Equato-Guinean strongman, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, has agreed to arrange the financing and construction of infrastructure at Liberia's sole international airport, Monrovia's Roberts International Airport, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries.
Thales and Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) Company of South Africa have announced the recent signing of contracts including the replacement of the legacy ATNS ATM system with Thales' TopSky-ATC and the installation of Thales 970s Radars at the Wakkerstroom, Potgieterus and Rhodes radar sites. The contract also provides for a support and maintenance agreement for all existing ATNS radar sensors and TopSky-ATC systems.
AG Air, a new Chadian carrier, has taken delivery of a leased B737-300 (MSN 24717 | 4L-IMA) from Georgian Star International.
Air Zimbabwe (UM) has taken re-delivery of its Airbus A320-200 (MCN 630 | Z-WPM) following recent pre-entry-into-service checks carried out at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport.
As per the 23MAY13 GDS timetable/inventory display, Kenya Airways (KQ) is currently displaying service reductions on its Nairobi - Bangkok - Guangzhou route, effective 10FEB14. The airline plans to operate 5 weekly instead of a daily service, however further changes remain possible in the next few months.
In line with its increased flights to former colony Mozambique this summer, Portugal's TAP Portugal (TP) will also increase its weekly frequencies between Lisbon and Luanda, Angola, from daily, to ten times weekly for the period June 8 to September 29. During the period an additional 3 weekly day time flights (ex-Lisbon) will operate.
South African Airways (SA) has expressed interest in commencing flights to Lima, Peru according to Carlos Canales, the head of Peru's National Chamber of Tourism (Cámara Nacional de Turismo del Perú - CANATUR).
US-based Flight Source International, in cooperation with Nigeria’s Avon Heli System West Africa Limited, is planning to establish a helicopter and aircraft MRO hangar facility in Nigeria, Avon CEO, Mr. Ajayi Aremu, has said.
Uganda's Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has contracted Arch Design Architects & Engineers to redesign the entire departure area of Entebbe International Airport as part of plans to improve the airport and its ageing facilities.
On Monday, May 20, two Arik Air (W3) air hostesses were apprehended by UK Border officials at London Heathrow Airport from Lagos, Nigeria after they were found in possession of six kilograms of cocaine with a street value of about GBP600'000 in addition to 60 cartons of cigarettes.
thiopian Airlines' West African subsidiary, ASKY Airlines (KP), is set to commence flights to Bissau, the capital of Guinea Bissau, from July 15 following the signing of an agreement between the Bissau-Guinean civil aviation authority (Agência da Aviação Civil da Guiné-Bissau - AACGB) and ASKY officials.
Following an audit conducted between January 27-31 of this year, TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), the Angolan national carrier, has had its IATA Operational Safety Audity certificate renewed until May 22, 2015, TAAG Quality director, Joaquim Fortes, has announced.
The local government of Nigeria's Akwa Ibom State has approached various international firms among them Canadian aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik, over the possibility of them partnering the government in its project to build and operate an MRO Hangar facility at Uyo's new Ibom International Airport, currently under construction. A new regional carrier, Ibom Airlines, is also planned.
Malawi's presidential jet, a 15-year-old Dassault Falcon 900-EX (MSN 38 | 7Q-ONE), has been sold to Bohnox Enterprises of the British Virgin Islands for USD15million .
Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Engineer Wael El-Maadawy, has announced the impending launch of an international tender for the lease of Cairo Terminal 1's Hall "4"; a facility dedicated to private and executive jet services.
On Thursday 16 May, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) аnd Mozambique signed a bilateral air services agreement; the culmination οf more than seven years οf negotiations аnd consultations. Thе treaty was signed bу UAE’s minister fοr nation Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri and Mozambique’s Transport minister, Paulo Zucula.
Following the conclusion of a revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Egypt, Turkish Airlines (TK), will from 15JUN13, increases its Istanbul Ataturk – Cairo services, where it’ll operate 21 weekly flights. The Star Alliance member currently operates 17 weekly flights. Additionally, Alexandria will be boosted to daily effective 13JUN..
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has announced that it is increasing its sales and marketing efforts in Europe and Africa with the June opening of a sales and design center in London and the appointment of company-authorized independent sales representatives in the United Kingdom, central Europe, Turkey and Nigeria.
Comorian carrier, Inter Îles Air (ZXA), has resumed services with a Saab 340. The airline had suspended operations following the crash of its Embraer 120ER (MSN: 120-149 | D6-HUA) off the coast of Hahaya, Grande Comore on November 27, 2012.
The State of Qatar, through the Qatari Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), has announced the signing of various bilateral air service-related agreements and memoranda with various African countries over the past month. Agreements and Memoranda include: a finalized bilateral air services agreement (BASA) with Burundi that had previously been only initialled back in March 2010; a memorandum of understanding with Tunisia regarding its planned Open Skies treaty, a finalized Open Skies deal with Chad and an MoU pertaining to a BASA with Egypt.
[UPDATE 21 MAY] Jordanian operator, Royal Jordanian (RJ) is to venture into West Africa beginning late-June 2013 through the introduction of of a twice weekly Amman - Lagos - Accra set to be operated with an Airbus A330-200.
The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) has announced at EBACE 2013, that JETNET, an international data and analysis company for commercial and business aircraft worldwide, has become its 20th Founding Member.
