► CONGO (KINSHASA): Air Kasaï selects Sabena technics for its ATR72 component support.

Air Kasai, a Democratic Republic of the Congo-based airline, has selected Sabena technics for the component support of its first ATR72-200 (MSN 408 | N408AT), leased from Nordic Aviation Capital.

■ KENYA: Kenya Airways posts net loss of USD92million for latest Financial Year.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has posted a net loss of USD92million (KES7.86billion) for its 2012/13 Financial Year, compared with a profit of  USD19.39million (KES1.66 billion) a year earlier, Chief Financial Officer Alex Mbugua has announced. Losses were blamed on "harsh economic and geopolitical conditions" coupled with a global economic slowdown and volatile global oil prices.  The company last reported a loss in the fiscal year ended March 2009.

■ MAURITIUS: Despite posting a $3million loss for 2012/13, Air Mauritius confident of profit in 2013/14.

Air Mauritius (MK) has reported a pre-tax loss of USD3.07million (EUR2.6million) for its 2012/13 Financial Year, on the back of oil prices that have remained high, averaging USD112 per barrel, and the global economic situation that has further deteriorated as the recession in Europe has proven to be deeper than expected. However, the result is an improvement on its 2011/12 financial results when the Indian Ocean island carrier posted a loss of USD38.96million (EUR29.2million) overall.

■ EGYPT: Works at Alexandria International to be completed in 2014 as Hurghada's second runway goes ahead.

Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Engineer Wael El-Maadawy, says that all infrastructural development works at Alexandria International Airport will be completed  next year. The airport was closed in 2010 for renovation and expansion with all traffic being transferred to Alexandria Borg El Arab Airport in the meantime.

► TANZANIA: fastjet suspends South Africa launch as traffic rights to Lusaka, Kigali and Johannesburg are granted.

Struggling Tanzanian LCC, fastjet (FN), has been granted rights to service routes from Tanzania to South Africa, Zambia and Rwanda it has emerged. As a result of this development, the fastjet board has taken the decision to put the July 1 launch of its domestic South African operation temporarily on hold so that it can direct all its efforts and resources to starting its international services as soon as possible

► ST HELENA: Atlantic Star Airlines eyes Cape Town, even Johannesburg, flights from 2016.

Atlantic Star Airlines is a start-up founded by three ex-British Airways (BA) pilots with plans to begin flights from the British Overseas Territory of St. Helena, situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, to the United Kingdom (possibly via Southern Europe) using a B757-200.

► 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. 

■ EGYPT: Egyptair pilot strike called off after just 12 hours following Minister's intervention.

EgyptAir (MS) pilots ended a 12-hour sit-in at Cairo International Airport on Thursday over pay and conditions following a meeting with Egyptian Civil Aviation Minister, Engineer Wael al-Maadawy who promised he would "study their demands and discuss terms with a staff delegation".

► LIBYA: Qatar Airways suspends Benghazi flights following threats.

Qatar Airways (QR) has temporarily suspended its 4x weekly Doha - Benghazi, Libya flights following an incident yesterday at Benghazi’s Benina Airport  involving a group of mostly Bangladeshi passengers who were forced back onto their flight to Doha by a group of Libyan protesters from the Ezzedine Al-Waqwaq brigade.

► NIGERIA: fastjet to enter Nigerian market via tie-up with Red 1 Express.

fastjet plc (fastjet) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigeria's Red 1 Airways Ltd (Red 1), to create a low-cost airline operating within Nigeria and to destinations across Africa. The MoU brings together fastjet's strong brand, reputation, management experience and economies of scale, and RED 1's extensive local market knowledge within Nigeria.  The airline will be branded fastjet Nigeria strongly mimicking the airline's planned South African venture.

► LIBYA: Tunisair to start Tunis - Bayda/Al Abraq from 18 June.

Tunisair (TU), will from 18JUN13, introduce a new 2 weekly service from Tunis to Bayda/Al Abraq in Libya on board Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 aircraft.

► SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE: Punto Azul begins 3x weekly Malabo - São Tomé flights.

Equato-guinean carrier Punto Azul (ZR) has begun regional operations following the arrival of one of its three Embraer ERJ145s in São Tomé from Malabo on Tuesday.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Trade Union Solidarity threatens SAA with legal action over alleged bias against white males at Academy intake.

South African trade union Solidarity has embarked on a legal process on behalf of white male candidates who were excluded from the cadet programme at South African Airways (SAA), allegedly because of the colour of their skin. The trade union requested SAA to provide reasons why Daniël Hoffman, Dirk Kotze and several other white male candidates' applications for inclusion in the cadet programme had been unsuccessful.

► ITALY: Alitalia outlines changes to Cairo, Oran and Tunis due from late October.

As per the 12JUN13 GDS timetable/inventory display, Alitalia (AZ)'s planned operational changes to its Cairo, Oran, Tunis service, effective 27OCT13, are as follows.

■ ETHIOPIA: EAE to open enlarged apron at Addis Ababa Bole in coming months; projects in Jimma, Assosa, Bahir Dar soon.

The Ethiopian Airports Enterprise (EAE) says the opening of Addis Ababa Bole International's USD84million upgraded apron, capable of handling 44 aircraft, is expected to come online in the next few months.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Rwandair, Haajara Airline, AeroContractors, SA Express, Afriqiyah, Kush Air, Skyward International, Tunisair.

The following is a fleet update bulletin for aircraft that are in use, have been in use or will be in use for these listed airlines: Rwandair, Haajara Airline, AeroContractors, SA Express, Afriqiyah, Kush Air, Skyward International, Tunisair.

► BOTSWANA: Kenya Airways boosts Gaborone flights; eyes Francistown, Maun next.

Buoyed by the success of its Gaborone flights, Kenya Airways (KQ) is considering introducing flights to Francistown and Maun, the airline's country manager Juliet Zintambila has announced. Both airports have recently seen upgrades allowing them to handle heavier aircraft and greater passenger volumes.

 

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Boeing, CSIR to cooperate on research for use of titanium powder in manufacturing.

Boeing and South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have announced that they will conduct joint research on ways to incorporate titanium powder into industrial manufacturing processes. This mutually beneficial research collaboration supports South Africa’s long-term economic development and could expand the supply of titanium for many industries, including aerospace.

► COMOROS: New carrier, Gafo Air, eyes flights to South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya and Sudan.

New Zealand energy consortium, GAFO Energy NZ, appears to be in the process of setting up a new regional carrier out of Moroni in the Comoros, dubbed Gafo Air.

● GHANA: First African Air Expo due to be held in Accra from 9 - 11 October 2014.

A completely new African aviation exhibition, African Air Expo 2014, was launched at this year’s Cannes AirShow when Didier Mary, Managing Director of AirShow organizers, Adone Events signed a protocol agreement to organize the show. Under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr John Dramani Mahama and the Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Ativor, Adone Events will coordinate the exhibition to be held in Ghana 9 – 11 October, 2014.   The event will take place at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, capital of Ghana, and will welcome exhibitors and delegates from across the Sub-Saharan region.