• The African Aviation Tribune •

Thursday, April 11, 2013

■ LIBYA: Libyan Airlines selects OnAir for onboard wifi connectivity for its four A330s, with two due next month.

Libyan carrier, Libyan Airlines, (LN), set to take delivery of its first of four Airbus A330s next month, has selected OnAir to provide on-board internet broadband connectivity. The aircraft will fly on long-haul international routes to Asia and Europe.

Zambia's first LCC, Mukuba Airlines, set to be operate out of the Victoria Falls town of Livingstone, has outlined its intended route network with flights set to range in cost from USD35 to USD50.

The launch of JamboJet, Kenya Airways' (KQ) planned Low Cost Carrier wing, has been pushed back to "sometime later this year", Kenya Airways CEO, Titus Naikuni has said.

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.

RAM - Royal Air Maroc (AT) and Ethiopian Airlines (ET) have joined a growing chorus of carriers servicing the Angolan capital, Luanda, in asking the Instituto Nacional da Aviação Civil (the National Institute of Civil Aviation - INAVIC) to increase their frequencies on the lucrative route.

► SOUTH AFRICA: LAM Mozambique boosts Johannesburg - Maputo, Beira, Tete flights; launches Nampula direct.

Mozambique's flag carrier, LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM), will from 28APR13 expand its Johannesburg operations through the addition of 16 weekly flights from Maputo, Beira, Tete and new route, Nampula.

[UPDATE 10 APRIL] Ethiopian Airlines (ET), from 20 June 2013, is adjusting its planned European operations, which will see changes to its Italy, France and Belgium operations.

Algerian national carrier, Air Algérie (AH), is planning to offer an Oran – Madrid service from 24JUN13 to 18SEP13 though reservations are not, at present, available to general public.

The Ghanaian Parliament has greenlighted the allocation of USD100million needed for the construction of a major international airport in Tamale, capital of the Northern Region. The Ghana Airports Company (GACL), who will ultimately be responsible for the running of the facility once it is open, are still to approve the project's final designs, currently being done by an unnamed Brazilian firm, before construction can begin.

TACV Cabo Verde Airlines (VR) says it has suspended flights to Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, owing to the route's poor returns. The move is effective 3 April.

Air Mauritius (MK) has placed a contract with Airline Services Ltd for the company's new enhanced definition digital video player - the Aerostream XP1. The IFE system has been selected for their Airbus A330 and A340 fleet and installation of an initial 40 units will begin this year.

Philippine Airlines(PR), who are planning to launch flights from Manila to the Brazilian metropolis of São Paulo in early May (the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement pending) could be considering the African hubs of either Johannesburg (possibly Cape Town) or Addis Ababa as a transitory point.

Ghana's Minister of Transport, Dzifa Attivor, has bemoaned Nigeria's inaction in granting Ghanaian airlines rights to operate into Nigerian airports, despite the fact that Nigeria is a signatory to the Yamoussoukro Agreement which concerns the liberalisation of access to air transport markets in Africa (the Yamoussoukro Decision) and which entered into force on 12 August 2000. The Yamoussoukro Decision takes precedence over any multilateral or bilateral agreements on air services between States Parties which are incompatible with the Decision.

■ ETHIOPIA: Deadbeat Chanchangi Airlines given one last chance to repay debt owed to Ethiopian Airlines.

In yet another case of a deadbeat airline failing to pay its dues, Nigeria's Chanchangi Airlines (5B) has been given 30 days to pay Ethiopian Airlines (ET) its debt of USD772'000 for maintenance rendered to an unspecified Chanchangi aircraft (possibly a B727) and engine back in February 2004.

Atlasjet (KK) has announced it is to abandon plans to set up a joint national carrier with the Government of South Sudan. The Turkish carrier originally won a tender in January for a 49% stake in the airline which the Government hopes, will boost its regional presence as well as safety.

Travelport, a provider of critical transaction processing solutions and data to the global travel industry, has announced the launch of a new direct Travelport commercial presence in Kenya, one of Africa’s fastest growing travel markets. In a clear demonstration of its commitment to the region, this new direct operation for travel agents in the country marks the latest milestone in Travelport’s investment strategy in Africa.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has, in the first 8 months of its 2012/2013 Financial Year, generated USD1.35billion (ETB25.1billion) in revenue the Ethiopian Minister of Transport, Diriba Kuma has said.

