► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe Operations & General Aviation Update.

Over the last 3 weeks or so, we have been in Zimbabwe for business and had the chance to pay Air Zimbabwe and the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) a visit to try and try get some updates on the status of Air Zimbabwe (UM) as well as other general info. After all, the interwebs has been filled with vast amounts of speculation and conflicting reports on Air Zimbabwe's status and murky dealings all of which make it very difficult to get an accurate picture of what is really going on there.

This is what we were told by our sources:

• Air Zimbabwe is still flying domestically, albeit using its aging Boeing 737-200Adv fleet to service Harare - Victoria Falls and Harare - Bulawayo. According to our sources, loads have picked up (which is no surprise seeing as there is no other competition on the routes). Harare - Vic Falls costs USD$400 return (lol).

An AirZim 737 awaiting its flight to Bulawayo (24 June 2012)

• Air Zimbabwe has indeed received a second A320 as previously reported by us. The two aircraft are now awaiting CAAZ registration before entering service, though where to, is still unknown. Also, the mysterious deal for two Airbus A340-500s that never was, came up quite often. Seems the deal is somehow "still in the offing" (make of that what you will, but we will believe it when we see it) though how much of that is truth and how much is pure BS is anyone's guess.

Two unknown BAe146s laid up at HRE (possibly Air Zim's)

• The Air Zimbabwe member we spoke to made reference to the fact that staff have gone without pay for 11 months; UM staff are still in court over the USD$40million still owed to them, so any new deal to get UM back in the skies will first have to overcome this serious problem.
• Solenta Aviation, one of the only private players plying the safari routes, shut down its Zimbabwean operation as of May 2012. 
• Harare International Airport is undergoing refurbishment; the main runway and taxiways are being done at the present moment using USD$24million in funds availed by the Ministry of Finance. Bulawayo (Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo) Airport is about to be completed, with Victoria Falls Airport currently a "work in progress".
• No word yet on when SolAir or Phoenix Air will (if ever) take to the skies. Strangely enough, a controversial Chinese mining firm, Anjin Investments, at the centre of a scandal involving Zimbabwean diamonds, has also applied for an airline operator's license.

So there you have it folks. Make of it what you all will, but bear in mind that what a pencil pushing bureaucrat says and what actually happens are usually two completely different things.

► TANZANIA: Qatar Airways announces Kilimanjaro route changes.

Qatari carrier Qatar Airways (QR) has announced routing changes to its Doha, Qatar - Kilimanjaro, Tanzania flights. The Airbus A320 operated flights will now go via Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, thereby replacing the previously announced Nairobi, Kenya stop effective 25 July 2012.

QR has not been granted fifth freedom rights on the Dar es Salaam – Kilimanjaro sector.

Qatar Airways A320

Qatar Airways: Doha, Qatar - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
-Effective 25 July 2012

• QR546 DOH0220 – 0805DAR0905 – 1005JRO 320 x246
• QR544 DOH0735 – 1320DAR1420 – 1520JRO 320 x246
• QR547 JRO1105 – 1205DAR1305 – 1845DOH 320 x246
• QR545 JRO1620 – 1720DAR1820 – 2345DOH 320 x246

Read More Here [Airline Route]

In 2011, Qatar Airways signed an interline deal with Tanzanian carrier Precision Air Tanzania (PW) which will give passengers seamless travel options to popular holiday destinations in Tanzania and the sub region such as the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean, renowned for its picture-postcard beaches and beautiful landscapes, as well as the exotic island of Zanzibar.

► NIGERIA: Arik Air announces Winter changes to New York; suffers two incidents in 3 hours.

Nigerian carrier Arik Air (W3) has announced changes to its Winter 2012 Lagos, Nigeria - New York route effective 29 October 2012. The route is presently served with an Airbus A340-500 wet leased from HiFly Air Transport.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines set to receive first 787 in early August.

After incessant production line delays continuously pushed back its slated date of entry by 3 years, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has officially announced that it will take delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in "early August" though when exactly, is not yet known. Presently, its first Dreamliner (ET-AOQ/ MSN 34745) is said to have completed its initial flight worthiness tests and has already entered the paint shop.

Ethiopian has an order for 10 Dreamliners and is the first African airline to receive the aircraft.

Ethiopian's first 787 (ET-AOQ) in Seattle (Puget Sound)

"Ethiopian is pleased to announce that its Boeing 787 Dreamliner is in the final stages of preparation for delivery in August 2012. The first Ethiopian Dreamliner left the Boeing assembly plant in Seattle, Washington and headed to San Antonio, Texas on Thursday, July 12, 2012 to be painted in Ethiopian livery.

The Ethiopian Dreamliner, having conducted its first test flight on Monday, July 9, 2012, will stay in San Antonio for 12 days. After being painted with Ethiopian logo, the Dreamliner will fly back to Seattle where Ethiopian will take delivery in early August.

