■ UNITED KINGDOM: Two Arik Air hostesses stopped with 6kgs cocaine, 60 cartons of smokes.

On Monday, May 20, two Arik Air (W3) air hostesses were apprehended by UK Border officials at London Heathrow Airport from Lagos, Nigeria after they were found in possession of six kilograms of cocaine with a street value of about GBP600'000 in addition to 60 cartons of cigarettes.

► GUINEA BISSAU: ASKY Airlines to start Bissau from July 15; plans South Africa, Angola and possibly Europe in future.

Ethiopian Airlines' West African subsidiary, ASKY Airlines (KP), is set to commence flights to Bissau, the capital of Guinea Bissau, from July 15 following the signing  of an agreement between the Bissau-Guinean civil aviation authority (Agência da Aviação Civil da Guiné-Bissau - AACGB) and ASKY officials.

■ ANGOLA: TAAG renews its IOSA certificate until May 2015.

Following an audit conducted between January 27-31 of this year, TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), the Angolan national carrier, has had its IATA Operational Safety Audity certificate renewed until May 22, 2015, TAAG Quality director, Joaquim Fortes, has announced. 

■ NIGERIA: Akwa Ibom State approaches Bombardier, Lufthansa Technik over possibility of MRO facility, new regional airline.

The local government of Nigeria's Akwa Ibom State has approached various international firms among them Canadian aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik, over the possibility of them partnering the government in its project to build and operate an MRO Hangar facility at Uyo's new Ibom International Airport, currently under construction. A new regional carrier, Ibom Airlines, is also planned.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian set to become Africa's first pan-global carrier - report.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) could well become Africa's first Pan-Global carrier having already realised its initial goal of being the continent's first truly Pan-African airline. In an interview with industry standard, Airline Weekly, CEO Tewolde Gebremariam set forth his airline's future expansion plans which include the possibility of hubs in the West Coast of the US and a direct Mozambique - Brazil route amongst others.

► MALAWI: Presidential Jet sold to Bohnox Enterprises of the British Virgin Islands for $15mln.

Malawi's presidential jet, a 15-year-old Dassault Falcon 900-EX (MSN 38 | 7Q-ONE), has been sold to Bohnox Enterprises of the British Virgin Islands for USD15million .

■ EGYPT: Government to refloat tender for lease of Cairo Airport Terminal 1's "Hall 4" GA facility.

Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Engineer Wael El-Maadawy, has announced the impending launch of an international tender for the lease of Cairo Terminal 1's Hall "4"; a facility dedicated to private and executive jet services.

■ MOZAMBIQUE: UAE, Mozambique sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

On Thursday 16 May, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) аnd Mozambique signed a bilateral air services agreement; the culmination οf more than seven years οf negotiations аnd consultations. Thе treaty was signed bу UAE’s minister fοr nation Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri and Mozambique’s Transport minister, Paulo Zucula.

■ KENYA: KAA deploys new ID management system to Kenyan Airports.

The Kenyan Airports Authority (KAA) has launched a state of the art, Identity Management Security System (IDMS) that will not only ensure security is heightened at its airports, but also improve customer experience. Managing access throughout its airports is critical not only for operational reasons but also for security in general.

► EGYPT: Turkish Airlines boosts Cairo, Alexandria frequencies from June.

Following the conclusion of a revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Egypt, Turkish Airlines (TK), will from 15JUN13, increases its Istanbul Ataturk – Cairo  services, where it’ll operate 21 weekly flights. The Star Alliance member currently operates 17 weekly flights. Additionally, Alexandria will be boosted to daily effective 13JUN..

■ NIGERIA: Gulfstream Aerospace appoints Evergreen Apple authorized sales reps.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has announced that it is increasing its sales and marketing efforts in Europe and Africa with the June opening of a sales and design center in London and the appointment of company-authorized independent sales representatives in the United Kingdom, central Europe, Turkey and Nigeria.

► COMOROS: Inter Îles Air resumes flights with Saab 340; eyes Madagascar, Tanzania ops from June.

Comorian carrier, Inter Îles Air (ZXA), has resumed services with a Saab 340. The airline had suspended operations following the crash of its Embraer 120ER (MSN: 120-149 | D6-HUA) off the coast of Hahaya, Grande Comore on November 27, 2012.

■ QATAR: QCAA signs Open Skies deals with Chad, Tunisia; BASAs with Burundi and Egypt.

