• The African Aviation Tribune •

Sunday, January 13, 2013

■ TOGO: Construction works at l’Aéroport Lomé-Tokoin nearing completion.

The upgrading and expansion of the Togolese capital, Lomé's, l’Aéroport International Gnassingbé Eyadèma (AIGE), also known as Lomé-Tokoin Airport, is progressing with work nearing 80% completion. The project, funded by the Chinese Export-Import Bank (ExIm Bank) to the tune of USD150million and using the China Airport Construction Group Corporation (CACC) and WIETEC, aims to transform Lomé into a "sub-regional transport hub."

► RWANDA: RwandAir leases a Dash 8-100 from Kenya's ALS Aircraft Leasing Services.

Rwandan aviation blog, RwandanFlyer, reports that Rwandair (WB) has leased a Bombardier DHC 8-100 (MSN 10 | 5Y-CAU) from Kenya's ALS Aircraft Leasing Services.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says the Kaduna Airport remodelling project, located in the Northen Nigerian state of Kaduna, will be completed in three months. The airport was among the first 11 major domestic Nigerian airports scheduled for remodelling under the Nigerian Government's transformation programme.

[UPDATE 12 JANUARY] Federal Airlines (7V) has announced that, effective February 1, it will cease its Johannesburg ORTIA - Vilanculos, Mozambique route, with the last operational flight on January 31. The flight currently operates daily with an ATR42.

Bureaucratic infighting and legal nit picking are amongst the causes of the Burundian government's ongoing battles to reorganize and in some cases, privatize, its ailing civil aviation industry.

In another promising development following the proposed acquisition of bankrupt South African LCC 1Time (T6) by LCC fastjet (FN), its sister MRO company, Jetworx, has been acquired by the American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC), thereby giving hope to its remaining 200 employees. The deal however, is still subject to approval by Jetworx creditors.

The Mauritanian Civil Aviation Authority - l’Agence Nationale de l’aviation civile (ANAC) - has grounded a Mauritanian Airlines International (L6) Boeing 737-500 (MSN 28469 | 5T-CLA) at its home base, Nouakchott International Airport, following revelations the aircraft had exceeded its maximum permissible flying cycles.

Celestair's Air Uganda (U7) has passed its IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and has had its certificate renewed until 30 September 2013 according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website. The certificate was awarded to Meridiana Africa Airlines Uganda Ltd t/a Air Uganda.

Following on from our previous post, the Comorian government has launched flights using its newly acquired Let 410-UVP20 (D6-NWD), to be used to ply inter island services. The aircraft is understood to be part of greater fleet expansion plans that the Comorian government has, following the crash of an Inter Îles Air (ZXA) Embraer 120ER in November.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines' 787 timetable for Beijing, Frankfurt, Toronto, Washington DC announced.

AirlineRoute reports that as per the 11 January 2013 GDS timetable and inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will continue to tweak its planned Boeing 787 long haul service between now and late-March 2013.

►►► CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Air France suspends Bangui after riots outside French embassy.

[UPDATE 11 JANUARY] As the situation in the Central African Republic continues to deteriorate, so French carrier, Air France (AF), had to cancel its weekly flight to Bangui on 26 December, with the next flight on 2 January 2013, under review.

Liberia's Civil Aviation Authority, along with the Liberian Ministry of Transport, have ordered a safety audit of American airline, Delta Airlines (DL) following a series of flight cancellations and intermittent technical problems. The LCAA has also recommended that Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and government officials not use the American carrier for travel.

► GABON: Air France boosts Libreville frequencies from March 2013.

Following on from bilateral talks between the French and Gabonese governments concluded last year, Air France (AF) will, starting 11 March 2013, progressively increase flights to Libreville, Gabon with the addition of a 6th weekly service between Paris CDG and Libreville, followed by the addition of 7th weekly service from 31 March 2013.

Tanzanian national carrier Air Tanzania (TC) is set to receive a much needed shot in the arm with reports that a consortium led by the Oman-based Al Hayat Development and Investment Company is to invest USD100million (TSH160million) into the struggling airline, with the final Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed "by the end of next week" (January 18).

Nigerian carrier Arik Air (W3) and the new national carrier of the Ivory Coast, Air Cote d’Ivoire(HF), have entered into preliminary discussions over a possible partnership, following the visit this week of Air Cote d’Ivoire boss, General Coulibaly Abdoulaye (retired) and the airline’s Managing Director, Rene Decurey.

