■ CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Djambala International Airport's runway inaugurated.

The Republic of Congo's third international airport, situated in Djambala, 400km north of Brazzaville, has seen its runway inaugurated following the arrival of a Trans Air Congo (Q8) B737-300 carrying a delegation of government suits and bureaucrats late last week. The project was launched in 2001.

► GHANA: Aero Surveys Ltd appoints Sukhjinder Mann CFO of Starbow Airlines.

The board of directors and management of Aero Surveys Limited,  operators of Ghana's Starbow Airlines (S9), have announced the appointment of Mr Sukhjinder Mann to the position of Chief Financial Officer. Mr Mann arrived at the airline 7 months ago as the Financial Controller and has been the acting CFO for over 3 months.

● IATA: Strong domestic pax traffic in Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia & the DRC buoys African growth as cargo ekes up in June.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its June passenger demand figures showing year-on-year global growth of 6.0%. Africa saw a growth of 11.2% with African airlines benefiting from strong domestic economic growth in key markets such as Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While global air freight demand figures showed a 1.2% year-on-year expansion, Africa's figures showed growth in June of 2.4% on June 2012.

■ ETHIOPIA: Australia, Ethiopia sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

Ethiopia and Australia have reportedly signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Present at the signing ceremony last week was the Director General of the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA), Colonel Wesenyeleh Hunegnaw, and the Australian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ms Lisa Filipetto.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Eleven BA-Comair B737s suffer mass grounding over expired parts.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) on Friday, August 2, reportedly grounded eleven of British Airways-Comair's aircraft after they were found to be flying with components whose life-cycle expired in August 2012.

► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania to tentatively operate MA60s, Y12s as part of deal with China's JoyAir.

Air Tanzania (TC) is reportedly to acquire five Xian MA60s and three Harbin Y-12  turboprops (whether they are on lease or outright purchase is unclear) from JoyAir (JR), a Chinese carrier that is 95% owned by China's state-backed aircraft manufacturer and Xian's parent, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), with the remaining 5% held by China Eastern Airlines (MU).

■ KENYA: Kenya Airways releases its Operations Report for Q1 FY2013/14.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has released its Operations Report for the First Quarter of its 2013/14 Financial Year. Overall, the company put into the market place a total capacity of 3'464million seat kilometres which gives a year on year growth of 3.0%.  During this quarter the airline successfully launched three weekly operations into Livingstone, the third destination in Zambia after Lusaka and Ndola.

► NIGERIA: Turkish Airlines to start 4x weekly Ndjamena via Kano flights from December.

In line with an announcement made in mid-March during the commissioning of the newly renovated and expanded international terminal at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Turkish Airlines (TK) are set to begin 4x weekly flights from Istanbul to Ndjamena, Chad via Kano, Nigeria with effect from December 12. Flights will operate using a Boeing 737-800.

► RÉUNION: Air Austral concedes that any A380 delivery would not be in an all-economy configuration.

La Réunion-based carrier Air Austral (UU) CEO Marie-Joesph Malé says his carrier will not take delivery of the A380 in an all-economy lay out citing the threat to its premium traffic such a layout would present to the airline's overall viability.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Gryphon Airlines to début Johannesburg to Gabon, Congo & Benin flights in November.

South Africa's Gryphon Airlines (6P) will start scheduled flights from South Africa through to Benin via Congo and Gabon with effect from November 1. The airline will operate a former 1Time (T6) McDonnell Douglas MD83 (MSN 49829 | ZS-TRJ) on the route.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): Air Kasaï now leasing a B737-200Adv from Gryphon Airlines.

Kinshasa-based Air Kasaï has added a B737-200Adv (MSN 22123 | ZS-EVE) to its fleet on lease from South Africa's Gryphon Airlines. Air Kasai also operates the Congo's sole ATR72-200 and various smaller Antonovs.

► ANGOLA: SonAir becomes first operator to resume Super Puma EC225 flights following grounding.

Angolan carrier, SonAir (SOR), Africa’s largest oil and gas helicopter operator, has become the first operator to resume passenger transportation flights with the suspended Eurocopter Super Puma EC225 fleet. Three flights were performed successfully with two EC225s from Luanda to two offshore platforms.

► BURUNDI: Kenya Airways adds double daily flights to Bujumbura.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has increased its flights between Nairobi and Bujumbura, Burundi with the recent introduction of two daily direct flights; one in the evening and one in the morning operating on board an Embraer E170. Overall, there are now 21 weekly frequencies between the East African capitals.

► MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius has no plans to acquire any new planes before 2020: Deenanath

Air Mauritius (MK) Vice President (Business Sector) Mr Raj Deenanath has stated that his airline does not plan to acquire any new aircraft before 2020 despite recent comments made by Chairman Appalsamy Thomas stating that new aircraft would be a "real game changer" for the struggling airline.

► KENYA: Saudia Cargo relaunches its Nairobi hub; adds 23 new African destinations via interline deals.

Saudi Airlines cargo division, Saudia Cargo (SV), has announced the re-launch of its Nairobi, Kenya hub along with the expansion of its network coverage into sub-Saharan Africa. Saudia Cargo currently serves six other freighter destinations in Africa, namely: Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Kano, Khartoum, Lagos and N’Djamena. Saudia also offers a Lagos, Nigeria hub focussing on West Africa.

■ NIGERIA: Benin Airport temporarily shut down by IRS over tax evasion allegations.

Nigeria's Inland Revenue Services (IRS) acting on behalf of the Edo State Government, temporarily closed Benin Airport on Monday over allegations of tax evasion by airport workers. The move resulted in numerous flights to both Abuja and Lagos being cancelled.

► SOUTH AFRICA: British Airways reduces Johannesburg service from March 2014.

British Airways (BA) is to tentatively reduce its London Heathrow – Johannesburg operation with effect from 3 March 2014, with overall frequencies being reduced from 17x to 14x weekly. This is mainly due to the introduction of the Airbus A380 aircraft on the route, scheduled to enter service 3x weekly with effect from 12 February 2014 and which will increase to 6x weekly from 10 March 2014.

■ ALGERIA: Fire in Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport control tower temporarily disrupts flights.

Authorities at Algiers Houari Boumediene International Airport were on Monday, July 29 forced to divert all inbound flights to Wahran and Annaba airports after a fire broke out in the control tower at 18h00L. 

■ LIBYA: Italy's Salini-Impregilo reawarded Kufrah International Airport upgrade contract.

Italian construction conglomerate, Salini-Impregilo, have had a 2010 contract to renovate and upgrade the airport at Al Kufra in the south-eastern Libyan desert, reactivated with construction set to go ahead from the end of August. 

► UNITED STATES: JetBlue, South African Airways ink codeshare deal.

US-based domestic and regional carrier, JetBlue Airways (B6), and South African Airways (SA) have announced a bilateral codeshare agreement aimed at connecting the carriers’ networks via New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD). While the agreement is still pending U.S. Department of Transport regulatory approval and subject to receipt of foreign government operating authority, it will allow customers to purchase a single ticket combining SAA and JetBlue-operated flights and is an expansion of an interline agreement first inked in 2010.