■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines shoots down Kenya Airways mega-merger idea as SAA now sets sights on dominating the African market.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has, for want of a better term, "shot down" a proposal by Kenya Airways' (KQ) outgoing CEO Titus Naikuni regarding a possible mega-merger between Ethiopian, Kenya Airways and South African Airways, as being impractical.

■ ALGERIA: Air Algérie renews IOSA certificate; successfully concludes SAFA inspections with EU.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has renewed Algerian national airline Air Algérie's (AH) IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certificate for a further two years, the carrier said in a statement.

► SOUTH SUDAN: Denim Air ACMI to base a Fokker 50 out of Juba for 2013.

Dutch ACMI specialists Denim Air (3D) have confirmed via Twitter that it is to base a single Fokker 50 (MSN 20239 | PH-JXN) in Juba, South Sudan for the duration of 2013 in support of United Nations & World Food Program work currently ongoing in the country.

► EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Cronos Airlines leasing MD87 from DAT.

Swiss aviation newswire CH-Aviation reports that Equato-Guinean carrier Cronos Airlines (C8) has wet-leased a McDonnell Douglas MD87  (MSN 49403 | OY-JRU) from DAT - Danish Air Transport.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles boosts Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg, Mauritius flights from Spring 2013.

Air Seychelles (HM) has announced various changes to come into effect from 24 March 2013, in time for Northern Summer 2013. Amongst the changes are increased frequencies on its existing international routes, which will see an overall operation increment from 8 weekly to 14 weekly. 

■ ZAMBIA: Ethiopian outlines its fleet plans for new Zambian subsidiary, set to launch in late 2013.

Ethiopian Airlines' (ET) CEO Tewolde Gebremariam has outlined the carrier's planned start-up in Zambia, set to begin ops in late 2013. At first glance, the airline's fleet will bare strong similarities to the carrier's West African subsidiary, ASKY Airlines (KP), in which Ethiopian Airlines currently has a 40% shareholding.

■ ANGOLA: Construction of new M'banza-Kongo airport to begin in Q1 2013.

Construction of the new airport for the city of M'banza-Kongo (Zaire Province), Angola will begin after February 2013. The 800hectare site, situated in N’kiende II, 32 kilometres outside the city centre, is currently being cleared of land mines.

■ EGYPT: Egyptair Express to be liquidated, with E170 fleet returned to Egyptair on the back of poor finances.

According to Egyptian paper, Ahram, EgyptAir Express (MSE) is to be reintegrated into its parent company, Egyptair (MS), six years after it was launched to offer passengers increased frequencies on domestic and thin international routes, such as Cairo-Budapest.

 

► NIGERIA: KLM, Air France announce capacity changes on Nigeria routes for 2013.

KLM Dutch Airlines (KL) and Air France (AF) have announced various changes to their Nigerian operations for 2013. Effective 31 March 2013, Air France is to boost capacity on its Abuja/Port Harcourt route while for the duration of June, KLM is to reduce capacity on its Lagos flights.

► SPAIN: Ethiopian to start Madrid via Rome from June 2013.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) are to start flights to Madrid, Spain via Rome, Italy starting 15 June 2013 with a 3x weekly Boeing 757 service. Consequently, Ethiopian's overall Rome service will increase from 8x to 11x weekly (Northbound, 10 on Southbound).

► COTE D'IVOIRE: ASKY Airlines to launch direct Lagos - Abidjan flights from next week.

ASKY Airlines (KP) will next week launch 3x weekly flights between the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, and the Nigerian city of Lagos using their recently delivered Bombardier Q400 aircraft. 

■ ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe renews membership of Galileo, Sabre and Amadeus as IATA Safety Audit is slated for next week.

Air Zimbabwe (UM), now back in the air for almost 1 month, are clawing their way back onto the regional market, with news that they have renewed their memberships with CRSs  Galileo, Amadeus, Sabre and Travel Sky from whom they were suspended in May 2011 following non payment of fees.

