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Showing posts with label Update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Update. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

►► LIBYA: Emirates cancels intended Tripoli service resumption.

Emirates
[UPDATED 3 OCTOBER 2012] Emirates (EK) are to restart their service from Dubai to Tripoli, Libya that was suspended in February of last year due to the Libyan Uprising. The flights will recommence on 29 October 2012 with a 4x weekly Airbus A330-200 service that will switch to an Airbus A340-300 from 2 January 2013.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

►► TUNISIA: Emirates cancels planned Tunis reduction to 5x weekly service from December.

Emirates[SEE UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM] Following on from its previous announcement, Dubai based carrier Emirates (EK) will, from 1 December 2012, reduce its weekly service from Dubai to Tunis, Tunisia, from daily to 5x weekly; Mondays and Sundays being nixed. 


Thursday, September 6, 2012

►► KENYA: Kenya Airways to start Eldoret from July.

Kenya Airways
Kenyan airline, Kenya Airways (KQ), has announced the start of a 2x daily service from Nairobi to Eldoret (Kenya) with effect from 4 July.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

►► SOUTH AFRICA: SA Express increases Gaborone & George operations.

SA ExpressSouth African Express Airways (XZ), better known as SA Express, has announced, effective 2 September 2012, it’ll introduce a 6th daily operation on its Johannesburg – Gaborone, Bostwana route while domestically the airline will add a 4th weekly Cape Town – George, South Africa flight in addition to increasing its Johannesburg – George, South Africa route frequencies from 20x to 24x weekly.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

►► SOUTH AFRICA: "Business Rescue Specialist" appointed to 1Time earning workforce a reprieve but some routes to face the axe.

1TimeFollowing on from our report last week that South African firm 1Time Holdings had declared its two subsidiaries, LCC 1Time (T6) and maintenance arm JetWorx, to be in financial distress, the South African Companies Intellectual Properties Commission (CIPC), has approved a Nominated Business Practitioner (NBP) to oversee 1Time's business plan reform process over the coming next three months - Gerhard Holtzhauzen, CEO of Strategic Turnaround Solutions, has been appointed.
Holtzhauzen was positive about the company's potential: "We have a head-start because a turnaround strategy for 1time has been contemplated by a proactive management team."

During "Business Rescue", a distressed company is given a 3 month long protection period from creditors while the business is (hopefully) turned around - more or less equivalent to filing Chapter 11 in the US. The company will continue to operate normally though there will obviously be a review of the airline's operations and current routes in order to cut away the deadwood and retain the most profitable ones.

Meanwhile, the news given some breathing room to both companies, in particular to Jetworx whose trade union Solidarity, was last week warned the division faced job cuts of up to 25%. The appointment of NBP Gerhard Holtzhauzen has meant the job cuts will be deferred, though not necessarily abandoned.
"During yesterday’s consultation, we were informed that the process had been put off for the time being owing to the appointment of a business rescue specialist. The specialist must draw up a refinancing and restructuring plan for the company. The company will also be given the opportunity to develop and to implement a business rescue plan and to carry on its operations at the same time. 1time Holdings, Jetworx and the business rescue specialist will be requested in a letter to involve Solidarity in the process.” Solidarity spokesperson Marius Croucamp said.
  
Blacky Komani - 1Time CEO
Blacky Komani - 1Time CEO (CP)
In addition, unprofitable routes may also go, with the first rumoured to be 1Time's service to Mombasa, Kenya, though the reason for dropping the route may have more to do with soaring costs and charges in Kenya, than 1Times own internal woes.
"If this is true [1Time's withdrawal from Mombasa], other airlines might follow if charges keep going up. Authorities at times in the past just raised fees with little notice and until fares are adjusted the carriers have to absorb that added cost. Proposals in the new VAT bill spell doom for aviation in Kenya, like moving from an exempt status to a double digit tax figure. Those who drafted the bill are either totally uninformed or else agents of doom for the airline industry in Kenya."

The next three months are going to be most interesting for 1Time and Jetworx as various painful measures are implemented in order to see the two companies remain afloat.

►[UPDATE 29 AUGUST 2012] 1Time officially cuts Mombasa route as of 17 September 2012.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

►► SUDAN: Numerous Sudanese government officials killed as Alfa Air Antonov 26 crash claims 32 lives.

