■ CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Equatorial Congo Airlines selects Zodiac's Rave IFE system for its 757s.

Zodiac Aerospace has announced that Equatorial Congo Airlines (LC), the Brazzaville-based Congolese operator, has selected Zodiac Inflight Innovations' Rave Inflight Entertainment (IFE) System to be installed on its two B757-200 aircraft.

► MALAWI: Lengthy certification process could result in long wait for Malawi Airlines to get airborne.

While on a visit to the Malawian capital, Lilongwe, last week, Ethiopian Airlines' CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, stated that despite the announcement earlier this month of the formation of Malawi Airlines in which his carrier owns a 49% stake, it will still be "some time" before the carrier begins operations.

► UGANDA: Government proposal for Uganda Airlines 2.0 to go before cabinet shortly.

Uganda's Works & Transport Minister, Abraham Byandala, says a government drawn-up proposal for the re-establishment of Uganda Airlines (QU) will shortly go before Cabinet for consideration marking the first tentative steps taken by Kampala to re-enter the domestic and regional aviation scene.

■ NIGERIA: Purported fleeting plans for Nigeria One unveiled; eyes 50 aircraft by Q4 2014.

The first purported fleeting plans for Nigeria's tentative new national carrier, Nigeria One, have been revealed with an overall goal of acquiring fifty aircraft from various manufacturers before the end of next year.

■ EGYPT: Cairo's Top Aviation to roll out iPort's Departure Control System across Egypt.

Cairo-based Top Aviation has become the latest ground handling services provider to deploy the web-based iPort airline departure control system (DCS) following the signing of a multi-year agreement.

► MALAWI: Ethiopian Airlines unveil Lilongwe as Southern African hub.

In a predictable follow on to its recent announcement of the launch of a renewed Malawian national carrier, dubbed Malawi Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has officially unveiled Lilongwe as the location for its Southern African hub.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: FlightSafety International now offering Embraer ERJ145 training in South Africa.

FlightSafety International has announced that it now offers training for the Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Embraer ERJ 145 full flight simulator, is installed at FlightSafety’s Learning Center in Johannesburg.

■ ZIMBABWE: CAAZ looking for $400mln to upgrade Harare International to cope with future traffic growth.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) will need USD400million overall to proceed with plans to expand Harare International Airport, which is anticipating a rise in traffic over the coming 10 years.

► CAMEROON: Turkish Airlines hurting Camair-Co on Europe-bound traffic - Perchat.

Camair-Co (QC) says Turkish Airlines' (TK) recent entry into the Cameroonian market is having a serious effect on the carrier's international traffic with almost 50% of the Paris-bound market having been lost to the Turks, Camair Commercial Director, Christian Perchat, has disclosed.

► SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE: Newly installed runway lighting at São Tomé paves the way for night-time flights in August.

São Toméan carrier, STP Airways (8F), and the various other carriers that serve the island nation, could begin to offer better international and regional connecting flights beginning this August after the recent successful installation and testing of runway lighting at the carrier's home base of São Tomé International Airport.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Fire aboard Ethiopian 787 parked at London Heathrow; carrier to continue 787 ops despite incident.

An Ethiopian Airlines (ET) Boeing 787-8 (MSN 34744 | ET-AOP) has been grounded at London Heathrow airport following an on-board fire which broke out while the aircraft was parked at a remote stand on Friday, July 12, 2013. The aircraft was empty when the incident was observed.

■■ SENEGAL: (Pics) Dakar's new Blaise Diagne International Airport now delayed until Q4 2014.

Blaise Diagne International Airport, Diass, Senegal

 

[UPDATE 12 JULY 2013] After a bold declaration last year by the then Senior Senegalese Minister in charge of International Cooperation, Air transport, Infrastructure and Energy, Karim Wade, that the capital Dakar's new Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) in Diass would be ready this year, Senegal's Prime Minister, Abdoul Mbaye, today announced the country's second international airport would only be commissioned in the first quarter of 2014. He, however, did not provide a reason for the delay. [UPDATE 12 JULY 2013] Completion of the airport has now been delayed until November 2014. Senegalese paper, Libération, is quoted as saying a dispute between the Bin Laden Group and Dakar which threatened to derail the project has since been resolved with works now back on track.

■ LIBYA: FedEx resumes operations in Libya through Takween for Airfreight Services.

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, has expanded its global network by re-launching its express solutions in Libya through Takween for Airfreight Services.

■ CHINA: Nigeria finalizes $500mln deal with CCECC for construction of four new international air terminals.

With a high-powered state visit to China led by Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, about to come to a close, Chinese and Nigerian government officials have finalized several loan and Memoranda of Understanding agreements valued at over USD1.1billion with various Chinese institutions and contractors.  Among them is the Chinese construction conglomerate, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), who have now been tasked with the construction of four new international airport terminals to be completed within 20 months.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Bombardier sets up a Regional Support Office and Parts Depot in Johannesburg.

Canadian aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier Aerospace, has opened a new Regional Support Office (RSO) and parts depot in Johannesburg, South Africa. The office and depot will anchor regional support capabilities for Bombardier business and commercial aircraft customers in Africa. Both the Johannesburg RSO and parts depot are co-located at Bombardier’s Business Aircraft Authorized Service Facility (ASF) at ExecuJet South Africa’s facility at Johannesburg's Lanseria Airport. It will be the 11th parts facility in Bombardier’s network.

► GHANA: Report claims pilot error partly to blame for the 2012 Allied Air Cargo 727F crash in Accra.

The chairman of the investigative committee for the June 2, 2012 crash of a Nigerian Allied Air (4W) cargo B727-200F (MSN  22540 | 5N-BJN) at Accra Kotoka International Airport which killed 10 people on the ground, has presented the final report to the Ghanaian Ministry of Transport for consideration. Among the findings by Captain Alec Grant Sam and his committee are that the pilots of the 727 "were partly to blame" for the accident, having touched down too far along runway 21 to allow them to stop safely.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Mango to boost local frequencies with arrival of first leased 737-800 in August.

South African LCC, mango (JE), is planning to boost its local capacity by over 30 weekly flights following the introduction of the first of two B737-800s leased from Safair in August CEO, Mr Nico Bezuidenhout, has confirmed.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Arik Air, Tunisair, Air Algérie, Aeolus Air, Comair.

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: Arik Air (W3), Tunisair (TU), Air Algérie (AH), Aeolus Air (AAZ) and Comair South Africa.

■ ETHIOPIA: Bombardier appoints Ethiopian Airlines MRO an Authorized Service Facility for commercial aircraft.

Bombardier Aerospace has named Ethiopian Airlines (ET) as an Authorized Service Facility (ASF) for commercial aircraft. Bombardier has signed a Letter of Intent to authorize the airline to perform line and heavy maintenance on Q400 and Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft. The agreement is expected to take effect by late August.

► SOMALIA: Turkish Airlines says strongest performing route is Mogadishu.

Turkish Airlines (TK) has announced a marked growth in the number of passengers flying to Turkey and onward to its other international destinations.  Between January and June 2013, Turkish Airlines saw a 25.8 percent increase in global ticket sales over the same period in 2012, a total of more than 22.4 million passengers with African traffic accounting for a significant proportion in that increase.