Ethiopian is proud to be the first in Africa to fly this much awaited, state-of-the-art aircraft, and is pleased to offer its passengers the ultimate travel experience on board this aircraft"

Read More Here [Ethiopian Airlines]

Ethiopian has scheduled Johannesburg and Dubai to start 787 services effective 1 August 2012, Guangzhou from 16 August 2012, and Harare and Lusaka from 28 October 2012.

► MAURITANIA: Harbin Y12 crashes on take off; 7 dead.

A Chinese built Harbin Y12 turboprop aircraft chartered by Canadian Mining firm Kinross Gold Corporation yesterday crashed shortly after take off from Nouakchott's International Airport yesterday enroute to Tasiast, 300 kilometres north of the capital of Nouakchott.

Tasiast is the location of one of Kinross' open pit gold mines.

Tasiast, Mauritania

""The plane crashed inside the Nouakchott airport perimeter just after taking off," said Colonel Teyib ould Brahim, a spokesman for Mauritania's armed forces. Witnesses said the plane caught fire before crashing but the cause was not clear."

Read More Here [Reuters]

In a statement on its website, Kinross Gold confirmed that "seven people were killed in the crash, including two pilots, two Mauritanian customs officials, and three contract security personnel though no Kinross personnel were on board." The seven were to go to Tasiast to collect refined gold.

The Mauritanian Air Force is reported to have operated two of the type, another of which crashed in 1996.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles increases Joburg flights from December.

Following the arrival last week of their Airbus A330-200 with another due in January 2013, Air Seychelles has announced the increase in its frequencies to Johannesburg, South Africa from the current 2x weekly, to 4x weekly, effective 1 December 2012.

► ZAMBIA: See the first pics of Zambezi Airlines' CRJ-200ERs.

Since recommencing operations in mid June 2012, Zambezi Airlines (ZJ) has leased its first of two Canadair CRJ-200ERs from South African Express. Registered as ZS-NMK, the aircraft was previously leased to MGC Airlines of South Africa.

► ITALY: Alitalia announces operational changes to Africa network.

Italian carrier Alitalia (AZ) has announced operational changes to its Africa network, effective Summer (Europe) 2012.

► NIGERIA: British Airways considers Port Harcourt - Heathrow route.

British Airways (BA) has reportedly shown interest in starting up a possible London Heathrow - Port Harcourt, Nigeria daily flight to add to its current Nigerian network of Lagos and Abuja. Previously Kano was also served.

The initiative was revealed by BA's CEO Keith Williams during a briefing with the Nigerian media. where by he touched upon the importance of the Nigerian market to British Airways though it appears nothing was mentioned about the airline's often strained relationship with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which has often held witch hunts amongst foreign carriers, accusing them of overcharging Nigerian passengers on the lucrative Nigeria - Europe routes.

Port Harcourt Airport's apron (KVW)

"“Nigeria clearly is a huge market for BA, having served there for 75 years. BA has a commitment to Lagos and Abuja to serve them better and would also include more routes so as to satisfy more customers,” he said.
The CEO also described Lagos and Abuja as two very important routes for British Airways, adding that Port Harcourt is a destination BA would be considering as a result of the city’s current big business area status."

Read More Here [Ventures Africa]

At present, Port Harcourt sees international service from only Air France and Lufthansa though with its growing economic prominence, and in particular its petroleum industry, this could change quite soon.

► GERMANY: Lufthansa announces Africa schedule changes for European Winter.

German carrier Lufthansa (LH) has announced various operational and frequency changes to its Africa network for the duration of the European winter of 2012/2013.

Lufthansa's Africa Network

● Lufthansa Winter Africa Timetable ●

• Frankfurt – Johannesburg, South Africa: 08 January 2013 – 30 January 2013 - Service reduces from daily to 6x weekly.
• Frankfurt – Khartoum, Sudan – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Service to operate 6x weekly instead of planned daily.
• Frankfurt – Lagos, Nigeria – Port Harcourt, Nigeria: 16 January 2013 – 06 February 2013 Service reduces from daily to 6x weekly.

Previously reported:

• Munich – Cape Town, South Africa: Effective 28 October 2012 - Service to switch from Frankfurt to Munich due to Frankfurt Noise Abatement rules.  

Read More Here [Airline Route]

► UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways announces changes to Africa network from October onwards.

British Airways (BA) has announced various changes to its African timetable effective 28 October 2012 some of which have been previously reported on here at The African Aviation Tribune.

British Airways' Africa Network

● British Airways Africa Timetable ●

-Effective 28 October 2012

-Additional changes remain possible

• London Heathrow – Accra, Ghana: First Class service on 777-200ER is only available on Thursdays and Fridays in W12 
• London Heathrow – Agadir, Morocco: 2x weekly service operated by BA, operating on weekends. This replaces existing BMI operation on Day 26 
• London Gatwick – Algiers, Algeria: Service reduces from daily to 5x weekly in Winter 2012 (1x Daily in W11) 
• London Heathrow – Cairo, Egypt: (BMI) 1x Daily A321 CANCELLED (20 July 2012)
• London Heathrow – Cairo, Egypt: Boeing 747-400 replacing 777-200ER from 01 October 2012 
• London Heathrow – Cape Town, South Africa: BA042 from CPT shifts from morning hours departure in NW11 back to evening departure in NW12

