► ERITREA: Eritrean Airlines signs deal with Sudan Airways; looks to expand into West Africa.

Eritrean Airlines (B8), has signed a deal with Sudanese national carrier, Sudan Airways (SD), that will result in the Eritrean national carrier,operating various flights on behalf of Sudan Airways to the UAE and South Sudan. Eritrean is also looking to boost its own international frequencies to Dubai, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Italy with West African flights also in the pipeline.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Tunisair to tentatively start Tunis - Madinah from late March.

Tunisian national carrier, Tunisair (TU), will from 31MAR13 commence scheduled operations between Tunis and Madinah (Medina), Saudi Arabia with a 5x weekly Airbus A320 service.

► SUDAN: Nas Air to expand with service from Dammam and Khartoum.

Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier Nas Air (XY) is to expand its operations to the Sudan with the launch of flights between Dammam and Khartoum, Sudan as part of its regional expansion plans.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Egyptair to boost services for Summer 2013.

Egyptian national carrier EgyptAir(MS) is to tentatively expand its service to Saudi Arabia during the Summer 2013 season. Planned new routes and/or additional flights as follows.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Saudia announces changes to Addis Ababa, Cairo, Kano routes for Summer 2013.

Initial changes to Saudi Arabian airlines Saudia (SV)’s Summer 2013 International operation are as follows, though additional changes, including planned Boeing 777-300ER service entry dates to selected markets, remain subject to change.

► EGYPT: Air Arabia Egypt launches Alexandria - Kuwait, Riyadh ops.

LCC Air Arabia Egypt (E5) this past Monday (25 November 2012) expanded its operations with new services to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. 

► EGYPT: Midwest set to start scheduled domestic flights in early 2013 with Libya, Saudi Arabia to follow.

Egyptian charter airline Midwest Airlines (MY) is to venture into the domestic Egyptian scheduled flight market with the launch of flights between Cairo and Alexandria effective early January 2013.

■ MOROCCO: Government looks to offload 44% stake in Royal Air Maroc to Gulf carrier.

Following on from our tweet last night, it does indeed appear that Morocco is looking to sell up to 44% of its shareholding in national carrier Royal Air Maroc (AT) to an as yet unknown Gulf airline.

►► ETHIOPIA: Wishy-washy Ethiopian Airlines attempts to make up its mind with new 787 destination route list.

After at least 3 revisions and constant changes to its intended Boeing 787 Dreamliner launch routes, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) appears to have finally made up its mind and will take the very diplomatic route of flying their 787 to a variety destinations as a means of showcasing their latest aircraft.

Ethiopian's 787 in Seattle (moonm)

► NIGERIA: Saudia Cargo launches 9 new West African destinations via its Lagos hub.

Using its various interline partners in West Africa, Saudi Airlines Cargo (SV) is to launch cargo services from Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire), Accra (Ghana), Cotonou (Benin), Douala (Cameroon), Libreville (Gabon), Lomé (Togo), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Niamey (Niger) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) via its new Lagos, Nigeria hub, which it presently serves with a daily Boeing 747F.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Saudia increases capacity to Addis Ababa & Casablanca from October.

Saudi Arabian national carrier Saudia (SV) is to increase its capacity on flights between Riyadh and Jeddah to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Jeddah and Casablanca, Morocco with effect from 28 October 2012.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Saudia Cargo revenues up 25% from 2011 on the back of strong African market performance.

In spite of a very difficult global economy, Saudia Cargo (SV), the Cargo subsidiary of Saudi Arabian national carrier Saudia Airlines, has posted very strong numbers for the first half of 2012, with 251'500 tons of cargo being moved - a rise of 26% on this time last year of cargo - with revenues correspondingly rising by 25%. 

► DJIBOUTI: Air France alters Paris - Djibouti service.

Air France (AF) is to alter its present 3x weekly service from Paris to Djibouti via Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to operate via Riyadh, Saudi Arabia instead, with effect from 2 September 2012. An Airbus A330-200 is used on the route.

An Air France A330 in Djibouti (Pepa T.)

Paris CDG – Riyadh – Djibouti

• AF524 CDG1350 – 2050RUH2205 – 0030+1JIB 332 146

• AF525 JIB0220 – 0440RUH0600 – 1130CDG 332 257

Riyadh service will increase from 3 to 5 weekly as a result (existing non stop terminator service will operate as 2x weekly instead of 3x). Djibouti frequencies remain unchanged.

Paris CDG – Jeddah – Djibouti 3 weekly service operates until 2 September 2012.

• AF3870 CDG1110 – 1805JED1920 – 2125JIB 332 136

• AF3871 JIB2345 – 0150+1JED0305+1 – 0805+1CDG 332 136

Read More Here [Airline Route]