● SWAZILAND: New International Airport a flop as dubious origins of Mswati's "gift" MD-87 aircraft revealed.

Despite having been scheduled to be open for the FIFA 2010 World Cup held in South Africa, Swaziland's Sikhuphe International Airport is still incomplete, with no known completion date at hand. Condemned from the very beginning by the IMF as being byzantine and unnecessary (the airport will ultimately have facilities to handle an Airbus A380) the project was to be partly financed by the Taiwanese Government to the tune of USD$22million, whilst the rest of the funds - USD $185 million - were to have come from the Swazi Taxpayer's Pocket.

But democracy activists have criticised the project and its apparently bottomless budget.

"We are spending hundreds of millions on an airport we do not need and cannot afford to run," said Musa Hlophe, from the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations. He lamented the lack of investment in job creation in a country in which 67% of the population lives in poverty and 40% is out of work.

Read More Here [M&G]

But that's not the only aviation related scandal to have hit Swaziland in recent days.

According to numerous news outlets, the gift MD-87 aircraft allegedly given to Swaziland's King Mswati III by "anonymous sponsors" has been found to have had its origins "laundered" in a bid to conceal the aircraft's true source.

King Mswati III of Swaziland.

Reports by investigative journalists "AmaBuhgane" from South Africa's Mail & Guardian Newspaper are claiming that the aircraft in question has a market value far above that stated by the Swazi government, of USD$2million.

Mswati's MD-87 in Johannesburg (JSymons)

"The investigation also strongly suggests that the price of the refitted aircraft is likely to have been much higher than the maximum $2-million estimated by experts last week. One knowledgeable plane-spotter believed it could have cost up to $20-million (R157-million). 

The MD-87's earlier history is also tinged by controversy. It appears to have been sold to the Grandmax Group, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands and owned and controlled by Nina Tantiprasongchai.

Nina is the wife of Udom Tantiprasongchai, who runs Thailand's low-cost Orient Thai airline. Controversial for its safety record, Orient Thai's One-Two-Go OG269 crashed in Phuket, Thailand on September 16 2007, killing 88 passengers.

Online registration records show that in early December 2007, the aircraft was ferried from Tokyo to Hong Kong to Bangkok.

Grandmax appears to have been an intermediary, because the same records show that the aircraft was bought by Aircraft & Engine Support LLC on February 19 2008."

Read More Here [M&G]

This is not the first time the thorny issue of Business Jets have caused the Swazi Government embarrassment. In 2002, the Swazi Senate called for the arrest of Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini over the cabinet's use of development funds to purchase a $45 million luxury jet for King Mswati III, amid a food crisis that threatened one quarter of the population.

► UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways announces changes to Accra, Cairo , Luanda, Algiers, Johannesburg.

British Airways (BA) has announced changes to its Winter Schedule for Accra, Cairo , Luanda, Algiers, Johannesburg, effective 28 October 2012.

London Heathrow – Accra 

• First Class service on 777-200ER is only available on Thursdays and Fridays in W12

London Heathrow – Cairo 

• Boeing 747-400 replacing 777-200ER from 01OCT12

London Heathrow – Luanda 

• Service continues to operate with 4-class Boeing 777-200ER twice a week. Previously 1 of 2 weekly to be operated with 3-class aircraft 

London Gatwick – Algiers 

• Service reduces from daily to 5 weekly in Winter 2012 (1 Daily in W11) 

 London Heathrow – Johannesburg 

• Service to continue to operate 14x weekly. Planned 17x weekly service cancelled

Read More Here [AirlineRoute]

► MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius to increase Madagascar and Kenya from 28 October 2012.

Air Mauritius (MK) will boost its winter-time service to Nairobi & Antananarivo effective 28 October 2012.

Mauritius – Antananarivo Service increases from 4 to 6 weekly, with operational aircraft changes

• MK288 MRU1435 – 1515TNR 343 247
• MK288 MRU1435 – 1530TNR 319 135
• MK289 TNR1655 – 1940MRU 343 247
• MK289 TNR1700 – 1940MRU 319 135

Service until 27OCT12 operates 4 weekly with A340-300

Mauritius – Nairobi Service increases from 2 weekly to 3 weekly

• MK534 MRU0855 – 1215NBO 319 246
• MK535 NBO1305 – 1820MRU 319 246

Read More Here [AirlineRoute]

► NETHERLANDS: KLM announces changes to Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Cairo, Khartoum, Addis Ababa, Lusaka.

KLM (KL) has announced changes to their summer timetable effective 4th May 2012.

Amsterdam – Kilimanjaro – Dar es Salaam – Amsterdam 

• 17MAY12 – 31MAY12 Increase from 6 weekly to Daily, A330-200 operating
• 01JUN12 – 30JUN12 Airbus A330-300 replaces A330-200, Daily 
• 01JUL12 – 31JUL12 Boeing 777-200ER operates Daily 
• 01AUG12 – 27OCT12 Boeing 777-300ER replaces -200ER on Day x245

 Amsterdam – Lagos  

• 28MAY12 – 30JUN12 Airbus A330-200 replaces -300, daily operation

Amsterdam – Abuja – Kano – Amsterdam

• 3 weekly service cancelled from 03JUN12

Amsterdam – Cairo

• Service reduced from daily to 3 weekly, 777-200ER operating

 
Amsterdam – Khartoum – Addis Ababa eff 18MAY12

• Operational Day change from Day 2 4 6 to Day 2 5 7 

Amsterdam – Lusaka eff 15MAY12

• Service resumption with A330-200, 3 times a week

Read More Here [AirlineRoute]

► MOROCCO: Air Arabia Maroc to start Nador - Palma Mallorca.

Since April 1st 2012, Air Arabia Maroc (3O) has been operating a weekly Nador – Palma Mallorca service on a scheduled charter basis, that is planned to operate until March 2013, using an Airbus A320.

► CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: New startup Africa Airlines acquires Boeing 737-200.

Karinou Airlines (KRN), formerly Africa Airlines, a new start from The Central African Republic (CAR), has commenced operations using a Boeing 737-200 acquired from an undisclosed Lebanese operator. the carrier currently serves Carnot, Berberati, Bambari, Bria with plans to start international operations soon.

► CAPE VERDE ISLANDS: Condor increases Banjul/Ilha do Sal/Boa Vista frequencies from Winter 2012/13.

German charter company, Condor (DE), has announced a new weekly service each to Ilha do Sal and Boa Vista (Cape Verde Island). Both flights will operate via Banjul, Gambia on the inbound sector with effect from from Winter 2012/13.

► GHANA: Starbow Airlines leases BAe146-300; To start Cotonou, Abidjan, Monrovia, Abuja, Ouagadougou.

Starbow Airlines (S9), a Ghanaian airline that commenced operations in 2011, has announced the lease of a BAe146-300 from Fair Aviation of Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa.

● 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]

► EGYPT: Egyptair profits fall 75% in 2011; considers 787s & A350s for renewal.

After a very turbulent year in the country and the region as a whole, Egyptair's (MS) profits for 2011 unsurprisingly fell over 75% to USD$13.6million.  

The chairman of EgyptAir, Hossam Kamel, said the airline's operations were severely interrupted during the Egyptian Uprising of 2011, forcing the cancellation of numerous flights, thereby leading to a decline in tourism (Egyptian tourism was down 32% on 2010 according to official statistics). Additionally, the global rise in the price of oil as a direct consequence of the Arab Spring also ate into profits, as did a partial strike in September by EgyptAir Ground Services employees at Cairo international airport, following rumours that concessions they had previously won by strike actions would not be implemented.

A similar trend has been seen in neighbouring Arab airline Royal Jordanian, whose operations have been severely hampered by the civil unrest in neighbouring Syria, and previously, in Egypt.

To help bring the airline's profitability back up, Mr Kamel stated that cost cutting measures had already been implemented, whilst the airline would focus more on increasing frequencies to served destinations, as opposed to opening new routes. He added that Egyptair would press ahead with its new Cairo-Toronto route in 2013, and that "several other destinations" were under consideration.

With regards to future fleet renewal, he added that Egyptair is considering replacing its Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s with 787s and A350s between 2020-2025.

Negotiations are underway with fellow Star Alliance partner Ethiopian Airlines to create a new base or a new joint carrier based in Accra, Ghana, where Ethiopian currently has a presence under its ASKY Airlines brand.

Read More Here [ATW]

► 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.

► ANGOLA: AirJet Angola adds Jetstream 41 to its fleet.

Angolan outfit AirJet, based in Luanda, has announced it is adding an ex-Angola Air Services Jetstream 41 aircraft to its current fleet of four Embraer-120s.

● IATA: Africa March passenger traffic up 14.3% on March 2011.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its global traffic figures for the month of March 2012, with passenger traffic in Africa showing an increase of 14.3% on last year, whilst cargo traffic has only marginally grown by a minuscule 0.1%.

► QATAR: Qatar Airways boosts Algiers, Cairo, announces Kilimanjaro, Mombasa; Zanzibar to come.

Qatar Airways (QR) has used the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) forum in Dubai to announce daily services to Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Mombasa (Kenya) with effect from 25th July 2012 and 15th August 2012 respectively. Algiers will see an increase from seven to 11 services each week.

Kilimanjaro will operate as tag-ons via Nairobi, whilst Mombasa will operate via the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam.

Also at the forum, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker unveiled plans for a new service to Zanzibar in the near future.

"Having introduced two extra weekly flights on the Doha – Cairo route last month to take frequency up to 11 each week, capacity will be stepped up further next month with the addition of one extra flight a week.

And in Africa, more capacity will be introduced on the double daily Doha – Dar es Salaam route from next month. With seven services operating via Nairobi, these will become non-stop to Dar es Salaam effectively providing more seats direct to the Tanzanian capital."

