■ SOUTH AFRICA: New $41mln Somerset East mini-Aerotropolis to be completed next year.

The town of Somerset East in the province of the Eastern Cape in South Africa will next year begin operating a new ZAR413million (USD40.9million) regional airport aimed at boosting the region's connectivity and economic profile.

► MALAWI: Ulendo Airlink starts scheduled Lilongwe - Blantyre flights.

Malawi's Ulendo Airlink (7Q) has commenced a 5x weekly air service between the country's two commercial hubs, Blantyre and Lilongwe effective September 15. Services were previously operated in 2011 before a moratorium was placed on the route by the Malawian government to protect the now defunct Air Malawi (QM).

■ GHANA: Mahama axes entire board of Ghana Airports Co. Ltd; new appointees due shortly.

The entire board of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has been dissolved by the Ghanaian president, John Mahama, just one week after the Minister of Transport, Dzifa Attivor, announced the dismissal of the firm's Managing Director,  Doreen Owusu-Fianko.

► TANZANIA: Proflight Zambia to start Dar es Salaam from late October; plans to boost Lilongwe from November.

Proflight Zambia (P0) has announced plans to launch a 3x weekly Lusaka to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania service with effect from October 23. According to the airline, as it stands, only a Day 1 & 5 operation have been set with confirmation from regulators on the timing.of a Wednesday slot still pending. Operations are on-board a Jetstream 41 turboprop. In addition, the carrier is also hoping to boost its Lilongwe flights to 4x weekly effective November 16, subject to regulatory approval. 

► BRAZIL: Arik Air now eyes a November launch for São Paulo flights; in talks with Embraer over possible deal for 15 jets.

Nigeria's Arik Air (W3) says it hopes to launch its vaunted Lagos - São Paulo, Brazil flights in November of this year, though this is still dependent on the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil - ANAC) issuing it convenient landing slots at Guarulhos International Airport.

■ SOMALIA: Ethiopian suspends Hargeisa, Berbera flights over impasse with Somaliland government.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has suspended its services to the Somalian towns of Berbera and Hargeisa owing to sub-standard infrastructure. Flights between Addis Ababa and the capital of Somaliland, Hargeisa, were only recently resumed after significant upgrade works to the airport's infrastructure. However, it has since emerged that the quality of work done to runway 06/24 has allegedly proven substandard resulting in Ethiopian suspending its flights.

► GABON: Royal Air Maroc, Libreville to resurrect Air Gabon International venture?

Royal Air Maroc (AT) and the Government of Gabon are reportedly set to proceed with the establishment of a new Gabonese national carrier, Air Gabon International, seven years after its original proposal. The development comes after Morocco and Gabon earlier this month signed five cooperation agreements dealing mainly with customs services, country planning and people's movement.

► MAYOTTE: Air Austral, CCIM, Ylang Invest move to formally create Ewa Air.

The Mayotte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Mayotte) along with Air Austral (UU) and the Yland Investment consortium officially signed an investment contract last week effectively breathing life into the new Dzaoudzi-based regional carrier, Ewa Airlines.

■ HONG KONG: Cathay Pacific eyeing Nigeria, Algeria as part of African expansion plans.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific (CX) has mentioned Africa as being part of its longterm expansion plans with the intention being to exploit the growing Africa - China market; Nigeria and Algeria in particular.

► BOTSWANA: Kalahari Airways turns to crowdfunding for 747s to operate London Gatwick flights.

Kalahari Airways is a Botswana-based startup that intends to offer flights from Cape Town, South Africa to London Gatwick via Gaborone Botswana using three B747-400s.

■ GHANA: GCAA freezes issuance of domestic operator licences in response to Antrak's, Starbow's threats to pull out.

Responding to threats by local carriers Antrak Air (O4) and Starbow Airlines (S9) to withdraw from the oversubscribed Ghanaian market, the Ghanaian Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) says it has henceforth placed a moratorium on the issuance of domestic airline licences. At present, Ghana has four local operators including Africa World Airlines (AW) and Fly540 Ghana (5G). A fifth, CTK CityLink (CTY) went bankrupt last year.

■ CAMEROON: Biya appoints Frederic Mbotto new Camair-Co boss; Edouard Mfoumou new chairman.

Cameroon's president, Paul Biya, has officially appointed Mr Frédéric Mbotto Obounou the new Managing Director/CEO of the country's national carrier, Camair-Co (QC), and Mr Edouard Akame Mfoumou as the Chairman of the airline's board of directors with effect from September 11. 

► JAPAN: EgyptAir planning to nix its Osaka flights from late October over Tokyo's travel advisory.

