► SAUDI ARABIA: Saudia announces changes to Addis Ababa, Cairo, Kano routes for Summer 2013.

Initial changes to Saudi Arabian airlines Saudia (SV)’s Summer 2013 International operation are as follows, though additional changes, including planned Boeing 777-300ER service entry dates to selected markets, remain subject to change.

► TANZANIA: Emirates boosts capacity to Dar es Salaam from 1 February.

Emirates Airlines (EK) will from 1 February 2013 boost its capacity to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania via the introduction of a daily Boeing 777-300ER. Presently, the flight operates with an A340-500.

► TUNISIA: Tunisair boss Jrad whinges about Syphax's network expansion plans calling them "unfair."

Rabah Jrad, the boss of Tunisia's national carrier, Tunisair (TU), in an interview with a local Tunisian radio station has labelled as "illegal" and "unfair" the networkexpansion plans of private Tunisian private carrier, Syphax Airlines (FS).

► EGYPT: AlMasria Universal Airlines calls in AFI KLM E&M for tricky CFM56 repair job.

AlMasria Universal Airlines (UJ) has called on the services of Air France Industries/KLM Engineering & Maintenance to deal with an AOG (Aircraft on Ground) situation concerning CFM56-5B engines fitted to one of the aircraft operated by the Egyptian carrier.

► LIBYA: Tunisair to launch Tunis - Sebha flights from February.

Tunisair (TU) has announced that it will start flights between Tunis and Sebha, Libya effective 1 February. The addition of Sebha will bring the number of Tunisair destinations served in Libya to four after Tripoli and Benghazi, and Misrata.

►► SOUTH AFRICA: Mega Maldives Airlines looks to start Johannesburg.

[UPDATE 21 JANUARY] Following the recent arrival of a Boeing 757-200ER, Maldivian airline Mega Maldives Airlines (5M) has announced plans to expand its international network, with Johannesburg being amongst the destinations being considered, though no specific date has been mentioned.

► MADAGASCAR: Corsair suspends Paris - Antananarivo flights until June citing poor loads.

French carrier Corsair International (SS) is to temporarily suspend its Paris Orly - Antananarivo, Madagascar flights effective 17 January to mid June this year citing poor yields.

■ KENYA: Hunt on for new Kenya Airways' Commercial Director after Mohan Chandra's contract is not renewed.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has appointed its Head of Network Planning, Jimmy Kebati, as its interim Commercial Director, after previous director, Mohan Chandra's contract was not renewed upon its expiration on 18 January.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA defers presentation of turnaround plan to March as NTM embarks on a strike demanding recognition.

The new board of South African Airways (SA) has deferred the presentation of their planned turnaround strategy to March 2013, after being tasked to come up with proposal by December 2012 as part of prerequisite conditions to its USD600million bail out from the South African government, granted last year in October.

►► DENMARK: Royal Air Maroc resumes Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin from March 2013.

[UPDATE 18 JANUARY] Royal Air Maroc (AT) has continued its expansion into Europe with the announcement of of the resumption of 3x weekly flights from Casablanca to Berlin Tegel, Germany via Copenhagen, Denmark.

► TANZANIA: British Airways axes Dar es Salaam, reduces Entebbe, switches Mauritius to daytime flights.

British Airways (BA) will, with effect from 31 March 2013, cancel its 3x weekly London Heathrow - Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania flight as part of its Summer 2013 route rationalization programme. The carrier is to reduce its Entebbe, Uganda frequencies as well.

■ NIGERIA: FAAN adamant on abandoned aircraft issue; gives owners 1 week ultimatum.

The Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has issued an ultimatum to all owners of decrepit and decaying aircraft lying abandoned at the country's numerous airports and airfields, to have them removed within a week. 

► CHAD: Congolese government provides Chad with Il76 to aide with deployment of 2'000 troops to Mali.

The Congolese government has made ​​available its Ilyushin Il76 (MSN 1033415504 | TN-AFS) transport to the Chadian government following the latter's decision to deploy 2000 troops to join the growing international operation (Mission Internationale de soutien au Mali - MISMA) against Islamist insurgents in northern Mali.

■ KENYA: New Civil Aviation Law provides KCAA with framework necessary to attain FAA Cat 1 status; US flights to follow?

The signing into law of The Civil Aviation 2013 Bill by Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki on Monday 14 January has presented the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) with the legal framework necessary to ensure safer, more secure airports and airspace. Conformity to internationally recognised standards could then lead to the possibility of long sought-after Kenya - US flights.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian said to have grounded its 787 fleet following FAA directive.

Despite recently trumpeting its contentment at "the performance of their Dreamliners", labelling them "highly capable and safe aircraft", Ethiopian Airlines (ET), too, appears to have joined the growing list of Dreamliner operators to have grounded the type following recent problems with the aircraft's Lithium Ion battery.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Cathay Pacific reduces 747-400 ops to Joburg from January 2014.

