► EGYPT: Egyptair outlines further changes to its Winter 2013/14 schedule.

Further to the last post on the subject, AirlineRoute reports that Egyptair (MS) has unveiled further planned changes & developments to its Winter 2013/14 Timetable set to come into effect from October 27.

► KENYA: Air India to resume Nairobi, East African flights "soon".

Air India (AI) is set to resume flights to East Africa in the near future, India's civil aviation minister Ajit Singh, has announced. The Indian carrier last served Nairobi in 2010, but has since reconsidered its move in light of growing trade and cultural relations between Africa and India.

►► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian expecting "pleasant surprise" from Boeing in Addis next week; plans Dubai as first 787 destination from 25 April.

[UPDATE 17 MAY] Believing Boeing will have a "pleasant surprise" in store for the global aviation community next week, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has tentatively scheduled its Boeing 787-8s to resume operations from April 25 with Dubai lined up as the Dreamliner's first potential destination.

► INDIA: Ethiopian delays resumption of its 787 Mumbai flights until mid June.

As per 07MAY13 GDS timetable/inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines (ET), will delay its planned Boeing 787 service resumption on its Addis Ababa – Mumbai route until 16JUN.

►► 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.

► INDIA: South African Airways, Jet Airways sign codeshare deal.

After suspending its South African operations in June 2012, India's Jet Airways (9W) is to return to the South African market, albeit under a codeshare agreement with South African Airways (SAA), the national carrier of South Africa and the only airline with non-stop flights between Mumbai and Johannesburg. The code share opens for Sale effective April 16th 2013, for travel effective April 18th 2013.

► 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.

► INDIA: Air Mauritius adjusts India/Hong Kong ops during September.

AirlineRoute reports that, as per the 21FEB13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Air Mauritius (MK), during the month of September 2013, is to adjust its operational aircraft in service to India and Hong Kong.

►► KENYA: Kenya Airways to adjust Thailand, China, India, Dubai, Hong Kong ops from late March.

[UPDATE 14 FEBRUARY] AirlineRoute reports that as per the 06FEB13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Kenya Airways (KQ) is to adjust its operations to Thailand, China, India, Dubai, and Hong Kong.

► INDIA: Kenya Airways swaps 767 for 737-700 on some Mumbai flights starting 16 January.

Effective 16 January 2013, Kenya Airways(KQ) is temporarily adjusting capacity on its Nairobi – Mumbai, India service. Three of the 10 weekly flights (KQ204/205) are to switch from the Boeing 767-300ER to the Boeing 737-700. 

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian announces 787 operational changes for Q1 2013.

Online aviation resource AirlineRoute states that Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is to apply further changes to its planned Boeing 787 operation over the coming three months.

►► INDIA: Ethiopian goes daily 787 to Mumbai from November.

[UPDATE 7 NOVEMBER 2012] With its third Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (MSN: 34747 | ET-AOS) now just recently delivered, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has announced the launch of daily 787 flight from Addis Ababa to Mumbai, India, effective 25 November 2012.

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA boosts flights to Sao Paulo, Mumbai, Nairobi from October; capacity to Mauritius from December.

South African Airways (SA) will, with effect from October 2012 (September in Nairobi's case), be introducing added flights to its Johannesburg - Sao Paulo, Brazil,  Johannesburg - Mumbai, India and Johannesburg - Nairobi, Kenya services with Johannesburg - Mauritius likely to see an increase in aircraft capacity closer to the festive season in December.

► EGYPT: Egyptair announces operational changes to Johannesburg, London and Mumbai routes.

Egyptair (MS) has announced operational changes to its Cairo - Johannesburg, South Africa, Cairo - London Heathrow and Cairo - Mumbai routes.

An Egyptair Boeing 777-300ER.

Egyptair: Cairo, Egypt - Johannesburg, South Africa

- Effective October to November 2012, Egyptair is to use its Airbus A330-300. The A330-300 is to operate from 6 October 2012 to 20 October 2012, and from 28October 2012 until 16November 2012 (JNB departs next day).

- From 28 October 2012 onwards, Johannesburg will have a 5x weekly service instead of the previously planned daily flight. The following schedule is effective from 6 October 2012 to 20 October 2012.

• MS839 CAI2300 – 0705+1JNB 333 D
• MS840 JNB2145 – 0540+1CAI 333 D

Read More Here [Airline Route]

Egyptair: Cairo, Egypt - London Heathrow, United Kingdom

- Starting 15 November 2012, Egyptair is to reduce its existing daily Boeing 777-300ER and 4x weekly A330-300 flights to a 11x weekly A330-300 service.

