► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania temporarily ceases operations as 737 deal with AeroVista is called off.

What was touted as a new beginning for beleaguered Tanzanian national carrier, Air Tanzania (TC), has now turned into a nasty ordeal with the possibility of litigation after Air Tanzania suspended its contract with Dubai-based ACMI AeroVista from whom it leased a Boeing 737-500, effectively grounding the carrier.

► LIBYA: Optimistic Afriqiyah orders more A330s, but post-Gaddafi where to?

Following the recent Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom, Libyan carrier Afriqiyah (8U), has announced plans to convert a previous order of 3 Airbus A321s into an order for A330s in a sign that the carrier is slowly but surely returning to the international scene.

■ CAMEROON: Ex-minister accused of embezzlement in "Albatross" Presidential Jet fiasco goes on trial in Yaounde.

Former Cameroonian Interior Minister Marafa Hamidou Yaya, the politician at the centre of the Cameroonian Presidential Jet scandal, is currently on trial in Yaounde facing charges of embezzling USD$31million that should have been used to buy a new Presidential Jet sourced from the Boeing Company for President Paul Biya. 

The story goes, in 2001, Yaya, then Secretary General at the presidency, and his co-accused, amongst whom are the ex-head of the now defunct Cameroonian flag carrier Cameroon Airlines Yves Michel Fotso, Chief Ephraim Inoni, a former Prime Minister and head of government under Biya, Nkounda Julienne, and two others, were mandated by the Cameroonian Government to secure a Boeing Business Jet Second Generation (BBJ-2) for USD$31million for use by the President. It is then alleged that in early 2004 they instead colluded to hire a used Boeing 767 - The Albatross - for USD$2.6million and pocketed the remainder of the money for themselves.

But, as fate would have it, with the President and his family on board, the Boeing 767-216ER (TZ-AAC) developed technical problems on its maiden flight to Paris, France on 24 April 2004 and was forced to make an emergency landing. So irate was Biya at this embarrassing scenario that he launched a full investigation into the mishap, which culminated in Marafa's arrest along with that of the other five co-accused.

"The Albatross" (Stephan Gimard)

Since the story broke in April 2004, there have been numerous wild allegations in the Cameroonian press that the aircraft itself was 'totally unsafe' and was in reality "a flying coffin" thereby putting the President and his family at risk each time it flew; some even claim that the purchase of the defective plane constituted an "attack on the nation of Cameroon itself".

 

Deeper investigation reveals that official testimony seems to dispute the claims that the President's life was in danger and that the situation was so dire as to warrant the emergency landing, though ironically, had this not happened, then perhaps Marafa and his associates could have gotten away with it all.

Presiding Judge Pascal Magnaguemabé, in his Order Instituting Separate Proceedings of January 2010 stated:

"[The "Boeing 767-200 ER" known as "Albatross"] was transported to Cameroon in a flight leaving from Atlanta in the United States on 04/22/2004 and landing in Yaounde on 04/23/2004.     

It departed again from Yaounde on 04/24/2004 for the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, with the President of the Republic and his family aboard, as well as a large delegation of important persons from Cameroon travelling to attend a summit planned for the following days in the French capital. Only, the plane had barely taken off from the Yaounde-Nsimalen airport with the illustrious person and his delegation aboard, when it experienced an incident while it was crossing the "Foumban" area.      

This incident made it necessary for the pilots to turn back to Douala. It was described as purely technical, in which "the leading edge flap was not retracting" and the plane could not reach cruising speed. While the plane was turning back to Douala, the onboard mechanic was called upon "to go down into the fuse room." While he was there, the mechanic "reset the circuit" and, after another try by the pilot, the flaps retracted and the situation returned to normal. The plane then resumed its heading toward Paris."

