► LIBERIA: AV Cargo Airlines adds Monrovia; boosts Bamako flights.

Effective immediately, AV Cargo Airlines (Z3) has announced an increase in the frequency of flights to Bamako, Mali while at the same time, added Monrovia, Liberia as a new destination on its West African network. Flights will be operated out of the carrier's Liege hub using an MD11F.

■ ALGERIA: Ethiopia, Algeria agree to set up Business Chamber; discuss possible air links.

Algeria and Ethiopia on Sunday June 30, signed a Declaration on Strategic Partnership aiming at boosting their existing, if currently tepid, bilateral relations. Under the declaration, thecountries will cooperate in various fields, namely health, cultural and economic, while an Algerian-Ethiopian Business Council will be set up to promote economic cooperation between the two countries. As a direct result, the possibility of establishing an air route between the two countries was also discussed.

► CANADA: Tunisair planning to codeshare with Libyan Airlines on flights to Canada in 2014?

While awaiting the delivery of its first three A330-200s, Tunisair (TU) director general, Mr Rabah Jrad, says his airline plans to enter into a codeshare deal with Libyan Airlines (LN) on long haul routes to Canada.

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe mulling either the A330/777 for future long haul ops.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) is reportedly mulling leasing either the Airbus A330 or the Boeing 777 as a long haul replacement for its ageing pair of 767s, one of which, (MSN 24867 | Z-WPF), is reportedly undergoing a C-Check set to last 10-months. The other, (MSN 24713 | Z-WPE), is still serviceable though with the advent of the A320 on the airline's Harare - Johannesburg route, it has been parked and is now kept on standby for VVIP (i.e Presidential flights), charters and as a back up. Once refurbished, the aircraft should be deployed on London flights in November.

► ABU DHABI: Etihad announces additions to its SAA, Kenya Airways codesharing.

Abu Dhabi-based carrier, Etihad (EY) has outlined further changes to its previously announced codeshare agreements with South African Airways (SA) and Kenya Airways (KQ). The additions are set to come into effect from July 1.

■ ETHIOPIA: US ExIm Bank okays $130million in financing to Ethiopian Airlines.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has authorized nearly USD130million in financing to support the export of General Electric-powered, Boeing long-range aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines (ET).

► SOUTH AFRICA: Mango to lease two 737-800s from Safair before year end.

South African LCC, Mango (JE), the sister carrier to South African Airways, plans to lease two 737-800s from ACMI specialists, Safair (FA), before the end of the year, CEO Nico Bezuidenhout has said. Mango currently operates six B737-800s and a sole B737-300.

► NIGERIA: Arik Air to take delivery of two A330s this month; plans daily JFK flights from October.

Nigeria's largest carrier, Arik Air (W3), is poised to spread its wings further both regionally and internationally with plans to at long last, take delivery of two A330-200s on lease from Irish aviation specialists, Pembroke Group, later in the month.

■ NIGER: UAE, Niger sign Open Skies agreement.

At a ceremony held in the United Arab Emirates recently, the UAE, represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), signed an open skies agreement with the government of the Niger, bringing to 122 the number of fully liberal air service agreements the Gulf nation has with countries around the world.

■ ETHIOPIA: ECAA refuses to renew 19 carriers' operating licences on grounds of inactivity.

The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA), the Ethiopian authority in-charge of regulating the local airline industry, has refused to renew the operating licences of 19 out of 31 private domestic operators and aviation-related businesses on the grounds that the companies have yet to launch operations of any form.

► RWANDA: Rwandair still eyes 17+ aircraft by 2015 with plans to further boost African coverage this year.

On the occasion of his airline taking delivery of its second B737-700 (MSN 30726 | 9XR-WK) on Friday 28 June, RwandAir's (WB) maverick CEO, John Mirenge, says he still plans to increase the fleet to at least seventeen aircraft by 2015 with plans to add "several African, Asian and Latin American countries" to its network.

► GUINEA: Emirates to add 4x weekly Conakry from late October.