Confirming our previous post, Air Mauritius (MK) is to start once weekly Mauritius - Beijing flights effective 06 July, while Mauritius - Durban flights, speculated about here, are to resume with a twice weekly service beginning July 5. In addition, Air Mauritius is to discontinue its night time flights from Johannesburg from May 2, though supplementary night flights will be introduced during peak periods to accommodate demand.

Egyptair (MS), during the month of April 2013, is temporarily reducing its Cairo – New York JFK operations, where overall service is being reduced from daily to 5 weekly. A Boeing 777-300ER aircraft operates on this route.

Following on from our previous post, Rwandair (WB) will, according to the 08APR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, adjust a number of its operations from 01JUN13 in preparation for the Summer 2013 season.

The Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority has released its final report on its investigation into the 2008 crash of a Sudan Airways (SD) Airbus A310-300 (MSN: 548 | ST-ATN) at Khartoum International Airport which killed 30 of 214 occupants on board. The Airbus had touched down on Khartoum's runway 36 at 20h26L before longitudinally overrunning the runway by some 200m and bursting into flames on its right side. The report blames the long flaring distance (900 meters from R/W threshold) on a wet slippery runway and various piloting oversights as the primary causes of the crash.

► EGYPT: Air Memphis forced to suspend Tehran flights after just 1 week following sectarian protests.

Just one week after having launched Egypt and Iran's first direct air link in over 30 years, Air Memphis (MHS), the Egyptian charter operator, has been forced to suspend the flights after protests broke out at the Iranian ambassador's residence in Cairo just prior to Saturday's inaugural flight.

[UPDATE 8 APRIL] Angolan flag carrier TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), is to increase its frequencies from its Luanda, Angola hub to Havana, Cuba and Beijing, China effective 31 March.

Kenya Airways (KQ) expansion plans, as outlined in its ambitious 10 year vision, Project Mawingu, could be hampered by a lack of adequately trained personnel, most critically among them, experienced pilots.

Aviation fuel supplier, Air BP is to enter the Tunisian aviation fuel sector through the signing of a Commercial and Technical Service Agreement with the Société Nationale de Distribution des Pétroles (AGIL), Tunisia's national oil distribution company. The agreement, effective immediately, includes service coverage at seven airports in Tunisia including: Tunis Carthage, Djerba, Enfidha, Tozor, Tabarka, Monastir and Sfax.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is reportedly in fresh talks with unnamed international companies regarding the design, construction, vendor finance and management of a proposed four-star (previously 5 star) hotel it wants to build on 40'000sqm of prime real estate in downtown Addis Ababa on the newly revamped African Avenue.

Meridiana Africa Airlines (Uganda) Limited, also known as Air Uganda(U7), has announced the appointment of Cornwell Muleya to the position of CEO. He joins Air Uganda from Kenyan outfit ALS - Aircraft Leasing Services (K4), where he has been CEO for the last 3 years. An Engineer and Chartered Accountant by trade, Mr Muleya spent the early part of his career in audit and financial consulting with Deloitte and PriceWaterHouseCoopers.

Safarilink (F2) has announced the addition of two new routes to its network; the long awaited reverse service from Masai Mara to Laikipia, and an

afternoon service from Laikipia to Wilson, commencing on June 15, 2013. It will operate from 3 airstrips in Masai Mara to Nanyuki, Samburu, Loisaba and Lewa Downs. Mombasa Air Safari (RRV) will also launch flights into the Mara from Nairobi Wilson effective from July.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has suspended its flights to the Central African Republic, effective immediately. CH-Aviation reports that the Kenyan national carrier had previously operated a 3x weekly flight to Bangui with an onward sector to Douala, Cameroon. Flights have been tipped to resume in early July, though this date is still speculative.

► NIGERIA: "United Nigeria": new Nigerian Air Force airline takes delivery of a B737-500.

The Nigerian Air Force could soon venture into the commercial flights sector following the delivery of a Boeing 737-500 (MCN 25791 | NAF916) this week. The revelation was made by the Managing Director of Aeronautical Engineering & Technical Services Ltd (AETSL), Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mamu last week.

Turkish-Somali relations took yet another step forward last week with the completion of a training course in Trabzon, Turkey by Somali air traffic controllers (ATCOs). Two new controllers, Dahir Mohamed Gure and Mohammed Ali Nur, graduated and will be part of a new compliment of ATCOs bound for Mogadishu where works on a renewed terminal at Aden Adde International are underway.

