► UNITED KINGDOM: AV Cargo Airlines to add second MD11F shortly; to expand African network further.

A second MD11F freighter, on lease from Boeing Capital Corp., is to be delivered to AV Cargo Airlines (Z3) within the next two weeks and will enter service in early September. AV Cargo, the UK-based scheduled air cargo and charter company plans to use its expanding fleet to further its route network which already extensively covers West Africa.

► NIGERIA: Arik Air plans A330 London ops from July 12; Johannesburg A340 ops resume from 16 July.

As previously reported, Nigeria's Arik Air (W3) has outlined its initial Airbus A330-200 routes with the carrier's daily Lagos - London Heathrow flight set to switch from the current A340-500, to the A330 from July 12. Additionally, Lagos - Johannesburg will from July 16 see a return of the A340-500, replacing the current equipment, a B737-800.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Afriqiyah to boost Tripoli - London Gatwick to 4x weekly from mid-July.

Libyan carrier, Afriqiyah (8U), will from 12JUL, increase its Tripoli - London Gatwick frequency from three times weekly, to four times weekly with the addition of a Friday flight. While flights are scheduled to operate with an Airbus A320, the use of a McDonnell Douglas MD83 leased from Spain's Swiftair (W3) is also likely.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Air Zimbabwe pushes back London flights to November as 767s await refurbishment.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) says direct Harare - London Gatwick flights, originally meant to launch from July 1 but now removed from the GDS, will now resume in November once their two 767-200ERs have been refurbished.

► LIBERIA: British Airways to boost Monrovia, Freetown with 4th weekly flight from late October.

British Airways (BA) will increase its frequencies to the West African countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone to four weekly on the back of rising demand, the airline has stated. 

■ UNITED KINGDOM: fastjet boss David Lenigas resigns.

David Lenigas has resigned as chairman of struggling Tanzanian LCC, fastjet (FN) with immediate effect and has been replaced by Chief Executive Officer, Ed Winter, on an interim basis, until a permanent successor is found. 

■ UNITED KINGDOM: IBA Group aims to help Africa fully exploit its markets.

Following the conclusion of the 69th IATA AGM, the International Bureau of Aviation, IBA Group, an organization established in 1988 to provide independent expert business analysis and advice to the aviation industry, says it will be looking closely at the developing opportunities arising from the exponential growth and profit reported within the African aviation industry.

► GHANA: Virgin Atlantic axes Heathrow - Accra from late September.

AirlineRoute reports that British carrier Virgin Atlantic (VS) is to abandon its five-times weekly service from London Heathrow to Accra, Ghana with effect from September 23. Should the move be confirmed, it would leave Virgin's Africa network at being just Johannesburg, Cape Town and Lagos following its withdrawal from Nairobi, Kenya last year.

■ UNITED KINGDOM: Two Arik Air hostesses stopped with 6kgs cocaine, 60 cartons of smokes.

On Monday, May 20, two Arik Air (W3) air hostesses were apprehended by UK Border officials at London Heathrow Airport from Lagos, Nigeria after they were found in possession of six kilograms of cocaine with a street value of about GBP600'000 in addition to 60 cartons of cigarettes.

► KENYA: British Airways sees strong East African market potential as a result of newly discovered mineral wealth.

British Airways (BA) plans to leverage Kenya’s strategic position to help improve its market share in East & Central Africa and South Sudan, with the region's recent discovery of oil and minerals set to boost it's passenger and cargo traffic potential, BA's regional commercial manager George Mawadri, has said.

► UNITED KINGDOM: SAA to introduce the A340-600 on Heathrow flights from August.

South African Airways (SA), from 01AUG13, is to increase capacity on it's Johannesburg – London Heathrow route, with 1 of its 2 daily flights scheduled to be operated by Airbus A340-600 aircraft on a daily basis.

► TANZANIA: British Airways to only resume Dar es Salaam flights once market is conducive.

British Airways (BA) could make a return to Dar es Salaam once market conditions are conducive, the Deputy British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Julian Chandler, has said. British Airways pulled its three times weekly service to the Tanzanian capital on March 31.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Ethiopian to resume 787 services to Heathrow from May 8.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will, from 08MAY13 to 15JUN13, be offering a resumed Boeing 787 service on its Addis Ababa – London Heathrow route, where it’ll operate 6 weekly flights. For a run down of Ethiopian's other planned 787 resumptions, see this post.

► UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways' proposed Entebbe, Johannesburg schedule for NW2013/14.

As per the 01MAY13 GDS timetable/inventory display, latest changes to British Airways' (BA) proposed Winter 2013/14 Africa Long-Haul operations are as follows

► MAURITIUS: Thomson Airways plans 1x weekly Gatwick - Mauritius 787 flight from May 2014.

British charter outfit, Thomson Airways (BY), will, from May 2014, launch a 1x weekly service from London Gatwick to Mauritius on-board Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

■ UNITED STATES: Air Namibia switches its GSA in the US, UK and France to APG.

Effective April 1, Air Namibia (SW) has changed its General Sales Agent (GSA) in the USA, UK and France and has appointed APG as its new GSA in all three countries.

► 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.