► TURKEY: Egyptair increases Istanbul from 14x to 17x weekly from January 2013.

Egyptian national carrier, EgyptAir (MS), from 16 January 2013, will increase its frequency between Cairo and Istanbul, Turkey, from 14x to 17x weekly.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: 1Time liquidators seek deadline deferment to February 2013 as talks with fastjet go on.

Liquidators for defunct South African LCC 1Time (T6) today applied for a postponement of the deadline for the final liquidation of the airline, as talks with fastjet (FN) continue. The recently launched Tanzania-based LCC confirmed last week that it was in negotiations with the management, directors and provisional liquidator of 1Time (T6) over a possible buy out which would eventually pave the way for a fastjet entry into the South African market.

► CHINA: Kenya Airways signs codeshare deal with China Eastern Airlines.

China Eastern Airlines (MU), China's second biggest carrier by market value, and Kenya Airways (KQ), the flag carrier of Kenya, have signed a code.share deal which will see cooperation on MU's China - Thailand route and KQ's Thailand - Kenya routes, effective 1 December 2012.

► COTE D'IVOIRE: Air Cote d'Ivoire to add an Embraer E170 as further routes in West Africa are announced.

According to Airline Route, the Ivory Coast's new national carrier, Air Côte d’Ivoire (HF), is set to receive an Embraer E170 to add to its two Airbus A319s, as the airline seeks to expand its operations.

■ GUINEA: Etihad Airways to serve Conakry via codeshare with Royal Air Maroc.

Etihad Airways (EY), the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has announced it will establish air links between the UAE and Guinea, in West Africa, by extending its existing code-share agreement with Moroccan national airline, Royal Air Maroc (AT).

► GAMBIA: Gambia Bird takes delivery of second Airbus A319; prepares to expand network.

Gambia Bird (3G) has announced the delivery of a second Airbus A319 (MSN 4691 | D-ASTB) as the fledgling carrier prepares to expand its network with the launch of flights to Abidjan, Abuja, Bamako, Douala and Ouagadougou.

► SINGAPORE: Air Mauritius maintains Singapore service from late January 2013.

According to Airline Route, Air Mauritius (MK) will maintain its 1x weekly service to Singapore on/after 21 January 2013. The flight currently operates with an Airbus A330-200.

■ NIGERIA: AeroContractors appoints Ibru as Interim MD after Akin George resigns.

Captain Akin George, the Managing Director of Nigeria's second largest domestic airline, Aero Contractors (AJ), has announced his resignation following a restructuring exercise undertaken by the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Denel Aviation to retrench 523 as SAAF confirms contract will not be renewed.

523 aircraft maintenance specialists at Denel Aviation’s Aero Manpower Group, the MRO division of the South Africa's government-backed Denel Corporation, are to be retrenched as a result of the South African Air Force (SAAF) deciding against renewing its contract with the firm, set to lapse next year.

► CHINA: Ethiopian Airlines modifies its planned Boeing 787 China Service in Dec 2012/Jan 2013.

According to the 10 December 2012 GDS timetable and inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is postponing its planned Boeing 787 ops to China from 16 December 2012 to 31 January 2013. 

 

► ZAMBIA: DC9 crash landing this morning was just a simulation: AFP

Those of you who follow us on Twitter will have been aware this morning of an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report coming from Lusaka, Zambia of a crash landing of a DC 9 (and in some cases, a DC 10 was even reported) with 93 people aboard at Lusaka International. It was even tweeted that "some 20 people had been rescued".

► SUDAN: Gulf Air reduces Khartoum flights from late January 2013.

Bahraini carrier Gulf Air (GF) has announced that, with effect from 21 January 2013, it will reduce its frequencies to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum from 11x to 7x weekly.

► CHINA: See Pics of Eritrean startup Massawa Airways' first MA60's delivery ceremony in Xi'an.