Safarilink Aviation (XLK), the Kenyan regional airline based at Nairobi's Wilson Airport, has announced that from 15 June, owing to lengthy delays in the issuance of visas at Nairobi Wilson Airport, it will only guarantee a connection on its Kilimanjaro - Masai Mara service to arriving passengers who already have a valid visa in their passports.

Rwandan national carrier, RwandAir (WB) has outlined its planned Kigali - Accra and Kigali - Brazzaville - Libreville - Douala services due to launch in June. According to Amadeus, Accra flights will operate 3x weekly via Lagos, Nigeria with Rwandair obtaining 5th Freedom rights between Lagos and Accra. Douala flights will operate 4x weekly.

[UPDATE 7 APRIL] Air Botswana (BP) is to drop its 4x weekly Cape Town - Maun route effective 31 March, just 10 months after its début. The route originally launched with daily flights back in June 2012 and predominantly catered for the leisure market.

Kumasi Airport in Ghana has been closed once more owing to its runway 20 cracking and subsiding. This follows after the airport was closed year in December to allow for repairs to the same runway.

Both LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM), and Air Namibia (SW) have announced changes to their Maputo - Beira - Harare and Windhoek - Harare routes effective 31 March. LAM has now added an extra 3rd weekly service to the

Zimbabwean capital, while Air Namibia operations will now route its Harare flights onwards to Lusaka, Zambia also effective 31 March. Days 1 and 5 will route Windhoek - Lusaka - Harare - Windhoek while Days 3 and 7 will route Windhoek - Harare - Lusaka - Windhoek.

[UPDATE 7 APRIL] Air Namibia (SW) is, according to Amadeus, to axe its Windhoek - Accra (Ghana) flights effective 10 April. In addition, Windhoek to Cape Town, and Windhoek to Johannesburg flights are to be reduced from 3 to 2 a day, with Windhoek to Frankfurt flights being reduced to 4x a week effective immediately.

The Tanzanian Airport Authority (TAA) has allocated more than USD12'000 (TZS20million) for the evaluation of an area at Kisumba Village for the construction of a "modern, spacious airport" to serve Sumbawanga Municipality in Rukwa District, south western Tanzania.

Tope Fagbemi, the controversial Director of Human Resources & Corporate Planning at Nigeria's second largest carrier, AeroContractors (AJ), was on Friday, removed from her position, likely as a concession granted to striking workers whose 3 week long strike ended this past week.

The Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Air-Commodore Kwame Mamphey has been elected to the Chairmanship of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) during the organ's recently ended 23rd Plenary session held in Accra.

► ANGOLA: LAM Mozambique boosts frequencies between Luanda and Maputo.

LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM), Mozambique's national carrier has announced an increase in its frequencies to the Angolan capital Luanda, effective 31 March, with the addition of a third weekly flight on Wednesday.

As a continuation to its already announced tie up with Etihad (EY), Kenya Airways (KQ) is expanding its codeshare operations with the Gulf carrier, which will now see

Etihad's “EY” code appearing on Kenya Airways’ selected service to Gaborone, Botswana as well as various East African cities. In return, Kenya’s “KQ” code is now appearing on selected ETIHAD’s Middle East Service.

Tunisian national carrier, Tunisair (TU), is to launch direct 2x weekly seasonal flights between the Mediterranean coastal city of Monastir and St Petersburg, Russia from 26 April onwards. Flights will operate with an Airbus A320.

In continuation of our previous post regarding TAAG Angolan Airlines (DT)'s new Northern Summer 2013 schedule, the Angolan flag carrier has announced variations to its domestic timetable effective 31 March.

According to the airline’s latest schedule listing, Turkish Airlines Cargo’s Summer 2013 planned operation as follow. The airline did not specify operational aircraft in its schedule listing.

AeroContractor's (AJ) management, on the back of strong government pressure, has directed its recently dismissed staff numbering 600+ to reapply for assessment and possible reemployment. The airline recently resumed partial operations following a 20 day long strike.

The Louis Berger Group Inc., the program manager of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport's (SSRIA) airport expansion project on behalf of Airport Terminal Operations Ltd., a company formed by Airports of Mauritius Limited (AML) and Aéroports de Paris Management, recently celebrated the first commercial test flight - an Air Mauritius flight (MK) - from the New Terminal Building at the airport.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Monday, April 8, 2013

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Thursday, April 4, 2013