► TOGO: Ethiopian Cargo to set up West African hub based out of Lomé.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) cargo division, Ethiopian Cargo, is nearing the final stages of setting up a cargo hub in the Togolese capital of Lomé, the carrier has said. Lomé currently acts as a hub for Ethiopian's West African subsidiary, ASKY Airlines (KP), and will shortly play a pivotal role in the airline's plans to launch flights to South America.

► ZAMBIA: See Pics of Proflight Zambia's first B737-200Adv in company colours!

Domestic Zambian operator, Proflight Zambia (P0), are set to deploy their first B737-200ADV (MCN 23472 | ZS-SMD), leased from South Africa's Star Air (BRH), into active service shortly.

■ BOTSWANA: Qatar, Botswana ink a Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

The respective civil aviation authorities of Qatar and Botswana have concluded a Bilateral Air Services Agreement following a signing ceremony held in Doha recently. The ratification of the BASA comes after the deal was originally initialled by both states back in 2007.

 

► INDIA: Ethiopian delays resumption of its 787 Mumbai flights until mid June.

As per 07MAY13 GDS timetable/inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines (ET), will delay its planned Boeing 787 service resumption on its Addis Ababa – Mumbai route until 16JUN.

■ KENYA: Jetlink Express faces liquidation as FineJet takes it to court over $1.2million in unpaid fuel bills.

Bankrupt Kenyan regional operator, Jetlink Express (J0), grounded since November owing to a liquidity crunch, is facing an uncertain future as reports out of Nairobi state that fuel supplier, FineJet, is seeking to have the company wound up following its failure to settle outstanding fuel bills that amount to USD1.2million (KES10million).

► NIGER: Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet crashes during reconnaisance mission near Niamey; 2 dead.

A Nigerian Air Force Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet on operations in Dargol, 60 km west of Niamey, capital of Niger, crashed at 13h05L yesterday killing both pilots. Chaibou Massalatchi, the head of Niamey’s airport, said the plane had taken off on the morning of Monday, May 6, for a reconnaissance mission into the north-west of Niger when it came down.

► SOUTH AFRICA: fastjet to wet lease a 737-300 from Star Air while A319s are certified.

fastjet (FN) and Federal Air (7V) have announced plans to wet-lease a B737-300 (unconfirmed MSN 27345 | ZS-VDB) from Star Air Cargo South Africa (BRH). Inaugural flights will commence with a daily Johannesburg - Cape Town flight.

► LIBYA: Afriqiyah awards A330 engine MRO contract to AFI KLM E&M.

AFI KLM E&M and Afriqiyah Airways (8U) have signed an agreement covering support for the CF6-80E1 engines equipping the Libyan carrier's two Airbus A330-200s. This exclusive, longterm contract is for “Time & Materials” engine repairs. Afriqiyah Airways will shortly be taking delivery of three new A330-200s, the first by the end of this year, and the other two in 2014, and these will be automatically included in the scope of the contract.

► PORTUGAL: TAP to début Boa Vista and Tangier in Winter 2013/14.

TAP Portugal (TP) will, during Winter 2013/14, add 2 new destinations to its network, offering 2x weekly Lisbon – Boa Vista (Cape Verde) and a 5x weekly Lisbon – Tangier (Morocco) route.

► 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.