► MALAWI: Air Malawi struggles to get back on feet; rebuild confidence.

Having been forced to temporarily cease operations last year due to lack of aircraft, Air Malawi (QM) has been finding the going hard since re-entering the market for both regional and domestic flights.

Upon resuming flights on 29 March 2012 to Johannesburg using a leased Boeing 737-200, the airline encountered severe customer backlash as it was forced to fly a solitary passenger to Lusaka shortly after - a phenomenon not unknown to southern African airlines these days.

However, in an attempt to woe back passenger numbers on the domestic Lilongwe-Blantyre front, Air Malawi says it has carefully designed schedules for its daily flights between Blantyre and Lilongwe to serve the needs of business travellers between the two cities, using its Boeing 737 and ATR-42.

"Air Malawi's Tariffs and Industry Affairs Manager Tony Chimpukuso said the flights have  already proved useful and convenient for local travellers as it leaves early in the morning in Blantyre and returns late in the evening to enable customers do all their business assignments during the day.

The flights also operate during weekends, according to Chimpukuso."

Read More Here [The Daily Times Malawi]

The updates come as Malawi is scheduled to hold a summit of the African Union in July.

► EGYPT: Egyptair A321 tailstrike on take off; diverts to Larnaca with heavy damage.

According to the AviationHerald, an Egypt Air Airbus A321-200, registration SU-GBU performing flight MS-724 from Aleppo (Syria) to Cairo (Egypt) with 130 passengers, contacted the runway surface with its tail while rotating for takeoff from Aleppo at around 05:10L (02:10Z), the crew continued the climb to FL310. 

SU-GBU in Frankfurt (Frank Kuehne)

When the aircraft was enroute at FL310 about 85nm east of Larnaca (Cyprus) the crew decided to divert to Larnaca where the aircraft landed safely about 50 minutes after departure from Aleppo. 

The aircraft received substantial damage, and as a result, the flight was cancelled.

Read More Here [Aviation Herald]

■ ROUTES AFRICA 2012: Workshop Brochure released.

The Routes Africa 2012 Symposium, to be held in Victoria, Seychelles - 8 July 2012 to 10 July 2012, has just released its Event Brochure available here.



Billed as the bringing together of route development professionals from across Africa, the Middle East and beyond to discuss the latest developments within the region and establish potential for new air traffic routes to, from and within Africa. This annual event is the only network development forum for the entire African region and, this year, will build on the successes of previous events.

Airlines confirmed thus far are:

• Air Seychelles Ltd
• Arik Air Ltd     
• Emirates     
• Etihad Airways     
• Mega Maldives
• Nasair
• Qatar Airways
• South African Airways
• Turkish Airlines

Airport Operators confirmed thus far are:

• Aeroportos De Mozambique 
• Aeroports du Mali 
• Bangalore International Airport
• Copenhagen Airports A/S 
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
• Entebbe International Airport 
• Frankfurt Airport
• Ghana Airports Company Limited
• Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport
• Tanzania Airports Authority

 For More Info & To Register for Routes Africa 2012, Click Here.

● KENYA: Jomo Kenyatta Airport on track for New Terminal 4, CAT 1 & US flights.

As Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport continues to exceed its original designed capacity of 2 million passengers/year by almost 4million passengers/year, so the urgency for expansion and improved security and logistics mounts.

● UGANDA: Uganda to resurrect Uganda Airlines or East African Airways?

Given the strong growth seen by private airline Air Uganda in recent months, and with tourism fast becoming a major cog in the Ugandan economic wheel, would now be the most economically opportune time for Kampala to resurrect defunct national carrier Uganda Airlines?

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles boosts Mahe - Abu Dhabi service to 8x weekly; joins Etihad's FF program.

Seychellois national carrier, Air Seychelles (HM), has increased its frequencies between Mahe and Abu Dhabi to 8x weekly, using codeshared flights with partner airline Etihad. The flights will be operated by four times by an Etihad A320 and four times by an Air Seychelles A330-200 leased from Etihad.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Mango offers inflight WiFi.

South African LCC Mango Airlines (JE) has started offering inflight broadband on its Boeing 737-800s. Called "G-Connect In-Flight Wi-Fi" in conjunction with Vodacom South Africa, Mango passengers can now surf the web when travelling between South Africa’s major centres.

There are three different G-Connect In-Flight Wi-Fi packages on offer. One-Way Access is priced at R50 per single sector flight with a One Day pass available at R90, irrespective of the number of flights completed during a 20 hour period. A per-minute option, billed through G-Connect online account, offers land and air convergence at R1 per minute. All three packages offer unlimited data use during the allotted time.