Fresh from the recent launch of flights to Adado, Kismayo and Baidoa, Somalia carrier Jubba Airways (6J), says it intends to launch direct Mogadishu - Dubai flights with effect from late June, though timetable checks reveal a potential July 1 launch.
The first phase of renovation works at Nosy Be's Fascene Airport, a leading tourist destination on the island of Madagascar, has been completed. While it is still subject to regulatory approvals, the airport, in addition to its newly lengthened runway, can now accommodate large aircraft such as the A340 or B777. A second phase of work in the long term should see it capable of handling the A380, authorities claim.
Algerian national carrier, Air Algérie (AH), has hinted at possible dates for its planned new routes to Johannesburg, Amsterdam and Sao Paulo. The new destinations are part of the airline's reorientation plans which will see it transform Algiers into an international hub.
Following a record USD50million (MAD499million) net loss posted in 2011 which necessitated a USD193million capital injection by the Moroccan government, Royal Air Maroc (AT), says it has generated an operating profit of USD83million (MAD718million) for its most recent 2012 Financial Year with turnover for the year rising 7% to USD1.6billion (EUR1.25billion).
[UPDATE 20 MAY] Employees of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) affiliated to the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), are to proceed with a strike beginning Monday 20 May at 00h01. The walkout has come about as result of an ongoing wage dispute with the organization's management.
Nigeria's AeroContractors (AJ) have announced Monday, May 27 as the date for its planned inaugural Lagos - Douala, Cameroon flights, its second international route after Accra, Ghana. According to the carrier, the flights will operate three times weekly.
South Africa's National Airways Corporation (NAC) has announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares held in Placo, South Africa's Piper dealership, from Jeffery A Earle and Laurence M Nestadt.
Kenyan-based
South Sudanese specialists, Imatong Airlines, are to resume charter
operations out of the Sudanese capital, Juba, from July 1, the carrier
has confirmed to The African Aviation Tribune.
Nigerian carrier First Nation Airways (FRN) is to tentatively resume operations with the announcement of three times daily flights between Lagos and Abuja. It is understood that the airline's two Airbus A319s, on lease from the ILFC and due in Lagos in the near future, will be used to service the route.
As from 17JUN, Air Malta (KM), will launch a new scheduled service to Algeria’s capital, Algiers. The Maltese National Airline will operate two weekly flights every Monday and Thursday and expects to carry 6,000 passengers this summer.
A new potential buyer for bankrupt LCC 1Time (T4), has emerged in the form of PAKAfrica Aviation, a Pakistani aviation group, who have pitched USD1.6million (ZAR15million) for a "controlling stake" in South African firm, 1Time Holdings, owners of the LCC along with its MRO wing, JetWorx.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has announced that Mr Bongani Maseko and Ms Maureen Manyama-Matome have been appointed Managing Director and Financial Director, respectively. Cabinet approved the appointment of Mr Maseko on Wednesday, 15 May 2013.
Proflight Zambia (P0) successfully deployed its B737-200ADV (MCN 23472 | ZS-SMD), leased from South Africa's Star Air (BRH), into active service on May 15 with its first revenue flight being Lusaka to Livingstone.
ExecuJet Africa’s Maintenance Repair Organisation (MRO) facility at Mohammed Murtala International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, has completed a first base maintenance check on a Hawker 800XP aircraft amidst high demand for the service. The Lagos MRO, an authorised service facility for Bombardier and Hawker Beechcraft, has additional aircraft due in for scheduled base maintenance checks, including another Hawker 800XP and a Bombardier Global Express.
Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ), has this month increased its frequencies on its Amman – Algiers route through the addition of a 4th weekly service. The new service operates on Tuesdays.
The Aviation Herald writes that on May 12, a Brussels Airlines Airbus A330-200, (MSN 229 | OO-SFY), operating as flight SN465 from Entebbe to Brussels suffered compressor stalls after take off from Entebbe and was forced to return to the Ugandan airport shortly after.
South African Airways (SA) claims the downstream economic benefit of its Group operations over the next twenty years will total USD107billion (ZAR1trillion), Acting Chairperson, Ms Duduzile Myeni, has said. The estimate is based on direct and indirect growth in direct and downstream employment creation with a forecast of 88'000 South African jobs across on aggregate through all sectors including tourism, foreign direct investments, goods and services.
South African Airways Cargo, and air cargo in general in South Africa, is suffering at the hands of a buoyant East African economy, a weak South African Rand and an influx of foreign carriers to countries that were, in the past, reliant on a Johannesburg hub for their international exports.
The Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) has issued a tender for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Messla Airport (27°58'29''N, 22°21'30''E) situated 500 km southeast of Benghazi along the Egyptian border. The Messla field was discovered in 1971 and is considered one of the biggest oil fields in the Libyan Sirte basin.
South Africa's Solenta Aviation has recently been awarded GOLD status by the Flight Safety Foundation after holding GREEN status for 3 consecutive years, becoming just the third company in the world to achieve such Safety and Quality recognition. In addition, the operator has announced the acquisition of a stake in CFA Mozambique SA which has now been renamed Solenta Aviation Mozambique.
As previously speculated by The African Aviation Tribune, fastjet (FN), has indeed announced a postponement in its planned South African venture with flights now set to commence from July 1, the carrier's chief commercial officer, Richard Bodin, has said.