Emirates (EK) will from October 27 incorporate a stop in Conakry, Guinea on its 4x weekly Dubai to Dakar, Senegal route. The service currently operates with an Airbus A340-300. The addition of Conakry takes the number of Emirates destinations in Africa to 24. A global producer of bauxite (aluminium ore), Guinea is fast attracting attention from international carriers aiming to tap into the country's growing premium-class market.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Rwandair, FirstNation Airways, GEASA Guinea Ecuatorial Airlines, Libyan Airlines, Senegalese Air Force, Dana Air.

The following is a fleet update bulletin for aircraft that are in use, have been in use or will be in use for these listed airlines: FirstNation Airways Nigeria (FRN), Libyan Airlines (LN), Rwandair (WB), GEASA Guinea Ecuatorial, the Senegalese Air Force, Dana Air Nigeria (9J).

► LIBYA: Egyptair Express to go 4x weekly Alexandria - Benghazi from July.

Egyptair Express (MSE) are to launch four weekly flights between Benghazi, Libya and Alexandria with effect from July 2. The flights will operate using an Embraer E170.

■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles outsources some of its accounting needs to Accelya Kale.

Air Seychelles (HM), the national carrier of Seychelles, has selected Accelya Kale Solutions Limited, part of the Accelya Group,  to handle the outsourcing of its Passenger Revenue Accounting, Cargo Revenue Accounting, Airmail Revenue Accounting and Miscellaneous (Non-Transport) Billing to Accelya Kale. The transactions are being processed on Accelya Kale’s proprietary platforms – REVERA and FinesseMBS.

■ MOZAMBIQUE: Carlos Jeque elected Chairman of the Board at LAM.

Reports via Radio Mozambique state that during a General Meeting of Mozambique’s publicly owned national carrier, LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM) held yesterday in Maputo, Mr Carlos Jeque was appointed to the chairmanship of the board of Directors.

■ KENYA: Kenya Airways renegotiates its MRO contracts in bid to cut costs.

Fresh from announcing its latest Financial Year results which entailed a USD92million loss, Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced further cost cutting measures aimed at returning the struggling carrier to the black within the next two years with news that it has renegotiated its aircraft MRO (Maintenance Repair Overhaul) contracts to its benefit.

■ TUNISIA: European Union, Tunisia set to conclude latest round of talks on Open Skies agreement.

Negotiations between Tunisia and the European Union (EU) regarding a possible Open Skies agreement are set to come to an end today amid reports that Tunisia's Minister of Transport, Abdelkrim Harouni, believes that national carrier, Tunisair (TU), was no longer in any dangerand could hold its own in an open market. Open skies is an air transport liberalization scheme in which any barriers of entry to participant countries’ airlines are reciprocally lifted as well as regulations on all forms of air transportation – cargo or passenger – within their sovereign borders. 

► DUBAI: Emirates to deploy A340 to Lusaka/Harare, 777-300ER to Cape Town from September.

Emirates (EK) will from 1 September switch the operational aircraft currently deployed on its Dubai to Cape Town and Dubai to Harare via Lusaka flights. According to AirlineRoute, Harare/Lusaka will switch from the current 777-300ER to the Airbus A340-300 while Cape Town will see flights EK772/773 switch from the A340-300 to a 777-300ER. 

■ SOUTH SUDAN: First batch of SSCAA managers undergo training in Turkey.

Turkey has once more extended its hand to help develop the fledgling civil aviation bodies of nation states in the Horn of Africa, this time with a security training programme aimed at managers from the South Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority - SSCAA. The SSCAA was born in February this year.

■ NIGERIA: Abuja finalizes plans for new carrier "Nigeria One" as Aer Lingus refutes claims of leasing deal with government.

The Nigerian Government , through its Aviation Ministry, has now completed plans to float a new national carrier to be named Nigeria One (not National One as previously reported).

■ THAILAND: Mozambique, Thailand hold talks on improving cooperation in civil aviation.

