■ ZAMBIA: Resolution of Significant Safety Concern takes Zambia one step closer to being removed from ICAO & EU blacklists.

Following the resolution of what the International Civil Aviation Organization termed "a Significant Safety Concern", Zambia has taken a crucial step towards being struck off the ICAO's Safety Watch List, with removal from the EU's No-Fly List now a distinct possibility.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): RVA launches study for new cargo facility at N'djili International Airport.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's aviation authority, Régie des Voies Aériennes de la République Démocratique du Congo (RVA), has embarked on a €280'000 study for the construction of a new cargo facility at Kinshasa's N'djili International Airport.

■ TANZANIA: Now Canada's AvMax Aircraft Leasing wants their pound of Fastjet flesh.

AvMax Aircraft Leasing has joined the growing list of disgruntled suppliers demanding their money from Fastjet (FN). The Canada-based ACMI firm recently wrote to Fastjet stating it had moved to deregister three of its aircraft previously leased to Fastjet's predecessor, Fly540 Tanzania, over USD2million worth of unpaid leasing and maintenance bills.

■ ETHIOPIA: ECAA seeks to amend BASAs with numerous African countries in hopes of spurring on Ethiopian Airlines' intra African growth.

Spurred on by its consistent annual growth of 25%, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is seeking to consolidate its position as one of Africa's dominant carriers through the signing and amending of its Bilateral Air Service Agreements the country has with various African countries.

► MOZAMBIQUE: See Pics of VistaJet's ongoing Global 6000 Business Jet Africa Tour, set to stop in Maputo next.

Vistajet, the Swiss company luxury jet company specializing in short term leasing, has taken its Bombardier Global 6000 jet on a global roadshow with Africa being the first leg. Thus far, Kumasi, Accra, Abuja, Lagos, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Luanda, Johannesburg, Cape Town have been visited with Maputo, Kampala, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam still left.

► TANZANIA: Government confirms in talks with Virgin Atlantic over possible London flights.

The Tanzanian Government has confirmed it is in talks with British carrier Virgin Atlantic (VS) over the possible launch of flights between the United Kingdom and the East African country following British Airways (BA) decision to axe Dar es Salaam from its network effective 31 March.

► MOROCCO: TAP Air Portugal boosts capacity to Marrakech, Casablanca from March.

For the upcoming IATA Northern Summer Season (from 31 March), Portugal's TAP (TP) will increase capacity on select Morocco flights with the delpoyment of the Airbus A319 aircraft on its flights to Marrakech and Casablanca.

► TANZANIA: Precision Air goes daily to Mbeya, ups Kigoma ops while Auric Air starts Musoma flights.

Tanzanian private carrier, Precision Air (PW), has announced, effective 9 February, the launch of daily services between Dar es Salaam and Mbeya (Songwe) Airports, roughly 1 month after flights were resumed there. Additonally, a second Mwanza - Kigoma service has been launched that operates 5x weekly. Auric Air (AUK), an airline based in Mwanza, Tanzania offering both scheduled and air charter services, is to launch 4x weekly Mwanza - Musoma flights effective 15 February.

► CAMEROON: Camair-Co boss Boertien announces new domestic routes; gets robbed.

On 23 January, Matthijs Boertien, the newly appointed CEO of Cameroonian carrier, Camair-Co (QC), announced the launch of several new domestic routes, last served by Camair-Co's predecessor, Cameroon Airlines (UY).

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Skywise confirms launch delayed past 1 March as Comair memo on fastjet surfaces.

Corroborating our previous report, South African startup carrier Skywise, whose founders include ex-1Time honchos Rodney James and Glenn Orsmond, ex-1Time Chief Information Officer, Michael Kaminski, and Johan Borstlap, a former director at defunct domestic carrier Sun Air, have confirmed that they will not meet their target launch date of 1 March following the failure of their application for a domestic licence to the Air Services Licensing Council (ASLC) on 16 January.

► SUDAN: Nas Air to expand with service from Dammam and Khartoum.

Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier Nas Air (XY) is to expand its operations to the Sudan with the launch of flights between Dammam and Khartoum, Sudan as part of its regional expansion plans.

► ANGOLA: TAAG set to order 3 additional 777-300ERs for delivery from 2019 onwards.

On the back of an 11% increase in passenger numbers posted for 2012, TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), Angola's national carrier, is to purchase an additional three Boeing 777-300ERs due for delivery from 2019/2020.

■ SIERRA LEONE: Government signs $198m deal with China to build new Freetown International Airport.

Not to be outdone by its neighbour Liberia, the Sierra Leone Government is to move ahead with the first phase in the construction of a new USD198million Freetown International Airport, following the signing of a contract between the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the China Railway International Company in December last year. Financing is to come from the Chinese Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank).

■ NIGERIA: NAAPE endorses Senate's report recommending Demuren's sacking and Dana Air's AOC revocation.

Nigeria's National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has come out in support of Nigerian Senate & House of Representatives whose recent Joint Committee on Aviation Report unequivocally condemned the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as being staffed by "unqualified persons working as Aircraft Inspectors" and which recommended the immediate withdrawal of Dana Air's (9J) Air Operators Certificate, reinstated in early December.

► COTE D'IVOIRE: Air Côte d’Ivoire announces Pointe Noire, Ouagadougou, Yaounde; various timetable changes.

AirlineRoute states that Air Côte d’Ivoire from 01FEB13 is adjusting its operations, which includes the launch of 3 new destinations in west Africa - Pointe Noire (Congo Brazzaville), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Yaounde (Cameroon).

■ BOTSWANA: Ethiopia, Botswana officially ink new BASA; Ethiopian Airlines to start ops in the near future?

Ethiopia has continued its push into southern Africa with the recent official signing of a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Botswana, paving the way for possible flights between Addis Ababa and Gaborone by Ethiopian Airlines. Negotiations were concluded in May 2012 following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in May 2010.

■ LIBERIA: LAA rehabilitating Roberts International as Government plans new $163million airport to transform Monrovia into regional hub.

The Liberian Civil Aviation Authority, under the auspices of the Liberian Airports Authority (LAA), has embarked on the renovation of  Monrovia's Roberts International Airport (RIA) as the country moves to renovate its decrepit infrastructure, left to decay during the Civil Wars of 1989 - 1996 and 1999 - 2003.

► RÉUNION: Air Austral announces timetable adjustments for Hurricane Felleng.

With the imminent arrival of Hurricane Felleng, Réunion based carrier Air Austral (UU) has, as a precautionary, issued a revised timetable for the next few days.

► BRAZIL: Angolan Air Force takes delivery of three Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft.

Brazil's Embraer Defense and Security today delivered the first three of six light attack and advanced training A-29 Super Tucano turboprops to the Força Aérea Nacional Angolana (National Air Force of Angola), at a ceremony held in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil. 

► MAURITIUS: Air France unwilling to commit to Air Mauritius citing "lack of means".

Following speculation in the French aviation press, Air France (AF) has shot down any chance of closer strategic and financial ties with Mauritian carrier, Air Mauritius. The possibility of a tie up was discussed with French President François Hollande during the visit of Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, to the Elysee Palace on January 21.