Mango CEO Nico Bezuidenhout stated that 80% of the fleet should be online by the end of  June, with second phase being launched thereafter, which will include IPTV and other entertainment services.

Read More Here [Mango Blog]

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian brings forward SE Asia route changes.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has brought forward the changes to to Bangkok, Guangzhou and Hong Kong that it had originally intended to implement in August, to 16 May 2012.

Addis Ababa – Guangzhou
- Planned daily nonstop service due to start 16August 2012, will commence 16 May 2012.

• ET606 ADD0005 – 1500CAN 763 D
• ET607 CAN0135 – 0715ADD 763 D

The airline currently remains on track to operate Boeing 787-8 aircraft on this route, starting 16AUG12

Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Hong Kong
- Overall service to Bangkok reduced to 4 weekly, Hong Kong remains unchanged.

• ET608 ADD0025 – 1315BKK1415 – 1815HKG 763 x357
• ET609 HKG2230 – 0040+1BKK0140+1 – 0610+1ADD 763 x357

Planned 5th weekly service is to start from 15 August 2012

 Read More Here [Airline Route]

► SOUTH AFRICA: Emirates to resume A380 Johannesburg service.

Emirates (EK) has announced the resumption of Airbus A380 services from Johannesburg to Dubai with effect from 11 June 2012.

Emirates A380 at Johannesburg (Robert Matthews )

The aircraft were withdrawn for inspection after Singapore Airlines and Qantas found cracks in their wings in January 2012.

► ANGOLA: TAAG to start Buenos Aires? Aerolineas Argentinas to start Luanda?

According to press reports from Argentina, President Kirchner is to lead a large delegation of bureaucrats and businessmen to the Angolan capital Luanda, to negotiate energy deals and if possible the opening of TAAG and Aerolineas Argentinas offices in each other's respective countries.

► INDIA: Jet Airways to temporarily suspend Johannesburg from June 12.

Mumbai-based Indian carrier Jet Airways (9W) has announced the temporary suspension of Mumbai - Johannesburg with effect from June 12, as it carries out a route profitability consolidation, having faced a tough Q1 in 2012.

"'Jet Airways will work closely with its interline partners and ensure that affected guests are rebooked on alternate flights for their travel from June 12 in order to minimize inconvenience caused (to the passengers)' the release said."

Read More Here [Economic Times India]

► SOUTH AFRICA: SA Express to start Durban - Lusaka from July; Zimbabwe, DRC, Malawi to follow.

The Zambian Government has approved SA Express' (XZ) application to start Durban - Lusaka from July 2012, using a CRJ-200 Regional Jet on a 3x weekly frequency with the possibility of increasing to 6x weekly, given route viability.

"Company communications manager Lulu Bam, however said dates for the inaugural flight will be announced after all is set.She said the new route is an extremely important market for the airline in view of the vast economic growth adding that, “Lusaka is a fastest growing economy with potential for growth since it has a lot of demand and it is a preferable market for SA companies.” Ms Bam said Harare, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi will be considered in the near future."

Read More Here[Daily Mail Zambia]

■ SOMALIA: New Terminal opened in Hargeisa as Somalia rebuilds.

With construction having begun in 2010, the first part of the renovation of Hargeisa's International Airport is complete, with the opening of the new Arrivals Terminal. Also in the pipeline is the laying down of the foundation for new taxiways and a new runway.

● MALAWI: Joyce Banda: I can do without a Presidential Jet.

In stark contrast to her Swazi counterpart, King Mswati III who this week welcomed a "gift" McDonnell Douglas MD-87 despite his country's grinding poverty, new Malawian President, Joyce Banda, has put the issue of keeping her country's presidential jet - a Dassault Falcon 900- to her cabinet for debate.

Bought amid great criticism from locals and donors, the Dassault Falcon 900 was thought to have cost the Malawian taxpayer USD$13.26 million. Ultimately, the purchase caused the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) to slash aid funds to the country.

Read More Here [NyasaTimes]

► UNITED STATES: United Airlines to drop Accra - Washington DC from 4th July 2012.

Reports from Ghana state that US airline, United Airlines, is to axe its Accra - Washington DC route with effect from 4th July 2012, due to poor yields and returns.

United Airlines thus becomes the second airline after North American Airlines to cancel its service to Accra.

Read More Here [GhanaWeb]

► ZAMBIA: Zambezi Airlines loses court battle against NAC.

