► ALGERIA: Alitalia to start Rome Fiumicino - Oran from late March.

Italian carrier Alitalia (AZ) will, starting 26MAR13, commence 3x weekly Rome (Fiumicino) – Oran, Algeria flights on board a CityLiner Embraer E175 aircraft. 

► BOTSWANA: SA Airlink to start Johannesburg - Kasane from late March.

In addition to announcing flights to Vilanculos, Mozambqiue, SA Airlink (4Z) will commence a scheduled Johannesburg – Kasane (Botswana) service, from Friday 22 March 2012. The initial schedule will operate on Days 1357 departing Johannesburg OR Tambo at 11h45 arriving back in Johannesburg at 15h50. From August 2013 the service will operate daily.

■ KENYA: Kenya Airways releases its Operations Report for Q3 2012 (October - December).

Kenya Airways (KQ) today released its Operations Report for the Third Quarter of 2012; October to 31st December 2012.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Egyptair to boost services for Summer 2013.

Egyptian national carrier EgyptAir(MS) is to tentatively expand its service to Saudi Arabia during the Summer 2013 season. Planned new routes and/or additional flights as follows.

■ NIGERIA: FAAN makes good on its threats to deal with derelict aircraft; proceeds with clean up in Lagos.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) this week made good on its threats to remove abandoned and derelict aircraft from airport environs starting with the cleanup of Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport where, it is reported, 13 aircraft are awaiting disposal.

► RWANDA: Rising demand forces RwandAir to lease 737-700s, but how long until profitability and ultimately, privatization?

Riding its current wave of strong passenger figures, Rwandair (WB) are to phase out their two Boeing 737-500 in favour of the larger, more economical Boeing 737-700. Rwandair currently operates two Boeing 737-500s.

■ ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe's IOSA due to be completed by the end of February.

Struggling Zimbabwean national carrier Air Zimbabwe (UM) is confident about its ongoing IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) with its completion due at the end of February, in time for UM's anticipated roll out of new regional and possibly, international flights.

► GHANA: Antrak Air to launch Kumasi - Tamale from 28 January.

Ghanaian domestic operator Antrak Air (4O) is to launch daily Kumasi - Tamale flights using an ATR72-500 effective tomorrow Monday 28 January 2013.

► MOZAMBIQUE: SA Airlink to start Johannesburg - Vilanculos from March 2013.

Following the withdrawal of Federal Air (7V) from the route earlier this month, SA Airlink (4X) is to introduce 5x weekly Johannesburg (ORTIA) - Vilanculos, Mozambique flights effective 22 March 2013. The flights will initially operate 3x weekly (Days 135) to be increased to 5x weekly (Days 12357) from July 2013.

► MAURITIUS: Air France, Air Mauritius to take their relationship to the next level?

Relations between Air France (AF) and Mauritian national carrier Air Mauritius (MK) could develop into a closer strategic and financial partnership following a state visit to France on 21 January by the Prime Minister of Mauritius.

■ CAMEROON: New boss Boertien envisages 26 aircraft, a cargo hub, maintenance and training facilities in a peek at his 5 year plan for Camair-Co.

Preliminary tid-bits regarding new CEO Matthijs Boertien's future plans for Cameroonian carrier Camair-Co (QC) have been revealed with the creation of 1'000 jobs via an envisaged fleet of 26 aircraft, a training centre, a maintenance unit, and a cargo hub being amongst the highlights. In the meantime, Boertien has moved to improve the carrier's relationship with its suppliers and staff in an attempt at rebuilding the carrier's battered morale and reputation.

► EGYPT: AlMasria Universal Airbus A321 declares fuel emergency after protracted military exercises exceed their time allocation.

Bungling on behalf of air traffic control at Cairo International Airport almost caused a serious incident today when an AlMasria Universal Airbus A321-200, (MSN 666 | SU-TCC) operating flight UJ-107 from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia to Cairo, was forced to declare a fuel emergency after a forewarned military exercise at the airport, surpassed its allocated time.

► TANZANIA: South Africa's Mango sets sights on East Africa with Zanzibar a possible launch destination.

South African Low Cost Carrier Mango (JE) is set to expand into the East African market in the coming 18 months according to Mango CEO Nico Bezuidenhout with the strongest contender on the carrier's list said to be Zanzibar, where the carrier operated a limited charter service in December.

■ SOMALIA: New Immigration building opened at Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport.

The new Immigration Department building at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport was officially handed over on Sunday 14, January. Built on behalf of the Somali  Department of Immigration by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the project was funded by the Japanese Government.

► LIBYA: Ryanair in negotiations with Tunisia, Egypt and Libya over possible flights.

Irish low cost megacarrier, Ryanair (FR), has announced that it is looking at starting flights to Tunisia, Libya and Egypt "over the next few years," though any potential flights would depend on the deregulation of their own aviation industries as well as the signing of an Open Skies agreement with the European Union.

► SOUTH SUDAN: Turkey's AtlasJet wins tender for national airline; to launch with two aircraft.

Turkey's Atlasjet (KK), is to establish a private airline in South Sudan following the opening of bids on January 23,  in the South Sudanese capital, Juba. In September, Murat Ersoy, the President of Atlasjet (KK), led a 25-member strong Turkish delegation to Juba, scouting for potential business opportunities.

■ GHANA: The outcome of talks between the GCAA and Delta Airlines over allegations of the latter's shoddy service.

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has met with officials of the Delta Airlines (DL) at the GCAA Head Office in a bid to resolve complaints from passengers stemming from flight delays, cancellations and poor customer service.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA, Mango, Comair all object to fastjet's 1Time licence transfer designs as Skywise's ASLC application fails.

In a rare show of unity, South African carriers Mango (JE), South African Airways (SA) and Comair Group (owners of BA Comair (BA) and Kulula (MN)) have collectively objected to the South African Air Services Licensing Council, a state regulator set to convene next month, over fastjet's (FN) proposed transfer of 1time’s operators licence, who are applying for a Ministerial exemption in order to fast track the process.

► GHANA: Two new startups looking to start ops: Eagle Atlantic Airlines and Air Ghana.

Eagle Atlantic Airlines (EAB) is planning to launch regional operations from its Accra hub should it acquire its Air Operator Certificate (AOC). According to its website, Eagle Atlantic plans to operate a single McDonnell Douglas MD-82 to Abuja, Lagos, Abidjan, Conakry, Freetown, Monrovia, Dakar.

► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania's DHC-8-300 completes repairs in Kigoma; resumes ops to Dar es Salaam.

Air Tanzania (TC) yesterday resumed its Kigoma - Dar es Salaam route after its Bombardier DHC-8-300 (MSN 474 | 5H-MWF) was grounded in Kigoma on its début flight 10 days ago following an in-flight cracked windshield.