►► TANZANIA: Air Uganda planning for Entebbe - Kilimanjaro flights; launches "Crane Class" product.

[UPDATE 2 APRIL] Air Uganda (U7) has revealed that it is in the process of planning a new route from its hub in Entebbe to the Tanzanian tourist mecca of Kilimanjaro. Currently, the airline operates to the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam.

► OMAN: Oman Air looks to expand Africa network as part of efforts to become profitable.

Omani national carrier, Oman Air (WY), is planning to increase its services to Africa - with Casablanca first in line - as part of its plan to become profitable. The move comes after the airline posted a loss of USD253million (OMR97.47million) for 2012.

► TANZANIA: Auric Air outlines added routes to Zanzibar, Mafia Island, Tanzanian mainland from June 2013.

Tanzanian private operator, Auric Air (AUK), has announced plans to launch flights to numerous new destinations on both the Tanzanian mainland, Mafia Island and Zanzibar effective 01JUN13.

■ TANZANIA: TCAA opens airport ground-handling sector up to more players.

Following a meeting of the Board of Directors in late February, the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority has reviewed and adjusted 2009 legislation governing the liberalisation of ground handling services, including aviation fuelling, in Tanzania. The changes affect airports in Dar Es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and Arusha.

► TURKEY: Turkish Airlines boosts Lagos, Dar es Salaam ops from May.

Turkish Airlines (TK) is to boost its capacity and frequency between Istanbul and Lagos and Istanbul and Dar es Salaam. Changes will come into effect from late May.

► COMOROS: Air Tanzania resumes Dar es Salaam - Moroni flights from late March.

Tanzanian national carrier Air Tanzania (TC) will resume flights from Dar es Salaam to Moroni (Comoros) effective 25 March. Flights will operate three times weekly using Air Tanzania's leased Boeing 737-200Adv.

■ TANZANIA: Worldwide Flight Services, Wings Flight Services win tender to operate new USD6million cargo terminal at JNIA.

Global ground service providers, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), has entered into a long-term partnership with Wings Flight Services in Tanzania to operate a new cargo terminal at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

■ TANZANIA: TCAA to upgrade ground-ground comms network to AMHS during 2013.

After the floating of a tender last year in September, the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority is to proceed with the upgrading of its aeronautical ground-ground communications network which currently uses the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) analogue standard.

► TANZANIA: Tanganyika Flying Co. starts flights to Serengeti Lamai airstrip.

Tanzanian domestic operator, Tanganyika Flying Co. (TFC), has launched services into Serengeti Lamai Airstrip bringing the number of airstrips that TFC serves in the Serengeti National Park, to five.

■ TANZANIA: fastjet secures additional $23.5mln in funding from New York investment firm as 1Time's liquidation postponed until October.

Tanzanian based LCC, fastjet (FN), has secured an additional USD23.5million (GBP15.68million) in funding following an agreement with Bergen Global Opportunity Fund, an institutional investment fund managed by Bergen Asset Management, LLC, a New York asset management firm. 

■ UNITED KINGDOM: fastjet takes Don Smith to court over ownership of Fly540.

In the latest episode in the fastjet vs Don Smith soap opera, the Tanzanian LCC has now moved to take legal proceedings against Mr Smith, owner of 540 Aviation, seeking "a declaration that it has fulfilled its obligations under the Sale and Purchase Agreement" regarding Mr Smith's shares in Fly540.

■ TANZANIA: Fastjet to settle $2mln in debts with Tanzanian taxman, Airports Authority as deal with 1Time said to be under "reconsideration".

Tanzania based fastjet (FN), has agreed to settle debts amounting to over USD2million (TAS3.14billion) owed to both the Tanzanian Revenue Authority (TRA) and the Tanzanian Airports Authority (TAA). Previously, fastjet had claimed that the debts had been incurred under predecessor Fly540's previous owner, 540 Aviation, who were therefore responsible for them.

■ TANZANIA: Precision Air sees a 6% increase in pax uplifted over NOV12 - JAN13 period.

Tanzania's Precision Air (PW) says it has registered a 6% growth in passenger traffic for the period NOV12 - JAN13 with an overall growth of 13% for the period APR12 to JAN13.

► TANZANIA: fastjet to start daily Kilimanjaro - Mwanza & Zanzibar ops from mid March.

Tanzanian LCC Fastjet (FN), is to expand its network with the announcement today of the launch of daily Kilimanjaro - Mwanza and daily Kilimanjaro - Zanzibar flights effective 18 March. Both flights will operate with an Airbus A320.

■ TANZANIA: Air Tanzania allegedly tries to evade court ordered building evaluation over unpaid debts.

In yet another case of a deadbeat Tanzanian airline not paying its bills, national carrier, Air Tanzania (TC), who was threatened with the auction of its headquarters, Air Tanzania House, after it failed to settle a debt of over USD700'000 (TZS1.1billion) owed to Leisure Tours & Holidays Limited for car rentals, has allegedly obstructed the court ordered evaluation of their building.

■ TANZANIA: Fastjet claims parking, landing fees owed to TAA were run up by Don Smith's Fly540.

Fastjet (FN), the controversy-prone Tanzanian based LCC, has issued yet another statement refuting as "inaccurate" recent allegations in the Tanzanian press that it now owes the Tanzanian Airports Authority (TAA) TSh570'668'242.00 and USD95'360 in outstanding landing and parking charges.

■ TANZANIA: Sauda Rajab appointed new helmsman at Precision Air as Kioko steps down.

Tanzania's Precision Air (PW) has announced the appointment of Ms Sauda S. Rajab to the position of Group Managing Director & CEO following the expiry of incumbent Alphonse Kioko's contract.

► TANZANIA: (Pics) Air Tanzania resumes 4x weekly Mtwara flights.

Air Tanzania (TC) has resumed its Dar es Salaam - Mtwara flights as of  Friday 8 February 2013. Flights will initially operate 4x weekly using the airline's Bombardier Dash 8-300 with plans to boost capacity should demand pick up. Flights to Arusha and Mtwara were originally scheduled to have begun in November 2012, though no reason was given for their deferment.

► TANZANIA: A look at Precision Air's network expansion plans for 2016.

Rwandan aviation blog, Rwandan-Flyer, reports that Tanzanian private carrier and interim flag carrier, Precision Air (PW), is planning a big regional expansion programme in the coming months with new services to Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Angola and Mozambique to be added by 2016.

►► NETHERLANDS: KLM announces changes to Accra, Cairo, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Johannesburg and Lagos from Winter 2012.

[UPDATE 7 FEBRUARY] Further to KLM's (KL) previously announced Summer Timetable changes, so they have announced equipment i.e aircraft changes to their Winter 2012 timetable.