• The African Aviation Tribune •

Sunday, February 17, 2013

►►► NIGERIA: United Airlines to start 787 service to Lagos from 2013.

[UPDATE 17 FEBRUARY] American megacarrier United Airlines (UA) is to start a 5x weekly service between Houston, Texas and the Nigerian city of Lagos using its soon-to-be delivered Boeing 787 Dreamliner, effective 7 January 2013.

An ongoing jet fuel crisis caused by supply problems in Togo and exacerbated by lack of reserve at the national oil refinery in Tema, has compelled Ghana's domestic operators to suspend flights for the next three days (Sunday included), say reports out of Accra.

The Nigerian Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has released its preliminary report on the Dana Air 9J-992 Accident which claimed over 160 lives in June last year, in addition to several other air accident enquiries dating back almost 10 years.

In preparation for the upcoming XXth United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly to be held in Victoria Falls in August this year, Emirates (EK) has applied to the Zambian Department of Civil Aviation for traffic rights to serve Livingstone directly.

► COTE D'IVOIRE: (Pic) Air Cote d'Ivoire to launch domestic network in coming months following arrival of E170 Jet.

Air Côte d'Ivoire (HF) has taken delivery of its Embraer 170 (MSN 307 | F-HBXH) wet-leased from Air France thereby supplementing the carrier's current fleet of two Airbus A319s.

Swaziland's Sikhuphe International Airport Terminal due to open in 2013.

Swaziland's controversial multi-million dollar Sikhuphe International Airport is set to start operations early next year (2013) according to the Principal Secretary in the Swazi Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, Bertram Stewart.

Unnamed military sources in Ethiopia state that the country has pioneered its own indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone. The UAVs have allegedly already performed a geophysical survey of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam, a massive hydroelectric installation under construction on the Blue Nile.

Centrafricair o/a Karinou Airlines (KRN), a private carrier based out of the Central African Republic, is to boost its fleet with the arrival of a Boeing 737-300 due in April which will join its current lone Boeing 737-200ADV (MSN 23109 | TL-AEG) formerly with Lebanon's Med Airways.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: ACSA awards ADB Airfield Solutions contract to upgrade Cape Town Int'l runway lighting.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has awarded a contract to US based airfield lighting specialists ADB Airfield Solutions to upgrade the AGL – Airfield Ground Lighting at Cape Town International Airport. The contract comes after ACSA awarded ADB a double contract in December 2012 to install a CAT III Normarc ILS at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport's runway 21L in addition to installing added taxiway centreline lighting to support the airport’s move to a CAT III airfield.

Tanzania's Precision Air (PW) has announced the appointment of Ms Sauda S. Rajab to the position of Group Managing Director & CEO following the expiry of incumbent Alphonse Kioko's contract.

Sudan’s Transport Minister, Ahmed Babiker Nahar has signed a preliminary deal with Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer, Antonov, for the purchase of five Antonov aircraft for onward placement in Sudan Airways (SD). The move was precipitated by Sudan Airways' inability to access Western aircraft owing to US trade sanctions against Khartoum.

Leading on from our previous post, Malawi's Privatization Commission yesterday declared Ethiopian Airlines (ET) the winner of the 49% Foreign Shareholder stake up for grabs in a renewed Malawian national carrier, set to succeed the quasi-defunct Air Malawi (QM). The Ethiopian national carrier was named the preferred bidder for the position of strategic partner in the new airline, Air Malawi (2012) Limited, based on its "global experience and competitiveness".

► SEYCHELLES: Air Berlin, Air Seychelles sign codeshare deal.

airberlin(AB), Europe’s seventh largest airline, and Air Seychelles (HM), the national airline of the Seychelles, today signed a codeshare agreement which will see Air Seychelles’ HM code placed on four of airberlin’s daily return services between Abu Dhabi

and Berlin, Düsseldorf complementing the island carrier’s existing 26 weekly codeshare connections with Etihad Airways (AY) to Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf.

Two carriers are looking to start domestic operations in Nigeria shortly: Azman Airlines and Jedair, a former charter airline that has reportedly entered into an ACMI deal with a Canadian firm.

Mauritian national carrier, Air Mauritius (MK), is beginning to reap the rewards of its envisioned 7 Step Recovery Plan amid reports that it has posted a USD9.6million (EUR6.4million) profit for Q3 (October-December) of its 2012/2013 Financial Year. However, overall results combined for Q1, Q2, Q3 show the carrier still made a substantive pre-tax loss of USD3.33million (EUR2.5 million).