               -BA043 LHR1735 – 0700+1CPT 744 1234567
               -BA059 LHR1930 – 0855+1CPT 744 1234567

               -BA058 CPT2050 – 0625+1LHR 744 1234567
               -BA042 CPT2220 – 0800+1LHR 744 1234567

• London Heathrow – Casablanca, Morocco: Service operates 4x weekly in W12 with BMI Airbus A319 aircraft, same as W11 CANCELLED (20 July 2012)
• London Heathrow – Entebbe, Uganda: Revised operational day to Day 247 from LHR, Day 135 from EBB 
• London Heathrow – Freetown, Sierra Leone:  2x weekly Boeing 767, replacing 3x weekly A330-200 bmi operation: 

             - BA137 LHR2230 – 0525+1FNA 767 36
             - BA136 FNA1100 – 1730LHR 767 47

• London Heathrow – Johannesburg, South Africa: Service to continue to operate at 14x weekly. Planned 17x weekly service increase cancelled 
• London Heathrow – Khartoum, Sudan via Beirut: (BMI) 3x weekly A321 
• London Heathrow – Lusaka, Zambia: Operational day changes from Day 357 to Day 257 (LUN departs next day) 
• London Heathrow – Luanda, Angola: Service continues to operate with 4-class Boeing 777-200ER twice a week. Previously 1 of 2x weekly to be operated with 3-class aircraft 
• London Heathrow – Marrakech, Morroco: (BMI) operation reduces from 5x to 3x weekly 
• London Gatwick – Marrakech, Morocco: Service increases from 3x weekly to daily

Read More Here [Airline Route]

►► BELGIUM: Brussels Airlines announces Africa schedule changes from October onwards.

Belgian carrier Brussels Airlines (SN) has announced sweeping changes to its African network effective 1 October 2012.

Brussels Airlines' Africa Route Network.

● Brussels Airlines Africa Timetable ●

►Destination Summary: 

Airbus A330-200 replaces -300 on service to Abidjan (1 weekly only), Bamako, Lome, Ouagadougou from 1 October 2012.

• Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire: Reduces from daily to 6x weekly with some operational routing change 
• Banjul, Gambia: Reduces from 4x to 3x weekly from 01 February 2013 
• Conakry, Guinea: Service remains 2x weekly 
• Cotonou, Benin: Service remains 2x weekly 
• Dakar, Senegal: Service remains 4x weekly 
• Douala, Cameroon: Service remains 5x weekly 
• Freetown, Sierra Leone: Reduces from 2x to 1x weekly from 01 February 2013 with A330-200 (A330-300 also operates from 01 October 2012 to 31 January 2013) 
• Kinshasa, DRC: Service reduces from daily to 5x weekly 
• Lome, Togo: Service operates via Ouagadougou in each direction, replacing BRU ABJ LFW BRU 
• Monrovia, Liberia: Service remains 3x weekly 
• Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Service operates nonstop in each direction, extending to Lome. This replaces BRU-BKO-OUA-BRU.
• Yaounde, Cameroon: Service reduces from 5x to 4x weekly, via Douala.
• Bujumbura, Burundi: Service reduces from 3x to 2x weekly
• Entebbe, Uganda: Service reduces from 4x weekly in NS12 to 3x weekly in NW12
• Kigali, Rwanda: Service reduces from 5 weekly in NS12 to 3 weekly in NW12 (routing via Nairobi cancelled)
• Mombasa, Kenya: NEW 1x weekly service [CANCELLED]
• Nairobi, Kenya: Service reduces from 4x to 3x weekly; 1 weekly service operates via Mombasa, 2 via Bujumbura (Routing via Kigali is cancelled)

 

►Schedules of New Routing (effective 28 October 2012):

Brussels – Bamako – Abidjan

-A330-300 replaces -200 from 17 December 2012 to 03 January 2013

-Local Traffic rights currently available for Bamako – Abidjan sector

• SN281 BRU1125 – 1635BKO1725 – 1905ABJ 332 1
• SN282 ABJ2015 – 2155BKO2255 – 0540+1BRU 332 1

Brussels – Banjul – Conakry – Brussels

-A330-300 replaces -200 from 14 November 2012 to 30 January 2013

• SN215 BRU1325 – 1835BJL1950 – 2055CKY2215 – 0540+1BRU 332 3

Brussels – Ouagadougou – Lome

-A330-300 replaces -200 from 10 November 2012 to 02 February 2013

-No Local Traffic Rights on Ouagadougou – Lome sector

• SN261 BRU1200 – 1650OUA1740 – 1910LFW 330 26
• SN262 LFW2020 – 2150OUA2250 – 0530+1BRU 330 26

Brussels – Abidjan – Cotonou – Brussels

• SN229 BRU1405 – 1945ABJ2055 – 2315COO0025+1 – 0655+1BRU 333 2 

Brussels – Mombasa – Nairobi – Brussels [CANCELLED]
NEW 1x weekly service to Mombasa

• SN477 BRU1030 – 2110MBA2210 – 2310NBO0025+1 – 0710+1BRU 332 5

Brussels – Bujumbura – Nairobi – Brussels
2x weekly service

• SN453 BRU1030 – 1955BJM2055 – 2325NBO0025+1 – 0710+1BRU 332 37

Brussels – Kigali – Entebbe – Brussels
-3x weekly flights
-Service to Kigali reduces from 5x to 3x weekly, Entebbe from 4x to 3x weekly.

