► SEYCHELLES: (Media) Air Seychelles' second A330 touches down in Mahé.

Air Seychelles' (HM) second Airbus A330-200 (MSN ? | A6-EYZ), christened Vallée de Mai, this afternoon touched down at Seychelles International Airport, Mahé. The aircraft made its first test flight in February and will now enter active service on Air Seychelles’ new international schedule, which includes new services to Hong Kong and increased frequencies to Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg and Mauritius.

► SOUTH AFRICA: LCC SkyWise granted air service licence, aims for launch in H2 of this year.

Skywise, the nascent South African LCC run by former 1Time (T6) executives, was on Monday  its air service licence by the South African Air Services Licensing Council. The new airline is now in the process of  acquiring its AOC (air operator certificate) from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) with Johannesburg - Cape town ops due to launch in H2 of this year.

■ UNITED KINGDOM: fastjet takes Don Smith to court over ownership of Fly540.

In the latest episode in the fastjet vs Don Smith soap opera, the Tanzanian LCC has now moved to take legal proceedings against Mr Smith, owner of 540 Aviation, seeking "a declaration that it has fulfilled its obligations under the Sale and Purchase Agreement" regarding Mr Smith's shares in Fly540.

► NAMIBIA: Former BBC filmmaker, Namibian pilot die in Sesfontein crash.

The wreckage of a Jabiru J400 light aircraft (MSN ? | ZU-EWR) carrying Namibian pilot Mike Berry and Emmy award winning South African filmmaker and photographer, Richard Mathews, was found yesterday morning in the rugged and highly mountainous area north of Purros near Sesfontein in Namibia's north-western Kunene Region. There were no survivors according to Namibian Police.

■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles, Seychelles Tourism Board sign MoU to promote the archipelago worldwide.

Air Seychelles (HM) and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at increasing Seychelles’ visibility as a destination around the world by leveraging the airline’s expanding international network and growing number of airline partners.

► ZIMBABWE: A sneak peek at Air Zimbabwe's planned N. Summer 2013 Route Network.

Following on from our previous bulletin yesterday, Air Zimbabwe's (UM) planned route expansion and fleet utilization plans have been unveiled. AirlineRoute writes that as per the 06MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, as well as OAG Schedules iNet, Air Zimbabwe’s planned Northern Summer 2013 operation are as follows, effective 31MAR13. Amongst the routes being introduced are Bulawayo - Victoria Falls, and tentatively Harare - Lagos - Accra - Harare and Harare - London Gatwick. No mention has been made of the Embraer ERJ135s.

■ ZAMBIA: NACL dispells allegations that new terminal at Livingstone's airport is "sinking".

Prince Chintimbwe, the director of airport services at Zambia's National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL), has dispelled reports alleging that the new terminal at Livingstone's Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport was "sinking", claiming his remarks had been taken out of context.

► SWITZERLAND: Royal Air Maroc resumes Casablanca - Zurich in mid April.

AirlineRoute writes that Royal Air Maroc (AT), from 19APR13, will resume its service to Zurich, after an 18 month service suspension. The airline will operate a 3x weekly Casablanca – Zurich service on board a Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: (Pics) kulula's rebranding campaign mocks South African Airways.

kulula (MN), the South African LCC known for its edgy advertising campaigns and humour, has taken it a step further by rebranding itself as "The Most South African Airways", a development likely to cause some backlash from South African Airways (SA), with whom parent company, Comair Ltd, is currently in court with, disputing the legality of SAA's bailouts.

► CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Launch of Air CEMAC delayed once more; this time until late 2013.

As prognosticated by The African Aviation Tribune in November 2012, Air CEMAC, the planned regional carrier to link Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and São Tomé & Príncipe, has indeed been forced to delay its intended January 2013 launch date, this time, to November/December 2013.

► ALGERIA: Tassili Airlines full launch domestic timetable released.

Algeria's Tassili Airlines (SF) new domestic timetable routing has been released following the launch of the airline's inaugural Algiers to the Saharan oases of Adrar and Tamanrasset on Saturday 2 March.

► SWAZILAND: Government to force Swazi Airlink to use Sikhuphe Int'l Airport come its opening in September - PM

The Swaziland Government is set to force national carrier, Swazi Airlink (SZL) to use Sikhuphe International Airport come its opening due in either "August or September 2013." Works are scheduled to be completed in April with a three month staff testing familiarization period planned thereafter.

■ BOTSWANA: Air Botswana inaugurates new Pula Lounge at Gaborone SSKIA Airport.

Air Botswana (BP) has officially opened its new lounge at Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA). Dubbed the Pula Lounge, after Botswana's national currency, the Pula, the facility will be available to members of Air Botswana's frequent flyer scheme, Teemane Club.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Air Zimbabwe pushes back planned launch of London flights to July.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) has delayed its planned launch date for international operations to London Gatwick to 1 July as its pushes to consolidate its domestic and regional operations first. Previously, the carrier had mentioned March as a possible date.

■ LIBYA: Lufthansa Systems, Libyan Airlines sign 5 year deal for supply of flight ops software.

Lufthansa Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group that  provides consulting and IT services for selected industries, today announced that Libyan Airlines (LN) has signed a five-year contract for its Lido/Flight flight planning solution as well as its Lido/RouteManual and Lido/eRouteManual navigation charts.

► ZIMBABWE: China Sonangol denies its A320 being used for diamond smuggling.

China Sonangol, the joint venture between the Hong Kong based China International Fund (or the 88 Queensway group) and Angola's state-owned oil company Sonangol, has denied a report by whistle-blower site, 100Reporters, alleging that its Airbus A319 (MSN 2706 | VP-BEX) was being used to "smuggle" diamonds from Zimbabwe's controversial Marange diamond fields.

■ NAMIBIA: Air Namibia due for $120mln bailout from Government this year with more big spending to come.

In what is fast becoming a bad trend amongst southern African carriers - the South African government "loaning" South African Airways (SA) over USD500million and Zimbabwe set to cover Air Zimbabwe's USD188million debt bill - it appears that the Namibian Government has now budgeted a whooping USD120million (NAD1.1billion) to pay for "business plan updates and outstanding debts" for struggling national carrier Air Namibia (SW), with further allocations due until 2016.

► TUNISIA: Alitalia to launch 2x weekly Rome - Djerba flights from June.

Italian carrier, Alitalia (AZ), is to launch twice weekly seasonal flights from Rome Fiumicino to Djerba, Tunisia for the duration of Summer 2013.

►► CONGO (KINSHASA): CAA Fokker 50 crashes on approach into Goma; 6 dead.

Congo's Radio Okapi is reporting that a Fokker 50 (MSN 20270 | 9Q-CBD) belonging to CAA - Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation (FPY) crashed into a residential area at 17h44L on Monday afternoon while landing in bad weather at Goma International Airport, North Kivu Province in the eastern DRC. CAA operates four Fokker 50s.

■ NIGERIA: Arik Air to partner Lufthansa Technik, Boeing, Bombardier in rebuilding its MRO Hangar in Lagos.

Nigerian private carrier, Arik Air (W3), will partner Lufthansa Technik, Bombardier and Boeing in rebuilding its aircraft maintenance hangar at Lagos Murtala Mohammed International Airport.