■ MOZAMBIQUE: Renovation of Maputo's runway 05/23 and other infrastructure to begin in 2014.

Following the October opening of the new Domestic Terminal at Maputo International Airport, Aeroportos de Moçambique (AdM) has announced that work on Phase III of the rejuvenation of the airport - namely the rebuilding of runway 05/23, the apron, and other facilities including all airfield lighting systems at the airport - is to begin in 2014, having previously been scheduled for 2013.

►► NIGERIA: FirstNation Airways set to lease an A319 from the ILFC.

[UPDATE 28 DECEMBER] According to Skyliner.de, grounded Nigerian carrier, FirstNation Airways (FRN), is to lease an Airbus A319-100 (MSN: 647 | 5N-FND) from the International Leasing Finance Corporation (ILFC). 

■ SOUTH AFRICA: 1Time sets late February 2013 date for resumption of service.

Defunct South African LCC 1Time (T6) has set 27 February 2013 as its intended date of relaunch as talks with suitor Fastjet (FN) and the airline's creditors progress. On 19 December, it was announced that fastjet had entered into an option agreement to buy the entire issued share capital of 1Time Airline from its parent company, 1time Holdings Limited, for ZAR1 (USD0.12).

► TUNISIA: Syphax Airlines looks to expand to China, Canada in Summer 2013 with arrival of first of two Airbus A330s.

According to news reports out of Tunisia, Syphax Airlines (FS), Tunisia's largest private carrier, will in April 2013 take delivery of an Airbus A330 with a second due in early 2014 as the airline sets its sights on expanding internationally.

■ MALAWI: Over 240 Air Malawi employees face lay offs as privatization drive begins to hurt.

Air Malawi (QM) Ltd is to send "up to 243 employees" on leave pending retrenchment and retirement as part of the government's restructuring of the company, currently being overseen by the Privatization Commission.

● CONGO (KINSHASA): ACAJ slams poor security at Lubumbashi Airport following attempted attack on 21 December.

The Congolese Association for Access to Justice (l'Association Congolaise pour l'Accès à la Justice (ACAJ)) has slammed the regional government of Katanga Province over its repeated failure to provide adequate security at Lubumbashi Luano International Airport following numerous attacks in the last two years.

■ GHANA: Decision on EgyptAir's deal for 49.9% stake in CTK CiTylinK deferred to 2013.

Egyptian national carrier, Egyptair (MS), is expected to announce in early 2013 a decision on whether it will purchase a 49.9% minority stake-holding in grounded Ghanaian carrier CTK CiTyLinK (CTQ), following the submission of a Due Diligence report by accounting firm, Ernest & Young, last week.

► NIGERIA: Med-View Airlines wet leases B737-800 from EuroAtlantic Airways.

Nigerian domestic operator,  Med-View Airline (VL), has wet-leased its first B737-800 (MSN 1122 | CS-TQU) from Portuguese charter specialists EuroAtlantic Airways to supplement its current fleet of two Boeing 737-400s. 

● ETHIOPIA: 100 pilots, cabin crew and ATCOs graduate from the EAA and ECAA ground schools.

Ethiopia's growing aviation education sector this last week added 100 new trained and qualified professionals to the growing local and regional market with the Ethiopian Aviation Academy (EAA) graduating 20 Pilots and 72 Cabin Crew and the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) graduating 8 air traffic controllers.

► TANZANIA: (Pics) Precision Air takes delivery of its second new ATR 42-600.

Tanzania's Precision Air on Sunday 23 December 2012, took delivery of its second ATR42-600 (MSN 1003 | 5H-PWI) following a delivery flight routed Toulouse -  Brindisi - Luxor - Dar es Salaam. The welcoming ceremony was held at Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport.

► ZIMBABWE: Egyptair to resume Harare from June 2013.

Egyptair (MS) has joined the list of foreign carriers returning to the Zimbabwean capital with plans to tentatively start a 4x weekly Boeing 737-800 operated Harare via Dar Es Salaam service from 1 June 2013. The Egyptian national carrier last served Harare in 2003 as an intermediate stop between Cairo and Johannesburg using an Airbus A340-200.

■ BOTSWANA: Air Botswana selects ADSoftware's AIRPACK for its ERP platform.

Botswana national carrier, Air Botswana (BP), recently implemented French aviation software specialist ADSoftware's "AIRPACK Fleet Management System & Logistics Solutions" as part of its continuing efforts to adopt global best practices.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Egyptair launches Manchester from June 2013.

EgyptAir (MS) will from 1 June 2013, launch a new service to the United Kingdom, with 5x weekly Cairo – Manchester flights on board Boeing 737-800 aircraft. 

■ UNITED STATES: South African Airways, US Airways sign codeshare agreement

Arizona-based US Airways (US) and fellow Star Alliance member South African Airways (SA) have announced a new bilateral codeshare agreement after receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Transport – South Africa.  South African Airways recently signed two other code share deals with two other North American carriers: Air Canada (AC) and JetBlue Airways (B6).

■ NIGERIA: Runway lighting installed at Lagos' MMA runway 18L/36R.

Five years on from the opening of the rehabilitated runway 18L/36R used for domestic flights out of Lagos' Murtala Muhammed International Airport, mobile airfield lighting has finally been installed there henceforth allowing night time landings which were previously only permitted on runway 18R/36L.

► MALAWI: Ethiopian Airlines to start Blantyre flights from March 2013.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) continues its push into southern Africa with the launch in Summer 2013 of a service to Malawi's commercial hub, Blantyre. The new 3x weekly, Boeing 737-800 operated route, Addis Ababa - Lilongwe - Blantyre - Addis Ababa, begins 31 March 2013.

► RWANDA: RwandAir, Kenya Airways to enter into strategic partnership.

Kenya Airways (KQ) and Rwandan national carrier, RwandAir (WB), are on the cusp of the of forming a strategic partnership with aims of fostering stronger relations in the areas of cargo, maintenance and flight training between the two airlines. 

■ LIBYA: Afriqiyah unveils new logo and corporate identity.

Libyan carrier, Afriqiyah Airlines (8U), last week unveiled a new logo and corporate identity at a ceremony held at the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli.

► ZAMBIA: Ethiopian Airlines to start Ndola ops from March 2013 as Kenya Airways adds direct Saturday flight.

Zambia's third largest city, Ndola, is to see an increase in its regional connectivity with Ethiopian Airlines (ET) set to launch 3x weekly Boeing 737-700 flights to the Copperbelt from 31 March 2013, whilst competitor, Kenya Airways (KQ), is to introduce a once weekly Embrarer E190 Nairobi – Ndola terminator service, also effective 31 March 2013.

► GERMANY: Air Namibia set to take delivery of two A319s.

Namibia's national carrier, Air Namibia (SW), is set to take delivery of two Airbus A319s (MSN 5366 | V5-ANM) and (MSN 5400 | V5-ANN) following a handing over ceremony in Hamburg, Germany last week.