• SN465 BRU1030 – 1940KGL2055 – 2245EBB2350 – 0620+1BRU 332 246

 

►Operational routing summary:

• Brussels – Abidjan – Monrovia – Brussels SN247 1x weekly service unchanged 
• Brussels – Conakry – Banjul – Brussels SN217 1x of 2x weekly service operates as SN215 in opposite direction 
• Brussels – Cotonou – Abidjan – Brussels SN231 1 of 2 xweekly service operates as SN229 in opposite direction 
• Brussels – Freetown – Banjul – Brussels SN219 Service reduces from 2x to 1x weekly from  01 February 2013 
• Brussels – Monrovia – Abidjan – Brussels SN245 2x weekly service unchanged 
• Brussels – Douala – Kinshasa SN351/352 Day 5 southbound service, Day 6 northbound does not operate from 08 December 2012 to 10 January 2013 (However BRU-DLA sector will operate as SN371/372) 
• Brussels – Luanda – Kinshasa – Brussels SN359 on Day 7 operates with A330-200 instead of -300 from 16 December 2012 to 06 January 2013.

Read More Here [Airline Route]

► MALI: Air France announces changes to Bamako service.

Air France has announced changes to its daily Paris - Bamako, Mali service effective from 1 August 2012 until 27 October 2012 as the Malian capital Bamako prepares to open its newly refurbished Sénou International Airport.

During this time, the route Bamako - Paris CDG outbound leg will operate with a technical stop in Casablanca, Morocco.

Bamako Senou International Airport, Mali

Air France: Paris CDG, France - Bamako, Mali

-Effective between 1 August 2012 until 27 October 2012

• AF3096 CDG1410 – 1750BKO A332 1234567
• AF3093 BKO2020 – 0035+1CMN0135+1 – 0530+1CDG A332 1234567

Read More Here [Airline Route]

Sénou International Airport has been undergoing various improvements and renovations over the last few years, with the present set of upgrades costing USD$190million and financed by the US government, the World Bank and other donors, expected to be ready for use by late September.

► MALAWI: Swift Air grounded by courts as Government mulls Air Malawi's future following huge losses.

Privately owned Malawian airline Swift Air has been grounded by the Malawian courts and had its property in Lilongwe attached over outstanding rental fees and monies owed to Air Malawi, the Airport Development Limited (ADL), and various independent travel agents.

Reports claim that employees at the family run company had not reported for work since May and that the airline's headquarters in Lilongwe had subsequently remained shut. Despite all this it is alleged, the airline still remained operative, albeit by proxy i.e using other carriers to ferry passengers under their trade name.

"An employee who held a senior position at the company but spoke on strict condition of anonymity told Zodiak that the CEO left two months ago amid pressure from the debtors.
“When all our planes were suspended two months ago due to financial challenges, the owner decided to continue selling tickets and in turn use Air Malawi to fly the customers,” said the employee adding; “The debt with Air Malawi rose to millions and she decided again to use independent travel agents to book our customers on air Malawi flights but she has failed to pay them too.”"

Read More Here [Malawi Today]

Prior to its grounding Swift Air operated domestically between Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, Karonga with a single regional flight operated to Johannesburg, South Africa whilst their fleet consisted of a South African leased McDonnell Douglas DC-9 (ZS-GAU?), an Embraer 120 (9J-RYL) and a Beechcraft 1900D. All of have either been returned to their respective owners or grounded as a result of the financial crisis at Swift Air.

Swift Air Malawi's lone DC9 at Lilongwe (SwiftAir)

Founded in January 2011, the airline was seen as a viable alternative to the unreliable parastatal Air Malawi, whose own future has been called into doubt over heavy continuous annual losses, which for the year 2011, amounted to MWK1.1billion.  The losses have been attributed to Air Malawi's continued use of leased aircraft for operations; a reliable if very expensive way to operate.

In addition, new president Joyce Banda's financial reforms have seen the Malawian currency, the Kwacha, lose 33% of its value overall after a devaluation was effected in order to help resuscitate the then ailing Malawian economy. The loss in value of the currency means the airline has had to deal with declining hard currency revenues locally to meet its foreign debts.

"With devaluation, our traffic has gone down as less and less people are able to travel," said Air Malawi's Director of Marketing Tony Chimpukuso Wednesday.

"And we are still waiting for the new government to state their position on Air Malawi. The previous government was not interested in us. They just wanted us to close down," h e said.

Chimpukuso said lack of equipment, costs incurred to put passengers on other airlines during breakdowns and last year's 10 percent devaluation of the kwacha contributed significantly to the losses at the airline.

