► KENYA: See Pics of 748 Air Service's Bombardier Dash 8!

Nairobi-based air charter specialists 748 Air Services (SVT) is set to receive its first Bombardier Dash 8-400 (MCN: 4013 | 5Y-SMJ) from Amsterdam, Holland where it has just received its paint-job in 748's livery.

► RWANDA: RwandAir announces CRJ900 routes; introduces other additional frequencies.

With the first of its two new Bombardier CRJ900NGs (MSN# 15286| 9XR-WH) due in by the middle of October 2012 and the second due in mid November, so Rwandan national carrier RwandAir (WB) has outlined the future routes they will be used on, in addition to various new frequencies to come into effect from 31 October 2012.

RwandAir CRJ900 '9XR-WH'

RwandAir CRJ900NG Routes

RwandAir: Kigali, Rwanda – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

-Effective 31 October 2012

• WB440 KGL1730 – 2030DAR CR9 | 1234567
• WB441 DAR2100 – 2200KGL CR9 | 1234567

Kigali, Rwanda – Entebbe, Uganda

-Effective 31 October 2012

• WB422 KGL1440 – 1625EBB CR9 | 1234567
• WB423 EBB1655 – 1640KGL CR9 | 1234567

Kigali, Rwanda – Nairobi, Kenya

-Effective 31 October 2012

• WB404 KGL0155 – 0410NBO CR9 | 1234567
• WB406 KGL1455 – 1710NBO CR9 | 1357
• WB402 KGL1455 – 1710NBO CR9 | 246

• WB405 NBO1155 – 1210KGL CR9 | 1234567
• WB407 NBO2125 – 2140KGL CR9 | 1357
• WB407 NBO2125 – 2140KGL CR9 | 246

Source [Airline Route]

Additionally, various new frequencies have been announced:

• Entebbe, Uganda: from 17x to 33x weekly flights.
• Brazzaville, Congo & Libreville, Gabon: 3x to 5x weekly flights.
• Dubai, UAE : from 6x to 13x weekly flights.
• Lagos, Nigeria: from 3x to 7x weekly flights.
• Johannesburg, South Africa : from 8x to 10x weekly flights.

Source [RwandanFlyer]

Kigali, Rwanda – Dubai
-Planned service increase from 6x weekly to daily. The daily service operates nonstop in both directions, replacing 3x weekly nonstop and 1-stop service via Mombasa, Kenya.

• WB300 KGL0045 – 0830DXB 738 | 1234567
• WB301 DXB0950 – 1335KGL 738 | 2467
• WB301 DXB1010 – 1335KGL 738 | 2467

Kigali, Rwanda – Johannesburg, South Africa
-Planned service increase from 8 to 10 weekly

• WB100 KGL0100 – 0500JNB 738 | 123567
• WB100 KGL0100 – 0500JNB 735 | 4
• WB102 KGL1445 – 1845JNB 738 | 356

• WB101 JNB0800 – 1200KGL 738 | 123567
• WB101 JNB0800 – 1200KGL 735 | 4
• WB103 JNB1930 – 2330KGL 738 | 356

Kigali – Lagos, Nigeria
-Planned service increase from 3x weekly to daily

• WB200 KGL1435 – 1745LOS 738 | 1234567
• WB201 LOS1830 – 2340KGL 738 | 1234567

Source [Airline Route]

► UGANDA: Air Uganda to get rid of its last two MD87s.

In a move that will see it left with a fleet of two Bombardier CRJ-200s, Ugandan carrier Air Uganda (U7) has decided to retire its ageing fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD87s "later this year", according to Swiss aviation site CH-Aviation.

An Air Uganda McDonnell Douglas MD-87 at Entebbe

Having started out with three of the ex-Iberia aircraft, Air Uganda has subsequently retired 1 from the fleet leaving two which it uses, in addition to its two CRJ-200s, to focus on its regional network consisting of Bujumbura, Nairobi, Mombasa, Kigali, Juba, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar all served out of its Entebbe hub.

► TURKEY: Turkish Airlines announces changes to Africa Network for Winter 2012.

Turkish carrier Turkish Airlines (TK) has announced various changes to its African network effective Q4 of 2012.