The State of Qatar, through the Qatari Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), has announced the signing of various bilateral air service-related agreements and memoranda with various African countries over the past month. Agreements and Memoranda include: a finalized bilateral air services agreement (BASA) with Burundi that had previously been only initialled back in March 2010; a memorandum of understanding with Tunisia regarding its planned Open Skies treaty, a finalized Open Skies deal with Chad and an MoU pertaining to a BASA with Egypt.

►► GHANA: Royal Jordanian to start Lagos, Accra from early July..

[UPDATE 21 MAY] Jordanian operator, Royal Jordanian (RJ) is to venture into West Africa beginning late-June 2013 through the introduction of  of a twice weekly Amman - Lagos - Accra set to be operated with an Airbus A330-200.

■ SWITZERLAND: JETNET becomes AfBAA's 20th founding member.

The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) has announced at EBACE 2013, that JETNET, an international data and analysis company for commercial and business aircraft worldwide, has become its 20th Founding Member. 

► DUBAI: Somalia's Jubba Airways eyes direct Mogadishu - Dubai flights from late June.

Fresh from the recent launch of flights to Adado, Kismayo and Baidoa, Somalia carrier Jubba Airways (6J), says it intends to launch direct Mogadishu - Dubai flights with effect from late June, though timetable checks reveal a potential July 1 launch.

■ MADAGASCAR: Nosy-Be runway extension Phase 1 complete; now A340s and B777s can land.

The first phase of renovation works at Nosy Be's Fascene Airport, a leading tourist destination on the island of Madagascar, has been completed. While it is still subject to regulatory approvals, the airport, in addition to its newly lengthened runway, can now accommodate large aircraft such as the A340 or B777. A second phase of work in the long term should see it capable of handling the A380, authorities claim.

► ALGERIA: Air Algérie details its planned Joburg, Sao Paulo and Amsterdam flights.

Algerian national carrier, Air Algérie (AH), has hinted at possible dates for its planned new routes to Johannesburg, Amsterdam and Sao Paulo. The new destinations are part of the airline's reorientation plans which will see it transform Algiers into an international hub. 

■ MOROCCO: Royal Air Maroc set to rebound as operating profits hit $83million in 2012.

Following a record USD50million (MAD499million) net loss posted in 2011 which necessitated a USD193million capital injection by the Moroccan government, Royal Air Maroc (AT), says it has generated an operating profit of USD83million (MAD718million) for its most recent 2012 Financial Year with turnover for the year rising 7% to USD1.6billion (EUR1.25billion).

■■ NIGERIA: NAMA strike to lockdown Nigeria's airspace from midnight as negotiations with management break down.

[UPDATE 20 MAY] Employees of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) affiliated to the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), are to proceed with a strike beginning Monday 20 May at 00h01. The walkout has come about as result of an ongoing wage dispute with the organization's management.

► CAMEROON: Nigeria's AeroContractors eyeing late May for inaugural Douala flights.

Nigeria's AeroContractors (AJ) have announced Monday, May 27 as the date for its planned inaugural Lagos - Douala, Cameroon flights, its second international route after Accra, Ghana. According to the carrier, the flights will operate three times weekly.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: NAC acquires South Africa's Piper dealership, Placo.

South Africa's National Airways Corporation (NAC) has announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares held in Placo, South Africa's Piper dealership, from Jeffery A Earle and Laurence M Nestadt.

► SOUTH SUDAN: Imatong Airlines looking to resume ops from July; seeks either an F50 or F27.

Kenyan-based South Sudanese specialists, Imatong Airlines, are to resume charter operations out of the Sudanese capital, Juba, from July 1, the carrier has confirmed to The African Aviation Tribune.

► NIGERIA: FirstNation Airways to tentatively resume 3x daily Lagos - Abuja flights shortly.

Nigerian carrier First Nation Airways (FRN) is to tentatively resume operations with the announcement of three times daily flights between Lagos and Abuja. It is understood that the airline's two Airbus A319s, on lease from the ILFC and due in Lagos in the near future, will be used to service the route.

► ALGERIA: Air Malta to begin 2x weekly Algiers flights from mid June.

As from 17JUN, Air Malta (KM), will launch a new scheduled service to Algeria’s capital, Algiers. The Maltese National Airline will operate two weekly flights every Monday and Thursday and expects to carry 6,000 passengers this summer.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Pakistan's PAKAfrica Aviation eyes majority stake in 1Time Holdings, including Jetworx.

