► SIERRA LEONE: Leone Airways, the Arik Air-partnered initiative, hoping to start operations come June.

Leone Airways, the new Sierra Leonian national carrier formed out of a partnership with Arik Air(W3), Nigeria's largest carrier, and the government of Sierra Leone is to tentatively commence operations in June this year. Under the partnership deal signed in 2011,  Arik will provide the carrier with its initial fleet and technical skills and comes about from the airline's close relationship with Freetown after in 2009 it was designated "the national carrier of Sierra Leone", thereby allowing it to ply the Freetown - London route. 

■ MOROCCO: Aerotechnic Industries expands scope to now include overhaul of Boeing 737NG airframes; secures RAM contract.

During a ceremony attended by Mr Driss Benhima, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Air Maroc (RAM) Group, and Mr Franck Terner, President, Air France Industries, the two partners officially announced a new phase in the development of their Aerotechnic Industries (ATI) joint venture. Set up in 2009, the 50/50 joint venture between the two groups is now extending the scope of its activities to the overhauling of Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) airframes. 

► MALI: Air Mali tests the waters by operating its CRJ200 and MD87 on behalf of sister carrier, Air Burkina.

As the political situation in Mali begins to settle down, so Celestair Group's Malian subsidiary, Air Mali (I5), has taken its first steps towards resuming operations by dusting off its stored Bombardier CRJ200 (MSN 7392 | TZ-RCA) kept until recently in France. 

► KENYA: (Pics) Kenya Airways Cargo's first B737-300F officially unveiled in Nairobi.

Kenya Airways Cargo (KQ) has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-300(F) (MSN 29088 | 5Y-KQC), recently converted in Shanghai by Boeing. The ceremony took place today at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Under its 10-year growth strategy, Kenya Airways plans to have 12 freighters in its fleet by 2022.

■ LIBYA: Libyan Airlines selects OnAir for onboard wifi connectivity for its four A330s, with two due next month.

Libyan carrier, Libyan Airlines, (LN), set to take delivery of its first of four Airbus A330s next month, has selected OnAir to provide on-board internet broadband connectivity. The aircraft will fly on long-haul international routes to Asia and Europe.

► ZAMBIA: Mukuba Airlines outlines its planned domestic route network.

Zambia's first LCC, Mukuba Airlines, set to be operate out of the Victoria Falls town of Livingstone, has outlined its intended route network with flights set to range in cost from USD35 to USD50.

► KENYA: LCC Jambo Jet's launch delayed until "sometime this year": Naikuni

The launch of JamboJet, Kenya Airways' (KQ) planned Low Cost Carrier wing, has been pushed back to "sometime later this year", Kenya Airways CEO, Titus Naikuni has said.

► LIBYA: Cargolux to start Johannesburg via Tripoli flights from late April.

Luxembourg's Cargolux (CV) today announced that it will introduce a new air cargo service to Tripoli, Libya’s capital and largest city. The first flight is scheduled for 16 April, followed by weekly services that will operate every Tuesday on the route Luxembourg – Tripoli – Johannesburg.

► ANGOLA: More foreign carriers making a beeline to Luanda's door as calls for higher route frequencies grow louder.

RAM - Royal Air Maroc (AT) and Ethiopian Airlines (ET) have joined a growing chorus of carriers servicing the Angolan capital, Luanda, in asking the Instituto Nacional da Aviação Civil (the National Institute of Civil Aviation - INAVIC) to increase their frequencies on the lucrative route. 

► SOUTH AFRICA: LAM Mozambique boosts Johannesburg - Maputo, Beira, Tete flights; launches Nampula direct.

Mozambique's flag carrier, LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM), will from 28APR13 expand its Johannesburg operations through the addition of 16 weekly flights from Maputo, Beira, Tete and new route, Nampula.

►► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian announces operational changes to Italy, France, Belgium effective June 2013.

[UPDATE 10 APRIL] Ethiopian Airlines (ET), from 20 June 2013, is adjusting its planned European operations, which will see changes to its Italy, France and Belgium operations.

► SPAIN: Air Algérie to tentatively offer Summer flights between Oran and Madrid.

Algerian national carrier, Air Algérie (AH), is planning to offer an Oran – Madrid service from 24JUN13 to 18SEP13  though reservations are not, at present, available to general public.

■ GHANA: Government okays $100million allocation for construction of a major international airport in Tamale.

The Ghanaian Parliament has greenlighted the allocation of USD100million needed for the construction of a major international airport in Tamale, capital of  the Northern Region. The Ghana Airports Company (GACL), who will ultimately be responsible for the running of the facility once it is open, are still to approve the project's final designs, currently being done by an unnamed Brazilian firm, before construction can begin.

► GUINEA BISSAU: TACV suspends Praia - Bissau flights citing poor load factors.

TACV Cabo Verde Airlines (VR) says it has suspended flights to Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, owing to the route's poor returns. The move is effective 3 April.

■ MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius selects the Aerostream XP1 for its A330/A340 IFE suite.

Air Mauritius (MK) has placed a contract with Airline Services Ltd for the company's new enhanced definition digital video player - the Aerostream XP1. The IFE system has been selected for their Airbus A330 and A340 fleet and installation of an initial 40 units will begin this year.

► BRAZIL: Philippine Airlines considers Johannesburg, Cape Town and Addis Ababa as stopovers on planned São Paulo flights.

Philippine Airlines(PR), who are planning to launch flights from Manila to the Brazilian metropolis of São Paulo in early May (the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement pending) could be considering the African hubs of either Johannesburg (possibly Cape Town) or Addis Ababa as a transitory point.

■ NIGERIA: Ghana's Minister of Transport decries Nigeria's double-talk regarding the granting of traffic rights.

Ghana's Minister of Transport, Dzifa Attivor, has bemoaned Nigeria's inaction in granting Ghanaian airlines rights to operate into Nigerian airports, despite the fact that Nigeria is a signatory to the Yamoussoukro Agreement which concerns the liberalisation of access to air transport markets in Africa (the Yamoussoukro Decision) and which entered into force on 12 August 2000. The Yamoussoukro Decision takes precedence over any multilateral or bilateral agreements on air services between States Parties which are incompatible with the Decision.

■ ETHIOPIA: Deadbeat Chanchangi Airlines given one last chance to repay debt owed to Ethiopian Airlines.

In yet another case of a deadbeat airline failing to pay its dues, Nigeria's Chanchangi Airlines (5B) has been given 30 days to pay Ethiopian Airlines (ET) its debt of USD772'000 for maintenance rendered to an unspecified Chanchangi aircraft (possibly a B727) and engine back in February 2004.

► SOUTH SUDAN: Turkey's AtlasJet pulls out of South Sudanese joint venture.

Atlasjet (KK) has announced it is to abandon plans to set up a joint national carrier with the Government of South Sudan. The Turkish carrier originally won a tender in January for a 49% stake in the airline which the Government hopes, will boost its regional presence as well as safety.

■ KENYA: Travelport launches new direct presence in Nairobi following closure of Kenya Airways franchise deal.

Travelport, a provider of critical transaction processing solutions and data to the global travel industry, has announced the launch of a new direct Travelport commercial presence in Kenya, one of Africa’s fastest growing travel markets.  In a clear demonstration of its commitment to the region, this new direct operation for travel agents in the country marks the latest milestone in Travelport’s investment strategy in Africa.