South Africa's Comair Ltd, the owners of LCC Kulula (MN) the BA Comair franchise, has posted an after-tax profit of USD8.97million (ZAR79million) for H2 (July - December 2012) as revenue influx grew 20% on the same period in 2011.

Malawi's beleaguered national carrier, Air Malawi (QM), has officially ceased flights with 243 employees also having been laid off, as the airline is liquidated in preparation for the founding of a new privatized venture, Air Malawi 2012.

Tunisian national airline, Tunisair (TU), has announced it will start 3x weekly Tunis - Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso flights with a stop in Bamako, Mali effective 30 March 2013. Flights will operate with an Airbus A320. The new route is part of Tunisair's new model of targeting under served emerging markets in Sub Saharan Africa, with twenty new routes planned for in the coming 5 years.

South Africa's loss making parastatal, South African Airways (SA), is to renegotiate its deal with Airbus Industrie SAS signed 11 years ago for 20 Airbus A320s. The cash strapped national carrier is said to be looking to lease the aircraft, as opposed to buying them, thereby allowing SAA to recuperate pre-delivery payments it made to purchase the aircraft, bringing in some much needed liquidity into the struggling airline.

[UPDATE 14 FEBRUARY] AirlineRoute reports that as per the 06FEB13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Kenya Airways (KQ) is to adjust its operations to Thailand, China, India, Dubai, and Hong Kong.

According to AirlineRoute, as per the 14FEB13 GDS timetable and inventory display, South African Airways (SA) is to adjust its operational aircraft in service to Lagos and Luanda, effective 31MAR13. The Airbus A340-300 aircraft will replace the A340-600 in service in the routes currently.

The Nigerien Government has announced the formation of a new national carrier, Niger Airways, in which Turkish Airlines (TK) will be a strategic partner. Amongst the carrier's first priorities will be the operation of flights between Niamey and the country's secondary cities - Agadez, Arlit, Dosso and Zinder in particular - and regional capitals.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Negotiations opened with Air Seychelles, other carriers over possible start of Durban - Seychelles & India flights.

South Africa's KwaZulu/Natal MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Mike Mabuyakhulu, says that negotiations have been opened with Air Seychelles (HM) over the possible start of flights from Seychelles to the Indian Ocean city of Durban. Additionally, direct flights to India are also said to have been discussed with “a number” of airlines, as Durban is home to the largest population of Indians outside of India itself.

Following on from its increased Khartoum operations, Etihad Airways(EY), the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will now upgrade its Lagos service to daily to meet growing demand from passengers travelling to and from Nigeria. Beginning 31 March a new Thursday service will be introduced on board an Airbus A330-200 bringing total weekly frequencies up to 7 (i.e. daily).

CEO Christophe Allard, has denied media reports that Congolese carrier Korongo Airlines (ZC) is in financial trouble following the sale its sole BAe 146-200 (MSN 2196 | OO-DJJ) to an undisclosed American buyer last week.

UAE carrier Etihad Airways (EY) has increased its service from Abu Dhabi to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum with the addition of two extra weekly flights bringing the frequency up from five flights per week to daily. Etihad operates a two-class cabin A320-200 to Khartoum, configured to carry 136 passengers, with 16 in business class and 120 in economy class.

Tunisian carrier, Tunisair (TU), yesterday took delivery of its fourth Airbus A320-214 (MSN 5474 | TS-IMU) christened "Sousse". The aircraft was welcomed at a ceremony held by the airline at Tunis Carthage International Airport.

►► EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Punto Azul to resume regional ops in March with Angola, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana planned for later.

[UPDATE 12 FEBRUARY] Equato-guinean private operator Punto Azul (ZR) has announced the resumption of services with new routes in the pipeline. Making the announcement in Malabo, Punto Azul CEO, Rene Janata, explained the necessity of the measure in relation to the consolidation of future operations and compliance with airline's projected growth targets. The carrier has also signed a new agreement with a new operator, South Africa's National Airways Corporation.

Bujumbura International Airport, Burundi's primary aviation gateway, has had its markings and ground lighting facilities upgraded courtesy of a United Nations Development Programme initiative funded by former colonial power, Belgium. The project was officially handed over to the Burundi Government in a ceremony held last week.

Rwanda's growing national carrier Rwandair (WB) has set its sights on expanding its regional footprint and uplifting more passengers in the hopes of becoming a profitable airline by 2015.

Diriba Kuma, Ethiopia's Minister of Transport, has confirmed that it is indeed Ethiopian Government policy to "protect the country's airspace and national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines (ET)" from foreign carriers, the Gulf ones in particular, whom he accused of "having an unfair competitive advantage" apropos their access to below market price-Jet A1 fuel.

