► KENYA: Kenya Airways outlines first B777-300ER routes due in early November.

AirlineRoute writes that as per the 03APR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Kenya Airways( is to introduce Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to its operation starting November 2013, initially on flights to Amsterdam and London Heathrow. Planned Boeing 777-300ER service as follow.

►► UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways increases capacity to Cairo, Luanda, Johannesburg in 2013.

[UPDATE 26 MARCH] British Airways (BA) has announced various changes to its African timetable to come into effect for the Northern Summer 2013.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Virgin Atlantic Cargo reaping the rewards of deploying the A340-600 on its Johannesburg route.

The introduction of Airbus A340-600 flights between London and Johannesburg during South Africa's peak season has provided a welcome boost in capacity for Virgin Atlantic Cargo (VS) on one of its most in-demand routes.

■ SUDAN: Government announces plan to rehabilitate Sudan Airways; to hold accountable those responsible for Sudan Airways' lost Heathrow slot.

Following a consultative meeting with President Omar Al Bashir regarding the current state and future of national carrier Sudan Airways (SD), Sudan's Minister of Transport, Roads and Bridges, Dr. Ahmed Babikir Nahar, has made mention of a 3-step government plan aimed at rehabilitating and restructuring the ailing national carrier. Nahar also added that possible punitive steps are to be taken against those fingered in an investigation into the loss of Sudan Airways' valuable landing slot at London's Heathrow airport.

► TANZANIA: British Airways axes Dar es Salaam, reduces Entebbe, switches Mauritius to daytime flights.

British Airways (BA) will, with effect from 31 March 2013, cancel its 3x weekly London Heathrow - Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania flight as part of its Summer 2013 route rationalization programme. The carrier is to reduce its Entebbe, Uganda frequencies as well.

► UGANDA: British Airways 767 enroute from Lusaka to Heathrow suffers engine failure; diverts to Entebbe.

A British Airways Boeing 767-300 (MSN 25442 | G-BNWO) enroute from Lusaka, Zambia to London Heathrow, United Kingdom on Monday 14 January 2013 as flight BA254 was forced to divert to Entebbe, Uganda following the failure of its starboard engine.

■ CANADA: South African Airways, Air Canada sign code share deal.

South African Airways (SA) has signed a reciprocal code-share agreement with fellow Star Alliance member, Air Canada (AC), effective 13 December 2012.

► SOUTH AFRICA: British Airways boosts Johannesburg from late April 2013.

British Airways (BA) will once again boost its London Heathrow – Johannesburg, South Africa frequencies  from 14x to 17x weekly effective 29 April 2013. A Boeing 777-200ER will add capacity.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Libyan Airlines resumes Heathrow flights; hopes for removal from EU Ban List at upcoming safety review.

Libyan carrier, Libyan Airlines (LN), yesterday (Wednesday 14 November) resumed twice weekly flights between Tripoli and London Heathrow, UK using an Airbus A320. In September, the carrier resumed its Tripoli, Libya - Manchester, United Kingdom service that was suspended in 2011 due to the Libyan Civil War. 

► LIBERIA: British Airways confirms Monrovia via Freetown from November.

In confirmation to our original post on the topic, British Airways (BA) have confirmed they will resume three times weekly flights to Monrovia, Liberia albeit via Freetown, Sierra Leone using a Boeing 767-300ER, effective 5 November 2012.

Freetown was originally meant to increase to a 3x weekly service effective 31 March 2013.

► EGYPT: Egyptair cancels Sharm el Sheikh - London Heathrow in favour of added Cairo - London flights.

Following on from our original July update, Egyptian carrier Egyptair (MS) has announced a revision to its Cairo - London Heathrow and Sharm el Sheikh - London Heathrow routes, the latter of which will be cancelled and rerouted ex-Cairo from 28 October 2012.

The once (1x) weekly Luxor - London Heathrow flight remains unchanged.

Egyptair Boeing 777-300ER

Egyptair: Cairo - London Heathrow, United Kingdom

-Effective 28 October 2012, the existing 3x weekly Sharm el Sheikh – London Heathrow service will be cancelled and will shift to Cairo – London Heathrow, whose overall frequencies to LHR will now increase from 11x to 14x weekly. 