Read More Here [Qatar Airways]

► ZAMBIA: Proflight Zambia attempts to cast off EU Blacklist stigma.

Proflight Zambia (P0), the domestic Zambian carrier with aspirations to start regional services to both Harare and Lubumbashi, has welcomed efforts by the Zambian government to help remove the airline from the European Union's Banned Operators List, a move that will help the airline shake off the stigma of being 'unsafe', a label that has damaged the airline's image amongst foreign tourists in particular.

► CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: We need to improve our air traffic with Ethiopia - CAR Aviation Minister Theodore Jousso.

The Central African Republic (CAR), not quite a country that makes headlines day in/day out, has reached out to Ethiopia and requested assistance in improving its bilateral air services with Ethiopia.

Whilst on a visit to the Ethiopian capital Addis-Ababa, CAR Civil Aviation and Air Transport Minister Theodore Jousso stated that his country was "desirous to further strengthen its relations with Ethiopia in the area of air transport."

In response,  Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi assured the Minister that every possible thing would be done to further enhance the air transport links between the two countries.

At present Bangui M'Poko International Airport, the principle airport of the CAR, is served by Air France, Camair-co, Ethiopian Airlines, Interair, Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc, TAAG Angola Airlines and, Toumaï Air Tchad.

Once a shareholder in the now defunct Pan-African airline Air Afrique, the CAR does not currently possess a national air carrier. There are, however, 2 small domestic operators: MinAir and Via-air based out of Bangui.

► 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.

► SOMALIA: Jubba Airways Antonov AN-24 crashlands at Galkayo; No Casualties.

A Jubba Airways (6J) Antonov AN-24 landing at Abdullahi Yusuf International Airport, Galkayo, Somalia en route from Hargeisa, Somalia with 32 passengers and 4 crew aboard, blew both landing gear boogies on touchdown, thereby tearing off the entire wing assembly, before veering off the runway. 

Puntlandi.com, a local Somali news site, reports that all passengers were safely evacuated by the airport rescue team. Though the accident occurred during the rainy season, no direct correlation between weather and the cause has yet been established.

Jubba Airways is a Mogadishu based Somali airline that operates a fleet of Boeing 737s throughout Somalia and the Middle East/Arabian Peninsula.

Read More Here [Aviation Herald]

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe to return to the skies, but only domestically.

It never rains but it pours for ailing Zimbabwean national carrier, Air Zimbabwe (UM). One week, there are reports of its imminent demise and cessation of operations, the next, it pulls a Lazarus and is magically resurrected.

Once again the soap opera that is UM takes another twist with an announcement in the state media to the effect that Air Zimbabwe will restart flights, albeit only be 3x weekly domestically between Harare and Bulawayo, with no mention of equipment in use.

"Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke told the media that the flights would be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“From the 2nd of next month (May) Air Zim will be resuming flights between Harare and Bulawayo,” he said.
 

“If it happens with consistence(sic) it is better than nothing although it is not enough. We need two flights daily.” Kaseke said the tourism sector was the worst affected by the demise of Air Zim."

Read More Here [New Ziana]

This news comes in the wake of an announcement today by local start-up "Sol Air" that it is planning to commence operations in the near future using a leased Bombadier CRJ 900 aircraft.

► ZIMBABWE: Startup "Sol Air" gets IATA code; plans to lease CRJ 900.

With the slow demise of Air Zimbabwe, a vast gap has been left in the Zimbabwean domestic market. Aside from South Africa's Solenta Aviation, and a few charter companies flying between Harare and the main tourist/safari areas (Bumi Hills, Hwange Park, Kariba and Victoria Falls) there has not been a regular large-scale service between Zimbabwe's two main cities - Harare and Bulawayo - for quite some time.

However, it was announced  recently by Managing Director, Nkosilathi Sibanda, that local start up "Sol Air" has obtained an IATA code (ZS) in addition to an operating licence from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ), awarded in February of this year. 

According to it's licence mandate, Sol Air has been designated the Bulawayo-Francistown-Gaborone, Harare-Bulawayo, Bulawayo-Victoria Falls and the Harare-Masvingo-Buffalo Range routes, which Sibanda said, would likely be serviced with a leased Bombardier CRJ 900.

Claiming international financial backing to the tune of  USD$3.5 million, Mr Sibanda was also quoted as saying the airline was "in talks with two companies in Dubai and South Africa to lease us three 70-seater aircrafts and the talks will be concluded with a month" (sic).

The question many people want to know is the answer to though, is will this airline survive where so many others have failed? In a market renowned for much talk and little substance, the Zimbabwean domestic airline scene is littered with the corpses of failed airlines like Zimbabwean Express Airlines, flyKumba, Vic-Falls Airways, Expedition Airways, Zambezi Airways and Mid Airlines, all of whom were unable to break the Air Zimbabwe monopoly.