■ MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius selects DW International's GRPS Web UI for RAIM Predictions.

Air Mauritius (MK) has selected DW International's GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) RAIM/RNP Prediction Service Web-based User Interface (GRPS Web User Interface). Air Mauritius will be using the GRPS Web User Interface to support its Performance-based Navigation (PBN) operations, including Basic-RNP 1 as now required for Hong Kong International Airport.

■ KENYA: Kenya Airways takes $4million knock from Nairobi fire as Kenyatta speeds up Terminal 4's opening.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has suffered USD4million in losses owing to the recent outbreak of fire at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, CEO Dr Titus Naikuni has said. Despite the erection of tents to process international flights five days after the fire, passengers are still facing long delays and cancellations.

► UNITED STATES: South Africa's Global Airways to resume Johannesburg - Miami via Cape Town; appoints Fuelstream its US rep.

With the impending relaunch of its Johannesburg - Miami via Cape Town flights, South Africa's Global Airways (QG) has appointed Fuelstream Inc. as their US Representative. Fuelstream will evaluate and recommend ground handling companies, caterers, crew transportation and services, coordinate with cargo handlers, and serve as Global's GSA for cargo in Miami. It will also work with the Aviation Department on gate assignments and ticket counters, and with all government authorities (TSA, Customs & Immigration and the local police) to ensure compliance. 

► TOGO: Ethiopian Airlines to launch its Lomé cargo hub this week as more planned pax routes to Asia unveiled.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) are set to launch Lomé, Togo as their second cargo hub outside Addis Ababa with effect from August 15. In addition to a connection to the carrier's Ethiopian primary hub, Lomé will also serve Europe via Liege, Belgium with a twice weekly MD-11F Freighter. Lomé is already the hub or its West African passenger subsidiary, ASKY Airlines (KP).

► SEYCHELLES: SriLankan Airlines eyeing a 3x weekly Colombo - Seychelles and on to Nairobi service.

After the recent signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries, the Seychellois Ministry of Home Affairs and Transport has announced tentative plans by Sri Lanka's national carrier, SriLankan Airlines (UL) to commence services between Colombo, Mahé and possibly Nairobi in October 2013.

► GHANA: Eagle Atlantic Airlines granted its AOC; eyes regional ops from mid August.

Following on from our previous post, Ghana's Eagle Atlantic Airlines (EAB) has now received its Air Operator's Certificate from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), with plans now afoot to commence regional services, Dr Emmanuel Osei-Acheampong, Eagle Atlantic's Chief Executive Officer, has announced. 

■ UNITED STATES: Jetcraft Corporation acquires ExecuJet Aircraft Trading.

Jetcraft Corporation, a new and pre-owned business aircraft sales, acquisitions and trades company, has announced the acquisition of the aircraft brokerage activities of ExecuJet Aircraft Trading (EAT), the business aircraft sales division of ExecuJet Aviation Group, of Zurich, Switzerland.

■ MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius sees further losses during Q1 of its 2013/14 Financial Year.

Air Mauritius Group and Company have posted their results for Q1 of their 2013/2014 Financial Year which ended 30 June 2013 with losses of EUR8.1million (USD10.83million) and EUR8.3million (USD11.1million) respectively. Despite the red, the figures are an improvement on the same period for its previous financial year in which it posted losses of EUR10.2 million and EUR10.4 million respectively.

► TUNISIA: Syphax Airlines given greenlight to deploy its A330; long haul ops possibly due in autumn.

Tunisian private operator, Syphax Airlines (FS), has at long last been granted authorisation to use its A330-200 (MCN 345 | TS-IRA) by the Tunisian authorities (Office de l'Aviation Civile et des aéroports de Tunisie - OACA) following weeks of costly inactivity in Tunis where it has been undergoing scrutinization and checks.

► ZAMBIA: Proflight mulls expansion into Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, the DRC and Zimbabwe.

With the recent launch of its first regional flights to Lilongwe, Malawi, Proflight Zambia (P0) is mulling adding three further international destinations to its growing network by mid-2014, effectively making Lusaka a regional hub for air travel.

