■ ZIMBABWE: Edmund Makona appointed Air Zimbabwe interim CEO as forensic audit now fingers upper management.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) has appointed its head of Quality, Safety & Security, Mr. Edmund Makona, as its acting Chief Executive Officer following the recent suspension of incumbent Mr Innocent Mavhunga and acting Managing Director, Ms Grace Pfumbidzayi. The two were suspended to allow for further investigations after a recent forensic audit of the airline's operations uncovered alleged financial discrepancies in its insurance premium payments for the period 2009 - present.

■ BURUNDI: Air Burundi signs MRO contract with Air Zimbabwe for its MA60 as China promises support.

A recent report by the Burundian Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Machinery states that Air Burundi (8Y) has indeed signed an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) contract with Air Zimbabwe (UM) for its single aircraft, an MA-60 (MCN 1019 | 9U-BHU), with two Zimbabwean pilots and two dispatchers having also been hired. Air Zimbabwe operates three of the type.

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe eyes Zambia, Malawi, Durban flights; still gung-ho on London Gatwick in November.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) is planning to roll out more regional and international destinations with effect from October/November onwards as the airline attempts to reclaim its lost southern African market share. In addition, it has now noted that a resumption of services to China is also on the cards.

► NIGERIA: Ethiopian Airlines now eyes a return to Kano as more carriers show interest.

With recent inauguration of 4x weekly flights from Addis Ababa to the south-eastern Nigerian city of Enugu, Ethiopian Airlines has now stated it plans to resume flights to Kano, suspended over ten years ago.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: SA Airlink, Africa Charter Airline, Trans Air Cargo Services, Air Zimbabwe, Syphax Airlines, Badr Airlines.

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: SA Airlink (4Z), Africa Charter Airline, Trans Air Cargo Services, Air Zimbabwe (UM), Syphax Airlines (FS), Badr Airlines (BDR).

► ZIMBABWE: Twice weekly Air Zimbabwe Vic Falls - Johannesburg flights resume from today.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) has pushed back the resumption of its much anticipated Victoria Falls - Johannesburg route to today, Friday, July 26. Originally announced as operating 3x weekly from July 12, flights will now only operate on Fridays and Sundays with an Embraer ERJ145 (MSN 145607 | ZS-BBH) leased from South Africa's Solenta Aviation.

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe resumes Vic Falls - Johannesburg from July 12.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) is to tentatively resume its Victoria Falls - Johannesburg flights with effect from July 12. The 3x weekly flights will operate with an Embraer E145. As of this posting however, the flight is not yet open to reservations and further changes to the schedule still remain possible.

► 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.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Air Zimbabwe pushes back London flights to November as 767s await refurbishment.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) says direct Harare - London Gatwick flights, originally meant to launch from July 1 but now removed from the GDS, will now resume in November once their two 767-200ERs have been refurbished.

► ZIMBABWE: See Pic of Air Zimbabwe's first Embraer ERJ145 all dolled up!

The first pictures of Air Zimbabwe's (UM) first Embraer ERJ145 (MSN 145607 | ZS-BBH) have been revealed. The aircraft is on wet-lease from South African ACMI specialists, Solenta Aviation.

■ ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe readmitted to IATA after passing its IOSA.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) has reportedly been readmitted to the International Air Travel Association's International Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry following the audit's completion in February.

■ 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.

► ZIMBABWE: An A380 for Air Zimbabwe?

In what could be described as the African aviation news story of the year, (that is, if it is proven to be true), Air Zimbabwe (UM) has now announced that it is in talks with undisclosed firms regarding the possible acquisition of an Airbus A380 for use on its pending resumption of flights to London Gatwick.

■ ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe sends 600 employees on forced leave in bid to cut wage bill.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) has embarked on a staff rationalization project to trim down its bloated workforce from 1020 down to roughly 300 as part of streamlining measures aimed at turning the loss making airline into a viable, profitable entity.

► 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: First Embraer ERJ135 deployed into active service for Air Zimbabwe.

Fresh from the recent arrival and deployment into active service of its Airbus A320-200 (MCN 630 | Z-WPM) on its Harare - Johannesburg flights, Air Zimbabwe (UM) has now taken delivery of its first of two Embraer ERJ135 (Reg ?).

► 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.

■ ZIMBABWE: Five candidates shortlisted for Air Zimbabwe CEO position; appointment due before month's end.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) is understood to have short-listed five possible candidates to for the post of airline chief executive officer (CEO) following a call for submissions earlier this year.

■ ZIMBABWE: Five managers sent on forced leave as forensic audit reveals deadwood at Air Zimbabwe.

Air Zimbabwe's (UM) newly appointed board has begun to wield the axe on deadwood found following the preliminary results of an audit which revealed "some" irregularities at the parastatal.

► ZIMBABWE: Egyptair in talks to lease aircraft to Air Zimbabwe?

Egyptian national carrier, Egyptair (MS), says it is in talks with Zimbabwean national carrier, Air Zimbabwe (UM), over a possible code-share deal as well as a lease arrangement for an unspecified number of aircraft, for use during the upcoming XXth United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly to be co-hosted by both Livingstone, Zambia and its Zimbabwean counterpart, Victoria Falls, from 24 to 30 August.