Sudan flag
What should have been a day of celebration to mark the end of Ramadan instead turned into a day of national mourning as an Alfa Air Sudan Antonov 26 (MSN: 47302606 | ST-ARL) crashed into a slope in the Nuba mountains south of Talodi, at about 08h00 local time, en route from Khartoum to Talodi, South Kordofan State, killing all 32 (26 passengers and 6 crew) passengers on board.

Alfa Air Sudan An26 Antonov in Khartoum
Alfa Air Sudan An26 (ST-ARL) (UR-SDV)
The Aviation Herald reports that: 
"Local Television reported the aircraft went around on its first attempt to land in Talodi due to weather but did not manage to climb above the terrain during the go-around. Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority reported at the time of the crash, visibility was substantially reduced due to a dust and dirt storm in the area. "
Source [The Aviation Herald]

The Antonov was chartered to take the various officials to Talodi to "congratulate the town's citizens on Eid Al-Fitr."

Wreckage from the Antonov 26 "ST-ARL" Sudan Plane Crash
Wreckage from the An26 "ST-ARL" (Al Shorouk)

Amongst the dead are:
  1. Engineer Ghazi Al-Saddiq - the federal Minister of Guidance and Endowments.
  2. Mahjoub Abdul-Rahim Tutu - the State Minister at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. 
  3. Eissa Daifalla - the State Minister at the Ministry of Tourism, Antiquities and Wildlife. 
  4. Ali Al-Jailani - the Minister of Education of Khartoum State. 
  5. Mekki Ali Balayel - Leader of the Justice Party. 
  6. Mohamed Hassan Al-Jaafari - Commissioner at Headquarters of Khartoum State. 
  7. Tariq Mubarak - Commissioner of Khartoum North. 
  8. Maj. Gen. Salah Ismail - the Air Forces. 
  9. Maj. Gen. Ahmed Musa Ahmed - the Police Forces. 
  10. Maj. Gen. Ahmed Al-Tayeb Abu-Guroon, the Security and Intelligence Organ. 
  11. Brigadier Lugman Omer - Second Commander of the People's Defence Forces. 
  12. Hamid Al-Aghbash - the National Assembly. 
  13. Dr. Mohamed Al-Bakhit Al-Bashir - the Islamic Figih Council. 
  14. Al-Saddiq Abdul-Majid Al-Makkawi - the People's Defence Forces. 
  15. Awadal-Karim Siral-Khatim - Deputy Coordinator of the People's Defence Forces. 
  16. Waeez Salaha Omer - Headquarters of the People's Defence Forces. 
  17. Omer Mahjoub Ahmed - Deputy Coordinator of the People's Defence Forces. 
  18. Salah-Eddin Mustafa - the People's Defence Forces - Jabal Aulia Locality. 
  19. Abdul-Azim Hamza - the National Congress - Khartoum State. 
  20. Abdul-Atti Ahmed - Correspondent of the National Television. 
  21. Al-Sheikh Abdul-Rahim - the media mission. 
  22. Bashir Fadl Al-Sid - Khartoum State Media. 
  23. Abdul-Hai Al-Rabie - the media mission. 
  24. Ismail Abdul-Karim - the media mission. 
  25. Captain Saif-Eddin - Director of Office of Maj. Gen. Abu-Guroon. 
  26. Al-Sayer Mohamed Al-Sayer - the Ministry of Guidance and Endowments. 
27 /28/ 29/ 30/ 31/ 32 - the crew of the plane.


In recent years, Sudan has had numerous aviation accidents and incidents that have severely damaged the country's aviation image. Khartoum has frequently complained that its poor record in air safety is largely due to lack of spare parts for its aircraft caused by US Sanctions.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

►► EQUATORIAL GUINEA: CEIBA Intercontinental waves Adios to its 777.

CEIBA Intercontinental
The Boeing 777-200LR (3C-LLS) of Equatorial Guinean carrier CEIBA Intercontinental (C2) (with what had to be one of the coolest liveries ever on a Boeing 777) today left Malabo, Equatorial Guinea for Lisbon, Portugal to be re-registered under White Airways (WI), a Portuguese leisure and charter flight operator out of Lisbon, becoming CS-TQX on the Portuguese registry.

