■ MALAWI: Ethiopian Airlines confirms talks have begun with Government over 49% stake in Air Malawi, choice of local partner.

After being declared the "preferred bidder" for a stake in Malawi's now dissolved national carrier Air Malawi (QM), Ethiopian Airlines (ET) says it has officially entered into negotiations with the government regarding its 49% buy-in.

► ALGERIA: Tassili Airlines looks to buy "at least 5 or 6" new aircraft to aide in network roll out plans.

Algerian carrier Tassili Airlines (SF) has outlined its intended fleet expansion plans to aide in the roll out of its recently-launched domestic network with delivery estimated to be in late 2013/early 2014.

► SOMALIA: Turkish Airlines to start flights to Somaliland in June?

Following recent talks held in Turkish capital, Ankara, between Turkish Government officials and a delegation from Somaliland, an unrecognised, self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia, flights between Istanbul and Berbera, a port town on the Red Sea, are to begin later this year.

► CHAD: Saudia Cargo boosts frequencies to Ndjamena, Lagos.

Saudi Airlines cargo division, Saudia Cargo (SV), has further strengthened its business relationship with Fast Forward Cargo in the UAE by increasing its frequencies to West Africa from Dubai World Central. Under an agreement signed by both parties, the new partnership will operate what is equivalent to 175 combined B747 flights between the UAE and West Africa, connecting mainly to Lagos in Nigeria and N’Djamena in Chad via Saudia Cargo’s hubs in Riyadh and Jeddah.

► MAURITIUS: (Pics) Emirates A380 lands in Mauritius to mark Independence Day.

Emirates (EK) today operated a one-off service of its flagship Airbus A380 to Mauritius on the occasion of the island’s 45th anniversary of independence. Flight EK701 from Dubai touched down at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport at approximately 09h40L.

● SUDAN: GCAA releases final report on AZZA Air Transport/Sudan Airways 707 crash in Sharjah in 2009; slams Sudan Airways, SCAA for sloppy standards.

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Administration (GCAA) has released its final report on the 2009 crash of a Sudanese Boeing 707-330C (MSN 20123/788 | ST-AKW) operated by Azza Air (AZZ) on behalf of Sudan Airways(SD). The aircraft crashed into the desert outside Sharjah International Airport shortly after take off killing 3 passengers and 3 crew. The report blames a combination of poor aircraft maintenance, sloppy inspection standards on behalf of the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority and inadequate crew training as the causes for the crash.

■ NIGERIA: Goodluck Jonathan sacks Harold Demuren as head of NCAA.

Dr. Harold Demuren, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has been sacked by Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, with immediate effect.

■ MAURITIUS: Two new hangars at SSR International Airport inaugurated.

The Airports of Mauritius Co Ltd. today inaugurated two out of the five new aircraft hangers at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Plaisance, Mauritius, that will be used for long-term aircraft parking. The inauguration comes as tomorrow (Tuesday 12 March), Emirates (EK) will operate a one-off Airbus A380 flight to the island to mark the 45th Anniversary of Mauritius' independence from Britain.

► KENYA: British Airways to boost Nairobi ops with added weekly flight from May?

Press reports out of Nairobi state that British Airways (BA), having recently announced it would pull the plug on its London Heathrow - Dar es Salaam route come 31 March, will boost its daily B777-200ER Heathrow - Nairobi flights via the introduction of an additional overnight frequency.

■ NIGERIA: Stormy weather ahead as Senate to proceed with review of all BASAs, Civil Aviation Act.

The Nigerian Senate is to embark on a review of all Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) signed with foreign countries with the Open Skies agreement signed with the US also up for scrutiny. The Senate claims that the BASAs have been heavily skewed in favour of other countries' interests at the detriment of Nigeria's and its domestic airlines.

► ZAMBIA: Proflight to resume 2x daily Lusaka - Livingstone flights from April.

Proflight Zambia (P0) is to resume twice daily Lusaka - Livingstone flights effective 01APR 2013. The service operates using a Jetstream J41.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Bezuidenhout tipped to become new SAA boss.

Sections of the South African travel media have speculated that incumbent South African Airways (SA) CEO Nico Bezuidenhout, who is also the CEO of SAA's LCC wing, Mango, is likely to be confirmed as the carrier's de facto boss.

► ALGERIA: Air Algérie to retain Beijing flights following improvement in load factors; to add Conakry, Ndjamena, Lagos in Winter 2013/14.

Algerian national carrier, Air Algérie (AH), is planning new routes to Ndjamena (Chad), Lagos, and Conakry (Guinea) during Winter'13/14 according to the airline's President and Director-General, Mohamed Saleh Bolatif.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): UTair Mi-8 chopper crashes near Bukavu; 4 dead.

A Russian UTAir (UT) Mil Mi-8AMT (MSN 39-10 | RA-22472) helicopter has crashed near the town of Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. All 4 occupants (4 crew) have died as the chopper came down in torrential rain.

■ NIGERIA: Indra Sistemas completes upgrade of comms systems at 13 Nigerian airports.

As part of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)'s effort to modernize and prioritize safety, Spanish information technology and defense systems company, Indra Sistemas, has completed the installation and testing of its voice communications system in 13 Nigerian airports.

■ SEYCHELLES: One year on from Etihad tie up deal, Air Seychelles posts first profit (unofficially).

One year on from when Abu Dhabi-based carrier, Etihad Airways (EY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire a 40 per cent stake in then struggling Air Seychelles (HM), the Seychellois airline has unofficially posted a USD1million profit.

► EQUATORIAL GUINEA: See Pics of Punto Azul's first of three Embraer ERJ145.

Equato-guinean carrier Punto Azul (ZR) is to commence operations with its three Embraer ERJ145s leased from ECC Leasing Company Ltd, a subsidiary of Embraer, and operated by South Africa's National Airways Corp. (NAC). The first Embraer ERJ145 (MSN 145244 | PR-PSQ) was delivered to NAC in late February.

■ NAMIBIA: Air Namibia settles its bill with Engen; Frankfurt nonstop resumes.

Air Namibia's (SW) has settled its outstanding debt with fuel supplier, South African based Engen. Fuel bills have continuously hurt the Namibian national carrier's coffers with an estimated 40% of revenue going to fuel related expenses alone.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines extends 787 cancellations until late April.

AirlineRoute reports that, as per the 08MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is to extend its Boeing 787 service cancellations until 30APR13 inclusive. Due to aircraft redeployment, a number of routes will also see aircraft changes, scheduled to be in effect until mid-June 2013.

■ SOMALIA: (Pics) Construction of new terminal at Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle International Airport to begin this week.

This week (15 March), Turkish construction firms Çetin Group and Kozuva will begin building the new Turkish sponsored air terminal at Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle International Airport, following the signing of a deal in late January.