The Malawi Institution of Engineers (MIE) recently called on government to make a concrete stand on Air Malawi if the country's air transport sector is to be revamped.

Read More Here [Malawi Today]

However all is not lost for the Malawian national carrier as it seems their cargo department at London Heathrow is slowly but surely regaining its market share after years of neglect. New capable staff have been hired in attempt to woe back lost business.

"Air Malawi which in the recent years had been dogged with a surmount of difficulty in its operations seems to be crawling back to serious business with a full force as it has just revamped its cargo services department at its offices at Heathrow Airport, London in the United Kingdom (UK) with a an improved service delivery."

 Read More Here [Nyasa Times]

So, whilst a market for sending home goods from abroad does most certainly exist, all that needs to be done is to organize an efficient and well run organization to do it.

Easier said than done in Africa sadly...

► ZIMBABWE: 1Time to start Joburg to Harare and Vic Falls?

The aviation rumour-mill here in Zimbabwe is awash with word that South African LCC 1Time (T6) has just completed a trial Johannesburg - Harare, Zimbabwe flight and will shortly commence service, though no official confirmation has yet been given by either 1Time or the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ).

1Time's Route Network.

In the recent past, Kulula, 1Time and the now-defunct LCC VelvetSky had battled to no avail, enormous red tape and CAAZ protective measures to acquire rights to service the very lucrative routes of Johannesburg - Harare, and Johannesburg - Victoria Falls where the average price for a return ticket from Harare to Joburg can cost anywhere from USD$440 to USD$600 using either South African Airways or BA Comair.

Until now these routes have been dominated by South African Airways, BA Comair and even Air Zimbabwe though with Air Zimbabwe facing possible liquidation, it seems likely that the Zimbabwean authorities would want to free up the route seeing as the only competitors on it, are now exclusively South African.
 

As mentioned above, 1Time is also looking at starting a service to Victoria Falls which, in theory, it does already serve, albeit on the Zambian side of the Falls - Livingstone.

Watch This Space.

► CHAD: Toumaï Air Tchad grounded by authorities after IATA audit finds serious safety shortcomings.

Chadian state carrier Toumaï Air Tchad (9D), along with two other unspecified airlines, have been grounded indefinitely by Chadian authorities in Ndjamena following a damning safety audit of the airlines by IATA, which uncovered serious safety shortcomings.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles receives first A330 (Pics).

Seychellois carrier, Air Seychelles (HM), on Thursday received the first of its ex Jet Airways Airbus A330-200s. Touching down in Mahe after a flight from Abu Dhabi and piloted by an exclusively Seychellois crew, Aldabra, as the aeroplane has been christened, features the latest in on-board comfort with flat beds in business class and individual entertainment systems for every seat in economy class.

► GHANA: FastJet aims for October launch with five A319s.

Rubicon Diversified Investments PLC, parent company of soon-to-be TransAfrican LCC FastJet, has announced that the Airbus A319 has been selected for the airline's fleet with 5 expected to be leased for the first six months of operations, and 15 to be added within a year of launching, which is scheduled for October of this year.

In June, Rubicon announced  the successful completion of its deal with Lonrho Aviation and its airline Fly540, providing the merged group with existing aviation platforms and therefore easier access to already established markets, in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Angola. 

Said Rubicon Chief Executive Ed Winter: 

"The decision to launch FastJet with the Airbus A319 enables us to expand rapidly with each aircraft potentially carrying around 250,000 passengers a year.  Rubicon expects passenger capacity to double from current levels within six months of the introduction of the A319 fleet.
"We plan to add at least five leased Airbus A319 aircraft to the fleet within six months of launch and up to 15 within a year."

Read More Here [4-traders]

FastJet A319 rendering.

Fleet uniformity is an important concept in the LCC model, as commonality of type allows for lower maintenance costs (as opposed to a fleet consisting of various types and makes of aircraft) thereby translating into lower fares. 

As per the original deal, fleet maintenance is to be carried out in Europe with a "major European MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) company" said to have won that particular contract.

No clues as yet have been given as to which destinations will be served first, as FastJet is still negotiating with various African governments over incentives and reduced passenger taxes; issues that play a big part in determining where FastJet plays its first card.

► CAMEROON: Camair-Co signs $115million deal for three MA-60s.

Cameroonian carrier Camair-Co (QC) on Wednesday 4 July signed a deal worth CFA61billion (USD$115million) for three Xian MA-60 turboprop aircraft with the China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) that will see the first one delivered in September. In addition, AVIC will also provide spare parts and training.

What is noteworthy however, is that the Cameroonian Government will only pay for two whilst the third aircraft will come 'free' as part of a lulzy 'Buy 2 Get 1 Free' deal that seems to be popular in Africa at the moment. With this latest acquisition of the Chinese aircraft, Camair-Co will join Air Zimbabwe, Air Burundi, Air Congo International, Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (LAC) and a host of African air forces that use the type.