AirlineRoute is reporting that effective 31 March 2013, KLM is cancelling its Amsterdam – Khartoum – Addis Ababa route, where it currently operates 3x weekly service using an Airbus A330-200. Reservation for this route is closed and flights being removed from the system. Existing schedule as follows.

► KENYA: Bluebird Aviation Q400 rejects takeoff at high speed, closing Wilson Airport Runway 14/32 for 3 hours.

The Aviation Herald is reporting that a Bombardier Q400 (MSN 4009 | 5Y-VVY) belonging to Kenyan cargo carrier Bluebird Aviation (BBZ) went off Nairobi Wilson Airport's runway 14/32 following a rejected take off yesterday.

[UPDATE 9 JANUARY] South Korean airline Korean Air (KE) is to resume its 2x weekly Airbus A330-300 Seoul Incheon - Cairo, Egypt nonstop flights, which from October 28, will be upgraded to a Boeing 777-200ER.

Tanzanian based LCC fastjet (FN) has revealed its first month's operating figures since taking to the skies in late November 2012, with almost 30'000 passengers carried during the month of December, averaging almost 80% loads factors.

MEX-Moçambique Expresso (MXE), the domestic and regional subsidiary of LAM Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM), is to operate two leased Embraer ERJ145s on behalf of LAM during the first quarter of this year.

► NAMIBIA: See Video & Pics of Air Namibia's new A319's Arrival Ceremony in Windhoek.

Namibia's national carrier, Air Namibia (SW), last week Friday 4 January 2013, took delivery of the first of two Airbus A319s (MSN 5400 | V5-ANN) with the aircraft performing a welcoming fly-past over the city of Windhoek, as well as Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport.

Transavia (TO), the Dutch-based low-cost airline operating as an independent part of the Air France-KLM group, is to launch two new routes to North and West Africa from bases in France. First up is a once weekly service from Lille to Agadir, Morocco beginning 13 April. Then, from May 16 to October 24, 2013, a once weekly Paris Orly - Boa Vista, Cape Verde Islands will start.

Aeroportos de Moçambique (AdM), the company tasked with running Mozambique's major airports, has announced plans to build hotels, restaurants and catering facilities at Maputo International Airport, with the aim of transforming the renovated airport into a world-class facility.

Angolan national carrier, TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), over the period between November 2011 and late 2012, was able to save USD35million (AOA3.5billion) following the successful implementation of its first Green program to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions said the company's CEO, Pimentel Araújo, in his year-end message.

Egytian ACMI & charter specialists, Alexandria Airlines (XH), having taken delivery of their first Boeing 737-300 (MSN 29244 | SU-KHO) in August, are to lease the aircraft to Sudanese scheduled carrier, Marsland Aviation (M7), according to Swiss aviation site, CH-Aviation.

Belgian carrier brussels airlines (SN) has announced various frequency fluctuations on its West and Central African route networks, effective late-February 2013.

► KENYA: Airkenya Express launches flights to Nakuru from Nairobi Wilson Airport.

Kenyan domestic operator, Airkenya Express (P2), has launched flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to Nakuru National Park via Naishi Airstrip effective 21 December. The daily flight departs at midday and also offers a connection from Nakuru into the Maasai Mara.

Effective 16 January 2013, Kenya Airways(KQ) is temporarily adjusting capacity on its Nairobi – Mumbai, India service. Three of the 10 weekly flights (KQ204/205) are to switch from the Boeing 767-300ER to the Boeing 737-700.

►► RÉUNION: Air Austral, Air France announce new flights following passage of Cyclone Dumile.

[UPDATE 6 JANUARY] The passage of tropical Cyclone Dumile over the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Reunion have had their affect on the local aviation industry with Air France (AF) and Air Austral (UU) having to postpone and in some cases, cancel flights. Listed below are the reassigned flights.

South African Airways' (SA) perennial problems with sourcing competitively priced Jet A1 fuel came back to haunt it once more as reports emerge of the carrier receiving an emergency USD64million (ZAR550million) "bank facility" from its sole shareholder, the South African government.

Construction works at Manda Airstrip, located on Manda Island in the Lamu Archipelago in eastern Kenya, are progressing with completion expected in May of this year. The upgraded 2'000m long runway and new terminal will allow tourists to fly directly to Lamu from their respective countries. At present, tourists arriving on international flights have to clear customs and immigration formalities at either Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, or Mombasa, or Malindi before flying into Lamu as a domestic flight.

► CHAD: Tunisair looking to start Ndjamena via Douala amongst other routes?

Tunisair (TU), the Tunisian national carrier, are said to be in the process of finalizing a possible Tunis - Ndjamena (Chad) via Douala (Cameroon) route according to Chadian newspaper reports.

