■ SOUTH AFRICA: Mthatha Airport's new runway now active; hopes to attract more carriers.

Following extensive works, an SA Airlink (4X) flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport became the first aircraft to christen the new 2'700x60m runway 14/32 at Mthatha (formerly Umtata) Airport in the Eastern Cape. Both the Mthatha Airport runway and Terminal building upgrade projects form part of the wider King Sabata Dalindyebo Presidential Intervention Project led by the National Department of Transport and implemented by the Eastern Cape Department of Transport.

● IATA: Africa's April passenger traffic grows 4.7% on 2012 buoyed by strong economic growth.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic results for April showing a 3.2% increase in demand over April 2012. On the back of strong economic growth, the emerging markets, Africa in particular, are continuing to lead air travel growth, with all regions reporting year-over-year gains.

► TOGO: AfricaWest Cargo Airlines acquires a 737-300F, two ATR72Fs for planned regional expansion.

AfricaWest Cargo Airlines (FK) has announced the addition of a Boeing 737-300F with two ATR72Fs set to join its fleet in June and October respectively. The cargo operator intends to use the aircraft as part of its plans to expand throughout Africa during 2013 and 2014.

► MALAWI: Kenya Airways to start 3x weekly flights to Blantyre from August.

Following its granting of rights to serve the city, Kenya Airways (KQ) has outlined its tentative timetable to Blantyre, Malawi which it plans to connect Nairobi with via a 3x weekly Embraer E190 operated flight, set to début from August 2.

► NIGERIA: Brazil's GOL Transportes Aéreos actively considering direct flights to Nigeria.

On the back of a recent announcement by Nigeria's Arik Air (W3) that it was keen to launch direct Lagos - São Paulo flights by August of this year, so Brazil's GOL Transportes Aéreos (G3) has announced that it is now "studying the possibility" of opening a new route between Brazil and Nigeria. 

■ CAMEROON: Government now mulling privatization of Camair-Co.

Leading on from our previous report on its pending restructuring plan, Camair-Co (QC) is now set to hold its Annual General Meeting in Douala on June 7 to discuss a possible privatisation plan coupled with a share capital grant.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): SA Express resumes Lubumbashi ops as RVA beckons carriers to return.

SA Express (XZ) has announced a tentative resumption of its flights to Lubumbashi on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays following an announcement by the Congolese airport's authority, Regie des Voies Aériennes (RVA), that Luano International Airport's runway 07/25 would not be closed entirely during rehabilitation works.

► NIGERIA: Ghana's Fly540 supposedly granted rights to serve Nigeria; Antrak Air to follow.

Reports out of Ghana claim that Fly540 Ghana (5G) has at last been tentatively granted traffic rights to Nigeria following the intervention of the Ghanaian Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

► MOZAMBIQUE: LAM plans Cape Town and Durban, Blantyre and Lilongwe in 2014; to cover all SADC capitals by 2017 with Brazil ops also on the radar.

Marlene Manave, the CEO of LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM) has announced ambitious route expansion plans that will see the Mozambican carrier serving all Southern African Development Community (SADC) capitals by 2017 with Brazilian flights to follow.

► CHINA: Ethiopian to intermittently deploy 787 on Guangzhou route from May 'til mid June.

As per the 29MAY13 GDS timetable/inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is planning to deploy its fleet of 787 aircraft onto its Addis Ababa – Guangzhou route on selected dates between 31MAY13 and 14JUN13, replacing the current 777-200LR.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Air Zimbabwe's A320 grounded in Johannesburg following birdstrike.

In a tale of very bad luck, Air Zimbabwe's (UM) first Airbus A320-200 (MCN 630 | Z-WPM) was today Wednesday May 29, temporarily grounded at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport following a reported birdstrike. The A320 had only just been put into active service with the airline this past week.

► TUNISIA: Ukraine International Airlines to start 4x weekly Enfidha flights this summer.

Ukraine International Airlines (PS) in Summer 2013 is operating Kiev – Enfidha, Tunisia service, offering 4 weekly flights with Boeing 737 aircraft. Schedule as follow.

► KENYA: Kenya Airways eyes greater presence in Middle East, Africa as part of long term strategy.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has outlined further key developments in terms of its planned route network and fleet upgrades that form its previously announced 10 year vision, Project Mawingu.

► SOUTH AFRICA: TAAG to tentatively switch Johannesburg from the 777-200ER to the -300ER from July.

TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT) is to tentatively increase capacity on its 4 weekly Luanda – Johannesburg route with effect from 05JUL13. During the month of July, the 777-300ER will replace the -200ER on 3 out of 4 weekly flights. Thereafter, all 4 weekly flights will be operated using a -300ER model from 04AUG13.

► ZIMBABWE: First Embraer ERJ135 deployed into active service for Air Zimbabwe.

Fresh from the recent arrival and deployment into active service of its Airbus A320-200 (MCN 630 | Z-WPM) on its Harare - Johannesburg flights, Air Zimbabwe (UM) has now taken delivery of its first of two Embraer ERJ135 (Reg ?).

► MAYOTTE: New Indian Ocean regional carrier, Ewa, eyes Madagascar, Tanzania, Comoros and Mozambique flights from Q4.

La Réunion-based carrier, Air Austral (UU), is set to partner the Mayotte Chamber of Commerce and Industry among other shareholders in setting up a new regional carrier to be based out of Dzaoudzi.

■ ETHIOPIA: Brazil, Ethiopia sign a revised BASA.

Brazil and Ethiopia have signed a revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) following a visit by Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff, to Ethiopia where she attended the recently ended African Union 50th Anniversary celebrations. Four cooperation agreements covering agriculture, air transport, science & technology and education were signed on Friday May 24 after President Rousseff and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam held talks on bilateral cooperation in the areas of mining and investment financing.

► LIBYA: Emirates resumes Tripoli with 3x weekly flights via Malta from September.

Emirates (EK) will resume three-weekly passenger flights to Tripoli from September 1, 2013, 30 months after it moved to suspend them in light of the Libyan Uprising of 2011. Flights will operate via Malta on the inbound with a Boeing 777-200ER in a three-class configuration.

► CANADA: Ethiopian to operate via Rome to/from Toronto from mid June 'til late October.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET), from 16JUN13 to 26OCT13, are to adjust their planned operation on the Addis Ababa – Toronto route. In addition to a 3rd weekly frequency being introduced, the airline will operate the Toronto service with technical stop in Rome, in both directions.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Skywise due in the skies from August 1 as DoT pours more cold water on fastjet's plans.

Johannesburg-based carrier, Skywise, the brainchild of several ex-1Time (T6) board executives, is aiming for an August 1 launch, exactly 1 month after fellow entrants, fastjet (FN), via their tie up with Federal Air (7V), plan to launch their operations.