Eritrean startup Massawa Airways, on 29 November, officially took delivery of its first Chinese manufactured MA60 (TBD10 | E3-AAV). 

► DUBAI: Afriqiyah to launch 2x weekly Benghazi, Tripoli - Dubai flights from 20 December.

According to their official Twitter account, Libyan airline Afriqiyah (8U) has announced that its inaugural flight to Dubai will operate from both Benghazi and Tripoli twice weekly using an Airbus A330-200.

► GABON: DHL awards Solinair logistics contract for Nigeria, Cameroon, Equat'l Guinea ops.

The South African division of DHL Aviation has awarded Ljubljana-based Slovenian airline Solinair (SOP) a wet-lease contract for cargo operations using its lone B737-4K5F (MSN 24128 | S5-ABV) . 

► CAMEROON: Camair-Co considering either Embraer EJets or Bombardier CSeries for mid range fleet; to add a possible third 787?

Alex Van Elk, the CEO of Cameroonian national carrier Camair-Co (QC), says the airline is considering either Embraer E-Jets or Bombardier's upcoming CSeries for its mid-range fleet, with an extra Boeing 787-8 to be added to its shopping list.

► TANZANIA: See Pics of Turkish Airlines inaugural Kilimanjaro route launch.

Turkish national carrier, Turkish Airlines (TK), added Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and Mombasa, Kenya to its growing global network last week 5 December, when the first of its 5x weekly Boeing 737-900ER operated flights, touched down.

► SENEGAL: ASKY Airlines to start Lomé - Dakar via Bamako from mid December.

Lomé, Togo based operator ASKY Airlines (KP), Ethiopian Airlines' subsidiary in West Africa, will from 18 December 2012, commence three times weekly Lomé - Bamako (Mali) - Dakar (Senegal) flights, to be operated with a Boeing 737-700.

► MOZAMBIQUE: Kaya Airlines launches Inhaca Island, Machangulo and Zongoene flights.

According to the Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM), Mozambican private carrier Kaya Airlines (IK) has announced the launch of flights to the resorts of Inhaca Island, Machangulo and Zongoene, likely out of its Maputo hub.

■ CANADA: South African Airways, Air Canada sign code share deal.

South African Airways (SA) has signed a reciprocal code-share agreement with fellow Star Alliance member, Air Canada (AC), effective 13 December 2012.

■ EU BLACK LIST: Mozambique, Madagascar lay more blame on the "operating environment" as opposed to individual airline's safety shortcomings.

Following the announcement by the European Commission on Wednesday on its updated Carrier Black List, Mozambique, Mauritania and Madagascar's press have responded to the news in varying ways, with the Mozambican press and Air Madagascar claiming that the Ban is not so much about their airline's respective safety records, but more about the general status quo of aviation and aviation safety in their countries.

■ EGYPT: Snake bites passenger on Egyptair flight to Kuwait; forced diversion to Hurghada.

A Jordanian man, who had smuggled a snake aboard Egyptair (MS) flight MS610 from Cairo (Egypt) to Kuwait City (Kuwait) with 91 passengers, was bitten by the reptile after it managed to escape the bag he was carrying it in.

■ SENEGAL: Project to twin Casablanca and Dakar as regional cargo hubs progresses.

A project aimed at streamlining trade relations and partnerships between Morocco and Senegal could soon become a reality. A project, initiated by the Moroccan Airports Authority (Office National Des Aéroports (ONDA)) that could see Dakar Senegal becoming a possible cargo feeder hub to Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport, is at last, moving forward, with an outline of the project now on the table.

■ MALAWI: Strike by DCA workers at Lilongwe's Kamuzu Int'l Airport causes serious delays, disruptions.

Ground-handling staff at Lilongwe's Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) have, since Monday, abandoned their night shifts at the airport, amidst other industrial action, in protest at unpaid overtime allowances that they claim "date back years."

