► ANGOLA: Iberia announces Luanda as first exclusive A330 destination from late October.

Spanish carrier Iberia (IB) has confirmed that Luanda, Angola will become its first international route to be served by its A330-300 exclusively, with effect from October 27. Iberia currently has four of the type in service. The wide-bodied, long-haul aircraft connects the capital cities of Spain and Angola twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

►► SPAIN: Iberia to drop Cairo; to boost capacity to Casablanca, Algiers, Dakar, Nouakchott, and Malabo.

[UPDATE 30 JANUARY] Spanish carrier, Iberia (IB), has announced details of its new commercial and routes policies under the Transformation Plan it announced recently with various routes in Africa to be affected, for better and for worse.

■ EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Iberia goes 7x weekly to Malabo as Spain, Equat'l Guinea sign off on BASA.

Equatorial Guinea and former colonial power Spain have formally signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries during an official visit to Spain by the Equato-Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs & Cooperation, Agapito Mba Mokuy. The agreement has paved the way for Spain's Iberia (IB) to increase its flights to the Equato-Guinean capital, Malabo, from 6x weekly, to 7x weekly effective 1 December 2012.

■ SPAIN: Rwandair awards Iberia contract for CRJ900 maintenance.

The maintenance division of Spanish carrier Iberia (IB), Iberia Maintenance, and Rwandan carrier Rwandair (WB) have signed a comprehensive contract which will see the Spanish firm being responsible for the up keep and maintenance of the components of Rwandair's two brand new Bombardier CRJ900s.

► ALGERIA: Iberia starts Oran, Algiers from Summer 2013.

Spanish carrier Iberia (IB), from Summer 2013, will expand its operations in Algeria, with the service resumption of Alicante – Oran and the addition of Valencia – Algiers effective 31 March 2013. The routes are to be operated with either a Bombardier CRJ200 or CRJ900 aircraft.

► NIGERIA: Iberia to increase Lagos to 4x week from July.

Spanish carrier, Iberia (IB), is to increase the frequency of Madrid - Lagos, Nigeria with effect from 6 July 2012.