With the recent suspension of flights to Tokyo Narita, Egyptair (MS) has now announced plans to terminate its twice weekly Cairo - Osaka Kansai service with effect from October 20. 

► SAUDI ARABIA: Saudia Cargo to boost Morocco, Kenya, South Africa freight capacity.

Saudia Cargo (SV) has announced an increase in its belly and freighter capacity on a number of routes across its global network. In terms of its African destinations, the Saudi Arabian operator plans to boost its dedicated freighter frequencies to Nairobi while adding bellyhold capacity to Casablanca and Johannesburg through increased passenger flights.

■ MADAGASCAR: Air Madagascar signs MOU with Vanilla Islands Organization to further enhance regional connectivity.

Following a recent ministerial summit held on the French island of La Réunion on September 10, Air Madagascar (MD) and the Vanilla Islands Organization (VIO) of the Indian Ocean have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which aims to strengthen and liberalize air connectivity between member island states was signed by the Seychelles Minister  for Tourism & Culture, Alain St. Ange, the sitting President of the VIO, and the CEO of Air Madagascar, Mr Hughes Ratsiferana.

► KENYA: Former Transavia exec, Willem Hondius, appointed boss of Kenya Airways' LCC, JamboJet.

The Board of Kenya Airways (KQ) has appointed Willem Alexander Hondius as Chief Executive Officer of Jambo Jet Limited, the airline’s nascent low-cost carrier subsidiary.

► GHANA: Eagle Atlantic Airlines to launch regional operations from October 15.

Ghanaian start-up, Eagle Atlantic Airways (EAB), has announced that it will commence operations with effect from October 15 using a McDonnell Douglas MD82 (MSN 49119 | YR-OTN) on lease from Romania's Ten Airways (OTJ).

► NIGERIA: (Pic) Business charter specialists, Air Peace, awaiting first B737-500.

Nigerian business charter specialists, Air Peace, are set to add their first Boeing metal to their fleet of two Dornier Do328-300s with the impending arrival of a B737-500, (MSN 27530 | 5N-BQS).

► KENYA: Fly540 increases Nairobi - Lodwar flights to 9x weekly.

Fly540 Kenya (5H) has announced that it has increased the frequency of flights between Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) and Lodwar, the largest town in north-western Kenya, located west of Lake Turkana, from six to nine per week in response to rising demand. The LCC said it had added an additional flight on Monday, Wednesday and Friday respectively, resulting in two flights operating on each of these days. The return flights operate via Eldoret.

■ ETHIOPIA: ECAA selects Thales' TopSky - Flight Plan to manage flight plan and aeronautical information interfaces.

The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) has announced the selection of the Thales TopSky-ATC Flight Data Processing System (FDPS) component, TopSky–Flight Plan, to manage all critical flight plan and aeronautical information interfaces with internal and external systems as well as airline counterparties.

■ ANGOLA: Uíge Airport to be completed shortly, operations to tentatively resume by year-end.

Uíge Airport, situated in Uige, the capital city of its namesake province in northwestern Angola, could be inaugurated later this year following the successful completion of renovation and expansion works. Speaking to ANGOP, the CEO of Angola's airport and air traffic authority (Empresa Nacional de Aeroportos e Navegação Aérea - ENANA), Mr Manuel Ceitas, said the facility will also offer night-time operations given the recent installation of runway lighting.

■ MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius upgrades its MRO management software.

Ottawa-based aviation maintenance management software provider, Mxi Technologies, has announced that Air Mauritius (MK) has gone live with an upgrade to Maintenix version 8 (v8) in support of the organization’s objectives for real-time access to information, superior customer service, and streamlined internal processes.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian outlines initial Winter 2013/14 timetable; to start Singapore from mid December.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has outlined its initial changes to its timetable in time for the Northern Winter 2013/14 season. According to AirlineRoute, among the most notable changes is the incorporation of the previously postponed Singapore flight.

■ GHANA: James Antwi appointed new CEO of Starbow Airlines.

The Board of Directors and Management of Aero Surveys Limited trading under the Commercial name "Starbow (S9)" have announced the appointment of Mr. James Eric Antwi as the Accountable Manager and Chief Executive Officer replacing Mr Keith Luxton who was appointed in February this year.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Comair Ltd profits soar to USD23.1million for latest Financial Year.

Comair Ltd has announced a significant improvement in its profitability for the 12-month period ending 30 June 2013. Revenue grew by 29% to ZAR5.38billion (USD537.46million) from ZAR4.16billion (USD415.96million) in 2012. As such, the airline declared a headline profit of ZAR231million (USD23.09million), a marked improvement on that of 2012 which totalled ZAR18 million.