• MS777 CAI0920 – 1235LHR 333 x5
• MS777 CAI1145 – 1500LHR 333 5
• MS779 CAI1435 – 1755LHR 738 2
• MS779 CAI1700 – 2020LHR 333 4
• MS779 CAI1745 – 2100LHR 738 13
• MS779 CAI1745 – 2100LHR 333 67
• MS779 CAI1745 – 2105LHR 333 5

• MS778 LHR1355 – 2040CAI 333 1
• MS778 LHR1400 – 2045CAI 333 x15
• MS778 LHR1725 – 0010+1CAI 333 5
• MS780 LHR2230 – 0515+1CAI 738 123
• MS780 LHR2230 – 0515+1CAI 333 x123

Source [Airline Route]

► SIERRA LEONE: British Airways adds third weekly flight to Freetown.

From 31 March 2013, British Airways is to add a third weekly flight on its London Heathrow - Freetown, Sierra Leone route using a Boeing 767-300ER. 

In early July, British Airways had announced a reduction in service on the route from 3x weekly to 2x weekly following the replacement of the previous aircraft used on the route - a BMI Airbus A330-200 - with the aforementioned 767.

A British Airways Boeing 767-300ER (MinaBassaly)

British Airways: London Heathrow - Freetown, Sierra Leone

-Effective 31 March 2013

• BA137 LHR2230 – 0525+1FNA 767 135
• BA136 FNA1100 – 1830LHR 767 246

Source [Airline Route]

► EGYPT: Egyptair announces operational changes to Johannesburg, London and Mumbai routes.

Egyptair (MS) has announced operational changes to its Cairo - Johannesburg, South Africa, Cairo - London Heathrow and Cairo - Mumbai routes.

An Egyptair Boeing 777-300ER.

Egyptair: Cairo, Egypt - Johannesburg, South Africa

- Effective October to November 2012, Egyptair is to use its Airbus A330-300. The A330-300 is to operate from 6 October 2012 to 20 October 2012, and from 28October 2012 until 16November 2012 (JNB departs next day).

- From 28 October 2012 onwards, Johannesburg will have a 5x weekly service instead of the previously planned daily flight. The following schedule is effective from 6 October 2012 to 20 October 2012.

• MS839 CAI2300 – 0705+1JNB 333 D
• MS840 JNB2145 – 0540+1CAI 333 D

Read More Here [Airline Route]

Egyptair: Cairo, Egypt - London Heathrow, United Kingdom

- Starting 15 November 2012, Egyptair is to reduce its existing daily Boeing 777-300ER and 4x weekly A330-300 flights to a 11x weekly A330-300 service.

• MS777 CAI0920 – 1235LHR 333 5
• MS777 CAI0945 – 1305LHR 77W 5
• MS779 CAI1700 – 2020LHR 333 4
• MS779 CAI1740 – 2100LHR 333 67
• MS779 CAI1745 – 2105LHR 333 5

• MS778 LHR1355 – 2040CAI 333 1
• MS778 LHR1400 – 2045CAI 333 15
• MS778 LHR1730 – 0015+1CAI 333 5
• MS780 LHR2230 – 0515+1CAI 333 123

Read More Here [Airline Route]

Egyptair: Cairo, Egypt - Mumbai, India

- Valid from 9 July 2012 until 27 October 2012, Egyptair has cut flights to Mumbai from 4x weekly previously, to 3x weekly.

• MS968 CAI2315 – 0840+1BOM 738 136
• MS969 BOM0940 – 1210CAI 738 247

 Read More Here [Airline Route]

► NIGERIA: British Airways considers Port Harcourt - Heathrow route.

British Airways (BA) has reportedly shown interest in starting up a possible London Heathrow - Port Harcourt, Nigeria daily flight to add to its current Nigerian network of Lagos and Abuja. Previously Kano was also served.

The initiative was revealed by BA's CEO Keith Williams during a briefing with the Nigerian media. where by he touched upon the importance of the Nigerian market to British Airways though it appears nothing was mentioned about the airline's often strained relationship with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which has often held witch hunts amongst foreign carriers, accusing them of overcharging Nigerian passengers on the lucrative Nigeria - Europe routes.