Mozambique's Minister of Transport and Communications, Paulo Zucula, and Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have met in Bangkok to discuss various issues pertaining to the development of civil aviation in the Southern African nation.

■ TANZANIA: TCAA awards ATC upgrade contracts to Germany's Comsoft.

The Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has contracted German ATC contractors, Comsoft, to deliver two modern technologies in the fields of air navigation and communication equipment, in order to increase flight safety in the region.

■ TANZANIA: fastjet in talks with four other African carriers regarding possible tie-ups: Winter.

On the back of recent investments in South Africa and Nigeria, fastjet (FN) is reportedly in negotiations with as many as four airlines over possible partnerships, as the struggling LCC attempts to spread its wings across the continent, albeit circuitously. 

■ NIGERIA: Captain Fola Akikuotu appointed new Director General of the NCAA.

The Nigerian Senate yesterday confirmed the appointment of Captain Fola Akikuotu as the new Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA). Captain Akikuotu takes over from interim DG, Joyce Nkemakolam, appointed in March.

■ GHANA: CACC hands over preliminary designs for new Accra International Airport to government.

Ghanaian Minister of Transport, Ms Dzifa Attivor, says preliminary designs for Accra's new international airport have been presented to the Ghana Airports Company Limited. The project will be undertaken by the China Airports Construction Corporation (CACC) and is intended to transform Accra into a regional West African hub.

■ NIGERIA: Thirteen airports to have dedicated perishable cargo facilities says FAAN.

Thirteen airports in Nigeria - Abuja, Akure, Calabar, Ilorin, Jalingo, Jos, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi, Minna, Owerri, Port Harcourt and Uyo - have been singled out for the construction of perishable cargo terminals, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN has announced.

■ SEYCHELLES: Hong Kong, Seychelles sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

Hong Kong and Seychelles have announced the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) which will provide the necessary legal framework for establishing direct air links between the two places. At present, Air Seychelles (HM) serves Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi under the auspices of a codeshare agreement.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Air Zimbabwe pushes back London flights to November as 767s await refurbishment.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) says direct Harare - London Gatwick flights, originally meant to launch from July 1 but now removed from the GDS, will now resume in November once their two 767-200ERs have been refurbished.

► KENYA: Royal Air Maroc to tap into Kenyan market before year end.

Royal Air Maroc (AT) has once more announced plans to begin flights between Casablanca and Nairobi, Kenya. In a statement made in Nairobi at the signing of various bilateral trade agreements between Morocco and Kenya, Moroccan Minister for Industry and Trade, Mr Abdelkader Amara, said RAM would introduce direct flights to Nairobi "by the end of the year."

► NIGER: Air Niamey takes on its first A320; domestic ops in conjunction with Equaflight Niger to begin shortly.

Air Niamey (A7) has taken delivery of its first of two Airbus A320-200s, (MCN 314 | ex-N389VL). The A320 was transferred from the US aircraft registry to the Nigerien one on June 19.

► DUBAI: Emirates outlines African routes to be affected by closure of DXB runway 12L/30R in 2014.

With Dubai International Airport's Northern runway 12L/30R nearing the end of its designed lifespan and therefore requiring rehabilitation and upgrading, Emirates (EK) has outlined its planned service reduction set to come into effect from May 1, 2014 and ending July 20, 2014. The following list contains the affected African flights:

► KENYA: Jubba Airways (Kenya) gets its first B737-300.

Jubba Airways Kenya (3J), the sister company of Somalia's Jubba Airways (6J), has taken delivery of its first B737-300 (MSN 27521 | 5Y-CCR), an ex Air Bishkek (KR) machine.

► TUNISIA: (Media) Syphax Airlines takes delivery of its first A330.

Tunisian private carrier, Syphax Airlines (FS), has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-200 (MCN 345 | F-WJKG) at a ceremony held on Friday in the Tunisian capital, Tunis.

■ SOUTH SUDAN: Ethiopian Cargo starts 2x weekly Juba ops as exporters eye Asian markets.