• MS777 CAI0920 – 1235LHR 333 5
• MS777 CAI0945 – 1305LHR 77W 5
• MS779 CAI1700 – 2020LHR 333 4
• MS779 CAI1740 – 2100LHR 333 67
• MS779 CAI1745 – 2105LHR 333 5

• MS778 LHR1355 – 2040CAI 333 1
• MS778 LHR1400 – 2045CAI 333 15
• MS778 LHR1730 – 0015+1CAI 333 5
• MS780 LHR2230 – 0515+1CAI 333 123

Read More Here [Airline Route]

Egyptair: Cairo, Egypt - Mumbai, India

- Valid from 9 July 2012 until 27 October 2012, Egyptair has cut flights to Mumbai from 4x weekly previously, to 3x weekly.

• MS968 CAI2315 – 0840+1BOM 738 136
• MS969 BOM0940 – 1210CAI 738 247

 Read More Here [Airline Route]

► KENYA: Kenya Airways announces vast changes to Summer Schedule.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced sweeping changes to its Summer Schedule, suspending several routes most notably Rome (Italy), and Muscat (Oman) due to low uptake, whilst announcing new destinations that are to be launched between July and October 2012 including Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Eldoret (Kenya), Abuja (Nigeria) and Beirut (Lebanon).

Kenya Airways Route Map

The optimized schedule comes as the airline moves to increase frequencies on existing routes to meet changing and growing demand, while opening new routes in Africa and the Middle East. Kenya Airways Group Managing Director, Dr. Titus Naikuni said the decision to halt operations on the routes was also based on insufficient demand to sustain the routes.

"“Owing to the decreased passenger volumes on these routes, we have decided to re-align our capacity across the entire network to meet growing demand on other destinations including new ones,” said Dr Naikuni."

Kenya Airways' Summer 2012 Schedule

Kenya (Domestic) 

• Kisumu City boosted with introduction of an extra frequency over the weekends bringing it to 4x daily. On specific weekdays the airline will maintain its 3x daily flights. An Embraer E190 will be deployed on the route especially in the mornings and evenings. 

 Africa

• All Lagos daytime flights to Accra are combined as KQ 534 operating Nairobi – Lagos – Accra – Nairobi. As a result, Kenya Airways will be flying into Accra 12 times a week and 9 times a week to Lagos.  
• Additionally, the introduction of wide-body capacity into and out of Lagos and Accra is set to have significant impact on Kenya Airways’ passenger and cargo revenue streams as it will enable it to offer more capacity and minimum connecting time between Guangzhou, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Dubai, Mumbai and West Africa.  
• Ndjamena increased to 3x direct flights a week.
• Dakar will now connect through Ouagadougou which increases flights to OUA to 3 times a week. 
• Bamako flights will operate via Cotonou 3 times a week; this is expected to ease out on the payload issues that the Bamako passengers have experienced in the past. 

Middle East & Asia

• Mumbai, India is increased from daily to 10 flights a week with 3x weekly flights to Delhi. 
• Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has an extra flight added, bringing the frequency to 3x weekly effective July 2012. 
• New direct flight to Dubai which will operate 3x a week with late evening departures from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to capture the late connecting traffic arriving into Nairobi. This is in addition to the daily Dubai service that the airline operates. The airline will now operate 10 non-stop flights to Dubai.

Europe

• Europe has a capacity increase despite the suspension of Rome flights.
• Effective July 2012, flights to London Heathrow will increase to 10 flights per week on the 322 seater Boeing 777-200. This is to cater for increased traffic demand during the Olympics. 
• Paris flights will increase to 6 weekly flights during the July – August peak period and the daily Amsterdam capacity will be upgraded to a Boeing 777-200. 

Read More Here [Kenya Airways]

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA axes Cape Town - Heathrow; boosts Accra & Mumbai.

South African Airways (SA) will drop its iconic daily Cape Town - London Heathrow service with effect from 15 August 2012. The airline cited low yields on the route as its main cause for dropping the route. In the last 3 years, the annual number of tourists using London as a final destination or as a transitory airport has declined.

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA boosts Mumbai service from June.

Following Jet Airways' suspension of Mumbai - Johannesburg with effect from 12 June 2012, so South African Airways (SA) has moved to fill the gap by tentatively (i.e. subject to government approval) increasing its frequencies from Johannesburg to Mumbai, from 4x weekly to 5x weekly, using an Airbus A330-200.

► INDIA: Jet Airways to temporarily suspend Johannesburg from June 12.

Mumbai-based Indian carrier Jet Airways (9W) has announced the temporary suspension of Mumbai - Johannesburg with effect from June 12, as it carries out a route profitability consolidation, having faced a tough Q1 in 2012.

"'Jet Airways will work closely with its interline partners and ensure that affected guests are rebooked on alternate flights for their travel from June 12 in order to minimize inconvenience caused (to the passengers)' the release said."

Read More Here [Economic Times India]