■ SOUTH AFRICA: Over four-thousand SAA staff to strike today over wage dispute; allege discrimination.

Over 4000 South African Airways (SA) employees in the airline's cabin and ground crew sectors will, from today, embark on a strike proclaimed by their trade union, the South African Transport & Allied Workers' Union (SATAWU), after SAA's management "unilaterally" went ahead and implemented a 6.23% wage rise with benefits; an offer previously rejected by the union.

■■ SUDAN: See Renderings for New Khartoum International Airport to be built and financed by China.

[UPDATE 17 JULY 2013] The Arab press is reporting that the Sudanese Government has signed a USD$750million loan, with an as-yet-unspecified foreign bank, to fund the initial construction phase of the capital, Khartoum's, New International Airport. The loan will be repaid over a period of 25 years, beginning after the completion of the project. Other loans secured thus far include a USD$47million loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed in July 2010, and another for USD$120million from the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) signed in May 2010.

►► PHILIPPINES: Ethiopian Airlines cancels planned Manila, Ho Chi Minh City routes; nixes Singapore.

[UPDATE 17 JULY] According to AirlineRoute, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) plans to adjust its East Asia operations from 18JUN13, with the tentative launch of 3 new destinations: Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Manila (Philippines) and Seoul Incheon (South Korea).

■ SENEGAL: ASECNA secures $39million loan from the IFC for infrastructural upgrades.

The Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (L'Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar - ASECNA) has secured a loan of USD39.43million (EUR30million) from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to finance part of its renovation plan, which includes the acquisition of new equipment and the refurbishment of buildings. These investments will allow ASECNA to continue improving the quality of its services and to maintain its perfect safety track record. 

► SOUTH AFRICA: fastjet keen on Mozambique, Zimbabwe markets as more SA carriers eye Dar es Salaam.

With the launch of Johannesburg - Dar es Salaam flights said to be approaching "soon", fastjet says once operations are in place, it would like to get in on the difficult to access, albeit very lucrative, South Africa - Mozambique and South Africa - Zimbabwe markets.

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■ EU BLACK LIST: Who's hot, who's not in Guinea, the DRC, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique and Sudan.

The following is an extract from the latest Official Journal of the European Union detailing the group's most recent decisions and activities, with particular reference paid to the latest updates made to its ominous Banned Operators List. Among the countries that argued their cases to be struck off the list in Brussels (and in one instance, chose to remain on the list) were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique and Sudan. The extract lists the various changes, including carriers that have now been either certified or struck off the countries' respective verified operator's lists, that each regulatory authority has implemented with respect to EU & ICAO minimums.

► SPAIN: Royal Air Maroc starts Casablanca - Tenerife Nord from late October.

Royal Air Maroc (AT) is set to begin flights from Casablanca to Tenerife Nord with effect from 29OCT. The three times weekly flights will operate using an ATR72. Canary Islands-based carrier, Binter Canarias (NT) currently serves Marrakech from Tenerife Nord.

■ NAMIBIA: NAC planning to add a new terminal, runway at Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport.

The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has announced plans to construct a new passenger terminal and a second runway at the Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport as part of its five year strategic plan. Speaking in Windhoek during the handing over of two apron buses for use at the airport, Chairwoman Ms Ndeuhala Katonyala said that while the NAC is currently focussed on extending the current passenger terminal at Hosea Kutako to ease the flow of passengers, a new terminal would be required to meet anticipated long term growth.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Kenya Airways to boost Jeddah to 4x weekly from September to November.

Owing to an expected surge in demand during its Hajj & Umrah operations, Kenya Airways (KQ) from 03SEP13 to 10NOV13 is increasing the frequency of its Nairobi – Jeddah service, where it’ll operate 4 weekly flights instead of the current two. The operational aircraft will also change from an Embraer E190 to a Boeing 737-800.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Thai Airways cuts Johannesburg flights from late July 'til September.

Thailand carrier Thai Airways International (TG), will from 27 July until 19 September, temporarily reduce its Bangkok – Johannesburg operation. With the loss of Friday flights during the period, frequencies will drop to 3x weekly from the current four.

■ KENYA: Construction of Nairobi JKIA's second runway to start in November.

Construction of Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport's much needed second runway is set to begin in November this year after Kenyan Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary, Michael Kamau, gave the go ahead to ensure that the project is completed by 2017.

■ 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.