■ ALGERIA: Swissport awarded ground-handling contract for Oran airport.

Swissport Algeria, a division of Swissport International, a global provider of airport ground services, has been awarded a 5-year ground handling licence for Oran International Airport (Ahmed Ben Bella), Algeria by the Etablissement de Gestion des Services Aéroportuaires d’Oran (EGSA Oran) Tender Commission.

 

► NIGERIA: Egyptair boosts capacity to Abuja over December/January period.

Egyptian national carrier, Egyptair (MS) will, over December 2012 and January 2013, increase its capacity on its Cairo – Abuja, Nigeria route with an Airbus A330-200 operating for selected periods instead of the usual Boeing 737-800 aircraft. 

■ KENYA: Reinstated workers reject Kenya Airways' "compulsory leave" directive; threaten to sue Naikuni and airline if not properly reinstated.

The 455 reinstated Kenya Airways (KQ) staff, whose claims of unfair dismissal were yesterday vindicated by an industrial court in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, today rejected a directive by the Kenyan carrier to send them all on compulsory paid leave until further notice.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: fastjet officially in talks to acquire 1Time Airline.

Following recent speculation in the South African press, fastjet (FN) has announced that it is indeed currently in negotiations with the management, directors and provisional liquidator of 1Time (T6), the South African LCC that ceased trading last month.  The negotiations, which have not yet concluded, and are subject to Board, parent company, and Regulatory approval, would allow fastjet to purchase 1time Airline from its parent company, 1time Holdings. 

► DUBAI: Emirates eyes fastjet as potential feeder airline in Africa.

Emirates (EK) has confirmed its interest in partnering recently launched Tanzanian based LCC, fastjet (FN) having previously allured to a possible deal in the past, albeit only in broad terms.

Spurred on by Africa’s rapid economic growth amid increased trade with Asian economies, the Middle Eastern carrier is looking to connect the bulk of the continent’s travellers to the rest of the world through its Dubai hub with budget airlines set to "feed" it with cargo and passengers via major cities like Nairobi, Dakar and Luanda.

► CHINA: Ethiopian Airlines reduces China ops over Chinese New Year 2013.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will, during the month of February 2013, reduce its operations to Beijing and Guangzhou during the Chinese New Year period. 

 

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe to launch further regional ops shortly as Minister dismisses any KLM partnership as a "dream".

Troubled Zimbabwean national carrier Air Zimbabwe (UM) has announced further route developments and equipment changes as it looks to resume international operations in the new year.

■ KENYA: Court orders Kenya Airways to reinstate 455 axed employees effective immediately.

An industrial court in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, has ordered Kenya Airways (KQ) to reinstate some 450 employees, effective immediately, who were laid off in August/September as part of spending-cuts at the carrier.

► BELGIUM: brussels airlines announces changes to its West & Central Africa network from February 2013.

Belgian carrier brussels airlines (SN) has announced various changes to its West and Central African route networks, effective late-February 2013.

► CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Ethiopian Airlines axes Bangui.

In another blow to the region of central Africa following Kenya Airways' (KQ) termination of Ndjamena, Chad flights last week, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has dropped Bangui, Central Africa Republic from its schedule. Its Lomé, Togo-based subsidiary, ASKY Airlines (KP), however, will still continue to operate there.

● UGANDA: Golden Jubilee Airshow set for Entebbe from 15-16 December.

Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority, together with Air Uganda, Eagle Air and the Kampala Aeroclub amongst others, are working together to put on the Golden Jubilee Airshow to be held on the 15th and 16th of December 2012 at Entebbe International Airport. The airshow is being held on the occasion of Uganda's 50th Anniversary of Independence, gained from Britain in 1962.

 

► IRAQ: Air Austral's unwanted Boeing 777-200LR finds a home with Iraqi Airways.

Respite has come to Réunion-based carrier Air Austral (UU) who, at last, have found a solution to the nagging problem of an unwanted Boeing 777-200LR (MSN 40993 | F-OLRB) that has been sitting idle in Seattle, awaiting delivery. Unable to pay for the aircraft, Air Austral have now been able to find a willing buyer in the form of the Iraqi Government who will then lease the aircraft out to Iraqi Airways (IA).

► LIBYA: (Pics) Libyan Airlines takes delivery of a new A320 as EU lifts ban on LN's CRJ900s from January 2013.

Libyan Airlines (LN) has taken delivery of yet another Airbus A320 (MSN 5373 | 5A-LAO) sporting its new redesigned livery. The aircraft is the first of two due this year with two A330s due in Q1 of 2013. The ceremony took place at Misrata Airport, Libya.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): Arik Air starts Lagos - Kinshasa from 5 December.

Nigeria’s largest commercial carrier, Arik Air (W3), has announced the start of twice weekly flights from Lagos to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo effective 5 December 2012.

► CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Aéro Service Ilyushin IL76 skids off runway during heavy storm at Brazzaville; at least 30 dead.

International news-wires are reporting that a AéroService (BF) Ilyushin IL76 (MSN 073410300 | EK-76300) cargo plane has overrun the runway at Brazzaville's Maya Maya Airport before crashing into houses located beside the runway, leaving 30 dead. The accident is said to have occurred at 18h00L during a heavy storm.

► RÉUNION: See Pics of Corsair International's sexy new A330 at Roland Garros!

Réunion, the French Overseas Territory in the Indian Ocean, was the first recipient of Corsair International's (SS) recently delivered Airbus A330-300; the first of two with the second due in late January 2013. The new aircraft are part of a renewal programme that follows a EUR300million recapitalization of the carrier by parent company, TUI, the largest tourism group in the world.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Fly Go-Air delays launch until 10 December, to use a Beech 1900.

South African start-up Fly Go-Air (KEM) has announced that it will now launch operations on Monday 10 December with its debut route still to be Johannesburg Lanseria airport to Kruger/Mpumulanga International Airport.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian successfully issues bond for $363m with backing from US ExIm Bank.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) on 28 November 2012, successfully placed its first bond issue with the backing of the US Export-Import Bank, to finance several brand new Boeing 787-8 aircraft ordered for the Ethiopian national carrier. (A bond is a certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principal.)

■ SENEGAL: ASECNA signs $35million contract with Thales, INEO Engineering for Radar, ATM Systems.

The Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (L'Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar) or ASECNA has signed a USD35million contract with a French consortium comprising Thales Air Systems SAS and INEO Engineering & Systems for the supply and installation of Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radars (MSSR) with Mode S capability in addition to its Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems.

■ GABON: Cargolux looks to expand sub-Saharan network as Luxembourg signs new BASA with Gabon.

Luxembourg-based cargo carrier, Cargolux (CV), is set to benefit from the recent signing of a new revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Gabon and Luxembourg, on 26 November 2012.