■ SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles posts very strong 2Q & 1H2013 Financial results.

Air Seychelles (HM) has announced a strong second quarter (Q2) and half-year financial performance, reflecting continued solid growth and success in its turnaround strategy. Overall, during the quarter, the Seychellois national carrier posted total revenues of USD26.03 million (up from USD10.87million in 2012), a significant increase of 139%. Total revenues for the first half of 2013 reached USD42.05million (2012: USD18.76million), up by 124%.

► TURKEY: Turkish Airlines to boost Algiers, Kigali/Entebbe, launch flights to Tobruk.

Turkish Airlines (TK) will effect various changes to its African route network over the coming weeks with flights Algiers to be increased from daily to 11x weekly with effect from September 18 until October 26. Additionally, AirlineRoute writes that the Entebbe via Kigali route will see a 6th weekly flight from October 27 with the frequency to go daily come November 14. The airline is also expected to announce its the launch of 3x weekly flights to its 4th Libyan destination, Tobruk, in mid October.

► MADAGASCAR: MTA opens own aerodrome at Bekopaka; eyes twice weekly Antananarivo, Morondava flights.

Madagascar Trans Air, a private small-prop based Malagasy operator, has opened its own airport near the western town of Bekopaka. The facility will help stimulate local tourism trade with the capital, Antananarivo, now just 75minutes away and Morondava now only 30 minutes away by air.

■ UGANDA: Qatar, Uganda sign an Open Skies treaty.

The State of Qatar, represented by  the Qatari Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) and the Republic of Uganda have revised their previous Bilateral Air Services Agreement with therecent signing of an Open Skies treaty effectively granting Qatar Airways (QR) unlimited frequencies (both passenger and cargo) to any destination in the Central African country. The agreement was signed in the Qatari capital, Doha, on August 26.

● IATA: African airlines' July Pax traffic grows 7.5% on 2012 as Cargo takes a knock.

In its July pax & cargo figures, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has noted that overall global demand for air travel recorded another solid month of growth in July. Overall revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) were up 5.0% compared to July 2012. All regions were up year-on-year, with emerging markets recording the strongest increases with African airline's pax figures growing 7.5% on July 2012. Overall global air cargo traffic results for July showing a continuation of the modest improvement trend experienced in June though African airlines faired for the worse with a 4.9% contraction in July year-on-year.

► UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways to axe Lusaka, increase Accra flights from late October.

British Airways (BA) has outlined its initial Winter 2013/14 schedule with tentative plans to axe its thrice weekly Lusaka, Zambia flights, AirlineRoute has reported. On a more positive note, Accra, Ghana will see an additional 3 weekly services being added . All changes are effective October 27.

● NIGER: ECOWAS, Maghreb states hold seminar on aviation security, counter-terrorism.

In line with key-objectives outlined in the  Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) Vision 2020 which include the establishment of a safe, efficient and affordable air transport system for the region, a regional seminar on aviation security with emphasis on anti-terrorism was held in the Nigerien capital, Niamey, from August 27-29. 

■ KENYA: Tradewinds Aviation Services' Nairobi JKIA, Mombasa stations attain ISAGO certificates.

Kenyan ground-handling firm, Tradewinds Aviation Services (TAS), has announced that its stations at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Mombasa Moi International Airport have successfully passed their respective IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO).

► GHANA: Antrak Air reassures public after ATR72 suffers inflight engine-fire.

Ghana's Antrak Air (O4) has assured the travelling public that both its services and aircraft are safe following an incident on August 16 involving one of its two ATR72-500s, (MCN 809 | EC-KUL) being forced to shutdown its left-hand engine while on climb out of Tamale (Ghana), enroute to Accra.

■ LIBYA: Plans to switch ops from Tripoli International to Mitiga prove unfeasible; TIP to remain open.

Libyan Ministry of Transport plans to close Tripoli International Airport for a three-month long period from October to December in order to effect a much-needed runway upgrade project, have been put on hold after Tripoli Mitiga Airport's handling capacity was found to be inadequate.

■ BOTSWANA: Air Botswana begins process of finding a new GM after Mphi Tlhomelang passes.

Following the recent passing of its late Acting General Manager, Ms Mphi Tlhomelang, Air Botswana (BP) has once more begun the process of finding a replacement. Ms Tlhomelang had only been in the position for two months after the resignation of previous GM, Sakhile Nyoni-Reiling, earlier this year.

► TANZANIA: fastjet, bidAir Cargo sign freight-haulage deal.

In a departure from the orthodox LCC business model, fastjet (FN) has signed an agreement with freight specialists, BidAir, in which it will carry belly-hold cargo on its fleet of Airbus A319s.  According to the LCC, it intends to carry "dry" cargo such as post and newspapers.

► SENEGAL: South African Airways' Johannesburg - New York goes via Dakar once more from late October.

With Summer on hand in the Southern Hemisphere, South African Airways (SA) has announced its daily outbound Johannesburg - New York JFK service will once more incorporate a stopover in Dakar, Senegal with effect from October 27. The inbound remains direct.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: ACSA posts $97million profit for latest Financial Year despite drop in pax, traffic numbers.

The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has announced a ZAR991million (USD96.97million) profit, buoyed by a 16% rise in its revenue for its 2012/13 Financial Year to ZAR6.66billion (USD652.28million). This comes as seven out of the country's nine major airports recorded a slump in passenger traffic on the previous year's figures with aircraft landings also declining by 6% to 271'250, down from 272'320 in 2012.

► ANGOLA: Iberia announces Luanda as first exclusive A330 destination from late October.

Spanish carrier Iberia (IB) has confirmed that Luanda, Angola will become its first international route to be served by its A330-300 exclusively, with effect from October 27. Iberia currently has four of the type in service. The wide-bodied, long-haul aircraft connects the capital cities of Spain and Angola twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Comair's bid to block FlySafair's launch rejected by the ASLC.

South Africa's latest LCC venture, FlySafair, has been tentatively cleared for operations after the South African Air Services Licensing Council (ASLC) reportedly rejected a complaint lodged by Comair Group Ltd claiming FlySafair's parent, Safair (FA), did not meet South Africa's strict 25% foreign-ownership cap.

► NAMIBIA: (Pics) Air Namibia's first A330 being readied for delivery later this month.

Air Namibia's (SW) first brand new Airbus A330-200, (MCN 1451 | V5-ANO), has begun flight tests ahead of its planned delivery to Windhoek later this month. The aircraft is part of a pair of A330s on lease from US-based leaser, Intrepid Aviation. The second aircraft, (MCN 1466 | V5-ANP) is due for delivery in November.

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe eyes Zambia, Malawi, Durban flights; still gung-ho on London Gatwick in November.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) is planning to roll out more regional and international destinations with effect from October/November onwards as the airline attempts to reclaim its lost southern African market share. In addition, it has now noted that a resumption of services to China is also on the cards.

► TANZANIA: mango starts scheduled Johannesburg - Zanzibar flights from late September.

South African LCC, mango (JE), will début its first scheduled international operations between Johannesburg (OR Tambo International) and Zanzibar effective September 21. The twice weekly flights will operate on-board a B737-800. 

► KENYA: Tropic Air's AOC reinstated following KCAA's investigation into Somalia ops.

Tropic Air, a private air charter company based in Northern Kenya, has resumed flights after a 3 week-long suspension of its operations owing to an enquiry by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) into a humanitarian flight the airline supported in Somalia, in July.