■ GABON: Cargolux looks to expand sub-Saharan network as Luxembourg signs new BASA with Gabon.

Luxembourg-based cargo carrier, Cargolux (CV), is set to benefit from the recent signing of a new revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Gabon and Luxembourg, on 26 November 2012.

 

■ EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Iberia goes 7x weekly to Malabo as Spain, Equat'l Guinea sign off on BASA.

Equatorial Guinea and former colonial power Spain have formally signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries during an official visit to Spain by the Equato-Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs & Cooperation, Agapito Mba Mokuy. The agreement has paved the way for Spain's Iberia (IB) to increase its flights to the Equato-Guinean capital, Malabo, from 6x weekly, to 7x weekly effective 1 December 2012.

► NIGER: Turkish Airlines to start 3x weekly Niamey, Ouagadougou flights from December.

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the Governments of Niger and Turkey in May, the Nigerien ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport today  announced that Turkish Airlines is to start flights between Turkey, Niger and Burkina Faso effective mid December.

► DJIBOUTI: Egyptair set to start Cairo - Djibouti flights in near future.

Djibouti Aviation officials on Thursday announced that, following the signing of a bilateral air services agreement between Djibouti and Egypt by the Director of Djiboutian Civil Aviation, Almis Mahamoud Haid, and the Egyptian Director of the Department of Transportation, Khaled Abd El Monem, Egyptian carrier Egyptair (MS) will soon start several direct flights per week between the two countries.

■ ZAMBIA: Ethiopia and Zambia close to signing BASA that will transform Lusaka into an Ethiopian Airlines hub.

As an addendum to our post on Friday regarding Zambia's ongoing aviation infrastructural improvement programme and its government's plans to form a new national carrier, Zambia's Ambassador in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today announced the signing of a "number of economic, scientific and technical measures aimed at boosting existing bilateral relations" between the two countries.

► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania resumes flights Friday as Government wants Lufthansa for joint venture.

As we reported last week, Tanzanian national carrier Air Tanzania (TC) will resume flights on Friday 12 October 2012 using their Bombardier Dash 8-300 (MSN 474 | 5H-MWF) along with two leased Boeing 737-500 of unknown origin. 

► BURUNDI: United Arab Emirates & Burundi sign Air Services Agreement MOU.

The Burundian Government and the United Arab Emirates, last week signed an air services Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and initialled an Air Services Agreement 'ASA', which could lead to the start of bilateral air services between the two countries, sometime in the future.

► MOZAMBIQUE: Turkish Airlines looks to add Maputo to route network in coming months.

The Turkish media this week allured to a new possible route between Istanbul and Maputo, Mozambique as Turkey aims to extend its carrier, Turkish Airlines' (TK), reach even further into the continent.

Following the recent signing of a new memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Gabon which will see service to Libreville and possibly, another as yet unnamed destination (either Franceville or Port Gentil), the Turkish Ministry of Transportation's Suat Hayri Aka stated that: 

► MAURITANIA: New agreement to increase Nouakchott - Casablanca flights.

With the signing of a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Mauritania and Morocco last week, Mauritania Airlines International (L6) and Moroccan national carrier Royal Air Maroc (AT) will each be able to operate seven weekly flights between Nouakchott and Casablanca.

■ BOTSWANA: Open Skies deal signed; will Air Botswana survive more competition?

The Botswana Government has recently signed two Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) with Mauritius in Gaborone agreements bringing to nine the number of BASAs signed - the other eight being with Belgium, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe.