► MALI: Douniah Airlines now eyeing an ATR72 with new launch date set for late May.

Malian startup, Douniah Airlines (DTS), is now set to add an ATR72 to its fleet in preparation of its planned launch, delayed from earlier this year likely due to the crisis in Mali.

■ RWANDA: Government planning to bring forward Rwandair's IPO to this year?

Rwanda is expecting to float two state-owned companies, the Commercial Bank of Rwanda (BCR) and national carrier, RwandAir (WB), on the country's fledgling stock market soon, the head of Rwanda's Capital Market Authority (CMA), Robert Mathu has said.

■ MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius not ready to join a planned regional carrier: Dass

The chairman of the board at Air Mauritius (MK), Thomas Dass, has dismissed tentative plans to set up a regional Indian Ocean-based regional carrier, on the grounds that the Mauritian airline is still in too fragile a financial state to be part of any such initiative.

► ETHIOPIA: Qatar Airways announces Addis Ababa as it's next African destination.

Addis Ababa is set to become Qatar Airways (QR) as its 20th African gateway and 15th country in Africa following an announcement during the ongoing Arabian Travel Market exhibition in Dubai. Flights are expected to begin from September 18 on.

► SAUDI ARABIA. Air Arabia Egypt boosts Dammam, Riyadh ops from June.

Air Arabia Egypt (E5) will, from 01JUN13, increase its operations to Saudi Arabia, with an additional 1 and 2 weekly flights being added to Dammam and Riyadh respectively.

► UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Etihad, SAA sign codeshare deal.

Etihad Airways (EY) and South African Airways (SA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) allowing the two airlines to introduce a comprehensive range of codeshare and interline air services. Initially Etihad Airways will place its ‘EY’ code on flights from Johannesburg to 10 South African Airways destinations across South Africa and the African continent as well as South America. In return South African Airways will place its ‘SA’ code on 12 of Etihad Airways’ global routes flying from the UAE national carrier’s Abu Dhabi home-base.

► ZIMBABWE: Emirates considers Harare as a potential hub albeit, only "in future".

Emirates (EK) has considered Harare, Zimbabwe as a site for a potential southern-African hub, the airline's senior vice president for commercial operations Africa,  Jean-Luc Grillet, has said. The Dubai-based megacarrier, however, has yet to confirm any concrete plans to proceed with the setting up of a regional hub.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA to source $160million from local banks as means of shoring up capital for the interim.

Having recently postponed its planned USD160million (ZAR1.5 billion) bond sale originally slated for March, South African Airways (SA) has decided to borrow the ZAR1.5billion from two local banks, claimed to be Rand Merchant Bank and Investec as a means of keeping operations going while cabinet considers the carrier's strategic turnaround plan #9.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: AV Cargo Airlines, Jet4Now, Allegiance Gabon, Gambian Government, Air Uganda

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: AV Cargo Airlines, Jet 4 Now (Allegiance Airways Gabon (ATG)), The Republic of the Gambia, and Air Uganda(U7).

► SOUTH AFRICA: FederalAir reiterates that it's tie-up with fastjet is above board following allegations of fronting

South Africa's, Federal Air (7V), the airline slated to become fastjet South Africa's new partner, has issued a statement reiterating that it's deal with the United Kingdom-based Tanzanian LCC is fully compliant with South Africa's Air Services Licensing Act, 1993. The move comes after members of South Africa's aviation community expressed doubts as to who was really running the operation and calling the shots.

■ TUNISIA: Syphax planning IPO to help fund ambitious international expansion drive.

Tunisian operator, Syphax Airlines (FS) says it expects to generate revenues of USD9.9million (TUD16million) in 2014 to grow to USD26.6million (TND43million) expected in 2017 on the back of a projected growth rate of 85.6%. While revenue projections remain ambitious, the airline does not expect to make a  profit for 2012 or for 2013. However, despite this, the airline is planning an IPO in order to raise further capital for use in building new facilities as well as a acquiring new aircraft needed in its international expansion drive.

► NIGERIA: SkyBird Air granted AOC, operations set to begin in due course.

Startup, SkyBird Air (KYC), has been awarded its AOC with flights operations expected to begin in due course, the airline's Managing Director, Mr. Sam Ayodele, has said.

► TOGO: Ethiopian Airlines to maintain 5x weekly ops to Lomé in June; daily in July.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET), as a result of the delay of its Addis Ababa – Lome – Rio de Janeiro – Sao Paulo – Lome – Addis Ababa service launch by 4 weeks, will, during the month of June 2013, continue to operate 5 weekly service on Addis Ababa – Lome sector. Boeing 737-700 aircraft operates this route.

■ TANZANIA: Precision Air claims Zanzibar flights unaffected by taxman woes.

Precision Air (PW), has moved to refute claims published in Tanzanian paper, The Daily News, claiming the Zanzibar Revenue Board had restricted the carrier's flights to the island of Zanzibar as well as closing the company's offices over unpaid taxes.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SACAA threatens action against operator of chartered Jet Airways A330 that landed at military airbase.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is considering taking action against "the operator" of a Jet Airways (9W) Airbus A330, recently chartered by South African businessman, Atul Gupta on the occasion of a family wedding, for violation of the country's Civil Aviation Regulations. The furore reportedly comes after the civilian Airbus was spotted at Pretoria's Watekloof Air Force Base, a military installation, but which has subsequently been transferred to OR Tambo International on the orders of the Ministry of Defence.

■ KENYA: Air Mauritius selects Direct Maintenance for its Nairobi line maintenance agent.

Mauritian national carrier, Air Mauritius (MK), has selected Direct Maintenance to provide line maintenance to its Airbus A319s on stopover in Nairobi, the Dutch-based outfit has announced. 

■ ANGOLA: Zimbabwe, Angola renew BASA; TAAG to get rights between Lusaka and Harare?

Following negotiations between the two countries, Angola and Zimbabwe have signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) which is a revision of that signed in 2005. Under the agreement, TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), the Angolan national carrier and the only airline currently operating flights between Luanda and Harare, will have provision for 4 weekly frequencies and vice versa.

► SOMALIA: Reports claim Somali Airlines to resume operations after a 23 year hiatus.

Uncorroborated reports out of Somalia claim that after nearly 25 years of dormancy, the Somali government has resurrected defunct national carrier, Somali Airlines (HH).

► UNITED KINGDOM: Ethiopian to resume 787 services to Heathrow from May 8.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will, from 08MAY13 to 15JUN13, be offering a resumed Boeing 787 service on its Addis Ababa – London Heathrow route, where it’ll operate 6 weekly flights. For a run down of Ethiopian's other planned 787 resumptions, see this post.

■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles goes with Envision for fleet & maintenance management.

Seychelleois national carrier, Air Seychelles (HM), have awarded a contract to Rusada  for the use of its Envision suite for fleet and maintenance management. With the expansion of the airline and its route structure after the investment from and code sharing with Etihad (EY) and it's partner airlines, the need for a modern and comprehensive fleet management solution was identified by Air Seychelles' management team.