Port Harcourt Airport's apron (KVW)

"“Nigeria clearly is a huge market for BA, having served there for 75 years. BA has a commitment to Lagos and Abuja to serve them better and would also include more routes so as to satisfy more customers,” he said.
The CEO also described Lagos and Abuja as two very important routes for British Airways, adding that Port Harcourt is a destination BA would be considering as a result of the city’s current big business area status."

Read More Here [Ventures Africa]

At present, Port Harcourt sees international service from only Air France and Lufthansa though with its growing economic prominence, and in particular its petroleum industry, this could change quite soon.

► UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways announces changes to Africa network from October onwards.

British Airways (BA) has announced various changes to its African timetable effective 28 October 2012 some of which have been previously reported on here at The African Aviation Tribune.

British Airways' Africa Network

● British Airways Africa Timetable ●

-Effective 28 October 2012

-Additional changes remain possible

• London Heathrow – Accra, Ghana: First Class service on 777-200ER is only available on Thursdays and Fridays in W12 
• London Heathrow – Agadir, Morocco: 2x weekly service operated by BA, operating on weekends. This replaces existing BMI operation on Day 26 
• London Gatwick – Algiers, Algeria: Service reduces from daily to 5x weekly in Winter 2012 (1x Daily in W11) 
• London Heathrow – Cairo, Egypt: (BMI) 1x Daily A321 CANCELLED (20 July 2012)
• London Heathrow – Cairo, Egypt: Boeing 747-400 replacing 777-200ER from 01 October 2012 
• London Heathrow – Cape Town, South Africa: BA042 from CPT shifts from morning hours departure in NW11 back to evening departure in NW12

               -BA043 LHR1735 – 0700+1CPT 744 1234567
               -BA059 LHR1930 – 0855+1CPT 744 1234567

               -BA058 CPT2050 – 0625+1LHR 744 1234567
               -BA042 CPT2220 – 0800+1LHR 744 1234567

• London Heathrow – Casablanca, Morocco: Service operates 4x weekly in W12 with BMI Airbus A319 aircraft, same as W11 CANCELLED (20 July 2012)
• London Heathrow – Entebbe, Uganda: Revised operational day to Day 247 from LHR, Day 135 from EBB 
• London Heathrow – Freetown, Sierra Leone:  2x weekly Boeing 767, replacing 3x weekly A330-200 bmi operation: 

             - BA137 LHR2230 – 0525+1FNA 767 36
             - BA136 FNA1100 – 1730LHR 767 47

• London Heathrow – Johannesburg, South Africa: Service to continue to operate at 14x weekly. Planned 17x weekly service increase cancelled 
• London Heathrow – Khartoum, Sudan via Beirut: (BMI) 3x weekly A321 
• London Heathrow – Lusaka, Zambia: Operational day changes from Day 357 to Day 257 (LUN departs next day) 
• London Heathrow – Luanda, Angola: Service continues to operate with 4-class Boeing 777-200ER twice a week. Previously 1 of 2x weekly to be operated with 3-class aircraft 
• London Heathrow – Marrakech, Morroco: (BMI) operation reduces from 5x to 3x weekly 
• London Gatwick – Marrakech, Morocco: Service increases from 3x weekly to daily

Read More Here [Airline Route]

► MALAWI: Swift Air grounded by courts as Government mulls Air Malawi's future following huge losses.

Privately owned Malawian airline Swift Air has been grounded by the Malawian courts and had its property in Lilongwe attached over outstanding rental fees and monies owed to Air Malawi, the Airport Development Limited (ADL), and various independent travel agents.

Reports claim that employees at the family run company had not reported for work since May and that the airline's headquarters in Lilongwe had subsequently remained shut. Despite all this it is alleged, the airline still remained operative, albeit by proxy i.e using other carriers to ferry passengers under their trade name.

"An employee who held a senior position at the company but spoke on strict condition of anonymity told Zodiak that the CEO left two months ago amid pressure from the debtors.
“When all our planes were suspended two months ago due to financial challenges, the owner decided to continue selling tickets and in turn use Air Malawi to fly the customers,” said the employee adding; “The debt with Air Malawi rose to millions and she decided again to use independent travel agents to book our customers on air Malawi flights but she has failed to pay them too.”"

