SAA Cargo, the cargo division of South African Airways (SA), are set to retire the last of their B737-200Fs, (MSN 22583 | ZS-SID), from revenue service with effect from June 25, it has emerged.
Morocco's national carrier, Royal Air Maroc (AT), is planning to immediately acquire between "20 and 30 NextGen aircraft, including 15 medium-haul and 5 long-haul jets", airline Chief Executive Officer, Mr Driss Benhima, has announced.
Korongo Airlines (ZC) CEO Christophe Allard says his airline is expecting to add an additional 737 (type unspecified) and a 50-seater turboprop to its fleet before the end of the year. Funding arrangements are to be confirmed.
Tanzanian scheduled operator Flightlink will début its first, and Tanzania's first, Embraer E120ER operations with effect from July 1.
Canadian aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier, foresees strong growth potential for its nascent CSeries Regional Jet on the African market despite no continental carriers showing any interest in the type as yet.
In what could be described as the African aviation news story of the year, (that is, if it is proven to be true), Air Zimbabwe (UM) has now announced that it is in talks with undisclosed firms regarding the possible acquisition of an Airbus A380 for use on its pending resumption of flights to London Gatwick.
Aérienne de Participation-Côte d'Ivoire, the holding company for the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), has announced that it is to sell off its 15% shareholding in Ivorian carrier, Air Cote d’Ivoire (HF). The move comes as Air Cote d’Ivoire is planning to boost its capital base from USD4.92million (XAF2.5billion) to USD49.2million (XAF25billion) effective today, Wednesday June 5.
As part of ongoing efforts to spruce up its poor aviation safety record, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's air navigation services and airport management provider, Regie des Voies Aériennes (RVA), has signed a USD2million (CDF1.8billion) contract with French aeronautical systems manufacturer, Thales, for the supply of navigation equipment to Kinshasa N'djili International Airport.
Algeria's national carrier, Air Algérie (AH) has announced it will take delivery of two former KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) McDonnell Douglas MD-11s on five year leases following their conversion into cargo freighters.
Kenya Airways (KQ) has outlined further key developments in terms of its planned route network and fleet upgrades that form its previously announced 10 year vision, Project Mawingu.
TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT) is to tentatively increase capacity on its 4 weekly Luanda – Johannesburg route with effect from 05JUL13. During the month of July, the 777-300ER will replace the -200ER on 3 out of 4 weekly flights. Thereafter, all 4 weekly flights will be operated using a -300ER model from 04AUG13.
Fresh from the recent arrival and deployment into active service of its Airbus A320-200 (MCN 630 | Z-WPM) on its Harare - Johannesburg flights, Air Zimbabwe (UM) has now taken delivery of its first of two Embraer ERJ135 (Reg ?).
South Africa's Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has announced the acquisition of one or more new VVIP aircraft during the course of the current financial year. According to the minister, the added aircraft will give the South African military its own airlift capacity.
Korongo Airlines (ZC) sole remaining aircraft, a Boeing 737-300 (MSN 25070 | OO-LTM), on the evening of Friday May 24, suffered damage to its left wing tip while taxiing to its parking position at Lubumbashi's Luano International Airport, the carrier has announced.