CEIBA Intercontinental Boeing 777
(ex) CEIBA Intercontinental Boeing 777-200LR (sabian404)
It is unclear, however, what purpose the 777 served whilst under the CEIBA name, as the Equato-guinean flag-carrier is on the European Union's Banned Operator's List. In all honesty, it wouldn't be a massive surprise if it turned out that the aircraft had originally been bought for exclusive Presidential/VIP usage given Equatorial-Guinean President Teodoro Obiang's family's penchant for the high life and luxury which of late, has come under increasing scrutiny from the international media.



With the departure of the 777, CEIBA is now left with a fleet of two ATR 72-500s, one ATR 42 - 500, one ATR 42-320 and three Boeing 737-800 on order whilst its network consists of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Bata (Equatorial Guinea), Cotonou, Douala, Accra, Abidjan, Lomé, Libreville, Pointe Noire and Brazzaville.

[UPDATE]: SkyLinerAviation informs us that the 777 has now been re-registered as CS-TQX and is to be ferried back to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea as of 21 August 2012. Hopefully the plane will now return to operation for CEIBA and we'll see it in possible international service in the near future. Watch this space for further details!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

►► KENYA: Qatar Airways cancels the relaunch of Mombasa slated for late August 2012.

Qatar Airways
[UPDATED 16 August 2012] After the cancellation of its original launch date of 15 August 2012, Qatari carrier Qatar Airways (QR) will now launch their 3x weekly Doha - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Mombasa, Kenya route with an Airbus A320 starting 30 August 2012.

Qatar Airways A320 in Nairobi, Kenya
Qatar Airways in Nairobi (FGottwald)

►►[Update] Once again we got screwed folks. Our source informs us that Qatar Airways has again closed bookings for its Mombasa route effectively canning it for the meantime.



Thursday, August 9, 2012

►► DJIBOUTI: Daallo Airlines adds a BAe146-200 to fleet.

Daallo AirlinesUpdated: 9 August 2012 [New Photo]. Djibouti-based airline Daallo Airlines (D3) has announced the addition of a BAe146-200 from UK-based aircraft management company Falko to its fleet which at present, consists of 2 Antonov An-24s and a DC 9.

Monday, August 6, 2012

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

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


Ethiopian's 787 ET-AOQ
Ethiopian's 787 ET-AOQ in Seattle (Bernie Leighton)
UPDATE [AUGUST 8]: FOR RE-REVISED SCHEDULE PLEASE SEE THIS THREAD.

■■ MOZAMBIQUE: (Pics) New Domestic Terminal at Maputo Airport to be ready by October.

-Updated 28 December 2012.

Mozambique



Construction works on Maputo Airport's new Domestic Terminal have been concluded with functionality testing to be run from August onwards. The final touches now being applied include the cooling system, electrical appliances, safety equipment, escalators and an FIDS (flight information display system).

Friday, June 22, 2012

► SOUTH AFRICA: Emirates again postpones A380's return to Johannesburg over wing crack concerns.

Emirates
[UPDATE 30 AUGUST 2012] Emirates (EK), the Dubai based megacarrier, reports that repairs to the wings of its fleet of Airbus A380s is likely to cost at least USD$100million and will have far reaching consequences on its operations in the months to come.

Amongst the routes affected include Dubai - Johannesburg, South Africa, originally scheduled to have its A380 service restarted from 1 October onwards, but due to the aforementioned problems, will now only receive them from 1 December 2012.

Emirates A380
Emirates Airbus A380 (Emirates)
Emirates: Dubai, UAE - Johannesburg, South Africa

  • EK761 DXB0440 – 1050JNB 77W D
  • EK763 DXB1015 – 1625JNB 77W D
  • EK765 DXB1440 – 2050JNB 77W D

  • EK762 JNB1400 – 0010+1DXB 77W D
  • EK764 JNB1915 – 0515+1DXB 77W D
  • EK766 JNB2220 – 0820+1DXB 77W D
Read More Here [Airline Route]

The cracks issue, discovered earlier this year, resulted from the use of a material known as '7449' that was used in A380 wing rib feet construction. The European Aviation Safety Agency issued an airworthiness directive, extended to all in-service A380s, ordering mandatory inspections of the wing ribs.

►[UPDATE 30 AUGUST 2012] See this post: ► SOUTH AFRICA: Emirates cancels intended A380 service return to Johannesburg.