► NIGERIA: Jimoh Ibrahim says Air Nigeria will resume ops but only under new ownership.

Air Nigeria (VK) could make a return to the skies, albeit under new ownership and management, the current CEO of the airline, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, has stated. Speaking on the tenth anniversary of the founding of his group of companies, Global Fleet, Mr Ibrahim said his board of directors would meet over the coming week to discuss the future of the airline, which ceased operations in September 2012.

► UGANDA: Government outlines its initial fleet requirements for Uganda Airlines 2.0.

Kampala is moving ahead with plans to resurrect defunct national carrier, Uganda Airlines (QU), following reports that government has already outlined its intended fleet requirements for twelve aircraft needed to service regional and international routes.

► GHANA: ASKY Airlines eyeing a secondary hub out of Kumasi as everyone complains about Nigeria.

Ethiopian Airlines' West African subsidiary, ASKY Airlines (KP), is reportedly considering turning Kumasi, Ghana into a secondary hub through the launch of direct flights to various West African capital cities and commercial centres. The move comes as domestic Ghanaian carrier Starbow Airlines (S9) is also planning a resumption and expansion of its regional services.

► ETHIOPIA: Russian Mil-8 chopper on WFP ferry flight to Juba crashes near Debre Zeyit; no casualties.

A Russian Mil Mi-8MTV (MSN 95642 | RA-25497) helicopter leased from Krasnodar-based firm, PANH Helicopters, by the United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP) enroute to South Sudan, on the morning of Wednesday 31 July, crashed in a locality called Chefe Donsa, near the town of Debre Zeyit, about 50 km outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. All four occupants onboard survived though three sustained serious injuries.

■■ KENYA: Huge blaze rips through Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

A devastating fire tore through the International Arrivals building and Unit 1 departures at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday, August 7, forcing the local authorities to temporarily close the airfield until further notice. The fire was under control after three hours with no injuries, fatalities or damage to any aircraft thus far having been recorded. Kenya Airways did report that one member of its staff and a passenger had slight smoke inhalation and were safe in hospital for further investigation. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has granted clearance to the Kenya Airports Authority to use Unit 3 for international departures and arrivals.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Regulator dismisses SAA's complaint against kulula regarding the latter's controversial ad campaign.

The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa has reportedly dismissed a complaint brought by South African Airways (SA) against local rival LCC Kulula (MN) over the latter's use of the South African flag and slogan "The Most South African Airways" in an advertising campaign launched in March this year.

■ MOROCCO: AfBAA launches symposium series – first regional event to be held in Marrakech.

Just over a year since its inception, The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), is set to launch a series of four annual regional and national symposia, the first of which takes place in Marrakech, Morocco, on 26 – 27 September 2013.

■ GHANA: Slovenian business aviation specialist, Elit'Avia, sets up shop in Accra.

Slovenia's Elit’Avia, a fully-integrated provider of business aircraft charter, management and operation services, has announced that it has opened an office in Accra, Ghana and is currently managing four business aircraft for West African clients, specifically: two Bombardier Global 6000s and a Bombardier Global XRS in Nigeria, plus a Dassault Falcon 2000 in Ghana. Management of these aircraft is a blend of both exclusive client use and charter availability.

■ MOZAMBIQUE: AdM issues tender for renovation, upgrade works for Maputo International Airport's runway 05/23.

Aeroportos de Moçambique (AdM) has reportedly issued a tender to all interested parties pertaining to the renovation, upgrading and expansion of Maputo International Airport's main 3'660m (12'007ft) long  runway 05/23, apron, and other facilities including all airfield lighting systems. The project is Phase III of the airport's upgrading programme.

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA jet suffers another false hijack alert, this time in Port Elizabeth.

A South African Airways (SA) jet operating as flight SA417 from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth was yesterday met at Port Elizabeth International Airport by armed police and other emergency response teams after squawking that their aircraft had been hijacked. The incident turned out to be a false alarm.