► NIGERIA: Cronos Airlines launches Malabo - Port Harcourt; plans Lagos and Abuja later this year.

Equatorial Guinea-based carrier, Cronos Airlines (C8), has officially launched flights to Port Harcourt in Nigeria out of its hub in Malabo. The carrier also plans to add flights to Abuja and Lagos during the course of the year as part of its Nigerian expansion plans.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): Allard dispels rumours of financial difficulties as Korongo sells off its sole BAe146.

CEO Christophe Allard, has denied media reports that Congolese carrier Korongo Airlines (ZC) is in financial trouble following the sale its sole BAe 146-200 (MSN 2196 | OO-DJJ) to an undisclosed American buyer last week.

► GHANA: Starbow Airlines increases flights to Kumasi, Tamale in February.

Ghanaian carrier Starbow Airlines (S9) has announced the addition of added flights on its Accra - Kumasi and Accra - Tamale  routes following strong demand to both destinations.

► GHANA: Starbow Airlines gets fourth BAe146 as network expansion beckons.

Ghanaian carrier, Starbow Airlines (S9), on Sunday 16 December 2012, added another BAe146-200 aircraft (MSN: E2059 | 9G-SBD) to its fleet bringing the carrier's total to 4. The added aircraft now makes Starbow the largest Ghana-based airline by fleet size.

► LIBYA: See Pic of Air Libya's ARJ100 in their new swanky livery!

As mentioned in our previous post, Air Libya (7Q), the private Libyan carrier formerly known as Tibesti Air Libya, is set to receive its first BAe146-300/ARJ100 (MSN: 3234 | 5A-FLB) in the carrier's new corporate identity and livery.

► COTE D'IVOIRE: Ghana's Starbow Airlines to add Abidjan from 8 November; Freetown, Monrovia to follow by year end.

Ghana's Starbow  Airlines (S9) are set to launch ops from its hub in Accra, Ghana to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire effective Thursday 8 November 2012, according to the carrier's Co-Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Brock Friesen, who made the announcement at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday.     

►► EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Air Annobón gets first BAe146 (Pic); to start operations soon.

Equatoguinean start-up, Air Annobón, has received the first of two BAe146-300s from South African wet-leasors Fair Aviation, to be used on domestic routes. BAe 146 'ZS-SOR' is to be based on the island of Annobon, Equatorial Guinea, though what future plans the airline has, are as yet, unclear.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): Korongo to expand network to Mbuji-Mayi, Kolwezi, Goma, Kisangani with more regional routes to follow.

With a second Bae146-200 (aka AvroRJ 85) (MSN E2196 | OO-DJJ) having joined its fleet on Tuesday 28 August, George Forrest, the Belgian businessman and chairman of Korongo Airlines (ZC), the Lubumbashi based joint venture between Brussels Airlines (40.40%), Forrest Group (39.60%) and local DRC investors (20%), has announced that its next intended destinations within Congo are to be: Mbuji-Mayi (Eastern Kasai), Kolwezi (Katanga), followed by Goma (North Kivu) and Kisangani (Eastern Province).

► BOTSWANA: Air Botswana BAe146 suffers substantial engine damage following aborted take off in Gaborone.

On Saturday 11th August 2012, an Air Botswana (BP) Avro RJ85 (MSN# 1160 | A2-ABF) performing flight BP 205 from Gaborone, Botswana to Johannesburg, South Africa with 28 passengers aboard, suffered a #2 engine failure during its take off roll at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.

The Air Botswana BAe146 'A2-ABF' in happier times  (KeithB)

"During the take-off roll, one of the engines failed and it is reported that it spat out debris. It is the hot debris from the engine that caused a small grass fire adjacent to the runway. The commander of the aircraft, Captain Adam Kereng reported that indications in the flight deck showed a malfunction of the number two engine, and therefore the take-off was aborted in compliance with standard operating procedures for this type of failure.

Once the aircraft had stopped, the passengers were disembarked and taken to the terminal building where they were briefed on the exact nature of the problem, and also on the alternative aircraft that would be made available for them to complete their flights to Johannesburg."

Source [Air Botswana]

Passengers did however complain to the Botswana press after the incident, claiming that they were "made to wait for more than 10 minutes inside the aircraft which continued to produce a cloud of smoke" and subsequently, had "to wait another 40 minutes before a minibus picked them up, as no senior personnel at Air Botswana showed up to address them, except the airhostess who also looked panicky."

Passengers were rebooked onto other flights thereafter whilst the stricken Avro (also known as a Bae 146-100) was towed away to a hangar. Fortunately, the airline is due to receive another BAe146 in coming weeks as part of Air Botswana's fleet renewal plan.

The Botswana Accident Investigations Department at the Ministry of Transport is investigating the accident.
 

► BOTSWANA: See pics of Air Botswana's latest Avro RJ85 in a new livery!

As reported by The African Aviation Tribune in May, Botswana's national carrier Air Botswana (BP) is set to receive another BAe 146/Avro RJ85 (MSN#: E2303|A2-ABG) in the next few weeks (sporting a new fuselage livery) which will bring the number of the type operated by the airline to two.

Air Botswana BAe Avro RJ85 (A2-ABG) (Markus Altmann)

Air Botswana BAe Avro RJ85 (A2-ABG) (Jan Bekker)

Air Botswana is expected to receive a further 2 aircraft (one of which is another ex-Lufthansa Avro RJ85) in the near future for use on its routes between Gaborone, Francistown, Kasane and Maun domestically and Johannesburg, Cape Town, Harare and Lusaka regionally.

►► DJIBOUTI: Daallo Airlines adds a BAe146-200 to fleet.

Updated: 9 August 2012 [New Photo]. Djibouti-based airline Daallo Airlines (D3) has announced the addition of a BAe146-200 from UK-based aircraft management company Falko to its fleet which at present, consists of 2 Antonov An-24s and a DC 9.

► GHANA: Starbow Airlines leases BAe146-300; To start Cotonou, Abidjan, Monrovia, Abuja, Ouagadougou.

Starbow Airlines (S9), a Ghanaian airline that commenced operations in 2011, has announced the lease of a BAe146-300 from Fair Aviation of Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa.