■ SOUTH AFRICA: Forensic audit reveals $20million loss for SA Express in FY 2010/2011.

Following a long, painstaking forensic audit, South African Express (SA Express) (XZ) has finally released its 2010/2011 Financial Year results posting a USD20.6million (ZAR187million) loss.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Force takes delivery of first Do-228 Patrol aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics.

The Seychelles Air Force has taken delivery of a Dornier 228 patrol aircraft following a donation from the government of India as agreed to under an agreement signed between the two nations in 2011 in which India would provide a once-off grant of USD28.79 million for the supply of the maritime aircraft.  A further aircraft is due in 2014.

► UNITED KINGDOM: AV Cargo Airlines plans African cargo ops from May onwards.

AV Cargo Airlines, the phoenix that has risen the ashes of Zimbabwe's bankrupt Avient Cargo Airlines (Z3) has introduced the first of three planned additional MD11 freighters (MSN 48746 | N278WA) into its fleet with flights to Africa planned in due course.

► COTE D'IVOIRE: Air France to deploy A380 on Abidjan flights from late 2014?

Air France (AF) is considering deploying its Airbus A380-800 onto its Paris CDG - Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire route from September 2014 onwards, press reports out of the Ivorian capital claim. Should the move come into being, it would be Air France's second A380 destination in Africa after Johannesburg, South Africa.

► KENYA: (Video) Ethiopian successfully resumes 787 ops with flight to Nairobi; Frankfurt to follow.

Boeing's incident plagued aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has successfully resumed operations for Ethiopian Airlines (ET) following the replacement of the aircraft's problematic Li-ion battery; the cause of  the Dreamliner fleet's grounding since mid-January.

► ZAMBIA: Air Namibia acquires 5th Freedom rights to Lusaka - Harare vv. sector from May 1.

Air Namibia (SW) is set to enter the ever competitive Lusaka - Harare market through the granting of 5th freedom rights on the route effective May 1. The schedule is as follows:

►► Happy Birthday to us - The African Aviation Tribune celebrates one year online! ◄◄

Dear All,

Today marks The African Aviation Tribune's first birthday; with nearly 1'500 posts now down in the database, she has come a long way since the very early days when it was simply a matter of cutting and pasting news articles. In terms of readers, in the 12 months The Tribune has been online, we have now developed a strong following in the African airline industry with industry professionals from airlines, MROs and aircraft lessors amongst others forming the crux of our readership.

■ DJIBOUTI: Ethiopian Airlines signs MoU with Djibouti Ambouli International Airport to aide trade facilitation.

Ethiopian Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport regarding the transport of goods using both  sea-air and air-sea means throughout the Horn of Africa. 

► SEYCHELLES: South African Airways, Air Seychelles sign codeshare deal.

Air Seychelles (HM), the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, today announced that it has entered into a codeshare agreement with South African Airways (SAA), the national airline of the Republic of South Africa. The first phase of the agreement will see South African Airways place its “SA” code on Air Seychelles’ non-stop flights between Johannesburg and Seychelles. South African Airways will also place its code on flights between the two largest islands of Seychelles, Mahé and Praslin, subject to approvals.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA delays début bond issuance; warns it will play hardball with Airbus and Boeing in future fleet renewal talks.

South African Airways (SA) is to delay its début USD160million (ZAR1.5 billion) bond sale, originally slated for March, until its chief financier and backer, the South African government, approves the airline’s recently submitted turnaround plan. The turnaround plan will also play a pivotal part in deciding the airline's long term fleet acquisition plans; a bone of serious contention in the recent past.

■ KENYA: Siginon Aviation's new $10million cargo facility at Nairobi JKIA on track for September opening.

Siginon Aviation says its planned USD10million new cargo facility at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is on track for a tentative September 2013 launch. The facility will become JKIA's sixth and will add to its current processing capacity of 200'000 tonnes of cargo annually.

► FRANCE: See Pics of Libyan Airlines' first A330 due for delivery next month!

Libyan Airlines (LN) is set to take delivery of its first of two Airbus A330-200 (MCN 1412 | 5A-LAR) due in the coming weeks. The order is part of a larger deal for four of the aircraft of which the other two are due in Libya in May 2014.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Solenta Aviation takes delivery of its fourth Embraer ERJ145 - now available for charters.

South African aircraft lease and charter specialist, Solenta Aviation, has taken delivery of its fourth Embraer ERJ145LR with the aircraft now available for ACMI or full charter leasing in Africa and the Middle East. With its other three ERJ145s contracted to dedicated Oil clients, Solenta sees the addition of the fourth "as a strategic advantage over our competitors, enabling them to launch the aircraft on charters or long term lease without delay."

■ SOUTH AFRICA: ExecuJet extends Cape Town MRO capabilities to include Q300 support.

ExecuJet Africa, part of the ExecuJet Aviation Group, is expanding the support capabilities at its Cape Town International Airport facility to cover the Bombardier Dash 8-Q300 aircraft, due to growing demand in the region.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: 1Time liquidation to be brought forward as deal with fastjet now more and more unlikely

On the back of  news that fastjet (FN) has entered into a partnership with South African investment firm Blockbuster and Federal Air (7V) with flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town set to start in late May, 1Time's liquidator says he has applied to have the proposed total liquidation date of the airline brought forward.

■ KENYA: Kenya Airways releases its Operations Report for Q4 2012/2013 (January - March).

Kenya Airways (KQ) has released its Operations Report for the Fourth Quarter of 2012/2013; January 1 to 31st March 2013.

■ ZIMBABWE: Government to open up airport services sector through proposed unbundling of CAAZ.

Various airport services in Zimbabwe could soon be opened up to other players following reports from Harare that the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe is to be unbundled into two separate entities in line with the country's National Transport Policy.

► 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.

► RWANDA: Rwandair announces further changes to its Summer 2013 schedule.

AirlineRoute reports that as per the 23APR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Rwandan national carrier, Rwandair (WB), will further revise its planned operation for Summer 2013 season, effective 01JUN13. 

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Lubumbashi Airport to close 3 days a week from May to October as RVA finally upgrades crumbling infrastructure.

Lubumbashi International Airport (also known as Luano International Airport) is to be closed for three days a week between May and October 2013 due to maintenance and upgrading works being done to the airport terminal and runway 07/25.

► SOUTH AFRICA: fastjet to enter South African market under JV with local investment firm; to use FedAir's AOC.

As previously speculated in this post, Tanzanian LCC, fastjet (FN), has indeed struck a deal with South African investment firm, Blockbuster, in which flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town will be operated under Federal Air's (7V) AOC. If all regulatory approval is obtained, flights should début from May 31

► KENYA: fastjet, Don Smith agree to kiss and makeup.

Tanzanian LCC, fastjet (FN), has announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Don Smith, CEO of FiveForty Aviation Limited which trades in Kenya as Fly540, thereby paving the way forward for the two to end a long standing legal battle over payment and licensing agreements in Africa.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian secures lease with ALC for two 777-300ERs due to arrive in mid-2015.

Los Angeles-based Air Lease Corporation has announced the signing of a 12-year lease agreement with Ethiopian Airlines (ET) for two new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in May and June 2015.

► RWANDA: RwandAir signs up for one dual-class Bombardier Q400NG.

Fresh from their latest fleet upgrade, Rwandan national carrier, RwandAir (WB), has announced the signing of a firm purchase agreement with Canada's Bombardier Aerospace for one Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner. The Q400 will be used to replace the airline's current older Dash8-200 used to ply domestic and close regional routes.

► EQUATORIAL GUINEA: (Pics) Punto Azul's first ERJ145 touches down in Malabo - domestic ops to follow.

The first Embraer ERJ145 (MSN 145244 | PR-PSQ) to be operated by National Airways Corporation on behalf of Equato-guinean carrier Punto Azul (ZR), has touched down in Malabo.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Government proceeds with setting up of new national carrier as concerns arise over LAC's liquidation.

Congolese Minister of Transport and Communication, Justin Kalumba, has said previously announced plans for the setting up of a new national carrier to replace LAC - Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (4V), now in liquidation, are at an advanced stage, though there are concerns as to the fate of LAC's property, equipment and staff, who had been promised a renewed future once a new airline was established.

■ TANZANIA: See Rendering for Dar es Salaam's new $170million Terminal III to be built by BAM International.

The Tanzanian Airport Authority has signed a contract worth USD170million with Dutch construction firm, BAM International, for the construction of a new international terminal (Terminal 3) at Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International (JNIA).

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Government planning to merge SAA, Mango, SA Express into one holding company?

South African Airways (SA) and its subsidiaries, Low Cost Carrier Mango (JE), SA Express (XZ) (and possibly SA Airlink (4Z) though no mention is made of it) could be merged into a single holding company according to a leaked SAA communique.

■ SENEGAL: Atoumane Fall, DG of Civil Aviation Authority, fired as a result of the 1900D crash in São Tomé & Principe.

Reports out of Senegal state that Atoumane Fall, the director of the Senegalese Civil Aviation and Meteorology authority, Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM) has been fired as a result, it is claimed, of the recent disappearance, and presumed crash, of a Beechcraft 1900D in the Gulf of Guinea, just off the coast of São Tomé & Principe.

■ NAMIBIA: Air Namibia allegedly tries to back out of A330 deal with Intrepid; Government served with $130million bill.

The Namibian press reports that the Government has been served with a Notice of default following national carrier Air Namibia's (SW) attempt at cancelling a USD130million deal signed last year for two Airbus A330-200s with US-based Intrepid Aviation, a privately held commercial aircraft lessor.

■ DUBAI: Mercator signs up Algeria's Tassili and Ghana's Antrak for its Avantik PSS.

Mercator, the aviation IT solution provider, has signed up Algeria's Tassili Airlines (SF) and Ghana's Antrak Air (4O) to Avantik suite, a Passenger Services System (PSS) aimed at low cost and regional carriers.

■ GAMBIA: Government ratifies BASAs with Kenya, Saudi Arabia.

Gambia's parliament has moved to ratify two Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA); one with Kenya, paving the way for possible Kenya Airways flights (KQ) and the second, with Saudi Arabia.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Gigaba confirms Monwabisi Kalawe as new SAA boss.

Ending weeks of media speculation, South African Airways (SA) has confirmed Monwabisi Kalawe as the new CEO of the airline, replacing interim CEO and Mango boss, Nico Bezuidenhout.

► BURKINA FASO: See Pics of Tunisair's inaugural Ouagadougou flight, agency opening.

Tunisair (TU) held its inaugural flight to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, on the morning of Monday 15 April. Flights will operate three times weekly with an occasional stop in Bamako. The route was meant to have been launched on 30 March.

► FRANCE: Nouvelair Tunisie plans Paris CDG from Djerba, Monastir and Tunis this Summer.

Tunisian private operator Nouvelair Tunisie (BJ), during Summer 2013, is to introduce a scheduled service to Paris CDG, from Djerba, Monastir and Tunis. The carrier operates 3 weekly flights each.

► DENMARK: Royal Air Maroc modifies its Berlin, Copenhagen schedules for May/June.

AirlineRoute writes that Royal Air Maroc (AT), will, from 03MAY13 to 07JUN13, combine its operation to Copenhagen and Berlin. The airline will operate a 1x weekly Casablanca – Copenhagen – Berlin – Casablanca service, and 2 weekly flights in the opposite direction. Both destinations retain 3 weekly flights, on board Boeing 737s

► NIGERIA: Dana Air resumes Port Harcourt flights from next week; confirms plans to acquire a 737.

Troubled Nigerian carrier, Dana Air (9J), has announced plans to resume flights from both Lagos and Abuja to the southern city of Port Harcourt on Monday, April 22, 2013. In addition the airline has reaffirmed plans to acquire B737 aircraft as part of its fleet renewal plans.

► TUNISIA: See Pics of Syphax's first A330 in the paint shop!

Tunisian private airline, Syphax Airlines (FS), has posted the first pictures of its first of two Airbus A330-200s (registry unconfirmed) due to join the airline's fleet in the next few weeks.

► RWANDA: Turkish Airlines Cargo to start dedicated cargo ops to Kigali from mid May.

As part of previously reported plans to enhance its presence in Africa through the opening of an additional 10 stations, Turkish Airlines Cargo (TK), says it will begin once weekly dedicated cargo flights to the Rwandan capital, Kigali, effective 13 May.

■ BRAZIL: Embraer looks to double its presence in Africa over next 20 years though this depends on the Yamassoukoro Decision being implemented.

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, is looking to double the number of its aircraft flying in Africa over the next 20 years, though this will largely depend on the  full implementation of  the Yamoussoukro Decision of 1999, whose objectives include the full-liberalization of the intra-African air transport market, free exercise of  first, second, third, fourth and fifth freedom rights for passenger and freight air services  by eligible airlines and ensuring fair competition on a  non-discriminatory basis while complying with international safety standards. Despite having been given a deadline of 2002 for implementation, the Decision still remains fanciful at best.

► ERITREA: Eritrean Airlines returns its A319 to Bulgaria's BH Air.

Eritrean Airlines (B8) has returned its only has returned their only Airbus A319-100 (MSN 3139 | LZ-AOA) to Bulgarian operator BH Air - Balkan Holidays Air (8H) from whom they leased the aircraft.

► RWANDA: (Pics) Rwandair's first B737-700NG touches down in Kigali.

Rwandair's first B737-700 (MSN: 30717 | 9XR-WJ) has finally arrived in Kigali where it is expected to commence operations between Kigali via Brazzaville and Libreville to Douala as well as to Johannesburg and Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International.

► 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.

► EQUATORIAL GUINEA: CEIBA to take delivery of three 737-800s within the next 12 months; hunting for more 777s.

Equatorial Guinean national carrier, CEIBA Intercontinental, (C2) has confirmed that it will take delivery of three Boeing 737-800 (as reported by us here) within the next 12 months, with plans to add further Boeing 777s to its current one as the fledgling airline begins to spread its proverbial wings.

► CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: World's last operational BAe Andover gets a new lease on life in the CAR (of all places).

Canada's West Wind Aviation (WEW) is set to take delivery of the world's last known operational BAe HS.780 Andover (SET 13 | TL-AEW) with the aircraft already reregistered in the Central African Republic.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: NAC certified to Gold BARS standard by FlightSafety Foundation.

South Africa's  National Airways Corporation has announced it has become the first aircraft operator in the world to receive Gold BARS status from the FlightSafety Foundation following the successful completion of three annual audits.

■ MALAWI: Government planning to build new international airport to replace Blantyre's Chileka.

The Malawian Government has announced plans to construct a new international airport in Blantyre, the country's economic hub, to replace the current Chileka International Airport. The project, amongst others, will form part of the country's ongoing economic recovery plan (ERP).

■ 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.

● ETHIOPIA: IATA boss slams EU Black List as lacking transparency; calls on greater African governmental support for aviation.

During a seminar given in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa today to mark Aviation Day Africa, Tony Tyler, the Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) slammed the EU No-Fly list as "lacking transparency" claiming they did nothing to improve safety as a whole. Tyler instead called on African governments to build stronger partnerships with industry to prioritize and promote aviation policies that will improve safety, develop a more competitive industry cost structure and advance liberalization.