As per the 17 January 2013 GDS inventory display, the latest changes to Cathay Pacific’s Winter 2013/14 long-haul operation reflect its on-going retirement of the Boeing 747-400 from the Hong Kong based carrier's fleet. From January 2014, the oneWorld member will further reduce planned Boeing 747-400 long-haul services. 

► TANZANIA: fastjet to launch Johannesburg, Moroni and Entebbe in coming weeks?

Tanzania-based LCC fastjet (FN) could announce new regional routes in the coming weeks spurred on by strong first month performance figures on its domestic Tanzanian routes, launched in late November 2012.

► EGYPT: Air Force signs deal with Airbus Military for 6 Casa C295s.

Airbus Military has received an order for six additional Casa C295 transport aircraft from the Egyptian Air Force, bringing the Egyptian Air Force’s C295 fleet to a total of 12 aircraft. This third batch of aircraft plus the associated spares and support equipment, training and field support are to be delivered from the end of 2013 onwards.

► MOROCCO: Ryanair officially announces Fez, Marrakech as new bases; Essaouira, Rabat as new airports.

Confirming our previous speculative post, Ryanair (FR) has officially announced it would open two new bases in Morocco in 2013, at Fez (No 56) and Marrakech (No 57) with a total of three based-aircraft, as Ryanair invests over USD210 million in Morocco. 

► MOROCCO: Air Méditerranée to start 2x weekly Paris CDG - Casablanca ops from mid February.

Air Méditerranée (ML), the Jullian, France based carrier is to launch its third destination in Morocco - Casablanca, with 2x weekly flights starting 14 February 2013.

► COMOROS: Government now looking to resurrect Air Comores?

After the successful launch of inter-island services last week using a Let 410 (MSN 072640 | D6-NHD), the Comorian Government is now considering resurrecting defunct national carrier Air Comores.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: No last minute reprieve for 523 Denel AMG employees as SAAF confirms contract will not be renewed.

Denel Aviation is to proceed with the laying off of 523 employees (538 according to Denel) from its MRO division, Aero Manpower Group, and Denel Personnel Solutions, come 31 March after the South African Air Force (SAAF) confirmed during the first retrenchment consultation that it would not be renewing its contract.

■ ANGOLA: TAAG's operating revenue up $120m in 2012 but lack of fiscal control remains a grave worry.

TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), Angola's national carrier, registered a growth in passenger traffic of 11% for the year ending 2012, with 1.1million passengers flown, the airline said in a statement.  

■ KENYA: Israel keen to resume Tel Aviv - Nairobi flights following improvements in Kenyan airport security.

Following improvements in security measures in place at the country's airports, Israel is considering the resumption of direct flights to Kenya before the end of the year says the country's Ambassador to Kenya, Gil Haskel. 

► PORTUGAL: TACV in talks to start Ilha do Sal - Beja.

TACV Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde (VR), the scheduled and charter, passenger and cargo airline based in Praia, Cape Verde is in negotiations to launch flights between Sal Island and Beja, a city in the Beja Municipality in the Alentejo Region, southern Portugal.

► TUNISIA: Details of Syphax's deal with Airbus and Safran revealed.

Details of the contracts signed today between Tunisian carrier Syphax Airlines (FS) and Airbus and Safran S.A. respectively, have been released.

► NIGERIA: AeroContractors to start Abuja - Sokoto from late January.

Nigerian aviation blog, Aviation in Nigeria, reports that Aero Contractors (AJ) also known as Aero, is to launch 6x weekly flights between Abuja and Sokoto, north western Nigeria, effective 28 January 2013.

► MOROCCO: LCC market heats up with Ryanair, Jetairfly launching new bases, routes.

The Low Cost Carrier aviation scene in Morocco is set to heat up with news that Ryanair (FR) is to open two new bases in Morocco, Marrakech and Fez, its first outside Europe. In addition, Jetairfly Morocco (TB) is to launch various new flights to its growing Moroccan network which now counts 10 cities.

► GAMBIA: Binter Canarias launches Las Palmas - Banjul flights.

Binter Canarias (NT), the Gran Canaria-based Spanish regional operator, has announced the launch of twice weekly flights from Las Palmas to Banjul, Gambia, in effect since 11 January. This flight is operated by an Air Nostrum Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft.

► KENYA: Thomson Airways to deploy 787 on Gatwick - Mombasa flights from November.

According to AirlineRoute, Thomson Airways (BY), the world's largest charter airline, offering scheduled and charter flights from the UK and Ireland to destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, is to start 1x weekly Boeing 787-8 flights between London Gatwick and Mombasa, Kenya for the duration 4 November 2013 – 21 April 2014.

► GABON: Finally, Turkish Airlines to start Libreville via Douala from late January.

Following on from our previous post last year, Turkish Airlines (TK) will at last launch flights to Libreville Gabon via Douala, Cameroon from 31 January 2013. The 3x weekly service will be operated with a Boeing 737-900ER.

► UGANDA: British Airways 767 enroute from Lusaka to Heathrow suffers engine failure; diverts to Entebbe.