Camair-Co B767 in Douala, Cameroon. (Camair)

Despite a tough first year in the air, Camair-Co aims to become profitable by 2014, although it will require considerably greater size and scale before that target becomes tangible. Presently, Camair-Co's fleet consists of 3 aircraft: a Boeing 767-300 and two B737-700s (leased from the Aviation Capital Group) whilst its route network stretches from Cameroon to Chad, Gabon, Congo (Brazzaville), Benin, Equatorial Guinea and France with flights to Nigeria and Congo (Kinshasa) to be added imminently.

► ZIMBABWE: Emirates to split Lusaka & Harare; introduces 5x weekly direct cargo flights to Harare.

Dubai megacarrier Emirates (EK) is to split its current Dubai - Lusaka (Zambia) - Harare (Zimbabwe) route into two separate routes "in the near future" following very strong figures in both passenger and cargo volumes moved since the route's inauguration in February of this year.

● GHANA: Government considers selling off 4 major airports.

Press reports out of Ghana claim that the Ghanaian Ministry of Transport is considering selling off four major airports around the country in a bid to privatize the country's infrastructure though whether it is seeking to completely offload the assets to the private sector or looking for a public/private partnership is yet to be confirmed.

Newspaper reports in Ghana quote a leaked government document whose contents were initially rubbished and denied by the Ghanaian Transport Minister Mr. Collins Dauda, only to be acknowledged upon publication.

"One of such documents dated May 16, 2012 and signed by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Enoch Cobbinah stated that `the Transport Ministry has endorsed and confirmed to the Finance Ministry the plan to undertake through Public Private Partnership procurement and rehabilitation, expansion and upgrade of the airports.'

The document clearly indicates that at least there has been a move by government to get assistance from private partners for the airports."

Read More Here [happyGhana]

The airports in question are: Accra's Kotoka International Airport, Tamale, Kumasi and Takoradi Airports all of which fall under the the authority of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), a government run parastatal.

Accra Kotoka International Airport (g2g)

Part of the necessity for privatization has come from Ghana's strong economic growth in recent years which has seen a significant increase in air transport usage with airlines such as Starbow Airlines,  CTK – CiTylinK, Fly540 and soon-to-be African super LCC FastJet fuelling the boom. Obviously, this has led and will lead to the urgent need to improve and expand existing aviation facilities in the country if it is to remain an attractive destination for start up airlines. In recent years, Ghana's principle gateway, Accra's Kotoka International Airport has seen some improvements and upgrades done to its infrastructure, though there is doubt that these have been enough to sustain the airport, whose transit figures have lept 400% since 2010.

Of course, it will all come with a hefty price tag hence the Ghanaians mulling privatization, but whether or not they want to leave their critical infrastructure entirely in the hands of foreigners has proven to be a very contentious topic. Since 1986, Ghana has moved to privatize many underperforming parastatals only to see the move socially and politically backfire when mass lay-offs were effected or in worst case scenarios (the now defunct Ghana Airways being a prime example) the entities went bust.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Lufthansa drops Frankfurt for Munich to Cape Town following curfew ruling.

Following on from April's landmark ruling by a federal court in Leipzig, Germany to ban flights at Frankfurt between 11pm and 5am in response to complaints about the noise from residents, so German carrier Lufthansa (LH) has been forced to switch its Cape Town, South Africa service from Frankfurt to Munich effective 28 October 2012.

Lufthansa Boeing 747 at Cape Town (Jacobus Saayman)

Lufthansa: Munich, Germany - Cape Town, South Africa
Effective 28 October 2012

• LH574 MUC2200 – 1035+1CPT 343 x13
• LH575 CPT1900 – 0535+1MUC 343 x24

Read More Here [Airline Route]

As if the restrictions and its economic consequences at Frankfurt were not enough, Lufthansa has threatened to move some of its traffic to either Brussels, Zurich or Vienna after a referendum in Munich on the 20 June put plans to build a third runway at Munich Airport into jeopardy.

► TUNISIA: Syphax Airlines announces Summer schedule changes; outlines new routes.

Newly founded Tunisian carrier Syphax Airlines (FS) has announced changes to its Summer timetable effective 5 July 2012.

Founded in 2011 and based in the coastal city of Sfax by businessman Mohamed Frikha, Syphax Airlines is a scheduled airline serving destinations in the Mediterranean with plans to increase its presence in both the Magreb region of Africa and Europe in the near future, amongst which will see Nice and Lyon in France being connected with Sfax, Tunisia a whilst Casablanca - Tunisia service is also in the pipeline.

