► EGYPT: Air Memphis, at last, begins flights between Egypt and Iran.

Egyptian carrier, Air Memphis (MHS), has at long last launched operations between Egypt and Iran following the arrival of its DC9-30 in Tehran on Friday, May 31. The jet then ferried a plane load of Iranian tourists to the Egyptian tourist town of Aswan, the head of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, Mohammad Sharif, confirmed.

■ ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe sends 600 employees on forced leave in bid to cut wage bill.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) has embarked on a staff rationalization project to trim down its bloated workforce from 1020 down to roughly 300 as part of streamlining measures aimed at turning the loss making airline into a viable, profitable entity.

► NIGERIA: Hak Air, West Link Airlines granted AOCs by the NCAA.

Having applied for it in February, Nigerian start-ups, West Link Airlines and Hak Air, have now been granted Air Operators Certificate (AOC) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), with the path now free for them to commence domestic flights.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Ethiopian wants more 787s as SAA eyes 25+ A350s or 787s for delivery from 2017 on.

During the ongoing International Air Transport Association's (IATA) 69th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Cape Town, South Africa,  two of Africa's heavyweights, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) and South African Airways (SA), have hinted at their proposed future fleet acquisition plans with Ethiopian looking for more 787s and SAA considering either the 787 or its rival Airbus' A350 offering.

►► SAUDI ARABIA: Ethiopian revises its planned boost to Saudi Arabia/Dubai frequencies from mid June.

[UPDATE 03 JUNE] As per 06MAY13 GDS timetable/inventory display, Ethiopian Airlines is planning to increase its capacity to Saudi Arabia and the UAE from 17/18JUN13. Planned changes are as follows.

► ETHIOPIA: AWAS, Ethiopian sign buy/leaseback deal for two 737-800s, the first of which has been delivered.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) and Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services (AWAS) have announced a purchase and leaseback transaction deal in AWAS will purchase and lease back to Ethiopian two new 737-800 aircraft that the airline had previously ordered directly from the manufacturer. The first aircraft (MSN 40966 | ET-AQM) was delivered on Thursday May 30, with the second to come in 2014.

► FRANCE: (Pics) Tunisia's Syphax Airlines' first A330 almost ready for delivery.

Tunisian private carrier, Syphax Airlines (FS), has had its first Airbus A330-200 (MCN 345 | F-WJKG) roll out the paint-shop in Toulouse in preparation for its planned delivery later this month.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): RVA signs $2million contract with Thales for Kinshasa N'djili Airport AeroNav upgrade.

As part of ongoing efforts to spruce up its poor aviation safety record, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's air navigation services and airport management provider, Regie des Voies Aériennes (RVA), has signed a USD2million (CDF1.8billion) contract with French aeronautical systems manufacturer, Thales, for the supply of navigation equipment to Kinshasa N'djili International Airport.

► ALGERIA: Air Algérie now says it wants two ex-KLM MD11s for its freighter fleet.

Algeria's national carrier, Air Algérie (AH) has announced it will take delivery of two former KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) McDonnell Douglas MD-11s on five year leases following their conversion into cargo freighters.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Ex SAA boss Vuyisile Kona takes dismissal to court.

Vuyisile Kona, the former interim CEO of South African Airways (SA), has taken his dismissal by South Africa's Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba to the High Court in Pretoria.

► CAMEROON: Camair-Co to replace 767 with a leased 777 Christian Perchat says.

Cameroon's Camair Co (QC) is reportedly in talks with an undisclosed aircraft leasing company regarding the possible addition of a Boeing 777 to its fleet. The jet will be used to replace its current lone 767-300ER used for long haul flights to France.

■ TANZANIA: fastjet looks to reduce holding in Fly540 Tanzania as its Ghana, Angola, Kenya outfits "all underperform".

fastjet (FN), in its results for the 18 month period to 31 December 2012 has said that its Fly540 businesses in Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana and Angola - acquired from Lonrho Plc - have "all seriously underperformed relative to expectations" with management having now taken the necessary steps to restructure these businesses and remove legacy inefficiencies. Overall, fastjet says it had posted a loss before tax of USD55million, including USD23.5million of write-downs of goodwill and other matters. As a consequence, the airline says it will focus its attentions on its nascent South African operations with plans to reduce its majority shareholding in Fly540 Tanzania to various undisclosed Tanzanian shareholders.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Competition Tribunal okays acquisition of Lanseria Airport, but with conditions attached.

South Africa's Competition Tribunal has approved the proposed acquisition of Johannesburg's Lanseria International Airport near Johannesburg by black economic empowerment company Holdco though conditions have been imposed on the deal.

► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania planning to resume Tabora flights via Kigoma from June 1.

Air Tanzania (TC) has announced the resumption of 3x weekly flights to Tabora in Western Central Tanzania. Flights will launch on Saturday JUN01 using a Bombardier Dash 8-300. Flights on Days 1 and 6 will operate from Dar es Salaam direct to Tabora on the outbound with the inbound going via Kigoma. Day 4 will see a reversal of that; flights to Tabora will operate via Kigoma on the outbound with the inbound going direct to Dar es Salaam.

► QATAR: Qatar Airways announces direct Tripoli, Casablanca flights from June 1.

Qatar Airways (QR) has announced an increase in capacity between Qatar and North Africa with its flights to Tripoli and Casablanca going non-stop, effective 01JUN. Effective 01JUN, scheduled services to Tripoli will be decoupled from the Egyptian city of Alexandria while at the same time, flights to Casablanca will be decoupled from Tunis.

■ 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.