Then, the captain made an unwise move which turned an otherwise simple malfunction into a political debacle:

"When the problem (with the flaps) occurred, the pilots (Lieutenant Colonel Ndongue and Colonel Babodo Lewono) should have called for the mechanic seated at the end of the aircraft. All they needed to do to rectify the problem was to refer to the flight manual and to call for the mechanic. Instead, flight captain Betham chose to inform the President of the Republic that there was a problem with the aircraft and that it had to return to Douala for a checkup. He reassured the Head of State that this would not take long. In my opinion, the captain demonstrated a lack sang-froid by rushing to alert the President. He should have tried to solve the problem first."

Source [Dibussi Tande]

Subsequently, the Cameroonian Government returned the aircraft to Boeing who disputed their claims that the aircraft was in terrible shape. Eventual litigation led to the Cameroon Government being forced to pay Boeing USD$2.6million for breach of contract.

But, at the end of the day, the case is not about the overall airworthiness of the Boeing 767, its about 5 high ranking government officials who were tasked with the responsibility of buying a brand new BBJ but instead hired a second hand 767 and whose actions, by a strange twist of fate (had the Captain kept a cool head and treated the flap malfunction as routine instead of informing the President then this whole incident may never have come to light), were exposed for what they are - fraudulent.

At the beginning of May, a former Cameroonian ambassador to the United States, Jerome Mendouga, was jailed for 10 years in connection with the case.

For more on the case:

• Was The Albatross A Flying Coffin? I
• Was The Albatross A Flying Coffin? II

► EGYPT: Egyptair cancels Sharm el Sheikh - London Heathrow in favour of added Cairo - London flights.

Following on from our original July update, Egyptian carrier Egyptair (MS) has announced a revision to its Cairo - London Heathrow and Sharm el Sheikh - London Heathrow routes, the latter of which will be cancelled and rerouted ex-Cairo from 28 October 2012.

The once (1x) weekly Luxor - London Heathrow flight remains unchanged.

Egyptair Boeing 777-300ER

Egyptair: Cairo - London Heathrow, United Kingdom

-Effective 28 October 2012, the existing 3x weekly Sharm el Sheikh – London Heathrow service will be cancelled and will shift to Cairo – London Heathrow, whose overall frequencies to LHR will now increase from 11x to 14x weekly. 

• MS777 CAI0920 – 1235LHR 333 x5
• MS777 CAI1145 – 1500LHR 333 5
• MS779 CAI1435 – 1755LHR 738 2
• MS779 CAI1700 – 2020LHR 333 4
• MS779 CAI1745 – 2100LHR 738 13
• MS779 CAI1745 – 2100LHR 333 67
• MS779 CAI1745 – 2105LHR 333 5

• MS778 LHR1355 – 2040CAI 333 1
• MS778 LHR1400 – 2045CAI 333 x15
• MS778 LHR1725 – 0010+1CAI 333 5
• MS780 LHR2230 – 0515+1CAI 738 123
• MS780 LHR2230 – 0515+1CAI 333 x123

Source [Airline Route]

► DJIBOUTI: Turkish Airlines to serve Mogadishu via Djibouti from September.

It seems hardly a week goes by that Turkish carrier Turkish Airlines (TK) doesn't announce a new African destination. This time round, the new African route to be served will be Djibouti, with a tag on leg to Mogadishu, Somalia, which was previously serviced via Khartoum, Sudan. 

Turkish Airlines Africa Network

The 2x weekly flights are scheduled to begin 4 September 2012 with an Airbus A320 and, it should be noted, Turkish Airlines has also been given 5th Freedom rights to ferry passengers on the Djibouti - Somalia sector of the flight.

Turkish Airlines: Istanbul – Djibouti – Mogadishu, Somalia

- Effective 4 September 2012

• TK686 IST2325 – 0440+1JIB0530+1 – 0705+1MGQ 320 24
• TK687 MGQ0830 – 1005JIB1055 – 1600IST 320 35

Source [Airline Route]

► UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Emirates announces various changes to its Africa network for Winter 2012.