In a presidential decree published on Thursday by state television CRTV, Douala-based carrier Camair-Co (QC) has appointed Chief Operating Officer Matthijs Boertien as the airline's new Chief Executive Officer. He takes over from fellow Dutchman Alex Van Elk whose contract was not renewed on its expiration in July 2012.

[UPDATE 5 JANUARY] On a recent trip to Harare International Airport, we were lucky to spot one of Air Zimbabwe's (UM) two Airbus A320s rumoured to be starting service fairly soon, amongst other juicy tid bits.

► NIGERIA: See Pics of Dana Air's inaugural flight from Lagos to Abuja.

Nigerian carrier Dana Air (9J) today resumed flights with its first route being Abuja-Lagos. The aircraft used was (MSN 53016 | 5N-JAI) which departed as flight 9J 353 at 09h45L with regular passengers, VIPs, journalists, stakeholders in the aviation sector and celebrities, including Nollywood stars, on board. (Note, Dana air's flight tracker shows a previous flight 9J350 from Abuja to Lagos at 07h20L).

The precarious financial situation at TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), is about to bring the company to a difficult juncture as aircrews embarked on a strike Thursday 3 January 2013 over demands for better salaries, life and health insurance, medical aid for both them and their families locally and abroad as well as training of technicians. Pimentel Araújo, the CEO of TAAG, has called for direct talks, an offer spurned by the flight crews union.

Air Namibia (SW) has announced it is to reduce its frequencies to Frankfurt, Germany from daily to 5x weekly over the period 19 January 2013 - 17 March 2013 as a result of reduced demand. The carrier is to drop its Day 2,6 service from Windhoek to Frankfurt and its Day 3,7 services from Frankfurt to Windhoek.

Egyptair (MS) will from 2 June 2013 introduce a 4x weekly Cairo – Toronto service on board Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The Star Alliance member previously planned to launch Toronto service in 2011, but postponed it due to political instability in January 2011.

The African Airlines Association's (AFRAA) has finalized its second bulk Jet A1 fuel tender awards for 2013 with volumes bought increasing to over 1 billion litres, up 300 million litres on 2012, with the number of participating airlines also increasing from 8 to 13 members. The increase in membership comes as the effects of drastically high global oil prices have continued to take their toll on airline's bottom lines, not just in Africa, but the world over.

Tanzanian carrier Air Tanzania (TC) is to resume flights between the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam and Kigoma, the regional capital of western Tanzania with daily Bombardier DHC-8-300 operated flights to start 10 January 2013. Additionally, flights to Mbeya are also tentatively planned for 20 January with Tabora, Mpanda, Arusha, Zanzibar and Mtwara to follow in due course.

Béninois carrier Westair Bénin (WH) has announced plans to expand operations out of its Cotonou base to Dakar, Conakry, Banjul and Lagos having already announced a greatly expanded network and timetable in mid December.

■ NIGERIA: Government to forge ahead with plans to buy 30 aircraft for use by local operators.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced a Nigerian government initiative to buy 30 aircraft as part of its plans to improve viability and safety in the local industry. Funding is to come via the USD1billion (NGN300billion) Aviation Intervention Fund set up by government and disbursed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in conjunction with Bank of Industry (BOI).

More low cost carriers are set to join the Tanzanian aviation scene in the coming year amid reports that Low Cost Carrier, fastjet (FN), has begun to ruffle its first feathers following its launch on 29 November.

Online aviation resource AirlineRoute states that Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is to apply further changes to its planned Boeing 787 operation over the coming three months.

News reports out of Kenya state that bankrupt Kenyan regional operator, Jetlink Express (J0), grounded since November owing to a liquidity crunch, could resume operations by the end of March, if talks with potential investors come through.

Nigerian carrier Dana Air (9J) is to resume flights on Friday, 4 January 2012 using a fleet of five MD83s. Initial operations will resume with Abuja-Lagos with schedules to be announced "in due course".

Algerian carrier, Air Algèrie (AH), in an announcement via its official Facebook page, is to forge ahead with the first stage of its previously announced renewal plan with the carrier said to be negotiating a deal for the purchase of an undisclosed number of Boeing 787-800s, that it hopes to "make concrete very soon." Delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled for 2017.

The Malawian Government is optimistic that the establishment of a new independent airports management company - the Malawi Airports Authority - will provide the country with a unique opportunity to improve its ageing infrastructure.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Friday, January 11, 2013

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Monday, January 7, 2013

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Friday, January 4, 2013

Thursday, January 3, 2013