A new potential buyer for bankrupt LCC 1Time (T4), has emerged in the form of PAKAfrica Aviation, a Pakistani aviation group, who have pitched USD1.6million (ZAR15million) for a "controlling stake" in South African firm, 1Time Holdings, owners of the LCC along with its MRO wing, JetWorx.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: ACSA appoints new Managing Director and Financial Director.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has announced that Mr Bongani Maseko and Ms Maureen Manyama-Matome have been appointed Managing Director and Financial Director, respectively. Cabinet approved the appointment of Mr Maseko on Wednesday, 15 May 2013. 

► ZAMBIA: See Pics of Proflight Zambia's inaugural 737 flight between Lusaka and Livingstone

Proflight Zambia (P0) successfully deployed its B737-200ADV (MCN 23472 | ZS-SMD), leased from South Africa's Star Air (BRH), into active service on May 15 with its first revenue flight being Lusaka to Livingstone.

►► BRAZIL: Ethiopian Airlines to start 787 flights to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo via Lome from July 2013.

[UPDATE 19 MAY] Having postponed their intended December launch of flights to Brazil via Lome, Togo owing to "inconvenient slot times given the airline" by the Brazilian aviation authorities, Ethiopian Airlines is said to be readying itself for a possible 1 June 2013 service to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil via Lome, Togo.

► NIGERIA: ExecuJet completes MRO check on Hawker 800XP jet as Lagos market sees strong demand.

ExecuJet Africa’s Maintenance Repair Organisation (MRO) facility at Mohammed Murtala International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, has completed a first base maintenance check on a Hawker 800XP aircraft amidst high demand for the service. The Lagos MRO, an authorised service facility for Bombardier and Hawker Beechcraft, has additional aircraft due in for scheduled base maintenance checks, including another Hawker 800XP and a Bombardier Global Express.

► ALGERIA: Royal Jordanian boosts its Algiers frequencies to four weekly.

Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ), has this month increased its frequencies on its Amman – Algiers route through the addition of a 4th weekly service. The new service operates on Tuesdays.

► UGANDA: Brussels Airlines A330 suffers compressor stalls on climb out of Entebbe; returns to airport safely.

The Aviation Herald writes that on May 12, a Brussels Airlines Airbus A330-200, (MSN 229 | OO-SFY), operating as flight SN465 from Entebbe to Brussels suffered compressor stalls after take off from Entebbe and was forced to return to the Ugandan airport shortly after.

►► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian expecting "pleasant surprise" from Boeing in Addis next week; plans Dubai as first 787 destination from 25 April.

[UPDATE 17 MAY] Believing Boeing will have a "pleasant surprise" in store for the global aviation community next week, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has tentatively scheduled its Boeing 787-8s to resume operations from April 25 with Dubai lined up as the Dreamliner's first potential destination.

►► CHINA: Ethiopian Airlines reduces Beijing to 6x weekly from April 'til June.

[UPDATE 17 MAY] AirlineRoute writes that Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will from 01APR13 to 17JUN13 temporarily reduces its Addis Ababa – Beijing service, with the overall operation dropping to 6 weekly flights instead of the current daily. Boeing 777-200LR aircraft operates this route.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Dudu Myeni reckons SAA will add $100billion+ in spinoff benefit to SA's economy over next 20 years.

South African Airways (SA) claims the downstream economic benefit of its Group operations over the next twenty years will total USD107billion (ZAR1trillion), Acting Chairperson, Ms Duduzile Myeni, has said. The estimate is based on direct and indirect growth in direct and downstream employment creation with a forecast of 88'000 South African jobs across on aggregate through all sectors including tourism, foreign direct investments, goods and services. 

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA Cargo's future hinges on domestic, regional markets as Emirates et al make their presence felt.

South African Airways Cargo, and air cargo in general in South Africa, is suffering at the hands of a buoyant East African economy, a weak South African Rand and an influx of foreign carriers to countries that were, in the past, reliant on a Johannesburg hub for their international exports.

■ LIBYA: Arabian Gulf Oil Company calls for tenders for Messla Airport upgrade.

The Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) has issued a tender for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Messla Airport (27°58'29''N, 22°21'30''E) situated 500 km southeast of Benghazi along the Egyptian border. The Messla field was discovered in 1971 and is considered one of the biggest oil fields in the Libyan Sirte basin.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Solenta Aviation attains Flight Safety Foundation's GOLD status; announces further Mozambican investments.

South Africa's Solenta Aviation has recently been awarded GOLD status by the Flight Safety Foundation after holding GREEN status for 3 consecutive years, becoming just the third company in the world to achieve such Safety and Quality recognition. In addition, the operator has announced the acquisition of a stake in CFA Mozambique SA which has now been renamed Solenta Aviation Mozambique.

► SOUTH AFRICA: fastjet's launch delayed until July - Bodin.

As previously speculated by The African Aviation Tribune, fastjet (FN), has indeed announced a postponement in its planned South African venture with flights now set to commence from July 1, the carrier's chief  commercial officer, Richard Bodin, has said.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Royal Air Maroc, Marsland Aviation, Syphax, Ghadames Air & Kenya Airways.

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: Royal Air Maroc (AH), Marsland Aviation (M7), Syphax Airlines (FS), Ghadames Air Transport (0G), and Kenya Airways (KQ).

■ EGYPT: Air Arabia Egypt selects AJW Aviation for its A320 "power-by-the-hour" support.

AJW Aviation has been chosen by Air Arabia Egypt (E5), Egypt’s only low-cost carrier, to provide "power-by-the-hour" support and leased inventory for two of its A320 aircraft.

► KENYA: British Airways sees strong East African market potential as a result of newly discovered mineral wealth.

British Airways (BA) plans to leverage Kenya’s strategic position to help improve its market share in East & Central Africa and South Sudan, with the region's recent discovery of oil and minerals set to boost it's passenger and cargo traffic potential, BA's regional commercial manager George Mawadri, has said.

■ SOMALIA: Government assumes control of its airspace from CACAS as Somaliland bans all UN flights in retaliation.

Somalia's Minister for Information, Abdullahi Elmoge Hersi, says his government has once more resumed control of its national airspace after twenty years following a handing over ceremony held at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) who collectively form the Civil Aviation Caretaker Authority for Somalia (CACAS).

►► ZAMBIA: Proflight Zambia to start Lubumbashi, Lilongwe ops from mid May.

[UPDATE 15 MAY] Proflight Zambia (P0) is set to embark on its first regional operations with the launch of 3x weekly Ndola - Lubumbashi (DRC) and 3x weekly Lusaka - Lilongwe (Malawi) flights, effective 16MAY13.

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA to finally take delivery of its long deferred A320 order beginning Q3.

South African Airways (SA) will at last, begin taking delivery of twenty Airbus A320s in the next quarter (i.e.. July - September), South African Minister of Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba, has said. The order has been repeatedly deferred owing to SAA's ongoing financial woes.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): Turkish Airlines revealed as potential partner for new Congolese national carrier.

Turkish Airlines (TK) has been revealed as the potential partner the Congolese government has approached apropos the setting up of a renewed national carrier to replace the semi-defunct LAC Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (4V).

■ NIGERIA: Princess Stella officially unveils Nigeria's revised National Civil Aviation Policy.

The Nigerian Minister of Civil Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has officially unveiled her country's revised dossier on aviation dubbed "the Revised National Civil Aviation Policy 2013" (NCAP) needed, for what it terms, to bring new and sustainable regulatory structures into the industry for the safety and security of airline passengers and crew.

■ ZIMBABWE: Five candidates shortlisted for Air Zimbabwe CEO position; appointment due before month's end.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) is understood to have short-listed five possible candidates to for the post of airline chief executive officer (CEO) following a call for submissions earlier this year.

■ MOROCCO: Government now mulling possible Gulf carrier tie-up for Royal Air Maroc prior to a privatization bid.

The future of Royal Air Maroc (AH) is still cloudy though the Moroccan state backed national carrier airline could be party to a strategic alliance with an undisclosed major carrier in the Gulf ahead of a planned privatisation bid, the country’s tourism minister, Haddah Lahcen, has said.

► ANGOLA: Lufthansa switches Luanda to A330 ops from late October.

German carrier, Lufthansa (LH), will, from 27OCT13, switch its operational aircraft in use between  Frankfurt and Luanda from Airbus A340-300 aircraft to A330-300. Capacity remains unchanged despite the aircraft adjustment.