Turkish Airlines Africa Network

Istanbul – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
-Effective 28 October 2012 service reduces from daily to 5x weekly using 737-900ER.

• TK603 IST1910 – 0335+1DAR 739 x13
• TK604 DAR0435 – 1050IST 739 x24

Istanbul – Nairobi, Kenya 

-Effective 28 October 2012 Boeing 737-800 replaces -900ER, daily service

• TK607 IST1950 – 0325+1NBO 73H 1234567
• TK608 NBO0445 – 1020IST 73H 1234567

Istanbul – Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
-Effective 9 October 2012 NEW 4x weekly service to its 3rd destination in Egypt. Schedule below effective 28 October 2012.

• TK700 IST0205 – 0440SSH 737 135
• TK701 SSH0640 – 0925IST 737 135

Istanbul – Kigali, Rwanda – Entebbe, Uganda - Istanbul
- Effective 28 October 2012 service increases from 4x to 5x weekly using a 737-900ER

• TK606 IST1840 – 0130+1KGL0225+1 – 0420+1EBB0520+1 – 1045+1IST 739 x27

Istanbul – Kinshasa, DRC
- Effective 27 September 2012 service increases from 4x to 5x weekly. Schedule below effective 28 October 2012.

• TK671 IST1445 – 2115FIH 739 26
• TK672 FIH2215 – 0630+1IST 739 26

Source [Airline Route]

► KENYA: FastJet shows off livery (Pics); Fly540 brand to go.

Following on from this week's acquisition of Lonrho Aviation (t/a Fly540), FastJet Ghana's parent company Rubicon Investments, of which Stelios Haji-Ioannou of EasyJet fame is a 5% shareholder, has outlined its plans and future prospects for the transformation of and integration of Fly540 into a Pan-African LCC giant.

A Low Cost Carrier headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Fly540 has franchises in Angola, Ghana, Tanzania and Ghana, and operates ATR 72s, CRJ-100s, DHC 8-100s and McDonnell Douglas DC 9s. Collectively, its route network includes various cities in Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Burundi, Liberia, Nigeria, South Sudan and Uganda.

A FastJet Airbus A319 rendering

In its beginning stages, FastJet will coexist with Fly540, whilst the former moves to build a fleet using either Airbus A319s, Boeing 737-700s and/or Embraer EMB-190s. Once fleet consolidation is achieved as per the classic LCC model (a uniform fleet keeps maintenance costs down), Fly540's current aircraft leases are to be allowed to expire, before the brand itself is phased out, leaving FastJet as the main driving force.

Ultimately, FastJet aims to carry more than 12 million passengers a year, by focussing on Africa's burgeoning middle class - a phenomenon that is fast becoming a reality in Angola, Kenya and Nigeria, where substantial economic growth in recent years has meant more money in the pocket for the ordinary man on the street.

""If you take the four countries, they have a total population of 100 million people. If you estimate that all our customers come from just those countries alone, you could see three million of them becoming customers with us, flying a couple of times a year. That would generate something like 12.8 million passengers [annually]." "

Read More Here [GhanaWeb]

At the helm of FastJet will be many of Haji-Ioannou's colleagues from his days at EasyJet: Richard Boden, a former Contracts Manager at EasyJet, Ed Winter, FastJet's new CEO and formerly easyJet's Chief Operating Officer, whilst Haji-Ioannou himself, will be a consultant.

► KENYA: Gulf Air reduces Nairobi service from October.

Bahrain-based carrier Gulf Air (GF) will reduce its Bahrain - Nairobi, Kenya service from 6x weekly, to 5x weekly effective Winter 2012 (i.e 28 October 2012).

Gulf Air started services to Nairobi last year in July. 

Of late, the carrier has had viability problems on some of its Africa routes, most notably Entebbe, Uganda, which was axed after just 4 months in service.

