► NIGERIA: Arik Air signs ACMI deal with Emirate Touch Aviation for two B737-300s.

Nigeria's Arik Air (WB) has signed an ACMI lease agreement with Kano-based Emirate Touch Aviation Services Limited for the use of two of Arik's stored Boeing 737-300s for cargo ops.

►► ZIMBABWE: KLM to restart Harare service from 29 October.

[UPDATE 14 MARCH] After a 10 year hiatus from the Zimbabwean capital Harare, KLM Dutch Airlines (KL) has announced the resumption of its Amsterdam - Harare service, albeit with a stopover in Lusaka.

► RWANDA: RwandAir to adjust Johannesburg, Mombasa, Dubai ops for N. Summer 2013.

According to AirlineRoute, as per the 14MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Rwandair (WB)’s planned Summer 2013 operation will change as follows, with additional changes possible.

■ TANZANIA: TCAA to upgrade ground-ground comms network to AMHS during 2013.

After the floating of a tender last year in September, the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority is to proceed with the upgrading of its aeronautical ground-ground communications network which currently uses the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) analogue standard.

► MAURITIUS: Emirates to Air Mauritius' rescue as two agree to "a closer partnership."

After being spurned by Air France (AF) who cited a "lack of means" to commit to any partnership with lonesome Indian Ocean carrier, Air Mauritius (MK), Emirates (EK) may turn out to be the struggling airline's knight in shining armour after the two agreed to "explore further development of commercial opportunities for both companies." The announcement came after a one-off visit by an Emirates (EK) Airbus A380 to the island of Mauritius on Tuesday 12 March.

► LIBYA: Alitalia adds second daily flight to Tripoli from late March.

Italian carrier, Alitalia (AZ), is to boost service between Rome Fiumicino and Tripoli, Libya through the introduction of a second daily A319 operated service effective 31 March. New flights leave Rome at 1500L and Tripoli at 1755L.

► NIGERIA: AeroContractors flights grounded following staff strike.

Nigerian domestic operator, Aero Contractors A(J), was today, forced to suspend all flights following a strike by staff over pay and working conditions at the airline. 

■ NIGERIA: Joyce Nkemakolam appointed interim DG of the Nigerian CAA.

The Nigerian Government has appointed the Director of Aerodrome Services, Joyce Nkemakolam, as the acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

► CAPE VERDE ISLANDS: BinterCanarias cargo wing looks to increase its African market presence.

BinterSwift, the cargo division of Canary Islands-based carrier, Binter Canarias (NT), has initiated a series of meetings with entrepreneurs from the Cape Verde Islands to better understand market demands as the airline seeks to improve its African market niche by providing more alternatives for the movement of cargo from and via the Canaries to Africa and vice versa.

► MOZAMBIQUE: LAM Mozambique looks to boost capacity by 20% this through development of Nampula, Tete routes.

LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM), Mozambique's national carrier is looking to boost its seats-available by 20% on 2012, to 700'000, through the exploitation of the growing domestic market to both Tete and Nampula in the northern part of the country.

► ZAMBIA: Air Force Harbin Z9 chopper crashes on landing at Lusaka City Airport; 1 dead.

Zambia's Defense Ministry has confirmed the crash of a Zambian Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter at Lusaka's City Airport (not to be confused with Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport) following yesterday's Youth Day celebrations. The pilot of the chopper was killed with his co-pilot sustaining minor injuries, though the exact circumstances of the crash are still unclear.

► ISRAEL: Nigeria said to be finalizing a BASA with Israel; direct flights could begin before October.

The Nigerian Government is in the process of concluding a Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) with Israel, which, it is hoping, will result in the start of direct flights before October this year. Should flights begin, they would cut flying time between Nigeria and Israel down to "six hours".

► TANZANIA: Tanganyika Flying Co. starts flights to Serengeti Lamai airstrip.

Tanzanian domestic operator, Tanganyika Flying Co. (TFC), has launched services into Serengeti Lamai Airstrip bringing the number of airstrips that TFC serves in the Serengeti National Park, to five.

■ 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.