► SOUTH SUDAN: (Pics) Rwandair begins its 3x weekly Kigali - Juba service.

Rwanda's national carrier, Rwandair (WB), launched its long awaited flights to the South Sudanese capital, Juba with its maiden flight on Saturday, September 21, 2013. The 3x weekly flights operate on-board a CRJ900.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian outlines initial Winter 2013/14 timetable; to start Singapore from mid December.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has outlined its initial changes to its timetable in time for the Northern Winter 2013/14 season. According to AirlineRoute, among the most notable changes is the incorporation of the previously postponed Singapore flight.

► SUDAN: South Supreme Airlines launches flights between Juba and Khartoum.

Juba-based startup, South Supreme Airlines, has officially launched operations with its maiden flight between the South Sudanese capital and Khartoum on Sunday, September 7. Speaking on arrival at Khartoum International Airport, airline boss and South Sudanese tycoon, Ayii Duang Ayii, said the flight was a sign of improved relations between the two countries, and that it will further enhance cooperation ties for the benefit of their people.

►► SOUTH SUDAN: Rwandair postpones Juba flights 'til September.

[UPDATE 06 AUGUST] Rwandan national carrier, Rwandair (WB), will from 01JUL13 begin operations to South Sudan, with a 3x weekly Kigali – Juba service, on board CRJ900 aircraft.

► KENYA: Saudia Cargo relaunches its Nairobi hub; adds 23 new African destinations via interline deals.

Saudi Airlines cargo division, Saudia Cargo (SV), has announced the re-launch of its Nairobi, Kenya hub along with the expansion of its network coverage into sub-Saharan Africa. Saudia Cargo currently serves six other freighter destinations in Africa, namely: Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Kano, Khartoum, Lagos and N’Djamena. Saudia also offers a Lagos, Nigeria hub focussing on West Africa.

► SOMALIA: Presidential jet develops engine problems after take off for Juba; returns safely BUT..

A plane, an unconfirmed DC9-10 (MSN 45740 | 5Y-SAX) belonging to Kenya's FlySAX (B5), carrying Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to Juba, South Sudan was yesterday forced to make an emergency landing at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport after developing engine trouble shortly after takeoff, Radio Mogadishu has reported.

■ SOUTH SUDAN: First batch of SSCAA managers undergo training in Turkey.

Turkey has once more extended its hand to help develop the fledgling civil aviation bodies of nation states in the Horn of Africa, this time with a security training programme aimed at managers from the South Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority - SSCAA. The SSCAA was born in February this year.

■ SOUTH SUDAN: Ethiopian Cargo starts 2x weekly Juba ops as exporters eye Asian markets.

Ethiopian Airlines Cargo (ET) has continued its expansion drive into Africa with the recent launch of twice weekly dedicated cargo flights to the South Sudanese capital, Juba. The route will serve to supply the country with fruit and vegetable exports from Ethiopia.

► KENYA: Astral Aviation outlines expanded regional cargo network; to replace DC9s with MD83Fs.

Kenyan cargo operator, Astral Aviation (8V), has announced an enhanced intra-African freighter schedule which is based on a cautious expansion strategy to increase connectivity from its Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International hub to the East African region.

► SOUTH SUDAN: Imatong Airlines looking to resume ops from July; seeks either an F50 or F27.

Kenyan-based South Sudanese specialists, Imatong Airlines, are to resume charter operations out of the Sudanese capital, Juba, from July 1, the carrier has confirmed to The African Aviation Tribune.

► SOUTH SUDAN: South Supreme Airlines now looking to add 737s to its fleet.

South Supreme Airlines, the nascent South Sudanese carrier founded by local businessman, Ayii Duang Ayii, is planning to add B737s to its already announced fleet of one Antonov An26.

►► KENYA: A look at Kenya Airways' updated Summer 2013 Schedule, codeshare plans with Air Burkina.

[UPDATE 2 MAY 2013] AirlineRoute writes that as per the 27MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, the latest changes to Kenya Airways’ (KQ) planned Summer 2013 operation, effective 31MAR13, is as follows. Further changes remain possible.

► UGANDA: Air Uganda announces changes to Juba, Dar es Salaam ops effective 1 May.

In continuation to our previous post, Air Uganda (U7) has updated its schedule with changes to Entebbe - Dar es Salaam, Entebbe - Juba (South Sudan) routes coming into effect from 01MAY.

► GHANA: RwandAir announces Douala, Accra, Juba as next destinations to come in June/July.

With the imminent arrival of the first of two Boeing 737-700NGs, replacing the airline's Boeing 737-500s whose leases expire mid year, Rwandair (WB) has announced that Douala and Accra will be the airline's next new destinations from 1 June 2013.

►► KENYA: First of four Kenya Airways Boeing 737-300s set for Cargo conversion.

[UPDATE 18 MARCH] Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced plans to convert four of its six Boeing 737-300s into regional cargo freighters in a move that will see the carriers' cargo division, Kenya Airways Cargo, increasing its presence in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines extends 787 cancellations until late April.

AirlineRoute reports that, as per the 08MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is to extend its Boeing 787 service cancellations until 30APR13 inclusive. Due to aircraft redeployment, a number of routes will also see aircraft changes, scheduled to be in effect until mid-June 2013.

■ SOUTH SUDAN: Kiir issues decree founding Civil Aviation Authority as new airline, South Supreme Airlines, is born.

Salva Kiir, the President of South Sudan, on Tuesday issued a decree formally establishing the country's first civil aviation authority (South Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority - SSCAA), tasked with regulating and developing the fledgling nation's aviation and airline industry. The authority will be overseen by a board of seven members, headed by Police General Agasio Akol.

► SUDAN: Sun Air wet-leasing A320 from Jordan Aviation.

Sudan's Sun Air (S9) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320 (MSN 2061 | JY-JAT) wet leased from Jordanian ACMI outfit Jordan Aviation (R5) writes aviation newswire CH-Aviation.

► ERITREA: Eritrean Airlines signs deal with Sudan Airways; looks to expand into West Africa.

Eritrean Airlines (B8), has signed a deal with Sudanese national carrier, Sudan Airways (SD), that will result in the Eritrean national carrier,operating various flights on behalf of Sudan Airways to the UAE and South Sudan. Eritrean is also looking to boost its own international frequencies to Dubai, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Italy with West African flights also in the pipeline.

► SOUTH SUDAN: flydubai to start Dubai - Juba from late April.

flydubai (FZ), the Dubai based LCC, has announced operations to Juba, the capital city of South Sudan. Commencing 21 April 2013, flights will operate 4x a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays using a Boeing 737-800 between Dubai Terminal 2 and Juba Airport.