► NIGERIA: Associated Aviation EMB 120 crashes on take off from Lagos MMA; 13 confirmed dead.

An Associated Aviation (SCD) Embraer EMB-120, (MCN 120174 | 5N-BJY) operating as a charter flight from Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport to Akure (Nigeria), crashed shortly after takeoff from runway 18L yesterday at 09h32L. The turboprop was carrying 13 passengers and 7 crew onboard of whom 13 have been confirmed dead with one unaccounted for. Survivors were taken to hospital in downtown Lagos.

► NIGERIA: FirstNation Airways resumes operations with Lagos - Abuja flights.

Nigerian domestic carrier, First Nation Airways (FRN), has resumed operations with its maiden flight between Lagos and Abuja on September 30. Flights are onboard the airline's fleet of two A319s, leased from the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).

► KENYA: Astral Aviation outlines B747-400F plans; to codeshare with Emirates SkyCargo on Joburg - Nairobi flights.

Nairobi-based cargo operator, Astral Aviation (8V), and ANA Aviation Services have announced a new strategic partnership in Africa following the delivery of a B747-400F (MSN 29261 | N408MC), on wet-lease from ACMI specialists, Atlas Air (5Y), on September 27.

► COTE D'IVOIRE: Air Cote d'Ivoire to roll out new destinations once a third A319, two Q400s arrive in November.

Air Côte d’Ivoire (HF) says it will roll out the new part of its regional expansion programme, set to include new services from Abidjan to Lagos, Kinshasa, N'Djamena, Niamey, Monrovia, Freetown and Bangui, from mid November. The new routes were due to have launched in late August.

● NIGERIA: IATA boss calls for greater Public/Private cooperation to enable aviation to better propel African economic growth.

During a speech in Lagos, Nigeria on September 17 to mark Aviation Day Africa, Tony Tyler, the CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), called on public and private stakeholders to work together to address critical priorities to enable aviation to do more to drive economic growth in Africa.

► GHANA: Eagle Atlantic Airlines outlines initial West African launch timetable, network.

Ghana's Eagle Atlantic Airlines (E2) has outlined its initial West African regional service schedule now set to tentatively launch on October 21, 2013. Flights between Accra, Abidjan, Freetown, Dakar and Monrovia (Roberts) will operate on-board the airline's leased McDonnell Douglas MD82.

► SPAIN: Arik Air flight to Heathrow diverts to Mallorca after pregnant passenger suffers severe pains, bleeding.

Arik Air (W3) flight W3101 from Lagos, Nigeria to London Heathrow, Untied Kingdom, was on Sunday, September 15, forced to divert to Palma Mallorca Airport, Spain, after a pregnant passenger required urgent medical attention while onboard.

► BRAZIL: Arik Air now eyes a November launch for São Paulo flights; in talks with Embraer over possible deal for 15 jets.

Nigeria's Arik Air (W3) says it hopes to launch its vaunted Lagos - São Paulo, Brazil flights in November of this year, though this is still dependent on the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil - ANAC) issuing it convenient landing slots at Guarulhos International Airport.

► NIGERIA: (Pic) Business charter specialists, Air Peace, awaiting first B737-500.

Nigerian business charter specialists, Air Peace, are set to add their first Boeing metal to their fleet of two Dornier Do328-300s with the impending arrival of a B737-500, (MSN 27530 | 5N-BQS).

► NIGERIA: (Pic) Azman Airlines first B737-300 rolls out the paintshop in Norwich.

Azman Air, the Kano-based startup run by entrepreneur, AbdulManafi Yunusa, has seen its first B737-300 (MSN 28570 | 5N-?), formerly with bmi baby, roll out the paint shop in Norwich in the United Kingdom.

● NIGERIA: Second Nigerian Business Aviation Conference set for March 2014.

Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN), the Lagos-based fully integrated business aviation services company, has confirmed the second Nigerian Business Aviation Conference, NBAC 2014, will be held on March 27, 2014. This year’s conference brought together over 100 international and African delegates from across the broad spectrum of business aviation, and it is anticipated that NBAC 2014 will once again attract HNWIs, OEMs, operators, financiers, lawyers, regulatory bodies and industry leaders. 2014 will see a doubling of delegate numbers bringing the total attendees to an anticipated 200.

► NIGERIA: Med-View Airline granted regional, international traffic rights; eyes Dubai by year end.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reportedly granted Kano-based Med-View Airline (VL) regional and international traffic rights with flights to Dubai to launch before year end, the airline's managing director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, has announced.

► NIGERIA: Young whippersnapper survives 45minute ride in wheel-well of an Arik Air 737.

A teenage Nigerian stowaway survived a 45-minute flight from the southern Nigerian city of Benin to Lagos MMA in the wheel-well of an Arik Air (W3) B737-700 (MSN 33944 | 5N-MJG) on Saturday, August 24. On arrival in Lagos, the boy, Daniel Ihekina, was arrested by airport authorities when attempting to get down and handed over to the Nigerian State Security Services for further questioning.

► NIGERIA: Ghana's Africa World Airlines eyes Nigeria ops from October; claims rights granted.

In yet another development related to Ghanaian carrier, Africa World Airlines (AW), Chief Operating Officer, Mr Apiigy Afene, has revealed that the airline has at long last been granted rights to serve Nigeria by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Flights are scheduled to commence in October he said.

► NIGERIA: Discovery Air sets sights on two B737-300s; ops due soon?

Lagos-based startup, Discovery Air, is reportedly in the process of acquiring two 737s as part of efforts to launch operations. However, as of this posting, it is unclear as to whether or not the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has granted the carrier its Air Operators Certificate.

► COTE D'IVOIRE: Cameroon's Camair-Co starts Abidjan via Lagos from September.

Camair-Co (QC), the national airline of Cameroon, is set to expand its West African network with the launch of a long delayed 3x weekly flights to Abidjan, Ivory Coast via Lagos Nigeria effective September 2.

► NIGERIA: Chanchangi Airlines takes delivery of a South African B737-500 on wet-lease.

Kaduna-based Chanchangi Airlines (5B) has reportedly taken delivery of a B737-500 (MSN ? | 5N-BQZ) on wet-lease from an unnamed South African leaser. The aircraft reportedly arrived in Abuja on Saturday August 10.

► GHANA: ASKY Airlines eyeing a secondary hub out of Kumasi as everyone complains about Nigeria.

Ethiopian Airlines' West African subsidiary, ASKY Airlines (KP), is reportedly considering turning Kumasi, Ghana into a secondary hub through the launch of direct flights to various West African capital cities and commercial centres. The move comes as domestic Ghanaian carrier Starbow Airlines (S9) is also planning a resumption and expansion of its regional services.

■ NIGERIA: Evergreen Apple Nigeria appoint Joe McDermott as head of FBO operations.

Lagos-based aviation business Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN) has appointed Joe McDermott to the newly created role of Head of Fixed-base operator (FBO) Operations. He will be based at the Lagos headquarters and be responsible for managing all operations at its fully integrated FBO facility based at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, along with developing existing offices in Port Harcourt and Abuja that currently manage EAN passenger requests in each location. 

► 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.