►► 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)

► ALGERIA: Emirates starts daily flights to Algiers from March 2013.

Its 22nd destination in Africa, Dubai based Emirates (EK) today announced it will serve the Algerian capital, Algiers, with a daily Airbus A330-200 effective 1 March 2013. With the Airbus A330's belly-hold capacity of 12 tonnes, Emirates SkyCargo expects to export commodities such as frozen fish, lobsters, oil and gas equipment and palm oil to points across its network whilst imports including a variety of manufactured goods are expected to form the bulk of goods shipped into Algeria.

► SEYCHELLES: Emirates to go 12x weekly from December, 13x weekly from February 2013.

Emirates (EK) is to increase its Airbus A340-500 operated flights between Dubai and Mahé, Seychelles from 11x weekly, to 12x weekly with an added Monday flight effective 3 December 2012. From 5 February 2013, the airline is to add a 13th weekly frequency on a Tuesday.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Emirates cancels intended A380 service return to Johannesburg.

As a result of the introduction of a new A380 service to Singapore on a regular basis, the planned A380 service resumption on Dubai – Johannesburg EK761/762 from 01 December 2012, is cancelled. Consequently, Dubai - Johannesburg's service will remain unchanged henceforth (see below).

Emirates Airbus A380 (Emirates)

Emirates: Dubai, UAE - Johannesburg, South Africa
- Effective 28 October 2012 and onwards until further notice

►►► ETHIOPIA: See Pics of Ethiopian's 787 ready for delivery; axes 787 on Harare and Lusaka route.

- Updated 6 August 2012. On-line aviation resource Airline Route is reporting (though these reports are uncorroborated) that Ethiopian Airlines (ET), set to receive its and Africa's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the next few weeks, has axed its planned Boeing 787 flights to Harare, Zimbabwe and Lusaka, Zambia originally slated to start on 28 October 2012.

Ethiopian's 787 ET-AOQ exits the paintshop (Josh Rawlin)

Ethiopian's 787 ET-AOQ in Seattle (Bernie Leighton)

UPDATE [AUGUST 8]: FOR RE-REVISED SCHEDULE PLEASE SEE THIS THREAD.

► ZIMBABWE: Emirates to split Lusaka & Harare; introduces 5x weekly direct cargo flights to Harare.

Dubai megacarrier Emirates (EK) is to split its current Dubai - Lusaka (Zambia) - Harare (Zimbabwe) route into two separate routes "in the near future" following very strong figures in both passenger and cargo volumes moved since the route's inauguration in February of this year.

► UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Air Arabia boosts Sharjah - Sudan & Egypt from June.

UAE based LCC Air Arabia has announced an increase in flights between Sharjah and various destinations in Egypt and the Sudan.

Air Arabia A320

Sharjah – Alexandria Bog el Arab

• Effective 16MAY12 - Increases from 10 to 12 weekly

• Effective 01JUN12 - Increases from 12 to 14 weekly

• 20JUN12 - 08SEP12 Increases from 2 to 3 daily

Sharjah – Assiut, Egypt

• 21JUN12 – 05JUL12 / 26AUG12 – 09SEP12 - Increases from 2 to 4 weekly

Sharjah – Sohag, Egypt

• Effective 01JUN12 Service resumes with 3 weekly flights

• G9673 SHJ1310 – 1440HMB 320 246

• G9674 HMB1520 – 2035SHJ 320 246

Sharjah – Khartoum

• 03JUN12 – 02SEP12 Increases from daily to 9 weekly

Read More Here [Airline Route]

► DUBAI: Air Tanzania to lease B737-500 from AeroVista.

As previously reported in this post, Air Tanzania (TC) is to lease a B737-500 from AeroVista, an aircraft leasing outfit based in Dubai and Georgia.