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Friday, November 2, 2012

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Knives out for SAA as 1Time goes under.

Embattled South African LCC, 1Time (T6), has filed for liquidation and has subsequently ceased operations as of 3pm this afternoon, 2 November 2012.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

■ KENYA: Kenya Airways releases its Operations Report for Q2 2012 (July - September).

Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways (KQ) today released its Operations Report for the Second Quarter of 2012 ending 30 September 2012.


► COTE D'IVOIRE: Ghana's Starbow Airlines to add Abidjan from 8 November; Freetown, Monrovia to follow by year end.

Starbow AirlinesGhana's Starbow  Airlines (S9) are set to launch ops from its hub in Accra, Ghana to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire effective Thursday 8 November 2012, according to the carrier's Co-Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Brock Friesen, who made the announcement at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday.     

► SOUTH AFRICA: Kenya Airways increases Johannesburg flights from December.

Kenya AirwaysWith effect from 1 December 2012, Kenya Airways (KQ) will increase its flights to South Africa with the introduction of an additional four weekly flights between Nairobi and Johannesburg (ORTIA), South Africa, using its newly acquired Embraer E-190.

► SENEGAL: Air Cote d'Ivoire to debut with Dakar on 12 November.

Air Cote d'IvoireFollowing last week's deferment, made public by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, Air Cote d'Ivoire (HF) has announced it will launch scheduled flights on 12 November with Abidjan - Dakar, Senegal to be its launch route.

► MALAYSIA: Ethiopian Airlines, Malaysia Airlines set for closer ties from early 2013 on.

Ethiopian
Fresh from the launch of its Addis Ababa - Kuala Lumpur route launch yesterday, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has announced that plans to set up possible a code share and pro-rate agreement (an agreement between airlines to give each other a fixed price for interlining) with Malaysian carrier, Malaysian Airlines (MH), are at an advanced stage and could come to fruitition "as early as next year, 2013."

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

► MOZAMBIQUE: (Pics) Qatar Airways launches 3x weekly Maputo flights.

Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways (QR) today inaugurated the first of three weekly services to the Mozambique’s capital city of Maputo. Touching down in Maputo enroute from Doha and Johannesburg, QR584 arrived to a water salute and a welcome by traditional dancers followed by an airport ceremony attended by more than 80 local dignitaries and media.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

► HONG KONG: Air Seychelles to start 3x weekly Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi flights from 2013.

Air SeychellesSeychelles national carrier (HM), today announced intentions to start flights between Mahé, Seychelles and Hong Kong (SAR) China via Abu Dhabi, UAE effective February 2013.

► ETHIOPIA: Etihad postpones Addis Ababa launch citing "Ethiopian CAA rejection".

Abu Dhabi based carrier Etihad Airways (EY) has announced the indefinite postponement of its inaugural Abu Dhabi - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia flight, set to begin this Friday, 2 November 2012.

►► CHAD: Presidential Jet involved in accident in Kalait; no casualties.

Chad flagReports out of Chad claim that the Chadian Presidential Jet, carrying strongman Idriss Deby, was yesterday involved in an accident whilst landing in Bir Kalait, 750 kilometres North East of the capital, Ndjamena. No casualties were reported, though the aircraft is said to have sustained damage.

● SOUTH AFRICA: Uganda's Daniel Wanjala wins African Aviator Award for 2012.

AviAssistAt a gala dinner held yesterday, Monday, in Cape Town, South Africa, the AviAssist Foundation in conjunction with the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation CANSO, announced Uganda's Daniel Wanjala as the winner of its 2012 African Aviator Award, this year selecting Air Traffic Management/Control as the area of expertise for the award. 

Monday, October 29, 2012

► ZIMBABWE: (Pics) KLM resumes Harare after 13 year hiatus.

KLM
A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Airbus A330-200 operating flight KL523 touched down 30 minutes early at 20.57L at Harare International Airport this evening, signifying the resumption of services to Amsterdam, cancelled 13 years ago.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: 1Time Holdings announces $5million loss for interim period ended 30 June; plans rights issue.

South Africa's 1time Holdings Ltd, the parent company of LCC 1Time (T6) and its sister company, Jetworx, has posted a USD5.02million loss according to its unaudited results for the interim period ended 30 June 2012, with "higher fuel costs, airport taxes and an excess of capacity in the market" continuing to take their toll.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

■ NIGERIA: (Pics) New General Aviation Terminal in Lagos opened but legal battles over its concessions still loom.

NigeriaNigeria's Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, last Monday officially opened Lagos's Murtala Mohammed Airport's newly remodelled domestic terminal popularly called the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), built at a cost of USD4.1million.

■ GABON: Ethiopian Airlines gives Gabon Airlines 30 days to pay up or risk losing its 767.

Gabon AirlinesEthiopian Airlines' MRO has given Gabon's now defunct Gabon Airlines (GY) thirty days as of 24 October 2012, to pay up over €750'000 it owes the facility for repairs and maintenance done to its Boeing 767-200 (MSN 21877 | TR-LHP), now stored in Addis Ababa since 2010.

Friday, October 26, 2012

► TOGO: ASKY Airlines to resume Bangui, Banjul, Pointe Noire from November.

Lomé, Togo based ASKY  Airlines (KP) is to resume flights to Bangui (Central African Republic), Banjul (Gambia) and Pointe Noire (Republic of the Congo) from November onwards.

► NIGERIA: Cessna Caravan piloted by Taraba state governor, crashes; 6 in critical condition.

NigeriaA Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (MCN: 208B2098 | 5N-BMJ) operated by the Taraba State Government and piloted by the Governor of Taraba State in Nigeria, Dambaba Sunta, has crashed with 6 persons aboard. All are said to have survived, but are in a critical condition.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

■ ETHIOPIA: Lufthansa Technik lands MRO deal for Ethiopian's 787s.

Lufthansa TechnikGermany's Lufthansa Technik have signed a 10 year deal with Ethiopian Airlines (ET) that will see the Hamburg-based MRO specialists providing component support for Ethiopian's growing fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles announces new Mahé - Praslin timetable.

Air SeychellesAir Seychelles (HM) has announced a new domestic schedule, effective October 28, which will see an increase in capacity between Mahé and Praslin by 38%.

► CANADA: Ethiopian announces 787 ops to Toronto & Frankfurt for Winter 2012.

Ethiopian
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has announced further adjustments to its planned Boeing 787 operations. Frankfurt, Germany will receive the 787 on a daily basis from 27 October 2012 replacing its current 767, whilst Toronto, Canada's current 777-200LR service will be replaced with a 787 effective 9 November.