► SUDAN: Etihad bucks trend, boosts Khartoum flights to daily.

UAE carrier Etihad Airways (EY) has increased its service from Abu Dhabi to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum with the addition of two extra weekly flights bringing the frequency up from five flights per week to daily. Etihad operates a two-class cabin A320-200 to Khartoum, configured to carry 136 passengers, with 16 in business class and 120 in economy class.

► TUNISIA: (Pics) Tunisair takes delivery of its fourth Airbus A320 at Tunis Carthage International.

Tunisian carrier, Tunisair (TU), yesterday took delivery of its fourth Airbus A320-214 (MSN 5474 | TS-IMU) christened "Sousse". The aircraft was welcomed at a ceremony held by the airline at Tunis Carthage International Airport.

►► EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Punto Azul to resume regional ops in March with Angola, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana planned for later.

[UPDATE 12 FEBRUARY] Equato-guinean private operator Punto Azul (ZR) has announced the resumption of services with new routes in the pipeline. Making the announcement in Malabo, Punto Azul CEO, Rene Janata, explained the necessity of the measure in relation to the consolidation of future operations and compliance with airline's projected growth targets. The carrier has also signed a new agreement with a new operator, South Africa's National Airways Corporation.

■ BURUNDI: UNDP upgrades Bujumbura's runway 17/35 lighting systems.

Bujumbura International Airport, Burundi's primary aviation gateway, has had its markings and ground lighting facilities upgraded courtesy of a United Nations Development Programme initiative funded by former colonial power, Belgium. The project was officially handed over to the Burundi Government in a ceremony held last week.

► RWANDA: RwandAir to start Juba, Zanzibar and Accra "by May"; Harare, Cape Town to follow "later" says Mirenge.

Rwanda's growing national carrier Rwandair (WB) has set its sights on expanding its regional footprint and uplifting more passengers in the hopes of becoming a profitable airline by 2015.

■ ETHIOPIA: "We must protect Ethiopian Airlines against unfair competition from Gulf carriers": Kuma.

Diriba Kuma, Ethiopia's Minister of Transport, has confirmed that it is indeed Ethiopian Government policy to "protect the country's airspace and national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines (ET)" from foreign carriers, the Gulf ones in particular, whom he accused of "having an unfair competitive advantage" apropos their access to below market price-Jet A1 fuel.

■ ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe's debt balloons to $188mln as new board set to be announced in late February.

Despite resuming flights in November last year, ailing Zimbabwean national carrier Air Zimbabwe (UM)'s crippling debt has now soared to USD188million said the Zimbabwean Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development, Munesu Munodawafa, before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport, Communication and Infrastructure.

■ NIGERIA: Kabo Air, Hak Air, Max Air, Service Air sign MRO deal with Indonesia's GMF AeroAsia.

Nigerian aviation blog Aviation in Nigeria reports that four Nigerian carriers Kabo Air (N9), MaxAir (NR), Hak Air and an unknown carrier Service Air have signed a USD60million maintenance contract with Indonesian MRO outfit GMF AeroAsia, a subsidiary of Indonesian carrier Garuda (GA).

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SAA board suspends Acting CEO Vuyisile Kona; Mango's Bezuidenhout now in power.

South African Airways (SA) has flown into yet more board room trouble as reports emerge that it has now placed its acting CEO, Vuyisile Kona, on precautionary suspension, effective immediately.

► ALGERIA: Royal Jordanian to start Amman - Algiers from 25 February.

Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) has announced it will start regular direct services to Algerian capital Algiers, starting February 25. RJ president/chief executive Amer Hadidi said there will be two weekly flights between Amman and Algiers. As of April 1, the airline will add a third flight, in order to meet the demand on travel that is expected to witness a gradual growth in the coming months. 

► SOUTH AFRICA: Thai Airways boosts Johannesburg flights from 31 March.

According to AirlineRoute, as per the 11FEB13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Thailand carrier Thai Airways International (TG) has opened reservation for its planned added 4th weekly Bangkok – Johannesburg service, due to start from 31MAR13. New flight operates on Fridays. 

► LIBERIA: Guinean CASA CN235 goes down near Monrovia; 11 dead.

A CASA CN-235 transport plane (MSN N020 | 3X-GGG) belonging to the République de Guinée (Republic of Guinea) crashed at 07h30L near Charlesville, Liberia with all 11 occupants on-board killed. Amongst the dead are the head of Guinea's Armed Forces, Gen Souleymane Kelefa Diallo, who was leading Guinea's delegation to mark Liberia's annual Armed Forces Day.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Air Mauritius to put A340 onto Cape Town route for duration of June.

AirlineRoute reports that Air Mauritius (MK) from 01JUN13 to 25JUN13 is to change its operations on its Mauritius – Cape Town route, with an Airbus A340-300 aircraft replacing the current A319. However, operational frequencies will temporarily reduce from 3x to 2x weekly during this period.

► TANZANIA: (Pics) Air Tanzania resumes 4x weekly Mtwara flights.

Air Tanzania (TC) has resumed its Dar es Salaam - Mtwara flights as of  Friday 8 February 2013. Flights will initially operate 4x weekly using the airline's Bombardier Dash 8-300 with plans to boost capacity should demand pick up. Flights to Arusha and Mtwara were originally scheduled to have begun in November 2012, though no reason was given for their deferment.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Comair Ltd, SAA, SA Airlink set sights on regional expansion.

