■ CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Air CEMAC launch now delayed 'til early 2014 as more talks with Air France are due in October.

In yet another unsurprising development regarding the formation and launch of Central Africa's bloc-based initiative, Air CEMAC, the airline's launch has now been pushed back until January 2014 pending the finalization of protracted talks with strategic partner, Air France (AF).

► CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): New regional carrier Air CEMAC eyes a January 2013 launch date.

Following a recent meeting of Civil Aviation Ministers of the Economic and Monetary Community of African States (CEMAC) consisting of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad, a decision was reached in which Air France was chosen as the airline's new strategic and financial partner replacing South African Airways (which was terminated in February owing to "deep differences of opinion") who themselves had replaced Royal Air Maroc and Brussels Airlines.