► UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways announces further modifications to Entebbe, Cape Town, Tripoli.

British Airways (BA) has announced further modifications to its African timetable with a doubling of Cape Town frequencies due from October 27 and an added fourth weekly flight to Entebbe, Uganda due from March 31, 2014. Flights to Tripoli meanwhile have already been increased to four times weekly.

■ LIBYA: Plans to switch ops from Tripoli International to Mitiga prove unfeasible; TIP to remain open.

Libyan Ministry of Transport plans to close Tripoli International Airport for a three-month long period from October to December in order to effect a much-needed runway upgrade project, have been put on hold after Tripoli Mitiga Airport's handling capacity was found to be inadequate.

■ LIBYA: LYCAA selects Comsoft for aeronautical infrastructure & communications upgrade.

The Libyan Civil Aviation Authority (مصلحة الطيران المدني‎ - LYCAA) has awarded a contract to upgrade all of Libya's existing Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) infrastructure to Germany's Comsoft. The initiative is being undertaken as part of the Libyan government's ongoing infrastructural refurbishment plan and will ultimately result in safer skies over the country.

► LIBYA: Afriqiyah launches Misrata - Cairo as Libyan Airlines upgrades Istanbul, Casablanca to the A330.

Afriqiyah (8U) has launched twice-weekly flights between between Misrata, Libya's third largest city 187 km east of Tripoli, and Cairo. Flights operate on-board an Airbus A320. Despite the troubles in Egypt, the Libyan Herald says flights to Egypt are "largely fully booked".

■ LIBYA: Tripoli International Airport to close for 3 months from October over runway repairs?

Libya's Ministry of Transport has reportedly announced the temporary closure of Tripoli International Airport with effect from October until December owing to critical runway repair and upgrade work. This has yet to be confirmed by either the Libyan Airports Authority or any Libyan carriers.

► LIBYA: Qatar Airways A320 diverts to Alexandria after militia forces Tripoli tower to deny landing permission.

Qatar Airways (QR) has once again been victimized in Libya, this time in Tripoli when on Sunday, August 4, an armed militia are said to have forced Tripoli ATC tower staff to deny an inbound Qatar Airways A320 permission to land, instead forcing it to divert to Alexandria, Egypt. The flight, QR528, then refuelled and returned to Qatar.

► CANADA: Tunisair planning to codeshare with Libyan Airlines on flights to Canada in 2014?

While awaiting the delivery of its first three A330-200s, Tunisair (TU) director general, Mr Rabah Jrad, says his airline plans to enter into a codeshare deal with Libyan Airlines (LN) on long haul routes to Canada.

► QATAR: Qatar Airways announces direct Tripoli, Casablanca flights from June 1.

Qatar Airways (QR) has announced an increase in capacity between Qatar and North Africa with its flights to Tripoli and Casablanca going non-stop, effective 01JUN. Effective 01JUN, scheduled services to Tripoli will be decoupled from the Egyptian city of Alexandria while at the same time, flights to Casablanca will be decoupled from Tunis.

► LIBYA: Emirates resumes Tripoli with 3x weekly flights via Malta from September.

Emirates (EK) will resume three-weekly passenger flights to Tripoli from September 1, 2013, 30 months after it moved to suspend them in light of the Libyan Uprising of 2011. Flights will operate via Malta on the inbound with a Boeing 777-200ER in a three-class configuration.

►► NIGER: Afriqiyah to tentatively resume Niamey flights this month following inter-governmental talks.

[UPDATE 29 APRIL 2013] Libyan carrier, Afriqiyah (8U), is expected to resume twice weekly flights to Niamey, Niger later this month following discussions held in Tripoli between the Nigerien ambassador, Hassan Maloune, and the Libyan Minister of Transport, Abdel Kader Mohamed.

► LIBYA: Afriqiyah eyeing more West African flight resumptions "in due course".

Libyan carrier, Afriqiyah (8U), is set to relaunch flights to West Africa in the coming weeks as the carrier seeks to re-establish its former Sub-Saharan network, suspended following the fall of Muammur Gaddhafi's regime.

► LIBYA: Buraq Air B737-800 shot at during finals into Tripoli International.

A Buraq Air (UZ) 737 inbound from Benghazi with 150 passengers aboard, yesterday sustained "no major damage" from ground-based gunfire as it was on finals into Tripoli International Airport Reuters has reported. As a result, the Libyan private carrier has suspended all flights to Tripoli effective immediately.

■ LIBYA: Libyan Airlines confident of resuming own EU flights in future as Afriqiyah's chances take a tumble.

Libyan Airlines (LN)'s ban on operating its own aircraft into the European Union could be lifted with a matter of weeks should the European Commission accept a final report submitted by the carrier. It could be a different case for sister airline Afriqiyah (8U) whose own efforts to be struck off the infamous No-Fly list suffered a set back on Friday after one of its flights to Paris was turned back due to incorrect paperwork.

■ LIBYA: Ministry of Transport to replace Tripoli's radar system; to increase civilian/military airspace monitoring.

Libya's Ministry of Transport is set to beef up the country's ability to monitor both civilian and military air traffic through the commissioning of new radar infrastructure and control facilities. The facilities will be used in monitoring the trafficking of both people and drugs in Libya as well as the illegal export of arms to neighbouring countries.

■ LIBYA: Libyan Airlines management claims ongoing strike not affecting operations.

Libyan Airlines (LN) has denied that its operations have been curtailed by an ongoing employee strike which has now entered its second week. Online news reports had earlier suggested that the airline had ceased taking reservations though this has since been confirmed as false.

► LIBYA: Cargolux to start Johannesburg via Tripoli flights from late April.

Luxembourg's Cargolux (CV) today announced that it will introduce a new air cargo service to Tripoli, Libya’s capital and largest city. The first flight is scheduled for 16 April, followed by weekly services that will operate every Tuesday on the route Luxembourg – Tripoli – Johannesburg.

► LIBYA: Libyan Airlines looking to dramatically boost international and domestic market share in 2013/2014.

Libyan Airlines (LN) is aiming to boost its passenger numbers by 11% in 2014, to 1.5million as the carrier seeks to secure a 50% market share of Libya's international traffic.

► UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Etihad Cargo launches its Africa Summer 2013 timetable.

Etihad Cargo, the cargo division of Abu Dhabi based carrier, Etihad Airways (EY) has published its planned Summer 2013 Freighter operation, which has been in effect since 11MAR13. Its planned African operation based on the airline’s PDF timetable listing as follow.

► LIBYA: Alitalia adds second daily flight to Tripoli from late March.

Italian carrier, Alitalia (AZ), is to boost service between Rome Fiumicino and Tripoli, Libya through the introduction of a second daily A319 operated service effective 31 March. New flights leave Rome at 1500L and Tripoli at 1755L.

■ LIBYA: New Interpol-backed passport control facility inaugurated at Tripoli International Airport.

Senior Interpol, EU and Libyan officials have inaugurated the connection of an Interpol real-time passport control capacity at Tripoli International Airport as part of international efforts to improve Libyan border security. Under Interpol’s EUR2.2million Project RELINC (Rebuilding Libya’s Investigative Capability) funded by the EU, Libyan border control authorities will, for the first time,  be able to directly access Interpol’s global database to detect stolen and lost passports, enabling the instant identification of persons seeking to conceal their true identity, including internationally wanted persons, suspected terrorists and transnational criminals.