Dubai-based carrier, Emirates (EK) has announced various changes to its African network as it gears up for the Northern Hemisphere Winter.

Emirates Africa Route Network

  Emirates NH Winter 2012 Africa Changes

Dubai – Cape Town, South Africa

- Aircraft used gradually switches to an Airbus A340-300.

• EK772 DXB0350 – 1140CPT 343 1234567
• EK770 DXB0850 – 1625CPT 343 1234567
• EK773 CPT1330 – 0120+1DXB 343 1234567
• EK771 CPT1810 – 0535+1DXB 343 1234567
• EK770/771 operates with Airbus A340-300 instead of Boeing 777-300ER from 1 February 2013
• EK772/773 operates with Airbus A340-300 instead of -500 from 1 March 2013 (Service is suspended from 1 September 2012 until 30 November 2012).

Dubai – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

- Effective 1 February 2013 (Previously stated as starting from 1 March 2013) 2-class 777-300ER replaces A340-500 hence no First Class service.

Previously announced:

Dubai – Johannesburg, South Africa 

- Effective 1 December 2012 Airbus A380 service resumes on EK761/762.

Dubai – Lusaka, Zambia – Harare, Zimbabwe

- Effective 1 October 2012 Service increases daily from 5 weekly; A330-200 operating.

 

Dubai – Tunis, Tunisia 

- Effective 1 December 2012, 3-class Boeing 777-300ER replaces Airbus A340-500; loss of First Class Suite service.

Source [Airline Route]

► MALI: Air Mali struggling as civil unrest severely disrupts operations.

Celestair Group's Air Mali (I5) has been forced to suspend a number of its flights as a result of the ongoing civil unrest in the Maghreb country, which has been raging since January 2012 and has seen the near partition of the country into two regions: the more conservative Islamic partition of Azawad in the north and Mali itself in the south.

► RWANDA: RwandAir rumoured to start Lusaka and Cape Town "in November".

According to fellow blogger RwandanFlyer, Rwandan national airline Rwandair (WB) is set to launch flights from its hub in Kigali, Rwanda to Lusaka, Zambia and Cape Town, South Africa "sometime in November of this year", though no official confirmation has been made available as yet.

A RwandAir Ad on Facebook.

It is said that the launch of the flights will coincide with "the arrival of RwandAir's two new Bombardier CRJ-900NGs in October, that will be used on other regional routes, thereby freeing up RwandAir's Boeing 737-800s for use to Lusaka and Cape Town."

RwandAir's Network

It is uncertain whether or not the carrier will be granted 5th Freedom rights to service the Lusaka - Cape Town sectors and vice-versa.

In October 2011, RwandAir signed an 'option deal' for two Boeing 787s for delivery in either 2015 or 2016. This should hopefully be the beginning of an audacious expansion plan that will see the airline going head to head with two major regional players: Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways.

Stay tuned for further updates.

► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia announces sweeping changes to its African network.

As part of its efforts to rationalize its capacity and quality of service, Namibian flag carrier Air Namibia (SW) has announced various route changes to its Africa route network effective 5 August 2012.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): Korongo brings forward planned Johannesburg flight increase.

Strong market demand has forced Congolese carrier Korongo Airlines (ZC) to bring forward its 4x weekly Lubumbashi, DRC - Johannesburg, South Africa, originally slated to have only come into effect on 1 September 2012, to 15 July 2012 (this has only be learned as of now!).

Korongo Airlines BAe146

Korongo Airlines: Lubumbashi, DRC - Johannesburg, South Africa

-Effective 15 July 2012

• ZC123 FBM0730 – 0945JNB 733 4
• ZC123 FBM1510 – 1730JNB 733 137

• ZC124 JNB1130 – 1350FBM 733 5
• ZC124 JNB1845 – 2105FBM 733 13
• ZC124 JNB1850 – 2110FBM 733 7

Source [Airline Route]

► MADAGASCAR: Air Madagascar reduces Paris flights from October.

