► BOTSWANA: Kalahari Airways turns to crowdfunding for 747s to operate London Gatwick flights.

Kalahari Airways is a Botswana-based startup that intends to offer flights from Cape Town, South Africa to London Gatwick via Gaborone Botswana using three B747-400s.

► 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.

► GAMBIA: Titan Airways leasing Gambia Bird one of its B757-200s.

British charter specialists, Titan Airways (ZT), says it has been operating one of its two B757-200s (MSN 29308 | G-POWH) to Gambian carrier, Gambia Bird (3G), on a short-term ACMI lease contract.

► TUNISIA: British Airways suspends London Gatwick - Tunis from late October.

British Airways (BA) has announced that from October 25, it will cease its 3x weekly flights from London Gatwick to Tunis, Tunisia citing a lack of profitability on the route. Currently, both the B737-400 and the A319 are used to service the route.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Afriqiyah to boost Tripoli - London Gatwick to 4x weekly from mid-July.

Libyan carrier, Afriqiyah (8U), will from 12JUL, increase its Tripoli - London Gatwick frequency from three times weekly, to four times weekly with the addition of a Friday flight. While flights are scheduled to operate with an Airbus A320, the use of a McDonnell Douglas MD83 leased from Spain's Swiftair (W3) is also likely.

► 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.

► MAURITIUS: Thomson Airways plans 1x weekly Gatwick - Mauritius 787 flight from May 2014.

British charter outfit, Thomson Airways (BY), will, from May 2014, launch a 1x weekly service from London Gatwick to Mauritius on-board Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

► GAMBIA: Gambia Bird set to start Lagos and Douala from April; announces timetable revision.

Following on from our previous post, Gambia Bird (3G) has announced numerous changes to its network in anticipation of Summer 2013, effective 31 March 2013. Additionally, the carrier will launch Lagos and Douala flights from 02APR13.

► ZIMBABWE: A sneak peek at Air Zimbabwe's planned N. Summer 2013 Route Network.

Following on from our previous bulletin yesterday, Air Zimbabwe's (UM) planned route expansion and fleet utilization plans have been unveiled. AirlineRoute writes that as per the 06MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, as well as OAG Schedules iNet, Air Zimbabwe’s planned Northern Summer 2013 operation are as follows, effective 31MAR13. Amongst the routes being introduced are Bulawayo - Victoria Falls, and tentatively Harare - Lagos - Accra - Harare and Harare - London Gatwick. No mention has been made of the Embraer ERJ135s.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Air Zimbabwe pushes back planned launch of London flights to July.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) has delayed its planned launch date for international operations to London Gatwick to 1 July as its pushes to consolidate its domestic and regional operations first. Previously, the carrier had mentioned March as a possible date.

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe to get two ERJ135s; to start Munich, London, Nairobi, Mauritius flights in March?

A new dossier on Air Zimbabwe (UM) entitled "Aircraft rotation for summer 2013" purportedly showing the carrier's service resumption plans for Summer 2013, has been published with Embraer Regional Jets set to join the fleet. Additionally, flights to the UK, Germany, Ghana, Mauritius, Kenya and Nigeria are planned.

► GAMBIA: Gambia Bird to launch two new European routes this summer; in early talks with 2 Middle Eastern carriers over possible partnership deal.

Gambia Bird (3G) has outlined its intended Summer network plans. Highlights include the launch of two new European destinations in addition to an increase in frequencies to Barcelona and London Gatwick. The fledgling carrier has also mentioned its involvement in early negotiations with two Middle Eastern carriers.

► TANZANIA: British Airways axes Dar es Salaam, reduces Entebbe, switches Mauritius to daytime flights.

British Airways (BA) will, with effect from 31 March 2013, cancel its 3x weekly London Heathrow - Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania flight as part of its Summer 2013 route rationalization programme. The carrier is to reduce its Entebbe, Uganda frequencies as well.

► KENYA: Thomson Airways to deploy 787 on Gatwick - Mombasa flights from November.

According to AirlineRoute, Thomson Airways (BY), the world's largest charter airline, offering scheduled and charter flights from the UK and Ireland to destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, is to start 1x weekly Boeing 787-8 flights between London Gatwick and Mombasa, Kenya for the duration 4 November 2013 – 21 April 2014.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Air Arabia Maroc to start London Gatwick from late October 2012.

In a move that could be construed as one-upmanship, Moroccan LCC Air Arabia Maroc (3O) has tentatively announced that it will be starting flights from both Tangiers and Casablanca to London Gatwick airport, effective 28 October 2012 using an Airbus A320. There will be 5 overall weekly flights: 3 ex Casablanca and 2 ex Tangiers.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Royal Air Maroc to resume London Gatwick flights from March 2013.