South African Airways (SA), its subsidiary SA Airlink (4Z) and competitor Comair Ltd, the British Airways franchise holder in South Africa in addition to owning LCC Kulula, have applied for new frequencies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo amongst other destinations as South African carriers seek to broaden their market bases.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Aviation Academy undergoing $50mln expansion project.

The Ethiopian Aviation Academy currently undergoing a USD50million expansion in a bid to boost its enrolment capacity, as demand for basic and recurrent training programs from domestic and international customers remains strong.

► GABON: Trans Air Congo applies for 5th Freedom flights out of Libreville.

Congo (Brazzaville)-based regional carrier Trans Air Congo (Q8) has applied for rights to operate 5th freedom flights out of the Gabonese capital, Libreville, according to the country's national aviation authority L'Agence Nationale de l’Aviation Civile du Gabon (ANAC).

► ANGOLA: TAAG adjusts Brazil, Portugal operations from February to March.

TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), Angola's national carrier, will from 27FEB13 to 30MAR13 adjust its operations, which will see its Brazil service operated with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft while Lisbon switches to an all-Boeing 777-300ER operation. 

■ SOUTH AFRICA: (Pics) Johannesburg's OR Tambo Int'l Airport set to embark on its "Aerotropolis East" initiative.

The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is said to be close to signing a partnership deal with development companies to expand the company's flagship facility, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg through the commercial development of airport land previously owned by arms manufacturer Denel. The prospect, too, of a new passenger terminal (OR Tambo Midfield Terminal) is also said to be in the "conceptualization" stage.

■ MOROCCO: Bombardier's new plant starts production of its first components.

Canadian aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier Aerospace, on 7 February announced the start of production of what it described as "simple components" at its transitional facility at Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport in Nouaceur. Production comes after a graduation ceremony was held on 1 February at the Institut des Metiers de l’Aeronautique (IMA), following which 18 aircraft assemblers began manufacturing their first Bombardier components.

■ MAURITANIA: Former Mauritania Airways' boss jailed; international arrest warrant issued for 3 other execs on charges of embezzlement.

A Mauritanian court in Nouakchott on Friday issued international arrest warrants for three officials of the now defunct airline, Mauritania Airways (YD), following the arrest and incarceration of Mohamed Ould Debagh, the carrier's former chairman of the board, on charges of "his participation in the bankruptcy of the company."

■ KENYA: Fly540 disputes Fastjet's claim that its owns 540 Aviation; maintains it is "independent of Fastjet".

Don Smith's Five Forty Aviation Limited has issued its own statement on yesterday's Fastjet statement issued on behalf of David Lenigas, Fastjet's boss. The update seeks "to correct the factual inaccuracies contained in the statement issued by FastJet". Smith asserts that, contrary to Lenigas' claims, brand licence agreements do in fact exist.

► SEYCHELLES: Air Austral adjusts La Réunion - Mahé from late March.

La Réunion-based carrier Air Austral (UU) is, during the Northern Summer 2013 season, to adjust its operations on the St. Denis de la Reunion – Seychelles route. 

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe to get two ERJ135s; to start Munich, London, Nairobi, Mauritius flights in March?

A new dossier on Air Zimbabwe (UM) entitled "Aircraft rotation for summer 2013" purportedly showing the carrier's service resumption plans for Summer 2013, has been published with Embraer Regional Jets set to join the fleet. Additionally, flights to the UK, Germany, Ghana, Mauritius, Kenya and Nigeria are planned.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): Belgium, Congo ink new BASA with Jetairfly now wanting in on the action.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and its former colonial power, Belgium, on Saturday 2 February signed a revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) replacing that which was signed in 1965, five years after the DRC's independence. New provisions include increased frequencies to the DRC for Belgian carriers while Belgium, in return, will aide the DRC in its quest to improve its international safety image.

► TANZANIA: A look at Precision Air's network expansion plans for 2016.

Rwandan aviation blog, Rwandan-Flyer, reports that Tanzanian private carrier and interim flag carrier, Precision Air (PW), is planning a big regional expansion programme in the coming months with new services to Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Angola and Mozambique to be added by 2016.

►► NETHERLANDS: KLM announces changes to Accra, Cairo, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Johannesburg and Lagos from Winter 2012.

[UPDATE 7 FEBRUARY] Further to KLM's (KL) previously announced Summer Timetable changes, so they have announced equipment i.e aircraft changes to their Winter 2012 timetable.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Fly Go-Air gone bust after just one flight?

South African media reports state that Fly Go-Air (KEM), the South African startup which débuted in late December 2012, has since then, operated no more flights.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Tunisair to tentatively start Tunis - Madinah from late March.

Tunisian national carrier, Tunisair (TU), will from 31MAR13 commence scheduled operations between Tunis and Madinah (Medina), Saudi Arabia with a 5x weekly Airbus A320 service.

► CHINA: Air Mauritius to possibly start Beijing direct from May; wants Russia flights as well.

After the successful launch of its new twice weekly direct Mauritius - Shanghai, China flights on 24 January 201, Air Mauritius (MK) has allured to the possible launch of flights to the Chinese capital, Beijing in May with flights to Russia also on the Mauritian national carrier's "To Do" list.