With effect from Winter 2012 (i.e 28 October 2012), Air Madagascar is to reduce its current Airbus A340 operated 4x weekly flights from Antananarivo, Madagascar to Paris CDG, France to 3x weekly. Its other French route, Antananarivo, Madagascar to Marseille, France, is to remain a once (1x) weekly service.

Air Madagascar A340 in Paris (Didairbus)

Air Madagascar: Antananarivo, Madagascar – Paris CDG, France

-Effective 28 October 2012

• MD050 TNR2050 – 0620+1CDG 343 1
• MD050 TNR2350 – 0920+1CDG 343 46
• MD051 CDG1620 – 0520+1TNR 343 257

 Source [Airline Route]

► SAUDI ARABIA: Saudia Cargo revenues up 25% from 2011 on the back of strong African market performance.

In spite of a very difficult global economy, Saudia Cargo (SV), the Cargo subsidiary of Saudi Arabian national carrier Saudia Airlines, has posted very strong numbers for the first half of 2012, with 251'500 tons of cargo being moved - a rise of 26% on this time last year of cargo - with revenues correspondingly rising by 25%. 

► SIERRA LEONE: British Airways adds third weekly flight to Freetown.

From 31 March 2013, British Airways is to add a third weekly flight on its London Heathrow - Freetown, Sierra Leone route using a Boeing 767-300ER. 

In early July, British Airways had announced a reduction in service on the route from 3x weekly to 2x weekly following the replacement of the previous aircraft used on the route - a BMI Airbus A330-200 - with the aforementioned 767.

A British Airways Boeing 767-300ER (MinaBassaly)

British Airways: London Heathrow - Freetown, Sierra Leone

-Effective 31 March 2013

• BA137 LHR2230 – 0525+1FNA 767 135
• BA136 FNA1100 – 1830LHR 767 246

Source [Airline Route]

► LIBYA: Turkish Airlines to start Sebha effective September 2012.

Starting 2 September 2012, Turkish Airlines (TK) continues its aggressive push into Africa, this time with the announcement of a new 3x weekly flight between Istanbul and Sebha, Libya to be serviced with an Airbus A320. At present Turkish Airlines operates a fairly extensive Libyan network with flights offered to Tripoli, Benghazi and Misurata.

Turkish Airlines' Libya Network

Turkish Airlines: Istanbul, Turkey - Sebha, Libya

-Effective 2 September 2012

• TK641 IST0945 – 1215SEB 320 247
• TK642 SEB1310 – 1730IST 320 247

Source [AirlineRoute]

As previously reported by The African Aviation Tribune, Turkish Airlines will shortly commence flights to Kinshasa, DRC and to Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.

► CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Check out Trans Air Congo's swanky new livery! (Pic)

Pointe Noire-based regional carrier Trans Air Congo (Q8) has applied a smart new livery to its Boeing 737-200 (TN-AHI). 

►► KENYA: Qatar Airways indefinitely postpones Mombasa route launch.

[Update 14 August] Inspite of the successful launch of its new Kilimanjaro, Tanzania route last week, Qatar Airways has indefinitely postponed its new Mombasa, Kenya route.

Originally meant to start from 15 August 2012, the flight would been flown with an Airbus A320 and would have gone via Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

No official announcement from Qatar Airways has been received as to when, if ever, the route will be flown though Airline Route reports that the flight on the GDS is no longer available.

►Update: See this post for new schedule.

► TURKEY: Turkish Airlines announces changes to Africa Network for Winter 2012.

Turkish carrier Turkish Airlines (TK) has announced various changes to its African network effective Q4 of 2012.

Turkish Airlines Africa Network

Istanbul – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
-Effective 28 October 2012 service reduces from daily to 5x weekly using 737-900ER.

