, from Congolese cargo specialists, Aéro-Frêt Business, based out of Pointe Noire, for use on its domestic Somali passenger flights. 

► GHANA: (Pics) Eagle Atlantic Airlines' first MD82 arrives in Accra.

Ghana's latest start up, Eagle Atlantic Airlines (EAB), has taken delivery of its first McDonnell Douglas MD82 (MSN 49119 | YR-OTN) which is on lease from Romanian leasers, Ten Airways (OTJ). As previously reported, following the reception of its AOC from the Ghanaian Civil Aviation Authority last week, Eagle Atlantic intends to serve Abidjan, Monrovia and Freetown before expanded further into the region.

► NIGERIA: Med-View Airlines leasing a 747-300 for Hajj/Umrah flights; 767s a possibility.

Nigeria's Kano-based Med-View Airline (VL) has leased an B747-300 (MSN 23032 | TF-AME) from Icelandic ACMI specialists, Air Atlanta Icelandic (CC), with plans to add two B767-300s for use on Hajj and Umrah flights this year.

► PORTUGAL: HiFly refutes all claims pertaining to its A310 and the Tunisian authorities.

Portuguese ACMI firm, HiFly (5K), has refuted all claims pertaining to a tentative leasing deal with Tunisian national carrier, Tunisair (TU), for an A310-300 (MCN 565 | CS-TEX), in which a report carried by Tunisian television station, Watania2, and referenced here by The African Aviation Tribune, claimed the aircraft had been denied an airworthiness certificate on the grounds of non-compliance.

■ MAURITIUS: Hitesh Patel appointed CEO of leasors, Veling Ltd.

The Board of Veling Ltd, a Mauritius-based aircraft leasing company, has appointed Hitesh Patel as Chief Executive Officer of the company with effect from the 15 July 2013.

► 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 STATES: Five ex-Royal Air Maroc B737-500s sold on to Vx Capital Partners.

ACMI specialists, Airstream International Group, have announced the onward placement of five former Royal Air Maroc (AT) Boeing 737-500s by Vx Capital Partners, a US based private investment firm.

► SOUTH AFRICA: fastjet to wet lease a 737-300 from Star Air while A319s are certified.

fastjet (FN) and Federal Air (7V) have announced plans to wet-lease a B737-300 (unconfirmed MSN 27345 | ZS-VDB) from Star Air Cargo South Africa (BRH). Inaugural flights will commence with a daily Johannesburg - Cape Town flight.

► NIGERIA: Arik Air signs ACMI deal with Emirate Touch Aviation for two B737-300s.

Nigeria's Arik Air (WB) has signed an ACMI lease agreement with Kano-based Emirate Touch Aviation Services Limited for the use of two of Arik's stored Boeing 737-300s for cargo ops.

► GAMBIA: Aeolus Air set to take delivery of A320; to start weekly Dakar ops from April.

Banjul based ACMI outfit, Aeolus Air (AAZ) is to offer a weekly scheduled Let 410 service between Banjul and the Senegalese capital, Dakar effective 7 April.

► ICELAND: Air Madagascar to transfer its A340 onto Air Atlanta Icelandic's registry in hopes of using them on EU bound flights.

Air Madagascar (MD) has entered into an agreement with Icelandic ACMI specialists Air Atlanta Icelandic (CC) which will result in Air Madagascar transferring

its Airbus A340 onto Air Atlanta Icelandic's registry. The aircraft will therefore fall under the supervision of the Icelandic Civil Aviation Authorities and will allow the Malagasy national carrier to resume flights to Europe using its "own" equipment, despite its categorization as an "Annex B" class carrier on the EU No Fly List.

► EQUATORIAL GUINEA: (Pic) Cronos Airlines set to receive its first Airbus A320.

Equato-Guinean carrier Cronos Airlines (C8) is set to take delivery of its first Airbus A320 (MSN 533 | YL-LCL) wet leased from Latvia ad-hoc charter specialists, smartLynx Airlines (6Y).

► NIGERIA: Azman Airlines, JedAir looking to start domestic, regional ops in H1.

Two carriers are looking to start domestic operations in Nigeria shortly: Azman Airlines and Jedair, a former charter airline that has reportedly entered into an ACMI deal with a Canadian firm.

► RWANDA: RwandAir leases a Dash 8-100 from Kenya's ALS Aircraft Leasing Services.

Rwandan aviation blog, RwandanFlyer, reports that Rwandair (WB) has leased a Bombardier DHC 8-100 (MSN 10 | 5Y-CAU) from Kenya's ALS Aircraft Leasing Services.

 

► SUDAN: Marsland Aviation leases B737-300 from Alexandria Airlines.

Egytian ACMI & charter specialists, Alexandria Airlines (XH), having taken delivery of their first Boeing 737-300 (MSN 29244 | SU-KHO) in August, are to lease the aircraft to Sudanese scheduled carrier, Marsland Aviation (M7), according to Swiss aviation site, CH-Aviation.

► CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): (Pic) Canadian Airways Congo leases MD82 from Ukraine's Bravo Air.

Canadian Airways Congo has been operating a McDonnell Douglas MD82 (MSN 49278 | UR-WRE) wet leased from Ukrainian charter/carrier Bravo Air (BAY) to operate flights throughout the Republic of Congo.