Ethiopian Airlines Cargo (ET) has continued its expansion drive into Africa with the recent launch of twice weekly dedicated cargo flights to the South Sudanese capital, Juba. The route will serve to supply the country with fruit and vegetable exports from Ethiopia.

■ KENYA: Gulf Energy planning to build new Fuel facility at Nairobi Wilson airport.

Gulf Energy has announced plans to construct a USD250'000 (KAS20million) aircraft fuelling facility on land leased from the Kenyan Airports Authority at Nairobi Wilson Airport.

► CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Air Congo International takes delivery of its third MA60.

Air Congo International, the Brazzaville-backed carrier, has taken delivery of its third and final Xian MA 60 at a ceremony held last Thursday at Brazzaville Maya Maya International Airport and officiated by the Republic of Congo's Transport Minister Rodolphe Adada .

■ MAURITANIA: Yemen, Mauritania sign various air transport agreements.

Yemen and Mauritania have signed an agreement-in-principle to regulate air transport, a precursor to a bilateral air services agreement,  and a memorandum of understanding that allows the immediate launch of operations between the two countries by their respective national carriers, Yemenia (IY) and Mauritania Airlines International (L6).

► ALGERIA: Air Algérie's turnaround plan begins to bear fruit as Africa now a "priority" market.

Air Algérie's (AH) turnaround plan is beginning to pay off with the number of passengers uplifted increasing by more than 13% during the first four months of 2013. The carrier's traffic has grown by 13.61% on 2011/2012 resulting in a market share growth of 49%, CEO Mohamed Salah Boultif announced at a press conference in Algiers on Saturday.

► ZIMBABWE: See Pic of Air Zimbabwe's first Embraer ERJ145 all dolled up!

The first pictures of Air Zimbabwe's (UM) first Embraer ERJ145 (MSN 145607 | ZS-BBH) have been revealed. The aircraft is on wet-lease from South African ACMI specialists, Solenta Aviation.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: FedEx buys out SupaSwift South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia.

FedEx, the American global courier delivery services company, says it has completed the first stage of a strategic acquisition by signing agreements to acquire the businesses operated by its current South African service provider, Supaswift (Pty) Ltd., in five countries in Southern Africa, including South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia, and is also in discussions to acquire Supaswift’s businesses in Botswana and Namibia. These acquisitions will operate under the FedEx Express business unit and the transaction is subject to necessary regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

■ KENYA: Kenya Airways considers setting up own fuel hedging firm.

Kenya Airways (KQ) is considering setting up a fuel procurement company as part of extensive measures aimed at stemming mounting losses incurred over the past two years. The Kenyan national carrier recently announced a USD92million loss for its 2012/13 Financial Year which it blamed on "harsh economic and geopolitical conditions" coupled with a global economic slowdown and volatile global oil prices.  

■ ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe readmitted to IATA after passing its IOSA.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) has reportedly been readmitted to the International Air Travel Association's International Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry following the audit's completion in February.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: New SAA plan to be made public in late July/August as Ethiopian, Kenya Airways send out feelers.

Monwabisi Kalawe has outlined his first steps taken as the new South African Airways (SA) boss stating that he was aiming for a late July/early August public announcement of his airline's tentative Turnaround Plan #9, currently undergoing South African Cabinet scrutiny.

► MALAWI: Air Malawi Ltd's lone ATR42, two 737s put up for sale by liquidator.

Mr Lekani Katandula, a partner at audit and business advisory firm Deloitte, the officially appointed liquidators for the now defunct Air Malawi Ltd (QM), has announced that the airline's fleet of three aircraft, an ATR42, a B737-300 and a B737-500, are now up for sale to all interested parties.

■ CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): More woes for Air CEMAC as talks with partner Air France stall.

The launch of Air CEMAC, the regional carrier aimed at linking Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and São Tomé & Príncipe together, is facing the prospect of further set backs following reports that negotiations with Air France (AF), the carrier's strategic partner, have progressed little since the collaboration was announced in July last year.