Moroccan national carrier RAM Royal Air Maroc (AT) will resume its discontinued Casablanca - London Gatwick service with a 3x weekly service from 27 March 2013. The Boeing 737-800 operated route will then increase to 10x weekly during Northern Summer 2013.

► GAMBIA: Gambia Bird to start ops on 1 October with flights to Dakar; to fly to Barcelona as well.

Following the arrival of its Airbus A319-100 in Banjul, The Gambia on Monday, Gambia Bird, the new 90/10 venture between German carrier, Germania (ST) and the Gambian government, has announced it will commence ops on 1 October 2012, with its first flight being Banjul, The Gambia to Dakar, Senegal.

► GAMBIA: See Pics of Gambia Bird's A319 prior to delivery!

Gambia Bird, the new 90/10 venture between German carrier, Germania (ST) and the Gambian government is shortly to receive its first Airbus A319-100 (MSN 4663 | D-ASTA) as the company looks to enter the West African market with initial flights expected to be between Banjul, Gambia and Conakry (Guinea), Dakar (Senegal), Freetown (Sierra Leone) and Lagos (Nigeria). London Gatwick has also been mentioned as a likely destination.

► MAURITIUS: British Airways changes departure times from Spring 2013.

British Airways (BA) will, with effect from 31 March 2013, switch its 3x weekly London Gatwick - Mauritius Boeing 777-200 flight to an afternoon departure from its current evening departure. The resultant inbound sector Mauritius - London Gatwick will switch to a daytime flight.

British Airways Boeing 777 in Mauritius (NAS)

British Airways: London Gatwick, UK - Port Louis, Mauritius

- Effective 31 March 2013

• BA2063 LGW1500 – 0545+1MRU 777 246
• BA2062 MRU0805 – 1705LGW 777 357

Source [Airline Route]

► UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways announces changes to Africa network from October onwards.

British Airways (BA) has announced various changes to its African timetable effective 28 October 2012 some of which have been previously reported on here at The African Aviation Tribune.

British Airways' Africa Network

● British Airways Africa Timetable ●

-Effective 28 October 2012

-Additional changes remain possible

• London Heathrow – Accra, Ghana: First Class service on 777-200ER is only available on Thursdays and Fridays in W12 
• London Heathrow – Agadir, Morocco: 2x weekly service operated by BA, operating on weekends. This replaces existing BMI operation on Day 26 
• London Gatwick – Algiers, Algeria: Service reduces from daily to 5x weekly in Winter 2012 (1x Daily in W11) 
• London Heathrow – Cairo, Egypt: (BMI) 1x Daily A321 CANCELLED (20 July 2012)
• London Heathrow – Cairo, Egypt: Boeing 747-400 replacing 777-200ER from 01 October 2012 
• London Heathrow – Cape Town, South Africa: BA042 from CPT shifts from morning hours departure in NW11 back to evening departure in NW12

               -BA043 LHR1735 – 0700+1CPT 744 1234567
               -BA059 LHR1930 – 0855+1CPT 744 1234567

               -BA058 CPT2050 – 0625+1LHR 744 1234567
               -BA042 CPT2220 – 0800+1LHR 744 1234567

• London Heathrow – Casablanca, Morocco: Service operates 4x weekly in W12 with BMI Airbus A319 aircraft, same as W11 CANCELLED (20 July 2012)
• London Heathrow – Entebbe, Uganda: Revised operational day to Day 247 from LHR, Day 135 from EBB 
• London Heathrow – Freetown, Sierra Leone:  2x weekly Boeing 767, replacing 3x weekly A330-200 bmi operation: 

             - BA137 LHR2230 – 0525+1FNA 767 36
             - BA136 FNA1100 – 1730LHR 767 47

• London Heathrow – Johannesburg, South Africa: Service to continue to operate at 14x weekly. Planned 17x weekly service increase cancelled 
• London Heathrow – Khartoum, Sudan via Beirut: (BMI) 3x weekly A321 
• London Heathrow – Lusaka, Zambia: Operational day changes from Day 357 to Day 257 (LUN departs next day) 
• London Heathrow – Luanda, Angola: Service continues to operate with 4-class Boeing 777-200ER twice a week. Previously 1 of 2x weekly to be operated with 3-class aircraft 
• London Heathrow – Marrakech, Morroco: (BMI) operation reduces from 5x to 3x weekly 
• London Gatwick – Marrakech, Morocco: Service increases from 3x weekly to daily

Read More Here [Airline Route]