Despite resuming flights in November last year, ailing Zimbabwean national carrier Air Zimbabwe (UM)'s crippling debt has now soared to USD188million said the Zimbabwean Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development, Munesu Munodawafa, before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport, Communication and Infrastructure.

■ NIGERIA: Kabo Air, Hak Air, Max Air, Service Air sign MRO deal with Indonesia's GMF AeroAsia.

Nigerian aviation blog Aviation in Nigeria reports that four Nigerian carriers Kabo Air (N9), MaxAir (NR), Hak Air and an unknown carrier Service Air have signed a USD60million maintenance contract with Indonesian MRO outfit GMF AeroAsia, a subsidiary of Indonesian carrier Garuda (GA).

South African Airways (SA) has flown into yet more board room trouble as reports emerge that it has now placed its acting CEO, Vuyisile Kona, on precautionary suspension, effective immediately.

Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) has announced it will start regular direct services to Algerian capital Algiers, starting February 25. RJ president/chief executive Amer Hadidi said there will be two weekly flights between Amman and Algiers. As of April 1, the airline will add a third flight, in order to meet the demand on travel that is expected to witness a gradual growth in the coming months.

According to AirlineRoute, as per the 11FEB13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Thailand carrier Thai Airways International (TG) has opened reservation for its planned added 4th weekly Bangkok – Johannesburg service, due to start from 31MAR13. New flight operates on Fridays.

A CASA CN-235 transport plane (MSN N020 | 3X-GGG) belonging to the République de Guinée (Republic of Guinea) crashed at 07h30L near Charlesville, Liberia with all 11 occupants on-board killed. Amongst the dead are the head of Guinea's Armed Forces, Gen Souleymane Kelefa Diallo, who was leading Guinea's delegation to mark Liberia's annual Armed Forces Day.

AirlineRoute reports that Air Mauritius (MK) from 01JUN13 to 25JUN13 is to change its operations on its Mauritius – Cape Town route, with an Airbus A340-300 aircraft replacing the current A319. However, operational frequencies will temporarily reduce from 3x to 2x weekly during this period.

Air Tanzania (TC) has resumed its Dar es Salaam - Mtwara flights as of Friday 8 February 2013. Flights will initially operate 4x weekly using the airline's Bombardier Dash 8-300 with plans to boost capacity should demand pick up. Flights to Arusha and Mtwara were originally scheduled to have begun in November 2012, though no reason was given for their deferment.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Comair Ltd, SAA, SA Airlink set sights on regional expansion.

South African Airways (SA), its subsidiary SA Airlink (4Z) and competitor Comair Ltd, the British Airways franchise holder in South Africa in addition to owning LCC Kulula, have applied for new frequencies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo amongst other destinations as South African carriers seek to broaden their market bases.

The Ethiopian Aviation Academy currently undergoing a USD50million expansion in a bid to boost its enrolment capacity, as demand for basic and recurrent training programs from domestic and international customers remains strong.

Congo (Brazzaville)-based regional carrier Trans Air Congo (Q8) has applied for rights to operate 5th freedom flights out of the Gabonese capital, Libreville, according to the country's national aviation authority L'Agence Nationale de l’Aviation Civile du Gabon (ANAC).

TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), Angola's national carrier, will from 27FEB13 to 30MAR13 adjust its operations, which will see its Brazil service operated with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft while Lisbon switches to an all-Boeing 777-300ER operation.

The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is said to be close to signing a partnership deal with development companies to expand the company's flagship facility, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg through the commercial development of airport land previously owned by arms manufacturer Denel. The prospect, too, of a new passenger terminal (OR Tambo Midfield Terminal) is also said to be in the "conceptualization" stage.

Canadian aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier Aerospace, on 7 February announced the start of production of what it described as "simple components" at its transitional facility at Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport in Nouaceur. Production comes after a graduation ceremony was held on 1 February at the Institut des Metiers de l’Aeronautique (IMA), following which 18 aircraft assemblers began manufacturing their first Bombardier components.

A Mauritanian court in Nouakchott on Friday issued international arrest warrants for three officials of the now defunct airline, Mauritania Airways (YD), following the arrest and incarceration of Mohamed Ould Debagh, the carrier's former chairman of the board, on charges of "his participation in the bankruptcy of the company."

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Swaziland's Sikhuphe International Airport Terminal due to open in 2013.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Monday, February 11, 2013

Sunday, February 10, 2013