A Gulf Air Airbus A319 (DJ)

Gulf Air: Bahrain – Nairobi, Kenya
 - Effective 28 October 2012, service reduces from 6x to 5x weekly

• GF715 BAH1005 – 1515NBO 319 23
• GF717 BAH2120 – 0230+1NBO 319 456

• GF718 NBO0315 – 0805BAH 319 567
• GF716 NBO1600 – 2050BAH 319 23

Read More Here [Airline Route] 

► UGANDA: NasAir Eritrea starts Asmara - Entebbe direct.

Eritrean private airline Nasair Eritrea (UE), yesterday started direct Asmara - Entebbe, Uganda flights using a Boeing 737-200. Until that maiden flight, Entebbe was served via Juba, South Sudan, according to NasAir's timetable.

► UGANDA: Turkish Airlines flight to Johannesburg diverts to Entebbe.

A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 TC-JNM recently enroute from Istanbul to Johannesburg, South Africa was forced to divert to Entebbe, Uganda following engine problems.

The aircraft landed safely, though passengers were forced to wait for a replacement aircraft to be dispatched from Turkey.

THY Turkish Airlines A330 TC-JNM (Alfonso Rodenas Pena)

"A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration TC-JNM performing flight TK-40 (dep May 10th) from Istanbul (Turkey) to Johannesburg (South Africa) with 250 passengers, was enroute near Entebbe (Uganda) when the crew needed to shut an engine (CF6) down. The aircraft diverted to Entebbe for a safe landing."

Read More Here [The Aviation Herald]

● UGANDA: Uganda to resurrect Uganda Airlines or East African Airways?

Given the strong growth seen by private airline Air Uganda in recent months, and with tourism fast becoming a major cog in the Ugandan economic wheel, would now be the most economically opportune time for Kampala to resurrect defunct national carrier Uganda Airlines?

● UGANDA: Ugandan CAA seeks partners to develop Entebbe Airport; Plans to build second runway.

With the rapid growth occurring in the Ugandan civil aviation field, it stands to reason that the country's infrastructure would have to be up standard, in order to stand any hope of being a player in the region, given Kenya's dominance.

 

Uganda's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)’s Corporate affairs Manager, Mr Ignie Igunduura stated that Uganda’s Aviation will perform better in the next twelve months and coming years provided the economy sustains its growth.

“We have been growing and expect to sustain this growth. Air transport does not work in isolation. It facilities the economy and in turn, the economy facilities it. Provided the indicators of growth are still present and bearing results in our economy, Aviation will also keep growing,” Mr Igunduura said.

Read More Here [The Monitor, Uganda]

It seems that for once, a government run department is taking the initiative to lead the field, instead of playing a game of catch up. Recently, the Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority issued a tender in the Ugandan Investment Authority's website seeking partnerships with foreign companies for the following projects at the Entebbe International Airport: 

• Design and construction of new cargo centre
• Renovation and refurbishment of general aviation terminal for domestic use 
• Development of an export processing zone at the airport, similar to the Freeport at Dubai International Airport
• Construction of an in-flight catering services unit
• Development of a ferry port at Entebbe airport area
• Construction of an aircraft maintenance hanger
• Construction of passenger loading bridges 
• Provision of airline business operations

"The Civil Aviation Authority has a five-year strategic plan to expand Entebbe Airport that includes remodelling the car parking lot to a multi-levelled one, and double the aeroplane hangars from the current 11 to 22. It is also planning for a second runway to accommodate bigger planes like those owned by Qatar and Emirates Airways."

Read More Here [TradeInvestAfrica]

► UGANDA: Air Uganda ups frequencies to Kigali, Bujumbura, Mombasa; shows strong growth.

Ugandan national carrier, Air Uganda (U7), has announced an increase in flight frequencies between Kigali-Entebbe-Kigali to twice daily every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The other days will remain at once daily service according to their Facebook page. Bujumbura has moved from three flights to four times a week.

Entebbe-Mombasa-Entebbe will also see an increase in frequency to five times weekly from Tuesday to Friday and Sunday to cater for the growing demand on the route. Figures released show a substantial growth of 39% in passenger numbers on the route in the last quarter of this year, attributed to increased trade between Kenya and Uganda, with the Mombasa port being a key entry point for goods within the East Africa region.

Also in the pipeline is service to Kisumu, Kenya, which is still under consideration by the Kenyan authorities.