__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday, February 24, 2013

► ERITREA: Eritrean Airlines signs deal with Sudan Airways; looks to expand into West Africa.

Eritrean AirlinesEritrean Airlines (B8), has signed a deal with Sudanese national carrier, Sudan Airways (SD), that will result in the Eritrean national carrier,operating various flights on behalf of Sudan Airways to the UAE and South Sudan. Eritrean is also looking to boost its own international frequencies to Dubai, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Italy with West African flights also in the pipeline.

Sudan Airways & Eritrean Airlines
Sudan Airways & Eritrean Airlines (UR-SDV)
According to Eritrean Airlines CEO, Teklemariam Tedla, an agreement with Sudan Airways has been reached in which B8 will launch Khartoum - Dubai and Khartoum - Juba flights, though whether this will constitute a code-share agreement is not clear.
"He further pointed out that the Airline is exerting stepped up efforts to start additional flights linking Asmara-Dubai, Asmara-Khartoum, Asmara-Jeddah and Asmara-Rome."
Source [Shabait]

The overhaul of the airline's own Boeing 767-200ER (MSN 23309 | E3-AAQ), will enable it to commence flights to West Africa added Tedla.

Despite its addition to the EU No-Fly list last year, Eritrean Airlines is still able to operate its Asmara - Rome flights as it uses an Airbus A319 (MSN 3139 | LZ-AOA) wet-leased from BH Air - Balkan Holidays Air (8H).

No mention has been made of when, or if ever, Eritrean Airlines will resume its Asmara - Johannesburg/Cape Town via Entebbe, Uganda flights, abandoned last year after just 3 weeks in service, citing a critical shortage of jet fuel at the airline's home base of Asmara, that necessitated additional stops (in Entebbe, Uganda).