► NIGERIA: Dana Air eyes regional flights by year end; to roll out more domestic routes.

The commercial head of Nigeria's Dana Air (9J), Mr Obi Mbanuzo, says the airline has applied to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for regional traffic rights with flights to tentatively launch before year-end.

■ SOMALIA: Minister of Transport implicates own President in Mogadishu airport deal scandal.

A huge scandal is brewing in Somalia over allegations by the Minister of Information, Post, Telecommunications & Transportation, Abdullahi Elmoge Hersi, that the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the wife of the prime minister, Asha Haji Elmi, are the primary benefactors of a contract controversially awarded to Turkish firm, Favori LLC, for the management of Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport. 

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SATAWU calls off strike as deal is reached with SAA.

South African Airways (SA) has announced that a strike by South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) members at South African Airways Technical (SAAT), the maintenance subsidiary of the national carrier, has come to an end. 

■ GHANA: Antrak Air mulls quitting Ghana citing market-overcrowding, exhorbitant costs.

The CEO of Ghanaian domestic operator, Antrak Air (O4), Alhaji Asuma Banda, says he is seriously considering pulling out of the country as the presence of too many carriers on the Ghanaian domestic scene has rendered it almost impossible to operate an airline profitably.

► NIGER: Ethiopian Airlines to add a 4x weekly Niamey service from late November.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is set to commence flights to the Nigerien capital, Niamey,  on-board a B757-200 with effect from November 20. AirlineRoute writes that the 4x weekly service will operate onwards to the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou.

► NIGERIA: (Pic) Azman Airlines first B737-300 rolls out the paintshop in Norwich.

Azman Air, the Kano-based startup run by entrepreneur, AbdulManafi Yunusa, has seen its first B737-300 (MSN 28570 | 5N-?), formerly with bmi baby, roll out the paint shop in Norwich in the United Kingdom.

■ BURUNDI: Air Burundi signs MRO contract with Air Zimbabwe for its MA60 as China promises support.

A recent report by the Burundian Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Machinery states that Air Burundi (8Y) has indeed signed an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) contract with Air Zimbabwe (UM) for its single aircraft, an MA-60 (MCN 1019 | 9U-BHU), with two Zimbabwean pilots and two dispatchers having also been hired. Air Zimbabwe operates three of the type.

■ DUBAI: Emirates appoints Orhan Abbas as Senior VP for its Southern & Central Africa, Latin American Commercial operations.

Emirates (EK) has appointed Orhan Abbas its Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Latin America, Central and Southern Africa. In his new role he will oversee a number of markets, including South Africa, Angola, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Indian Ocean islands Mauritius and Seychelles, and Latin American markets Brazil and Argentina.

► SUDAN: South Supreme Airlines launches flights between Juba and Khartoum.

Juba-based startup, South Supreme Airlines, has officially launched operations with its maiden flight between the South Sudanese capital and Khartoum on Sunday, September 7. Speaking on arrival at Khartoum International Airport, airline boss and South Sudanese tycoon, Ayii Duang Ayii, said the flight was a sign of improved relations between the two countries, and that it will further enhance cooperation ties for the benefit of their people.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA's Turnaround Plan to undergo parliamentary committee scrunity this week.

Monwabisi Kalawe, South African Airways' (SA) Chief Executive Officer, says the airline's strategic turnaround plan #9 will be presented to a South African parliamentary inquest committee this week ahead of a possible release to the public at the airline's AGM tentatively due later this month.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Air Burkina, Malu Aviation, Skyward Int'l, Jetlink Express, Air Madagascar, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, Mango, Sahara African Aviation, SKA Aircraft Leasing.

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: Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, Mango, Sahara African Aviation, SKA Aircraft Leasing, Air Burkina, Malu Aviation, Skyward International Aviation, Jetlink Express, Air Madagascar.

■ SOMALIA: Turkey's Favori LLC to assume control of Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport.

Favori LLC, a consortium of Turkish construction firms Çetin Group and Kozuva with USD3million capital, is set to assume the management of Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport with effect from September 15, the airport's current manager, Ali Mohamed Ibrahim, has said. The news comes after months of speculation about the future of a 10-year concession awarded to Dubai-based firm, SKA Air & Logistics, in 2010. 

■ SOUTH AFRICA: PAKAfrica Aviation clarifies its designs on 1Time and its launch plans.

PAKAviation Africa has clarified its plans to establish a new regional African carrier using a restructured 1Time Airline (T6) as its foundation. According to the Dubai/Pakistani-backed firm, 1Time Holdings Ltd is to be used as a housing company for assets once a controlling stake (still pending regulatory approval) is acquired. 

