■ DJIBOUTI: Government looking for partners for planned new USD600million pax/cargo transit hub.

Djibouti has announced that it is seeking partners to help in building a proposed new USD600million airport situated in a 225 km² area south-west of Djibouti City, set to replace the near 60 year old Ambouli International Airport. The government plans to combine the country's sea-cargo facilities with the air terminal to offer a unique regional air/sea cargo and passenger transit hub that will help transform the Horn of African nation's economy.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: DHL sees strong African cargo market potential in 2013 catalyzed by increased Asian, intra-Africa trade.

Despite Africa having overall freight load factors of just 24.7% which, according to IATA is the lowest of any region by a significant margin, global courier DHL remains optimistic about Africa's cargo growth potential for 2013 with deepening trade ties with Asia, and above all, with fellow African countries, the catalyst.

► GABON: DHL awards Solinair logistics contract for Nigeria, Cameroon, Equat'l Guinea ops.

The South African division of DHL Aviation has awarded Ljubljana-based Slovenian airline Solinair (SOP) a wet-lease contract for cargo operations using its lone B737-4K5F (MSN 24128 | S5-ABV) .