■ EU BLACK LIST: Libya chooses to remain blacklisted as Air Madagascar is stuck in Annex B.

The European Commission has updated for the 21st time, the European list of airlines subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union, better known as "the EU air safety list". While both Philippine Airlines (PR) and Venezuela's Conviasa were taken off the restrictive list, there were no changes for any of the African countries, or their carriers.

► SOMALIA: (MEDIA) Air Uganda touches down in Mogadishu.

Air Uganda (U7) on 8 July 2013, launched its 3x weekly service between Entebbe and Mogadishu, Somalia using a CRJ200. On hand to see in the arrival were Government officials from both Somalia and Uganda who welcomed the Air Uganda jet with the symbolic “water canon salute”.

► FRANCE: Equatorial Congo Airlines has begun a weekly Pointe Noire - Paris CDG service.

Brazzaville-based carrier Equatorial Congo Airlines, better known as EC Air Congo (LC), on June 29, launched a weekly service connecting the Congolese petroleum hub of Pointe Noire with Paris CDG using a B757-200. EC Air also connects Brazzaville with the French capital.

► MAURITIUS: Emirates to deploy A380 to Mauritius from mid December.

After the successful one-off operation of the jet to Mauritius earlier in the year, Emirates (EK), will from 16DEC13, introduce the Airbus A380 into service between Dubai and Mauritius route, where it’ll operate 1 of the 2 daily flights, replacing the current Boeing 777-300. 

► UNITED KINGDOM: AV Cargo Airlines to add second MD11F shortly; to expand African network further.

A second MD11F freighter, on lease from Boeing Capital Corp., is to be delivered to AV Cargo Airlines (Z3) within the next two weeks and will enter service in early September. AV Cargo, the UK-based scheduled air cargo and charter company plans to use its expanding fleet to further its route network which already extensively covers West Africa.

► MALAWI: Malawi Airlines to launch with a B737-800, Q400; outlines planned network.

Malawi Airlines, successor to the now defunct Air Malawi Ltd, has outlined its planned initial route network and its fleet, which has now been revealed to consist of a Boeing 737-800 and a Bombardier Q400. The aircraft are to be sourced from majority shareholder Ethiopian Airlines (ET).

► ERITREA: Turkish Airlines set to start Asmara flights "soon" following the end of bilateral talks.

Turkish Airlines (TK) is set to make Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, its next destination in its growing Horn of Africa network following recent talks between the Eritrean government and a Turkish business delegation which delved into issues pertaining to Ethiopia and Eritrea; developments in the Horn of Africa, as well as bilateral relations between Turkey and Eritrea.

► JAPAN: EgyptAir axes Tokyo Narita from mid July.

Having progressively reduced the frequency of flights over the last year, Egyptair (MS) has now announced that it will suspend flights from Cairo to Tokyo Narita airport with effect from July 11. The decision is likely exacerbated by the continuing political turmoil in Egypt.

► EGYPT: Air Cairo has started Amman, Misrata flights.

Air Cairo(SM) on 1 July launched three new scheduled routes: 3x weekly Alexandria (Borg Al Arab) - Amman (Jordan) flights, twice weekly Alexandria - Misrata (Libya) and a once weekly Assiut - Misrata service. Flights operate on board an Airbus A320.

► KENYA: Turkish Airlines boosts Mombasa via Kilimanjaro to daily from late October.

Turkish Airlines (TK) will, from October 27, be increasing its Istanbul – Kilimanjaro – Mombasa – Istanbul round trip frequency from 5x weekly, to daily, with the route operated by a Boeing 737-900ER. The route was launched in December 2012.

► NIGERIA: Kabo Air eyes domestic, international service resumption.

Fresh from the delivery of its first B747-400, Nigerian Hajj specialist, Kabo Air (N9), has now announced plans to enter the domestic Nigerian market with additional plans to go regional.

► FRANCE: Algeria's Tassili Airlines launches first international ops; eyes Dubai, Turkey, Spain by year end.

Algeria's Tassili Airlines (SF), on Friday July 5, launched its first international flights with two routes: Bejaia - Saint Etienne and Jijel - Grenoble in France.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): IATA-backed safety audit of all Congolese carriers begins in Kinshasa.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo began its IATA-backed operational safety audit of all Congolese carriers at Kinshasa N'djili International Airport on Friday, July 5. During a working tour of the airport's and airlines' various facilities, Justin Kalunga, the Congolese Minster of Transport, was accompanied by Richard Nyanguile, the Director General of the Congolese Civil Aviation Authority ( l’Autorité de l’Aviation Civile - AAC) and Abdalla Bilenge, the Director General of the Congolese airports authority (Régie des Voies Aériennes - RVA).

► RUSSIA: Rosaviatsia reminds local carriers about unused South African traffic rights.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, has issued a reminder to local Russian airlines that there are still unused rights available for both passenger and cargo flights between Russia and South Africa.

■ TANZANIA: TCAA calls stakeholder meeting for July 11 over proposed steep nav, safety fee hikes.

The Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) is mulling doubling its Air Navigation Charges and Safety Fees as means of paying for various infrastructural upgrades set to be rolled out over the next two years. The move however is still subject to a stakeholders meeting set for July 11.

► SOMALIA: Presidential jet develops engine problems after take off for Juba; returns safely BUT..

A plane, an unconfirmed DC9-10 (MSN 45740 | 5Y-SAX) belonging to Kenya's FlySAX (B5), carrying Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to Juba, South Sudan was yesterday forced to make an emergency landing at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport after developing engine trouble shortly after takeoff, Radio Mogadishu has reported.

■ KENYA: Regulators grant Kenya Airways/KLM seven-year extension to Unfair Competition exemption.

Kenya Airways (KQ) and 26.73% shareholder, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), have been granted a seven-year extension to their Unfair Trade practices exemption by the Competition Authority of Kenya, having applied in February. The moratorium, introduced when KLM acquired a stake in the Kenyan national carrier back in 1996, prevents competitors from accusing them of unfair trade practices. 

■ SOUTH AFRICA: ATNS appoints Thabani Mthiyane as CEO.

South Africa's Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) Board has announced the appointment – with immediate effect – of Mr. Thabani Mthiyane to the position of Chief Executive Officer, following a rigorous and thorough recruitment process and subsequent approval by the Cabinet.

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe resumes Vic Falls - Johannesburg from July 12.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) is to tentatively resume its Victoria Falls - Johannesburg flights with effect from July 12. The 3x weekly flights will operate with an Embraer E145. As of this posting however, the flight is not yet open to reservations and further changes to the schedule still remain possible.

► NIGERIA: Arik Air plans A330 London ops from July 12; Johannesburg A340 ops resume from 16 July.

As previously reported, Nigeria's Arik Air (W3) has outlined its initial Airbus A330-200 routes with the carrier's daily Lagos - London Heathrow flight set to switch from the current A340-500, to the A330 from July 12. Additionally, Lagos - Johannesburg will from July 16 see a return of the A340-500, replacing the current equipment, a B737-800.