► CONGO (KINSHASA): Chapman Freeborn begins weekly Joburg - Lubumbashi - Kinshasa cargo ops.

Ad-hoc cargo charter specialists, Chapman Freeborn Africa, has launched a new scheduled service from Johannesburg to Lubumbashi and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

► TUNISIA: Syphax Airlines commits to the Airbus A320neo, A320ceo.

Tunisia's Syphax Airlines (FS), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus to buy three A320neo. The order is the first time an African based carrier has ordered the NEO and marks a significant breakthrough for Airbus in one of the world’s fastest developing markets.

► NIGERIA: Saudia to drop Jeddah - Kano from September.

Saudi Arabia's national carrier, Saudia (SV), will from September 1, 2013 cancel its twice weekly Jeddah – Kano service. The flight operates with a Boeing 747.

► GHANA: South African Airways to tentatively boost Accra to daily from August.

According to AirlineRoute, South African Airways (SA) will from 7 August 2013 introduce a 7th weekly frequency on its Johannesburg – Accra route. The added service, which is still subject to government approval, will operate Wednesdays using an Airbus A330-200.

●● FRANCE: The African Aviation Tribune at the Paris Air Show 2013.

Today (Monday June 15), The African Aviation Tribune will be at the Paris Air Show 2013 courtesy of ch-aviation GMBH. 

As such, postings over the next week will slow to a trickle, but be sure to follow us via our Twitter feed @AfrAviaTribune for updates and photos from the show as it happens. Expected this year are British Airways' A380, the new Airbus A350-900 and many more. 

Stay tuned for the pictorial post to follow as well!

[UPDATE 19 JUNE] Well everyone, it seems the gods weren't smiling upon me this time round. A combination of bad Paris weather on my inbound fight that resulted in a diversion, coupled with a flat camera battery at the actual show meant i wasn't able to provide you with the updates (or pics) mentioned above. And i really do feel bummed about that.

So, please accept my apologies on that and hopefully it'll come right next time round.

The news feed should return to normal in the coming two days, so hang tight.

► MOZAMBIQUE: LAM eyes either B737-700s or A319s as part of fleet renewal's second phase.

MEX - Moçambique Expresso, a subsidiary of Mozambique's national carrier, LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM), says it has completed the first phase of its modernization through the recent acquisition of two Embraer ERJ145 in February and April of this year.

► 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.