Read More Here [Malawi Today]

Prior to its grounding Swift Air operated domestically between Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, Karonga with a single regional flight operated to Johannesburg, South Africa whilst their fleet consisted of a South African leased McDonnell Douglas DC-9 (ZS-GAU?), an Embraer 120 (9J-RYL) and a Beechcraft 1900D. All of have either been returned to their respective owners or grounded as a result of the financial crisis at Swift Air.

Swift Air Malawi's lone DC9 at Lilongwe (SwiftAir)

Founded in January 2011, the airline was seen as a viable alternative to the unreliable parastatal Air Malawi, whose own future has been called into doubt over heavy continuous annual losses, which for the year 2011, amounted to MWK1.1billion.  The losses have been attributed to Air Malawi's continued use of leased aircraft for operations; a reliable if very expensive way to operate.

In addition, new president Joyce Banda's financial reforms have seen the Malawian currency, the Kwacha, lose 33% of its value overall after a devaluation was effected in order to help resuscitate the then ailing Malawian economy. The loss in value of the currency means the airline has had to deal with declining hard currency revenues locally to meet its foreign debts.

"With devaluation, our traffic has gone down as less and less people are able to travel," said Air Malawi's Director of Marketing Tony Chimpukuso Wednesday.

"And we are still waiting for the new government to state their position on Air Malawi. The previous government was not interested in us. They just wanted us to close down," h e said.

Chimpukuso said lack of equipment, costs incurred to put passengers on other airlines during breakdowns and last year's 10 percent devaluation of the kwacha contributed significantly to the losses at the airline.

The Malawi Institution of Engineers (MIE) recently called on government to make a concrete stand on Air Malawi if the country's air transport sector is to be revamped.

Read More Here [Malawi Today]

However all is not lost for the Malawian national carrier as it seems their cargo department at London Heathrow is slowly but surely regaining its market share after years of neglect. New capable staff have been hired in attempt to woe back lost business.

"Air Malawi which in the recent years had been dogged with a surmount of difficulty in its operations seems to be crawling back to serious business with a full force as it has just revamped its cargo services department at its offices at Heathrow Airport, London in the United Kingdom (UK) with a an improved service delivery."

 Read More Here [Nyasa Times]

So, whilst a market for sending home goods from abroad does most certainly exist, all that needs to be done is to organize an efficient and well run organization to do it.

Easier said than done in Africa sadly...

► SOUTH AFRICA: British Airways switches Cape Town to night flight from Winter 2012.

British Airways (BA) will, from Winter 2012 (28 October 2012), switch its seasonal flight BA042 from Cape Town, South Africa to London Heathrow to a night time departure.

The flight will be operated by a Boeing 747-400.

British Airways' B747-400 at Cape Town (Sara Joachim)

British Airways: London, Heathrow - Cape Town, South Africa

- Effective 28 October 2012

• BA043 LHR1735 – 0700+1CPT 744 D
• BA059 LHR1930 – 0855+1CPT 744 D

• BA058 CPT2050 – 0625+1LHR 744 D 
• BA042 CPT2220 – 0800+1LHR 744 D

Read More Here [Airline Route]

Citing route viability problems, South African Airways last week announced it would drop its Cape Town - Heathrow service effective August 2012.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Business booming at Durban's King Shaka Airport.

After Kwazulu-Natal's aviation sector suffered years of stunted growth due to the old Durban International Airport's infrastructural limitations, it seems its hefty investment is finally paying off: the recent introduction of a Boeing 777-300ER by Emirates on its Dubai - Durban route and South African Express set to make it its hub for expanding into Africa, business is certainly booming at Durban's new King Shaka International Airport (KSIA).

KSIA is now moving to lure bigger carriers from further abroad, and in particular, is looking at a future London service using British Airways. Why British Airways and not South African Airways - the logical choice after all? Well, after last week's dramatic axing of the age old Cape Town - London Heathrow service (which is now routed va Johannesburg) due to viability problems, it seems unlikely that SAA would venture into a future Heathrow - Durbs route. 

