■ BURUNDI: Air Burundi to require nearly USD4million to resume operations.

Air Burundi's (8Y) Group Managing Director, Emmanuel Habimana, says a return to service will prove costly both for the airline and its backer, the Burundian government, given the highly competitive nature of the market in the region. Overall initial startup costs are expected to total BIF6billion (USD3.9million).

► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania to tentatively operate MA60s, Y12s as part of deal with China's JoyAir.

Air Tanzania (TC) is reportedly to acquire five Xian MA60s and three Harbin Y-12  turboprops (whether they are on lease or outright purchase is unclear) from JoyAir (JR), a Chinese carrier that is 95% owned by China's state-backed aircraft manufacturer and Xian's parent, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), with the remaining 5% held by China Eastern Airlines (MU).

► CAMEROON: Airbus Military delivers a CASA CN-235 transport to the Cameroonian Air Force.

Airbus Military has delivered one of its CASA/IPTN CN-235 medium-range transport planes to the Cameroon Air Force. The handover makes Cameroon the sixteenth sub-Saharan nation to operate the Airbus Military family of aircraft.

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe mulling either the A330/777 for future long haul ops.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) is reportedly mulling leasing either the Airbus A330 or the Boeing 777 as a long haul replacement for its ageing pair of 767s, one of which, (MSN 24867 | Z-WPF), is reportedly undergoing a C-Check set to last 10-months. The other, (MSN 24713 | Z-WPE), is still serviceable though with the advent of the A320 on the airline's Harare - Johannesburg route, it has been parked and is now kept on standby for VVIP (i.e Presidential flights), charters and as a back up. Once refurbished, the aircraft should be deployed on London flights in November.

► CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Air Congo International takes delivery of its third MA60.

Air Congo International, the Brazzaville-backed carrier, has taken delivery of its third and final Xian MA 60 at a ceremony held last Thursday at Brazzaville Maya Maya International Airport and officiated by the Republic of Congo's Transport Minister Rodolphe Adada .

■ CAMEROON: Camair-Co drops Lufthansa Technik as MRO provider; to drop the 737-700 citing lack of suitability.

Camair-Co (QC), the Cameroonian national carrier, will not renew an MRO contract signed with Lufthansa Technik in 2011 after the airline cited a "unilateral increase in charges" as well as unjustifiable staff perks as its reasons. Airline CEO Matthijs Boertien claimed that spurned attempts to negotiate with the Germans had resulted in the impasse, thereby forcing Camair to look to Dutch outfit, Aviacare BV, for its future MRO needs.

► RWANDA: Air Burundi eyes Kigali flights from June 1; further regional expansion into Southern Africa to follow.

Leading on from our previous report, Air Burundi (8Y) says it intends to resume operations on June 1 with flights between Bujumbura and the Rwandan capital, Kigali, using its MA60 aircraft. The GDS however, has yet to reflect any open flights.

► CHINA: See Pics of Eritrean startup Massawa Airways' first MA60's delivery ceremony in Xi'an.

Eritrean startup Massawa Airways, on 29 November, officially took delivery of its first Chinese manufactured MA60 (TBD10 | E3-AAV). 

■ CAMEROON: China's AVIC to set up technical centre; "gives" two MA-60s to government.

After meeting with Cameroonian government officials last week, a high powered Chinese delegation led by Mr. Ma Fuan, the Chairman and CEO of the AVIC International Company in China, manufacturers of the MA 60 plane, and several other businessmen, has pledged to make Cameroon the technical base for the maintenance of all its aircraft operating in Africa.

► CAMEROON: Camair-Co signs $115million deal for three MA-60s.

Cameroonian carrier Camair-Co (QC) on Wednesday 4 July signed a deal worth CFA61billion (USD$115million) for three Xian MA-60 turboprop aircraft with the China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) that will see the first one delivered in September. In addition, AVIC will also provide spare parts and training.

What is noteworthy however, is that the Cameroonian Government will only pay for two whilst the third aircraft will come 'free' as part of a lulzy 'Buy 2 Get 1 Free' deal that seems to be popular in Africa at the moment. With this latest acquisition of the Chinese aircraft, Camair-Co will join Air Zimbabwe, Air Burundi, Air Congo International, Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (LAC) and a host of African air forces that use the type.

Camair-Co B767 in Douala, Cameroon. (Camair)

Despite a tough first year in the air, Camair-Co aims to become profitable by 2014, although it will require considerably greater size and scale before that target becomes tangible. Presently, Camair-Co's fleet consists of 3 aircraft: a Boeing 767-300 and two B737-700s (leased from the Aviation Capital Group) whilst its route network stretches from Cameroon to Chad, Gabon, Congo (Brazzaville), Benin, Equatorial Guinea and France with flights to Nigeria and Congo (Kinshasa) to be added imminently.

► BURUNDI: Air Burundi gets its first MA-60.

Burundian state carrier, Air Burundi (8Y), has taken delivery of the first of two Chinese Xian MA-60 aircraft both of which will form the foundation for the airline's fleet renewal programme that is being jointly sponsored by the Burundian and Chinese governments.