■■SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE: Wise guy who made joke about bomb on an STP Airways flight to Lisbon to appear in court.

[UPDATE 12 MAY] A Portuguese national who made a wise-crack about having a bomb in his luggage that was ready to explode is due to appear in court in São Tomé today. The man, Manuel Ferreira, was travelling with his wife on STP Airways (8F) flight 8F508 from São Tomé International Airport to Lisbon earlier this week when he made the remarks.

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA Cargo leasing a B737-400F from Solinair.

SAA Cargo, the freight division of South African Airways (SA), has wet-leased a B737-400F, (MCN 1715 | S5-ABV), from Slovenia's Solinair (SOP). Regional competitor, Kenya Airways Cargo (KQ), recently upped its game through the addition of its first B737-300F, (MSN 29088 | 5Y-KQC).

► SOUTH SUDAN: South Supreme Airlines now looking to add 737s to its fleet.

South Supreme Airlines, the nascent South Sudanese carrier founded by local businessman, Ayii Duang Ayii, is planning to add B737s to its already announced fleet of one Antonov An26.

► DJIBOUTI: Turkish Airlines to boost Mogadishu, Djibouti flights to 5x weekly from October.

Turkish Airlines (EK) will, from 27OCT13, adding a 5th weekly frequency on its Istanbul – Djibouti – Mogadishu route, through the addition of a new Sunday flight from Istanbul, Mondays from Djibouti and Mogadishu. 

► CONGO (KINSHASA): CAA A320 suffers mass tyre blow out on take off roll at Kisangani; no injuries.

A CAA - Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation (FPY) Airbus A320-200 (MSN ? | "9Q-CAA") operating as flight FPY-343 on May 1 with 130 passengers and 6 crew onboard blew all four main gear tyres prior to commencing its take off roll from Kisangani en-route to Kinshasa. 

■ CANADA: Nigerian ExIm Bank, Export Development Canada discussing possible short term financing for Nigerian aviation sector.

The Nigerian Export Import Bank, NEXIM, and Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada's export credit agency, are exploring the prospects of a partnership to provide short term financing to Nigeria's aviation sector.

► TANZANIA: Tanganyika Flying Co. & Safarilink announce codeshare deal.

After many weeks of system testing, East African tourism aviation specialists, Safarilink (F2) and Tanganyika Flying Co (TFC), have announced the launch of a codeshare agreement that is fully integrated into both their reservation systems. This will allow travel industry customers of either airline to book flights from either carrier from within one carrier’s reservation system. 

■ NIGERIA: NAMA plans full area radar coverage by month's end.

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) says it will commence full area radar control by the end of this month having up in place all the necessary logistics and equipment to run a hassle-free air traffic operation, the agency's Managing Director, Engr  Nnamdi Udoh, has said.

► UNITED STATES: Five ex-Royal Air Maroc B737-500s sold on to Vx Capital Partners.

ACMI specialists, Airstream International Group, have announced the onward placement of five former Royal Air Maroc (AT) Boeing 737-500s by Vx Capital Partners, a US based private investment firm.

► SOMALIA: Air Uganda eyeing Mogadishu flights with third CRJ200.

The newly appointed CEO of Air Uganda (U7), Cornwell Muleya, has set forth a bold new initiative by saying his company plans to use it's recently acquired Bombardier CRJ200 (MCN 7363 | 5X-UGH) to commence direct flights between Entebbe and the Somali capital, Mogadishu, later this year.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Brussels Airlines boss reaffirms company's commitment to Korongo.

During a recent visit to the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, Bernard Gustin, the CEO of Belgian airline, SN Brussels Airlines (SN), reaffirmed his company's commitment to its Congolese venture, Korongo (ZC), in which it owns a 34.65% stake.

► TUNISIA: SunExpress launches weekly Enfidha - Frankfurt flights.

SunExpress (XQ), the Turkish based scheduled and charter operator, launched a once weekly flights between Enfidha, Tunisia and Frankfurt on Friday, May 3.

► 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.