A British Airways Boeing 767-300 (MSN 25442 | G-BNWO) enroute from Lusaka, Zambia to London Heathrow, United Kingdom on Monday 14 January 2013 as flight BA254 was forced to divert to Entebbe, Uganda following the failure of its starboard engine.

► MAURITIUS: Emirates to operate one off A380 flight on 12 March.

Emirates (EK) today announced it will operate a one-off Airbus A380 service to Port Louis, Mauritius on 12 March to mark the occasion of the 45th Anniversary of Mauritius' independence from Britain.

► MALAWI: British Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways interested in starting flights: Government.

Malawi's Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Economic, Ted Sitimawina, has disclosed that British Airways (BA), Qatar Airways (QR) and Emirates (EK) have all expressed interest in starting flights to the landlocked Central African country, a move that would help to drive down the exorbitant cost of air travel to the country.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: DoT claims fastjet's relaunch timeframe for 1Time unrealistic, as Skywise remains ontrack for 1 March launch.

The launch of Skywise, the South African carrier founded by the original founders of defunct South African LCC 1Time (T6) is on track for a 1 March launch as fastjet's (FN) plans to push forward with a relaunch of 1Time face a protracted, relicensing process that could derail plans for a 27 February relaunch.

► LIBYA: Royal Jordanian boosts Tripoli, Misrata as Libyan Airlines looks to start Sebha - Casablanca, Benghazi - Dubai.

Royal Jordanian (RJ) will, starting February 2013, increase its operations to Libya, where its overall operation from Amman to Misurata will increase from 1x to 2x weekly from  6 February 2013, while Amman – Tripoli increases from daily to 10x weekly from  9 February 2013. Meanwhile, Libyan Airlines (LN) is to start additional ops to Morocco and Dubai in the coming weeks.

► MALI: Air France, Aigle Azur maintain ops to Bamako, but offer passengers free ticket changes.

With the ongoing military incursion in Mali, Air France (AF) and Aigle Azur (ZI) have offered their respective clients the option of deferring travel to and from Bamako until a later date. France's military has been fighting against Islamist militants in northern Mali since Friday, helping Malian government forces recapture the central town of Konna. On Sunday, French Mirage jets bombed the town of Gao in eastern Mali, extending their raids deep into rebel territory.

► NIGERIA: Air Zimbabwe to start Lagos & Accra in March?

Air Zimbabwe (UM) is to start flights from Harare to Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana with the first flights due in March 2013 reports out of Zimbabwe state.

► ASCENSION ISLAND: Delta Airlines 777 enroute from Joburg to Atlanta diverts following engine trouble.

A Delta Airlines (DL) Boeing 777-200LR (MSN 29742 | N705DN) en-route from Johannesburg ORTIA, South Africa to Atlanta, USA on Wednesday 9 January 2013, was forced to divert to Georgetown, Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean following the failure of its starboard engine.

► TUNISIA: Syphax to sign deal with Airbus for 10 A320s; with Safran for CFM engines.

Tunisian carrier Syphax Airlines (FS) is to seal a deal with Airbus for 10 Airbus A320s in addition to another deal with Safran S.A. the French multinational aircraft & rocket engine, aerospace component and security company.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): CAA considering an eventual buy out of flyCongo?

According to CH-Aviation, CAA - Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation (FPY), the Kinshasa-based Congolese carrier, is said to be planning the eventual acquisition of partner, flyCongo (EO), the successor to the now defunct Hewa Bora Airways, with whom it has been in a partnership since October 2012.

► GABON: Afric Aviation to take delivery of an ATR72.

Gabonese private carrier Afric Aviation (L8) is to take delivery of its first ATR72-200 to complement its current ATR42-300 reports Swiss aviation newswire, CH-Aviation.

► SOMALIA: Daallo Airlines set to start Dubai - Burao via Berbera.

Daallo Airlines (D3), the Dubai-based national carrier of Djibouti, are to add another route to their network with the launch of Burao - Berbera - Dubai. Burao and Berbera are cities in Somaliland, an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia.

■ TOGO: Construction works at l’Aéroport Lomé-Tokoin nearing completion.

The upgrading and expansion of the Togolese capital, Lomé's, l’Aéroport International Gnassingbé Eyadèma (AIGE), also known as Lomé-Tokoin Airport, is progressing with work nearing 80% completion. The project, funded by the Chinese Export-Import Bank (ExIm Bank) to the tune of USD150million and using the China Airport Construction Group Corporation (CACC) and WIETEC, aims to transform Lomé into a "sub-regional transport hub."

► RWANDA: RwandAir leases a Dash 8-100 from Kenya's ALS Aircraft Leasing Services.

Rwandan aviation blog, RwandanFlyer, reports that Rwandair (WB) has leased a Bombardier DHC 8-100 (MSN 10 | 5Y-CAU) from Kenya's ALS Aircraft Leasing Services.

 

■ NIGERIA: Kaduna Airport to be ready by April: FAAN

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says the Kaduna Airport remodelling project, located in the Northen Nigerian state of Kaduna, will be completed in three months. The airport was among the first 11 major domestic Nigerian airports scheduled for remodelling under the Nigerian Government's transformation programme.