► NAMIBIA: (Video) Air Namibia takes delivery of first of two A330s from Airbus.

Air Namibia (SW), the Windhoek based national airline of Namibia, has taken delivery of its first A330-200 (MCN 1451 | V5-ANO) from Airbus at a ceremony in Toulouse, France. The aircraft is the first of two A330s being leased by Air Namibia from US lessor, Intrepid Aviation, on 12-year contracts.

► LIBYA: (Pics) Ministry of Defense takes redelivery of Gaddafi's repainted A340.

The Libyan Ministry of Defense has taken redelivery of an Airbus A340-300 (MCN 151 | 5A-ONE) following an overhaul and a refit in Toulouse, France. The aircraft was made famous as the private jet of deposed Libyan strongman Muammur Gaddafi prior to his death in 2011.

► NAMIBIA: (Pics) Air Namibia's first A330 being readied for delivery later this month.

Air Namibia's (SW) first brand new Airbus A330-200, (MCN 1451 | V5-ANO), has begun flight tests ahead of its planned delivery to Windhoek later this month. The aircraft is part of a pair of A330s on lease from US-based leaser, Intrepid Aviation. The second aircraft, (MCN 1466 | V5-ANP) is due for delivery in November.

► FRANCE: (Pics) Tunisia's Syphax Airlines' first A330 almost ready for delivery.

Tunisian private carrier, Syphax Airlines (FS), has had its first Airbus A330-200 (MCN 345 | F-WJKG) roll out the paint-shop in Toulouse in preparation for its planned delivery later this month.

► MOROCCO: Royal Air Maroc outlines its planned E190 Summer routes.

Royal Air Maroc (AT) will this Summer lease two Embraer E190 aircraft from Holland's Denim Air ACMI (J7) for use on routes to Germany, Guinea Bissau, France, Denmark and the Canary Islands.

► FRANCE: See Pics of Libyan Airlines' first A330 due for delivery next month!

Libyan Airlines (LN) is set to take delivery of its first of two Airbus A330-200 (MCN 1412 | 5A-LAR) due in the coming weeks. The order is part of a larger deal for four of the aircraft of which the other two are due in Libya in May 2014.

► TANZANIA: Precision Air takes delivery of its first new ATR 42-600.

Tanzanian carrier Precision Air (PW), today, took delivery of its first ATR42-600 out of five brand new -600 series ATR aircraft (i.e. 4 ATR 42-600s and 1 ATR 72-600) ordered in December 2011. The official ceremony took place earlier today at the ATR Delivery Center in Toulouse, France, and was attended by Alfonse Kioko, CEO of Precision Air and Filippo Bagnato, ATR's CEO.

► FRANCE: Air Arabia Maroc launches Casablanca - Toulouse from late October.

Moroccan LCC, Air Arabia Maroc (3O), will from 28 October 2012, start once weekly Sunday flights between Casablanca, Morocco and Toulouse, France, which will increase to a twice weekly service (an added Thursday flight) from mid-November onwards.

■ MOROCCO: Air France Industrie to outsource 100 jobs to Casablanca.

In a move bound to have serious repercussions in France and with Air France trade unions in particular, the maintenance wing of Air France, Air France Industrie, has announced it will outsource 100 out of the 450 technician jobs at its Croix-du-Sud Facility at Toulouse-Blagnac, to Morocco.

► RÉUNION: Air Austral to continue French services until January 2013.

Réunion based carrier Air Austral (UU) is to continue its services between Réunion and various French cities namely Marseilles, Toulouse, Lyon and Nantes into January of 2013, having previously announced their suspension for 28 October 2012. Its service to Bordeaux however (routed via Marseille) is to end on 28 October 2012.

Air Austral Route Network

Air Austral: St. Denis de la Réunion – Lyon, France – Nantes, France
-Effective until 20 January 2013

• UU947 RUN2300 – 0705+1LYS0815+1 – 0925+1NTE 77W 3
• UU948 NTE1515 – 1620LYS1730 – 0700+1RUN 77W 4
  

St. Denis de la Réunion – Marseille, France – Toulouse, France

-Effective until 20 January 2013

• UU945 RUN2300 – 0650+1MRS0800 – 0855+1TLS 77W 5
• UU946 TLS1515 – 1610MRS1725 – 0630+1RUN 77W 6

St. Denis de la Réunion – Marseille, France – Bordeaux, France

-Service ends 28 October 2012

Source [AirlineRoute]

The route rationalizations come as part of Air Austral's efforts to return to profitability following a nasty 2011 financial year which ultimately forced the cancellation of the carrier's Australian and South Pacific operations, as well as the cancellation of two Airbus A380s it had ordered.

► COTE D'IVOIRE: First pics of Air Cote d'Ivoire's A319 here!

The Ivory Coast's soon-to-be national carrier, Air Cote d'Ivoire, is set to receive its first aircraft - an Airbus A319 prior to commissioning services in July, as reported earlier by The African Aviation Tribune.