Syphax Airlines Route Map

● Syphax Airlines Summer 2012 Timetable ●

Djerba, Tunisia – Paris CDG, France 
2x weekly service operating since 18JUN12

• FS110 DJE1510 – 1900CDG 319 14
• FS111 CDG1225 – 1410DJE 319 14

Sfax, Tunisia – Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen, Turkey
Operational days moving from Day 47 to Day 26 (SFA departure)

• FS212 SFA1635 – 2055SAW 319 26
• FS213 SAW2155 – 2220SFA 319 26

Sfax, Tunisia – Marseille, France
Service operates twice weekly instead of planned 3x weekly

• FS210 SFA0715 – 1000MRS 319 25
• FS211 MRS1045 – 1125SFA 319 25

Sfax, Tunisia – Paris CDG, France
Service operates 5x weekly instead of planned daily

• FS100 SFA0745 – 1125CDG 319 x267
• FS100 SFA1030 – 1410CDG 319 7
• FS101 CDG2000 – 2135SFA 319 14
• FS101 CDG2030 – 2205SFA 319 35
• FS101 CDG2215 – 2350SFA 319 7

Sfax, Tunisia – Tripoli, Libya
3x weekly service entered operation since early-June 2012

• FS250 SFA2250 – 0025+1TIP 319 135
• FS251 TIP0110 – 0050SFA 319 246

Tunis, Tunisia – Paris CDG, France
Service operates 3x weekly instead of planned daily

• FS104 TUN1555 – 1930CDG 319 35
• FS104 TUN1740 – 2115CDG 319 7
• FS105 CDG1225 – 1355TUN 319 35
• FS105 CDG1510 – 1640TUN 319 7

Routes to be launched in the near future:

• Sfax, Tunisia – Lyon, France: 3x weekly (previously due to start from 7 May 2012)
• Sfax, Tunisia – Nice, France: 2x weekly (previously due to start from 10 May 2012)
• Sfax – Tunis – Casablanca, Morocco: 2x weekly (previously due to start from 22 May 2012)
• Tunis – Lyon 3x weekly (previously due to start 7 May 2012)

Read More Here [Airline Route]

Presently, Syphax Airlines' fleet consists of two Airbus A319s.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): Korongo boosts frequencies/capacity to Kinshasa & Johannesburg.

Lubumbashi-based Congolese carrier Korongo Airlines (ZC) is to increase both capacity and frequency on its routes to Johannesburg, South Africa and Kinshasa, DRC with effect from 1 September 2012.

Korongo Airlines Boeing 737-300 (Pixstel)

Korongo Airlines: Lubumbashi, DRC – Johannesburg, South Africa
-Frequency increases from 2x to 4x weekly

• ZC123 FBM0730 – 0945JNB 733 4
• ZC123 FBM1510 – 1730JNB 733 137
• ZC124 JNB1130 – 1350FBM 733 5
• ZC124 JNB1845 – 2105FBM 733 13
• ZC124 JNB1850 – 2110FBM 733 7

Korongo Airlines: Lubumbashi, DRC – Kinshasa, DRC
-All flights to operate with Boeing 737-300 instead of 3x weekly B737/Bae146.

• ZC101 FBM0730 – 0850FIH 733 137
• ZC105 FBM1655 – 1845FIH 733 256
• ZC102 FIH1020 – 1340FBM 733 137
• ZC106 FIH1945 – 2305FBM 733 256

Read More Here [Airline Route]

Korongo Airlines started operations in April 2012 and is a joint-venture between Brussels Airlines and the Belgian multinational Groupe George Forrest International, with full support from Brussels Airlines' parent company Lufthansa.

Since its inception, Korongo has attempted to carve out a niche for itself in the lucrative, albeit accident and bureaucracy infested quagmire that is the Congolese aviation market. In the past, many foreign based airlines have failed where Korongo is attempting to succeed, the most recent casualty of which was South African Express' Congo subsidiary, Congo Express.

► BURUNDI: Air Burundi gets its first MA-60.

Burundian state carrier, Air Burundi (8Y), has taken delivery of the first of two Chinese Xian MA-60 aircraft both of which will form the foundation for the airline's fleet renewal programme that is being jointly sponsored by the Burundian and Chinese governments.

► NIGERIA: Air Nigeria future in doubt as GECAS repos its 737s.

Global aircraft lessors General Electric Capital Aviation Services, better known in the aviation industry as GECAS, have dealt yet another blow to ailing Nigerian carrier, Air Nigeria (VK) by repossessing the four Boeing 737-300s (5N-VNC, 5N-VND, 5N-VNE and 5N-VNJ) it leased to the airline, over the latter's inability to settle its monthly financial obligations.

In a statement on its website (which has now been offline for over 2 days), Air Nigeria said:

Air Nigeria 737 '5N-VNJ' (Javier R)

"Subsequent to the temporary suspension of Air Nigeria’s regional and domestic flight operations by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), our lessors have been requesting to repossess some of the aircraft in our fleet and we are fully cooperating to return their aircraft. GECAS, one of our lessors, is already in the process of calling back four of their Boeing 737-300 aircraft and Air Nigeria is fully cooperating in line with the Cape Town Convention to expedite the repossession process.

Air Nigeria plans to acquire state-of-the-art aircraft to fill the reduction in capacity and is currently finalizing plans to resume normal flight operations across the regional and domestic routes as soon as possible.

We would also like to inform that the scheduled Lagos – London – Lagos flight operation is not affected by the temporary suspension directive of the NCAA and passengers are therefore encouraged to proceed with their confirmed itinerary while intending customers can make their reservations."

