► DUBAI: Emirates outlines African routes to be affected by closure of DXB runway 12L/30R in 2014.

With Dubai International Airport's Northern runway 12L/30R nearing the end of its designed lifespan and therefore requiring rehabilitation and upgrading, Emirates (EK) has outlined its planned service reduction set to come into effect from May 1, 2014 and ending July 20, 2014. The following list contains the affected African flights:

►► CHINA: Ethiopian Airlines reduces Beijing to 6x weekly from April 'til June.

[UPDATE 17 MAY] AirlineRoute writes that Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will from 01APR13 to 17JUN13 temporarily reduces its Addis Ababa – Beijing service, with the overall operation dropping to 6 weekly flights instead of the current daily. Boeing 777-200LR aircraft operates this route.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Lubumbashi Airport to close 3 days a week from May to October as RVA finally upgrades crumbling infrastructure.

Lubumbashi International Airport (also known as Luano International Airport) is to be closed for three days a week between May and October 2013 due to maintenance and upgrading works being done to the airport terminal and runway 07/25.

► MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius to start Beijing, resume Durban flights from July, to reduce Johannesburg from

Confirming our previous post, Air Mauritius (MK) is to start once weekly Mauritius - Beijing flights effective 06 July, while Mauritius - Durban flights, speculated about here, are to resume with a twice weekly service beginning July 5. In addition, Air Mauritius is to discontinue its night time flights from Johannesburg from May 2, though supplementary night flights will be introduced during peak periods to accommodate demand.

► UNITED STATES: Egyptair reduces Cairo - New York JFK ops for duration of April.

Egyptair (MS), during the month of April 2013,  is temporarily reducing its Cairo – New York JFK operations, where overall service is being reduced from daily to 5 weekly. A Boeing 777-300ER aircraft operates on this route.

►► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia to axe Accra, reduces Cape Town, Joburg due to low demand, Frankfurt due to A340s undergoing maintenance.

[UPDATE 7 APRIL] Air Namibia (SW) is, according to Amadeus, to axe its Windhoek - Accra (Ghana) flights effective 10 April. In addition, Windhoek to Cape Town, and Windhoek to Johannesburg flights are to be reduced from 3 to 2 a day, with Windhoek to Frankfurt flights being reduced to 4x a week effective immediately.

►► ETHIOPIA: Lufthansa reduces Khartoum, Addis Ababa flights from 31 March.

[UPDATE 21 MARCH] German carrier Lufthansa (LH) is to reduce operations on its route between Frankfurt and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via Khartoum, Sudan effective between 31 March and 1 June.

► JAPAN: Egyptair to reduce Tokyo Narita ops from 31 March.

As per the 27FEB13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Egyptair (MS), starting 31MAR13, is to reduce its Cairo – Tokyo Narita service from 3 to 2 weekly. 

► GERMANY: Air Namibia reduces its Frankfurt service from late January to March 2013.

Air Namibia (SW) has announced it is to reduce its frequencies to Frankfurt, Germany from daily to 5x weekly over the period 19 January 2013 - 17 March 2013 as a result of reduced demand.  The carrier is to drop its Day 2,6 service from Windhoek to Frankfurt and its Day 3,7 services from Frankfurt to Windhoek.

► CHINA: Ethiopian Airlines reduces China ops over Chinese New Year 2013.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will, during the month of February 2013, reduce its operations to Beijing and Guangzhou during the Chinese New Year period.