► CHAD: Toumaï Air Tchad resumes limited operations with Hajj charters.

Toumaï Air Tchad (9D) has resumed limited operations using its ex-Georgian Star International (GST) B737-300 (MSN 24717 | TT-EAZ) for Hajj charter flights from N'Djamena to Madinah, Saudi Arabia. 

► SAUDI ARABIA: Saudia Cargo to boost Morocco, Kenya, South Africa freight capacity.

Saudia Cargo (SV) has announced an increase in its belly and freighter capacity on a number of routes across its global network. In terms of its African destinations, the Saudi Arabian operator plans to boost its dedicated freighter frequencies to Nairobi while adding bellyhold capacity to Casablanca and Johannesburg through increased passenger flights.

► 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: 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.

► SAUDI ARABIA: AlMasria Universal Airlines launches 2x weekly Cairo - Abha flights.

Egyptian domestic and regional operator, AlMasria Universal Airlines (UJ), has launched twice weekly flights between Cairo and Abha, Saudi Arabia. According to ch-aviation, the flights operate on-board an Airbus A320.

► DJIBOUTI: Air France starts dedicated weekly flights to Djibouti from late October.

Air France (AF) will, from October 27, 2013, commence once weekly dedicated flights from Paris CDG to Djibouti Ambouli onboard an Airbus A340-300. As such, the current 3x weekly service to the Horn of Africa state which operates via Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will cease with effect from that date with flights to Riyadh increasing to 5x weekly.

► 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.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Kenya Airways to boost Jeddah to 4x weekly from September to November.

Owing to an expected surge in demand during its Hajj & Umrah operations, Kenya Airways (KQ) from 03SEP13 to 10NOV13 is increasing the frequency of its Nairobi – Jeddah service, where it’ll operate 4 weekly flights instead of the current two. The operational aircraft will also change from an Embraer E190 to a Boeing 737-800.

■■ SENEGAL: (Pics) Dakar's new Blaise Diagne International Airport now delayed until Q4 2014.

Blaise Diagne International Airport, Diass, Senegal

 

[UPDATE 12 JULY 2013] After a bold declaration last year by the then Senior Senegalese Minister in charge of International Cooperation, Air transport, Infrastructure and Energy, Karim Wade, that the capital Dakar's new Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) in Diass would be ready this year, Senegal's Prime Minister, Abdoul Mbaye, today announced the country's second international airport would only be commissioned in the first quarter of 2014. He, however, did not provide a reason for the delay. [UPDATE 12 JULY 2013] Completion of the airport has now been delayed until November 2014. Senegalese paper, Libération, is quoted as saying a dispute between the Bin Laden Group and Dakar which threatened to derail the project has since been resolved with works now back on track.

► NIGERIA: Kabo Air eyes domestic, international service resumption.

Fresh from the delivery of its first B747-400, Nigerian Hajj specialist, Kabo Air (N9), has now announced plans to enter the domestic Nigerian market with additional plans to go regional.

► NIGERIA: Saudia to drop Jeddah - Kano from September.

Saudi Arabia's national carrier, Saudia (SV), will from September 1, 2013 cancel its twice weekly Jeddah – Kano service. The flight operates with a Boeing 747.

►► SAUDI ARABIA: Ethiopian revises its planned boost to Saudi Arabia/Dubai frequencies from mid June.

[UPDATE 03 JUNE] As per 06MAY13 GDS timetable/inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines is planning to increase its capacity to Saudi Arabia and the UAE from 17/18JUN13. Planned changes are as follows.

► SAUDI ARABIA. Air Arabia Egypt boosts Dammam, Riyadh ops from June.

Air Arabia Egypt (E5) will, from 01JUN13, increase its operations to Saudi Arabia, with an additional 1 and 2 weekly flights being added to Dammam and Riyadh respectively.

■ GAMBIA: Government ratifies BASAs with Kenya, Saudi Arabia.

Gambia's parliament has moved to ratify two Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA); one with Kenya, paving the way for possible Kenya Airways flights (KQ) and the second, with Saudi Arabia.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Air Cairo to start Alexandria & Assuit - Riyadh from late March.

After the successful 1 March launch of twice weekly Alexandria - Tripoli and once weekly Assuit - Tripoli flights, Egyptian LCC, Air Cairo (SM) has now announced the launch of direct flights from Alexandria and Assuit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, effective 25 March 2013. 

► SAUDI ARABIA: Palestinian Airlines, Egyptair cooperating on El Arish - Jeddah Umra flights.

EgyptAir (MS) in late January, signed a cooperation agreement with Palestinian Airlines (PF) to operate a series of pilgrimage flights on behalf of the Palestinian carrier out of its current base in El-Arish, Egypt to Muslim holy sites in Saudi Arabia. 

► CHAD: Saudia Cargo boosts frequencies to Ndjamena, Lagos.

Saudi Airlines cargo division, Saudia Cargo (SV), has further strengthened its business relationship with Fast Forward Cargo in the UAE by increasing its frequencies to West Africa from Dubai World Central. Under an agreement signed by both parties, the new partnership will operate what is equivalent to 175 combined B747 flights between the UAE and West Africa, connecting mainly to Lagos in Nigeria and N’Djamena in Chad via Saudia Cargo’s hubs in Riyadh and Jeddah.

► TUNISIA: Syphax to launch new Paris, Jeddah flights as A330 plans begin to take shape.

As per the 07MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Tunisian carrier Syphax Airlines’ (FS) Summer 2013 operation will include new and added flights to Paris from Djerba, Sfax and Monastir. A new Jeddah - Sfax service is also planned.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Nile Air to start Alexandria - Gassim from late May.

Egyptian airline Nile Air (NP) will from 26 May 2103, expand its international operations with the launch of 3x weekly Alexandria/Borg el Arab - Gassim, Saudi Arabia flights.

► SUDAN: Sun Air wet-leasing A320 from Jordan Aviation.

Sudan's Sun Air (S9) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320 (MSN 2061 | JY-JAT) wet leased from Jordanian ACMI outfit Jordan Aviation (R5) writes aviation newswire CH-Aviation.