• TK603 IST1910 – 0335+1DAR 739 x13
• TK604 DAR0435 – 1050IST 739 x24

Istanbul – Nairobi, Kenya 

-Effective 28 October 2012 Boeing 737-800 replaces -900ER, daily service

• TK607 IST1950 – 0325+1NBO 73H 1234567
• TK608 NBO0445 – 1020IST 73H 1234567

Istanbul – Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
-Effective 9 October 2012 NEW 4x weekly service to its 3rd destination in Egypt. Schedule below effective 28 October 2012.

• TK700 IST0205 – 0440SSH 737 135
• TK701 SSH0640 – 0925IST 737 135

Istanbul – Kigali, Rwanda – Entebbe, Uganda - Istanbul
- Effective 28 October 2012 service increases from 4x to 5x weekly using a 737-900ER

• TK606 IST1840 – 0130+1KGL0225+1 – 0420+1EBB0520+1 – 1045+1IST 739 x27

Istanbul – Kinshasa, DRC
- Effective 27 September 2012 service increases from 4x to 5x weekly. Schedule below effective 28 October 2012.

• TK671 IST1445 – 2115FIH 739 26
• TK672 FIH2215 – 0630+1IST 739 26

Source [Airline Route]

■ BOTSWANA: Government fires Chinese firm Sinohydro over delays to Gaborone Airport Expansion project.

Fed up with continual delays and deadline setbacks, the Botswana Government has decided to fire the primary contractor on Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA) Expansion Project Phase 2, Chinese state construction firm Sinohydro, with 95% of the works completed.

● 3 Truly amazing Aviation Videos shot in Africa.

No, not 3 dopey videos some nerd sent you on Facebook or 3 videos we mooched off of Discovery Channel's Air Crash Investigations but rather 3 truly mind blowing aviation videos we found on Youtube, all shot in Africa! (And excuse the crappy dance music in the first one - we would have preferred some Kenny G but hey, you can't have it all...)

• The Belly of the Beast - A cam was attached to the belly of a 747 on a ferry flight from Johannesburg to Maputo, Mozambique.

 

• Ilyushin IL76 (Nose Cam) Landing 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, Luanda, Angola - Ever wonder what the navigator in the nose of those enormous Ilyushin 76s sees on landing? 

• Stowaway Wheel-well View 747 flight from Lusaka, Zambia to Nairobi, Kenya - Pretty crazy video shot from the wheel well of an MK Airlines 747 Cargo flight.

 

Now how awesome was that huh?

► GHANA: Africa World Airlines inks deal with Hainan Airlines; aims to launch in September.

Ghanaian startup Africa World Airlines (AWA) has entered into a joint venture with Haiku based Hainan Airlines (HU) which will see the Chinese carrier taking a controlling stake in the soon-to-be launched Low Cost Carrier, the third of its type  to launch in Ghana after Starbow Airlines, fly540 Ghana and CTK CiTylinK.

Under the deal, management for AWA will be sourced from HNA Carriers, Hainan Airlines' parent company.

An Africa World Airlines (AWA) advertisement.

Other shareholders in the joint venture in addition to Hainan Airlines will be the China-Africa Development Fund, Ghana SAS Financial Group and Ghana Social Security and National Insurance Trust of Ghana.

"The Chinese carrier said that “big market demand for air transport industry in Ghana and other parts of West Africa triggered by the backwardness of ground traffic” is the main reason it decided to launch AWA. But industry analysts also pointed out that “instability of political situation and harsh natural environment in Africa” would present some challenges for the successful operation of the new Joint Venture."

Source [ATW]

Founded by Ghana's Togbe Afede XIV, a king from eastern Ghana's Asogli state, Africa World Airlines aims to launch in September with two Embraer ERJ145LR aircraft from Tianjin Airlines, with its initial route network set to focus on its Accra, Ghana hub and domestic destinations, before expanding into the region, pending regulatory approval.  Should it be feasible, AWA's international expansion would only likely occur after five years, a sufficiently long-term date to quell any immediate concerns about 'over-reaching' - a major mistake that has been the undoing of many African carriers in the past, mostly due to its allure and prestige.