► CAMEROON: Gabon's Afric Aviation goes regional with 4x weekly Douala flights.

Gabonese carrier Afric Aviation (L8) has launched its first international route with four times weekly flights between Gabon's capital, Libreville, and the Cameroonian commercial hub of Douala. Operations are on board one of the airline's two ATR72-200s.

■ TOGO: Lomé-Tokoin Airport upgrade works to be completed next year; opening due in 4Q 2014.

Expansion works at Lomé's Tokoin Airport, also known as l’Aéroport International Gnassingbé Eyadèma (AIGE), are expected to be completed within a year with an official opening scheduled for December 2014, Colonel Gnama Latta, the Director General of Togo's civil aviation authority l'Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile du Togo (ANAC), has said.

► NIGERIA: (Pic) Start-up Discovery Air's first B737-300 rolls out the paint shop.

The first of two B737-300s, (MSN 28571 | 5N-BQO) formerly with brussels airlines(SN), has been painted in the livery of its new owner, Nigerian start-up, Discovery Air, and has been parked at London Southern Airport awaiting delivery to Lagos. A second ex-bmibaby (WW) B737-300 (MSN 28870 | 5N-?) is also expected.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Korongo boss dismisses reports of Air France/Kinshasa tie up; claims game still on.

Christophe Allard, the managing director of Congolese operator, Korongo Airlines (ZC), has dismissed recent media reports that Kinshasa has reached a definitive agreement with Air France (AF) in which the latter will become a partner in a new Congolese national carrier due in the skies in either late 2013/early 2014.

► UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways announces further modifications to Entebbe, Cape Town, Tripoli.

British Airways (BA) has announced further modifications to its African timetable with a doubling of Cape Town frequencies due from October 27 and an added fourth weekly flight to Entebbe, Uganda due from March 31, 2014. Flights to Tripoli meanwhile have already been increased to four times weekly.

■ VIETNAM: Seychelles, Vietnam sign a Bilateral Air Services Agreement and various other MoUs.

During a state visit to Vietnam at the end of August, Seychellois President, Mr James Michel, and Vietnam's President, Mr Truong Tan Sang, witnessed the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding involving bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Seychelles and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of which one pertained to a Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

► NIGERIA: Ex Camair-Co boss Alex Van Elk to help set up new Nigerian LCC.

A new Low Cost Carrier will commence operations in Nigeria in 2014 with former Camair-Co (QC) CEO, Alex Van Elk, one of the project's coordinators. According to Mr Van Elk, the carrier is a joint partnership between Nigerian and European investors.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Government set to form new national carrier with Air France; ops by early 2014.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has reportedly chosen Air France (AF) as its strategic partner in its planned new national carrier to replace the defunct LAC Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (4V) following months of speculation.

■ TANZANIA: Precision Air posts a USD18.8million loss for FY2012/13.

Tanzania's Precision Air (PW) has confirmed sustaining a hefty loss of TZS30.4billion (USD18.84million) for its most recent 2012/13 Financial Year ended March 31, 2013. In their statement, the the Board of Directors of Precision Air Services Plc said that while total revenues had grown by 8.2% on the previous years figures to TZS176.4billion (USD109.3million), the loss was attributable to rising fuel, maintenance and equipment costs, rising personnel expenditure and an unfavourable USD exchange rate also taking its toll.

► LIBYA: (Pics) Ministry of Defense takes redelivery of Gaddafi's repainted A340.

The Libyan Ministry of Defense has taken redelivery of an Airbus A340-300 (MCN 151 | 5A-ONE) following an overhaul and a refit in Toulouse, France. The aircraft was made famous as the private jet of deposed Libyan strongman Muammur Gaddafi prior to his death in 2011.

■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles posts very strong 2Q & 1H2013 Financial results.

Air Seychelles (HM) has announced a strong second quarter (Q2) and half-year financial performance, reflecting continued solid growth and success in its turnaround strategy. Overall, during the quarter, the Seychellois national carrier posted total revenues of USD26.03 million (up from USD10.87million in 2012), a significant increase of 139%. Total revenues for the first half of 2013 reached USD42.05million (2012: USD18.76million), up by 124%.

► TURKEY: Turkish Airlines to boost Algiers, Kigali/Entebbe, launch flights to Tobruk.

Turkish Airlines (TK) will effect various changes to its African route network over the coming weeks with flights Algiers to be increased from daily to 11x weekly with effect from September 18 until October 26. Additionally, AirlineRoute writes that the Entebbe via Kigali route will see a 6th weekly flight from October 27 with the frequency to go daily come November 14. The airline is also expected to announce its the launch of 3x weekly flights to its 4th Libyan destination, Tobruk, in mid October.