► ITALY: Egyptair increases Rome frequency from Spring 2013.

Egyptair (MS) will from 31 March 2013, increase frequencies on its Cairo – Rome Fiumicino route, with overall service to rise from 11x to 14x weekly. The service increase comes with the afternoon departure.

■ ETHIOPIA: See Pics of the new Passenger Terminal at Jigjiga Airport inaugurated in late November.

After more than three and a half years under construction and costing USD3.76million (ETB68.4million), the new passenger terminal at Jigjiga's "Garad Wilwal" Airport, Somali Regional National State, was finally inaugurated on 24 November 2012 by SRNS President, Abdi Omer Mohammed. The airport falls under the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise's jurisdiction.

► MOZAMBIQUE: BA Comair to start Johannesburg ORTIA - Maputo flights from May 2013.

Comair Ltd has confirmed that its British Airways franchise will start daily return flights with a double daily service on Tuesdays and Saturdays between Johannesburg ORTIA and Maputo, Mozambique from 4 May 2013 using a Boeing 737-400. Bookings are now open.

► RWANDA: RwandAir announces modifications to its NW 2012/2013 schedule.

Rwandair (WB) has implemented various modifications to its operations following the launch of its 2012/13 Northern Winter season schedule on 28 October 2012. 

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Wreckage of missing SAAF C47 found in the Drakensburg; 11 dead.

The wreckage of a South African National Defence Force C47TP Dakota (the military version of a DC3) belonging to 35Squadron, that went missing in heavy weather on Wednesday near Nelson Mandela’s home town of Qunu, en route from Pretoria's Waterkloof Air Force Base to Mthatha, Eastern Cape, has been found in the Drakensburg Mountain range near Ladysmith, with no survivors aboard.

■ NIGERIA: Dana Air, Skyjet Aviation awarded AOCs by Civil Aviation Authority.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Wednesday, issued new Air Operator's Certificates (AOC) to Dana Air (9J) and Kaduna-based Skyjet Aviation. 

 

■ BELGIUM: EU removes Mauritania from Ban List; adds all Eritrean registered carriers. Libya voluntarily retains restrictions on Libyan registered carriers.

The European Commission has announced the 20th Revised Update to its Banned Operators Air List which has seen some "promotions" and "demotions" for African airlines as a whole. All operators from Mauritania have been removed from the Ban List. Air Madagascar (MD) is still only allowed to operate into the EU albeit under strict conditions (as per the previous No Fly List). All Rwandan carriers have been removed from the list. Libya has agreed to maintain the voluntary restrictions applicable to all air carriers licensed in Libya whilst an operating ban on all air carriers certified in Eritrea has been imposed.

 

► KENYA: Freedom Airline Express set to receive second Embraer 120ER Brasilia.

Kenyan air charter and scheduled ops company, Freedom Airline Express Ltd, is set to receive a second Embraer 120ER Brasilia (MSN 247 | 5Y- ?) as it seeks to expand its operations.

► GUINEA: Eagle Air to get a second Let 410.

Eagle Air (EGR), the Guinean charter flight specialist, is set to receive its second Let 410 (MSN  871816 | 3X-GHP) according to German site Skyliner.de

■ NIGERIA: Dana Air claims lack of correct paperwork submissions as cause for delayed payments to flight 9J-997's victims' families.

Grounded Nigerian carrier Dana Air (9J) has issued a response to recent reports in the Nigerian press claiming that Dana Air and its insurers had refused to pay statutory compensation to the families of victims of the Dana Air 9J-997 tragedy in Lagos in June.

■ ALGERIA: Swissport awarded ground-handling contract for Oran airport.

Swissport Algeria, a division of Swissport International, a global provider of airport ground services, has been awarded a 5-year ground handling licence for Oran International Airport (Ahmed Ben Bella), Algeria by the Etablissement de Gestion des Services Aéroportuaires d’Oran (EGSA Oran) Tender Commission.