Said Mr. Ahmed Bassa, Dube TradePort’s aeronautical executive, at a business breakfast organised by the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently:

Emirates SkyCargo 747 at Durban (GVD)

"“London is our biggest market, with approximately 100 000 passengers that travel between the UK and KZN. Besides a connecting flight via Joburg, an increasing number of these passengers currently fly on Emirates via Dubai to the UK.

"We are looking strongly at British Airways to start a route from King Shaka to either London’s Heathrow or Gatwick airports. Virgin Atlantic airlines won’t come into Durban because they are a small airline with just 24 planes that fly on the high-profile routes.” He said that after London, Dubai, with Emirates’ non-stop service, was the next most important market for Durban."

Read More Here [IOL South Africa]

In the 80s, British Airways did serve Durban, albeit with a stopover in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Last year, Comair, British Airways' franchise holder in Southern Africa,  too applied to British Airways to see if Comair’s franchise to carry BA passengers in southern Africa could be extended to a proposed route between Durban and London. Nothing came of it, as BA considered Durban to simply be marginal, warranting only feeder-route status.

► KENYA: Kenya Airways announces vast changes to Summer Schedule.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced sweeping changes to its Summer Schedule, suspending several routes most notably Rome (Italy), and Muscat (Oman) due to low uptake, whilst announcing new destinations that are to be launched between July and October 2012 including Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Eldoret (Kenya), Abuja (Nigeria) and Beirut (Lebanon).

Kenya Airways Route Map

The optimized schedule comes as the airline moves to increase frequencies on existing routes to meet changing and growing demand, while opening new routes in Africa and the Middle East. Kenya Airways Group Managing Director, Dr. Titus Naikuni said the decision to halt operations on the routes was also based on insufficient demand to sustain the routes.

"“Owing to the decreased passenger volumes on these routes, we have decided to re-align our capacity across the entire network to meet growing demand on other destinations including new ones,” said Dr Naikuni."

Kenya Airways' Summer 2012 Schedule

Kenya (Domestic) 

• Kisumu City boosted with introduction of an extra frequency over the weekends bringing it to 4x daily. On specific weekdays the airline will maintain its 3x daily flights. An Embraer E190 will be deployed on the route especially in the mornings and evenings. 

 Africa

• All Lagos daytime flights to Accra are combined as KQ 534 operating Nairobi – Lagos – Accra – Nairobi. As a result, Kenya Airways will be flying into Accra 12 times a week and 9 times a week to Lagos.  
• Additionally, the introduction of wide-body capacity into and out of Lagos and Accra is set to have significant impact on Kenya Airways’ passenger and cargo revenue streams as it will enable it to offer more capacity and minimum connecting time between Guangzhou, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Dubai, Mumbai and West Africa.  
• Ndjamena increased to 3x direct flights a week.
• Dakar will now connect through Ouagadougou which increases flights to OUA to 3 times a week. 
• Bamako flights will operate via Cotonou 3 times a week; this is expected to ease out on the payload issues that the Bamako passengers have experienced in the past. 

Middle East & Asia

• Mumbai, India is increased from daily to 10 flights a week with 3x weekly flights to Delhi. 
• Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has an extra flight added, bringing the frequency to 3x weekly effective July 2012. 
• New direct flight to Dubai which will operate 3x a week with late evening departures from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to capture the late connecting traffic arriving into Nairobi. This is in addition to the daily Dubai service that the airline operates. The airline will now operate 10 non-stop flights to Dubai.

Europe

• Europe has a capacity increase despite the suspension of Rome flights.
• Effective July 2012, flights to London Heathrow will increase to 10 flights per week on the 322 seater Boeing 777-200. This is to cater for increased traffic demand during the Olympics. 
• Paris flights will increase to 6 weekly flights during the July – August peak period and the daily Amsterdam capacity will be upgraded to a Boeing 777-200. 

Read More Here [Kenya Airways]

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA axes Cape Town - Heathrow; boosts Accra & Mumbai.

South African Airways (SA) will drop its iconic daily Cape Town - London Heathrow service with effect from 15 August 2012. The airline cited low yields on the route as its main cause for dropping the route. In the last 3 years, the annual number of tourists using London as a final destination or as a transitory airport has declined.