■ GHANA: Antrak Air mulls quitting Ghana citing market-overcrowding, exhorbitant costs.

The CEO of Ghanaian domestic operator, Antrak Air (O4), Alhaji Asuma Banda, says he is seriously considering pulling out of the country as the presence of too many carriers on the Ghanaian domestic scene has rendered it almost impossible to operate an airline profitably.

► NIGER: Ethiopian Airlines to add a 4x weekly Niamey service from late November.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is set to commence flights to the Nigerien capital, Niamey,  on-board a B757-200 with effect from November 20. AirlineRoute writes that the 4x weekly service will operate onwards to the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou.

► NIGERIA: (Pic) Azman Airlines first B737-300 rolls out the paintshop in Norwich.

Azman Air, the Kano-based startup run by entrepreneur, AbdulManafi Yunusa, has seen its first B737-300 (MSN 28570 | 5N-?), formerly with bmi baby, roll out the paint shop in Norwich in the United Kingdom.

■ BURUNDI: Air Burundi signs MRO contract with Air Zimbabwe for its MA60 as China promises support.

A recent report by the Burundian Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Machinery states that Air Burundi (8Y) has indeed signed an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) contract with Air Zimbabwe (UM) for its single aircraft, an MA-60 (MCN 1019 | 9U-BHU), with two Zimbabwean pilots and two dispatchers having also been hired. Air Zimbabwe operates three of the type.

■ DUBAI: Emirates appoints Orhan Abbas as Senior VP for its Southern & Central Africa, Latin American Commercial operations.

Emirates (EK) has appointed Orhan Abbas its Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Latin America, Central and Southern Africa. In his new role he will oversee a number of markets, including South Africa, Angola, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Indian Ocean islands Mauritius and Seychelles, and Latin American markets Brazil and Argentina.

► SUDAN: South Supreme Airlines launches flights between Juba and Khartoum.

Juba-based startup, South Supreme Airlines, has officially launched operations with its maiden flight between the South Sudanese capital and Khartoum on Sunday, September 7. Speaking on arrival at Khartoum International Airport, airline boss and South Sudanese tycoon, Ayii Duang Ayii, said the flight was a sign of improved relations between the two countries, and that it will further enhance cooperation ties for the benefit of their people.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA's Turnaround Plan to undergo parliamentary committee scrunity this week.

Monwabisi Kalawe, South African Airways' (SA) Chief Executive Officer, says the airline's strategic turnaround plan #9 will be presented to a South African parliamentary inquest committee this week ahead of a possible release to the public at the airline's AGM tentatively due later this month.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Air Burkina, Malu Aviation, Skyward Int'l, Jetlink Express, Air Madagascar, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, Mango, Sahara African Aviation, SKA Aircraft Leasing.

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: Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, Mango, Sahara African Aviation, SKA Aircraft Leasing, Air Burkina, Malu Aviation, Skyward International Aviation, Jetlink Express, Air Madagascar.

■ SOMALIA: Turkey's Favori LLC to assume control of Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport.

Favori LLC, a consortium of Turkish construction firms Çetin Group and Kozuva with USD3million capital, is set to assume the management of Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport with effect from September 15, the airport's current manager, Ali Mohamed Ibrahim, has said. The news comes after months of speculation about the future of a 10-year concession awarded to Dubai-based firm, SKA Air & Logistics, in 2010. 

■ SOUTH AFRICA: PAKAfrica Aviation clarifies its designs on 1Time and its launch plans.

PAKAviation Africa has clarified its plans to establish a new regional African carrier using a restructured 1Time Airline (T6) as its foundation. According to the Dubai/Pakistani-backed firm, 1Time Holdings Ltd is to be used as a housing company for assets once a controlling stake (still pending regulatory approval) is acquired. 

► CAMEROON: Gabon's Afric Aviation goes regional with 4x weekly Douala flights.

Gabonese carrier Afric Aviation (L8) has launched its first international route with four times weekly flights between Gabon's capital, Libreville, and the Cameroonian commercial hub of Douala. Operations are on board one of the airline's two ATR72-200s.

■ TOGO: Lomé-Tokoin Airport upgrade works to be completed next year; opening due in 4Q 2014.

Expansion works at Lomé's Tokoin Airport, also known as l’Aéroport International Gnassingbé Eyadèma (AIGE), are expected to be completed within a year with an official opening scheduled for December 2014, Colonel Gnama Latta, the Director General of Togo's civil aviation authority l'Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile du Togo (ANAC), has said.

► NIGERIA: (Pic) Start-up Discovery Air's first B737-300 rolls out the paint shop.

The first of two B737-300s, (MSN 28571 | 5N-BQO) formerly with brussels airlines(SN), has been painted in the livery of its new owner, Nigerian start-up, Discovery Air, and has been parked at London Southern Airport awaiting delivery to Lagos. A second ex-bmibaby (WW) B737-300 (MSN 28870 | 5N-?) is also expected.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Korongo boss dismisses reports of Air France/Kinshasa tie up; claims game still on.

Christophe Allard, the managing director of Congolese operator, Korongo Airlines (ZC), has dismissed recent media reports that Kinshasa has reached a definitive agreement with Air France (AF) in which the latter will become a partner in a new Congolese national carrier due in the skies in either late 2013/early 2014.

► UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways announces further modifications to Entebbe, Cape Town, Tripoli.

British Airways (BA) has announced further modifications to its African timetable with a doubling of Cape Town frequencies due from October 27 and an added fourth weekly flight to Entebbe, Uganda due from March 31, 2014. Flights to Tripoli meanwhile have already been increased to four times weekly.

■ VIETNAM: Seychelles, Vietnam sign a Bilateral Air Services Agreement and various other MoUs.

During a state visit to Vietnam at the end of August, Seychellois President, Mr James Michel, and Vietnam's President, Mr Truong Tan Sang, witnessed the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding involving bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Seychelles and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of which one pertained to a Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

► NIGERIA: Ex Camair-Co boss Alex Van Elk to help set up new Nigerian LCC.

A new Low Cost Carrier will commence operations in Nigeria in 2014 with former Camair-Co (QC) CEO, Alex Van Elk, one of the project's coordinators. According to Mr Van Elk, the carrier is a joint partnership between Nigerian and European investors.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Government set to form new national carrier with Air France; ops by early 2014.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has reportedly chosen Air France (AF) as its strategic partner in its planned new national carrier to replace the defunct LAC Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (4V) following months of speculation.

■ TANZANIA: Precision Air posts a USD18.8million loss for FY2012/13.

Tanzania's Precision Air (PW) has confirmed sustaining a hefty loss of TZS30.4billion (USD18.84million) for its most recent 2012/13 Financial Year ended March 31, 2013. In their statement, the the Board of Directors of Precision Air Services Plc said that while total revenues had grown by 8.2% on the previous years figures to TZS176.4billion (USD109.3million), the loss was attributable to rising fuel, maintenance and equipment costs, rising personnel expenditure and an unfavourable USD exchange rate also taking its toll.

► LIBYA: (Pics) Ministry of Defense takes redelivery of Gaddafi's repainted A340.

The Libyan Ministry of Defense has taken redelivery of an Airbus A340-300 (MCN 151 | 5A-ONE) following an overhaul and a refit in Toulouse, France. The aircraft was made famous as the private jet of deposed Libyan strongman Muammur Gaddafi prior to his death in 2011.