► JAPAN: Egyptair wants to drop Tokyo and Osaka routes citing poor governmental support.

The Associated Press is reporting that Egyptian national carrier, Egyptair (MS), says it will cease operating flights to Japan until further notice citing "major economic losses and lack of support from either the Egyptian or Japanese governments."

► SOUTH AFRICA: Virgin Atlantic Cargo reaping the rewards of deploying the A340-600 on its Johannesburg route.

The introduction of Airbus A340-600 flights between London and Johannesburg during South Africa's peak season has provided a welcome boost in capacity for Virgin Atlantic Cargo (VS) on one of its most in-demand routes.

► MALAWI: Nyassa Air Taxi, Wilderness Safaris enter into partnership.

Nyassa Air Taxi, a Private Charter and Fly-In Safari company operating out of Lilongwe and Blantyre, has partnered Wilderness Safaris Malawi in offering guests direct access to the best rates for fly-in safaris and charters in Malawi and its neighbouring countries.

► UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Etihad Cargo launches its Africa Summer 2013 timetable.

Etihad Cargo, the cargo division of Abu Dhabi based carrier, Etihad Airways (EY) has published its planned Summer 2013 Freighter operation, which has been in effect since 11MAR13. Its planned African operation based on the airline’s PDF timetable listing as follow.

► TURKEY: Turkish Cargo looking to add 10 additional stations in Africa before 2014.

Turkish Cargo, the cargo division of Turkish Airlines (TK) plans to add a further 10 operational stations in Africa before the end of the year says Halit Anlatan, Turkish Cargo VP of Sales & Marketing.

► BURUNDI: New Air Burundi website appears; to resume operations in near future?

Burundian national carrier, Air Burundi (8Y), is in the process of launching a re-branded website (though it currently lacks any functionality) with a possible resumption of services to follow writes Rwandan aviation blog, Rwandan-Flyer.

● ETHIOPIA: IATA boss Tony Tyler to mark Aviation Day Africa in Addis Ababa next month.

Tony Tyler, the Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will visit the Ethiopian capital,  Addis Ababa, next month (16 April) on the occasion of Aviation Day Africa where he and his delegation will meet with executives from Ethiopian Airlines (ET) and officials from the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority.

► EGYPT: Air Memphis sold to Rami Lakah; to launch charter flights to Iran "in coming weeks".

Struggling Egyptian charter carrier, Air Memphis (MHS), has been sold to French-Egyptian businessman, Raymond Lakah, (aka Rami Lakah) who intends to use the airline to début charter flights between upper Egypt and Iran it has emerged.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Nasair Eritrea, Viajes Guinea, Air Madagascar, Forces Aériennes du Bénin and AeroJet Angola.

The following is a fleet update bulletin for aircraft that are in use, have been in use or will be in use for these listed airlines: Nasair Eritrea (UE), Viajes Guinea (GS),  Air Madagascar (MD), Forces Aériennes du Bénin and AeroJet Angola.

► ZAMBIA: Refuelling truck rams into Emirates 777 at Lusaka KK International Airport causing "substantial" damage.

An Emirates (EK) Boeing 777-300ER (MSN: 37707 | A6-ECP) operating as flight EK714 from Harare to Dubai via Lusaka, sustained substantial damage on Wednesday 20 March at Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (Zambia) when a fuel tanker truck collided with it.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Murky business meetings and an unapproved USD1billion Airbus fleet renewal deal at centre of SAA's boardroom woes claims report.

Murky private business meetings and a USD1.08billion (ZAR10billion) fleet procurement tender awarded to Airbus Industrie SAS are at the heart of South African Airways (SA)'s boardroom troubles claims an article by the amaBhungane investigative column of The Mail & Guardian newspaper.

● IATA: Global, African aviation outlook improving with African carriers expected to post $100mln profit in 2013: Tyler

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has improved its global outlook - African carriers included - for the 2013 financial performance of the global airline industry primarily based on stronger revenues from increased passenger demand and growing cargo markets. Overall, IATA now expects airlines to produce a combined net post-tax profit margin of 1.6% (up from the previously forecast 1.3%) with a net post-tax profit of USD10.6 billion (up from the previously projected USD8.4 billion).

► ITALY: Royal Air Maroc resumes Casablanca - Turin from June.

Moroccan national carrier, Royal Air Maroc (AT), during Summer 2013 season, will resume its Casablanca – Turin service, where it plans to operate 3 weekly flights effective 11 JUN13. RAM last operated this route in mid-January 2012.

■ SWEDEN: Entry Point North ATS academy providing training to Egyptian ATCOs.

Swedish air traffic services academy, Entry Point North, has, during the months of February and March, been providing training to Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) from Egypt's National Air Navigation Services Company (NANSC). The NANSC is responsible for preparing and operating Air Traffic Services, Navigational Aids and Safe guarding Air Navigation Services within the Egyptian Airspace.

► RWANDA: Rwandair's first B737-700NG due in two weeks time.

Rwanda's national carrier Rwandair (WB) is set to receive its first Boeing 737-700 leased from the International Leasing Finance Corporation, in the coming weeks.

► CAPE VERDE ISLANDS: TACV Cabo Verde Airlines unveils further Summer 2013 routes.

Leading on from our previous post, as per the 21MAR13 GDS timetable display, TACV Cabo Verde Airlines’ (VR) planned Summer 2013 operation changes are as follows.

►► ETHIOPIA: Lufthansa reduces Khartoum, Addis Ababa flights from 31 March.

[UPDATE 21 MARCH] German carrier Lufthansa (LH) is to reduce operations on its route between Frankfurt and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via Khartoum, Sudan effective between 31 March and 1 June.

■ EGYPT: ECAA gives greenlight for Star NSG to install its inflight safety systems onboard a Midwest 737-800.

Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. has announced that it has received a Supplementary Type Certificate validation from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority which will allow for the installation of Star's STAR-In-flight Safety Monitoring System aboard a Midwest Airlines (WV) Boeing 737-800, in accordance with the purchase agreement between Star and Midwest Airlines.

■ MOROCCO: Bombardier to participate at World Investment Conference in Marrakech.

Bombardier Aerospace, the Canadian aircraft and train manufacturer based in Montréal, has announced its participation in the first ever North African edition of the World Investment Conference, which runs from March 20 to 22, 2013 in Marrakech, Morocco. During the Global Leaders' Panel for Automotive and Aeronautics Industries, Ms. Souad Elmallem, Bombardier's Chief Country Representative for North Africa, will discuss the attractiveness of the North African market for foreign direct investment with other international industry leaders.

■ NIGERIA: NCAA grounds AeroContractors over ongoing industrial action.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has grounded AeroContractors (AJ) until a resolution to an ongoing strike by its staff has been found. A brief announcement appeared on the carrier's site yesterday evening claiming Aero would be back in the air today, but was quickly rescinded within an hour of publication.