Read More Here [Nigerian Bulletin]

Despite Air Nigeria's claims that its international operation to London Gatwick has been unaffected, it has, however, been forced to indefinitely postpone the start of its vaunted Lagos-Johannesburg route, after it emerged that the embattled airline has been having "difficulty in honouring its agreement with EgyptAir, lessor of Air Nigeria's current A330-200; a second Airbus A330-200 needed to start Johannesburg (SU-GCJ) is still parked at Cairo."

Air Nigeria has persistently denied rumours of financial irregularities and difficulties at the airline, though recent events in the last month or so have not done anything to quell rampant speculation that the carrier is about to tank: a run-in with the Nigerian Federal Inland Revenue Service over unpaid back taxes, and a suspension of regional and domestic services by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority over safety concerns following a major strike by Air Nigeria pilots and engineers over those very concerns and others.

So, how much longer is Jimoh Ibrahim's venture going to last with all this turmoil and uncertainty? Or will we be forced to write an obituary in the weeks (or days) to come..

► SOUTH AFRICA: Emirates again postpones A380's return to Johannesburg over wing crack concerns.

[UPDATE 30 AUGUST 2012] Emirates (EK), the Dubai based megacarrier, reports that repairs to the wings of its fleet of Airbus A380s is likely to cost at least USD$100million and will have far reaching consequences on its operations in the months to come.

Amongst the routes affected include Dubai - Johannesburg, South Africa, originally scheduled to have its A380 service restarted from 1 October onwards, but due to the aforementioned problems, will now only receive them from 1 December 2012.

Emirates Airbus A380 (Emirates)

Emirates: Dubai, UAE - Johannesburg, South Africa

• EK761 DXB0440 – 1050JNB 77W D
• EK763 DXB1015 – 1625JNB 77W D
• EK765 DXB1440 – 2050JNB 77W D

• EK762 JNB1400 – 0010+1DXB 77W D
• EK764 JNB1915 – 0515+1DXB 77W D
• EK766 JNB2220 – 0820+1DXB 77W D

Read More Here [Airline Route]

The cracks issue, discovered earlier this year, resulted from the use of a material known as '7449' that was used in A380 wing rib feet construction. The European Aviation Safety Agency issued an airworthiness directive, extended to all in-service A380s, ordering mandatory inspections of the wing ribs.

►[UPDATE 30 AUGUST 2012] See this post: ► SOUTH AFRICA: Emirates cancels intended A380 service return to Johannesburg.

► NIGERIA: FirstNation flights suspended 'til July; Air Nigeria grounded by NCAA again.

The local civil aviation scene in Nigeria continues to undergo a severe shake up as a consequence of the  Dana Air Flight 9J-997 tragedy.

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe given 90 day IATA reprieve as CAAZ hypocrisy stifles newcomers.

Following our report this week on Air Zimbabwe's pending suspension from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for failing to comply with the Association's stringent Operational Safety Audits (IOSA), so IATA has issued a press statement to the effect that Air Zimbabwe has 90 days to comply with the IOSA criteria or risk losing its membership of the Association.

Mike Higgins, IATA regional vice-president for Africa, said IATA remains committed to developing aviation and aviation safety protocols on the African continent and that it is ready to assist Air Zimbabwe wherever possible in renewing its IOSA certification which will allow it to continue to benefit from financial and other services available to IATA members.

From an outside perspective, it seems like a fairly straight-forward affair - spruce up the MA60s and ageing Boeing 767s & 737s and invite IATA in. Yadayadayada, certificate issued, and problem solved.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that, especially not with quasi-bankrupt Zimbabwean parastatals who may, or may not be operating a fleet of rented Airbus A320s in the hopes of eluding creditors.

A common sight at Harare Airport - nothing. (Bill Whaley)

With an airline whose domestic market share in January 2011, despite having a monopoly on local routes and on the coveted Harare - London cash-cow, was 20,5% that then declined to 15,4% in February, hitting 12,2% in March and finally bottoming out at 0,6% in August, is there any point in even trying to breath life into this already dead brand?

According to the Zimbabwean Government, yes there is.

News reports out of Harare this week have the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ)'s David Chaota stating that new comers Sol Air (ZS) and Phoenix Airlines, both of whom have applied for operating licences for the domestic Zimbabwean market , have not received them because "there is need to meet the International Air Transport Association (IATA) conditions". 

What hypocrisy!

And straight, too, from the horse's mouth. 

Air Zimbabwe lacks a current IATA IOSA Audit certificate, yet is allowed to operate; two local indigenous airline's capable of doing the job but are held back because of Government protectionism for an airline that practically does not exist, and that no one seems interesting in flying on, or investing in.

A tragedy indeed.

► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia to get A330s; aims to become profitable by 2016.

Namibian national carrier Air Namibia (SW) is "to soon get rid of" its ageing Airbus A340s and replace them with newer Airbus A330s in an effort to modernize and thus bring the quality and standards of the airline up to a globally competitive level - along the lines of Dubai-based mega-carrier, Emirates.