► GAMBIA: Gambia Bird takes delivery of second Airbus A319; prepares to expand network.

Gambia Bird (3G) has announced the delivery of a second Airbus A319 (MSN 4691 | D-ASTB) as the fledgling carrier prepares to expand its network with the launch of flights to Abidjan, Abuja, Bamako, Douala and Ouagadougou.

► SINGAPORE: Air Mauritius maintains Singapore service from late January 2013.

According to Airline Route, Air Mauritius (MK) will maintain its 1x weekly service to Singapore on/after 21 January 2013. The flight currently operates with an Airbus A330-200.

■ NIGERIA: AeroContractors appoints Ibru as Interim MD after Akin George resigns.

Captain Akin George, the Managing Director of Nigeria's second largest domestic airline, Aero Contractors (AJ), has announced his resignation following a restructuring exercise undertaken by the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Denel Aviation to retrench 523 as SAAF confirms contract will not be renewed.

523 aircraft maintenance specialists at Denel Aviation’s Aero Manpower Group, the MRO division of the South Africa's government-backed Denel Corporation, are to be retrenched as a result of the South African Air Force (SAAF) deciding against renewing its contract with the firm, set to lapse next year.

► CHINA: Ethiopian Airlines modifies its planned Boeing 787 China Service in Dec 2012/Jan 2013.

According to the 10 December 2012 GDS timetable and inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is postponing its planned Boeing 787 ops to China from 16 December 2012 to 31 January 2013. 

 

► ZAMBIA: DC9 crash landing this morning was just a simulation: AFP

Those of you who follow us on Twitter will have been aware this morning of an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report coming from Lusaka, Zambia of a crash landing of a DC 9 (and in some cases, a DC 10 was even reported) with 93 people aboard at Lusaka International. It was even tweeted that "some 20 people had been rescued".

► SUDAN: Gulf Air reduces Khartoum flights from late January 2013.

Bahraini carrier Gulf Air (GF) has announced that, with effect from 21 January 2013, it will reduce its frequencies to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum from 11x to 7x weekly.

► CHINA: See Pics of Eritrean startup Massawa Airways' first MA60's delivery ceremony in Xi'an.

Eritrean startup Massawa Airways, on 29 November, officially took delivery of its first Chinese manufactured MA60 (TBD10 | E3-AAV). 

► DUBAI: Afriqiyah to launch 2x weekly Benghazi, Tripoli - Dubai flights from 20 December.

According to their official Twitter account, Libyan airline Afriqiyah (8U) has announced that its inaugural flight to Dubai will operate from both Benghazi and Tripoli twice weekly using an Airbus A330-200.

► GABON: DHL awards Solinair logistics contract for Nigeria, Cameroon, Equat'l Guinea ops.

The South African division of DHL Aviation has awarded Ljubljana-based Slovenian airline Solinair (SOP) a wet-lease contract for cargo operations using its lone B737-4K5F (MSN 24128 | S5-ABV) . 

► CAMEROON: Camair-Co considering either Embraer EJets or Bombardier CSeries for mid range fleet; to add a possible third 787?

Alex Van Elk, the CEO of Cameroonian national carrier Camair-Co (QC), says the airline is considering either Embraer E-Jets or Bombardier's upcoming CSeries for its mid-range fleet, with an extra Boeing 787-8 to be added to its shopping list.

► TANZANIA: See Pics of Turkish Airlines inaugural Kilimanjaro route launch.

Turkish national carrier, Turkish Airlines (TK), added Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and Mombasa, Kenya to its growing global network last week 5 December, when the first of its 5x weekly Boeing 737-900ER operated flights, touched down.

► SENEGAL: ASKY Airlines to start Lomé - Dakar via Bamako from mid December.

Lomé, Togo based operator ASKY Airlines (KP), Ethiopian Airlines' subsidiary in West Africa, will from 18 December 2012, commence three times weekly Lomé - Bamako (Mali) - Dakar (Senegal) flights, to be operated with a Boeing 737-700.

► MOZAMBIQUE: Kaya Airlines launches Inhaca Island, Machangulo and Zongoene flights.

According to the Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM), Mozambican private carrier Kaya Airlines (IK) has announced the launch of flights to the resorts of Inhaca Island, Machangulo and Zongoene, likely out of its Maputo hub.

■ CANADA: South African Airways, Air Canada sign code share deal.

South African Airways (SA) has signed a reciprocal code-share agreement with fellow Star Alliance member, Air Canada (AC), effective 13 December 2012.

■ EU BLACK LIST: Mozambique, Madagascar lay more blame on the "operating environment" as opposed to individual airline's safety shortcomings.

Following the announcement by the European Commission on Wednesday on its updated Carrier Black List, Mozambique, Mauritania and Madagascar's press have responded to the news in varying ways, with the Mozambican press and Air Madagascar claiming that the Ban is not so much about their airline's respective safety records, but more about the general status quo of aviation and aviation safety in their countries.

■ EGYPT: Snake bites passenger on Egyptair flight to Kuwait; forced diversion to Hurghada.

A Jordanian man, who had smuggled a snake aboard Egyptair (MS) flight MS610 from Cairo (Egypt) to Kuwait City (Kuwait) with 91 passengers, was bitten by the reptile after it managed to escape the bag he was carrying it in.

■ SENEGAL: Project to twin Casablanca and Dakar as regional cargo hubs progresses.

A project aimed at streamlining trade relations and partnerships between Morocco and Senegal could soon become a reality. A project, initiated by the Moroccan Airports Authority (Office National Des Aéroports (ONDA)) that could see Dakar Senegal becoming a possible cargo feeder hub to Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport, is at last, moving forward, with an outline of the project now on the table.

■ MALAWI: Strike by DCA workers at Lilongwe's Kamuzu Int'l Airport causes serious delays, disruptions.

Ground-handling staff at Lilongwe's Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) have, since Monday, abandoned their night shifts at the airport, amidst other industrial action, in protest at unpaid overtime allowances that they claim "date back years."

► ITALY: Egyptair increases Rome frequency from Spring 2013.

Egyptair (MS) will from 31 March 2013, increase frequencies on its Cairo – Rome Fiumicino route, with overall service to rise from 11x to 14x weekly. The service increase comes with the afternoon departure.