Defunct Zambian airline, Zambezi Airlines, has lost a court battle with Zambia's National Airports Corporation, over premises located at 3 of Zambia's International airports: Kenneth Kaunda (Lusaka), Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula (Livingstone) and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe (Ndola) airports.

► SOUTH AFRICA: After heavy losses, new 1Time CEO outlines plans to turn around airline.

Following the resignation of Rodney James from both his posts as CEO and executive director of South African Low Cost Carrier 1Time (T6) after the airline posted a record USD$18million loss for 2011, new CEO Blacky Komani along with his managerial staff have, since the last quarter of 2011, adjusted airline scheduling, and  restructured 1time's Jetworx maintenance subsidiary to achieve higher operational efficiencies.

"It is continuing with plans to expand its route network into other parts of Africa. Chief executive Blacky Komani said it was considering three new destinations and expected to launch the first of its new services by June. 1Time was preparing to overcome protectionism that had been preventing cross-border services in Africa by forming partnerships with indigenous airlines in the three countries." 

Read More Here [BusinessReport SA]

Losses, mostly blamed on sharp increases in fuel and airport charges, and the weakening South African Rand, have been the primary factors that have hampered the industry for the year 2011. Passenger numbers were lower than budgeted for and average ticket prices were under pressure due to fierce competition from airlines like Comair BA, Kulula, Mango, SAA and the now grounded LCC Velvet Sky. 

Both 1time & Comair (who fly under Kulula & British Airways brands in South Africa) will be outcompeted by SAA, Mango & South African Express; if the SA government continues to underwrite their losses.

► ERITREA: Eritrean Airlines to start Johannesburg & Cape Town from May.

South African agents for Eritrean Airlines (B8), AviaReps, reports via Twitter that flights between Asmara and Johannesburg & Cape Town will start on 7th May 2012, with 4x weekly frequencies. 

► MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius increases seats despite rumours of serious trouble ahead.

Following in the footsteps of Air Seychelles who dropped London, Paris, Milan and Rome before entering into a strategic alliance with Etihad Airways, Air Mauritius has axed 7 International destinations with effect from May 2012 (From 31st May 12: Milan, Sydney, Melbourne and Frankfurt, Munich, Geneva and Durban.from 31 October 2012), whilst increasing seating capacity on its remaining flights by 3% to 1,943,946 seats from 01 April 2012 to 31 March 2013, in an attempt to consolidate its market base.

In a statement on its Facebook, Air Mauritius stated:

The following destinations have been retained: Paris, London, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Cape Town, St Denis, St Pierre, Antananarivo, Rodrigues, Perth, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

The following additional weekly flights have been added:
With effect from April 2012:

• Mumbai + 1 frequency to reach 4 frequencies

With effect from beginning of June 2012:

• Perth + 1 frequency to reach 2 frequencies

With effect from end of October 2012:

• Nairobi + 1 frequency to reach 3 frequencies
• Johannesburg + up to 7 frequencies to reach up to 14 frequencies
• Cape Town + 1 frequency to reach 3 frequencies Antananarivo + 2 frequencies to reach 6 frequencies
• Kuala Lumpur 3 nonstop frequencies

However, rumours still abound that the Mauritian carrier, Air Mauritius (MK), is in for rough next few months. Recently, the Mauritius Ministry of Tourism signed a major strategic partnership with Emirates to bring traffic via Dubai on its 11x-weekly services to the island in a move that will put even greater pressure on the airline. This comes at a time when even the larger European carriers have cut frequencies to Port Louis, given the economic slowdown seen in Europe.

Sources claim that recently the airline sold its headquarters building, its hotel interests as well as its helicopter division in order to remain buoyant for the short term, though for how much longer is uncertain.

Watch This Space.

► ZIMBABWE: Air Zimbabwe resumes flights with 3 passengers as High Court blocks share sell off.

It seems years of mismanagement, poor planning and lack of customer service have once again come back to haunt Zimbabwe's national carrier Air Zimbabwe (UM), as reports state that the airline carried just 3 passengers between Harare and Bulawayo on its first day back in the air, after an hiatus of nearly 3 months.

"State Enterprises Minister Gorden Moyo confirmed the flight, but said he was surprised the airline had resumed operations when the government is still looking for an investor to partner the company, saddled with a $140 million debt.

The airline’s Boeing 737-600(sic), with a capacity of 126 passengers, left Bulawayo with only three people on board. Air Zimbabwe is planning to have three flights a week between Harare, Victoria Falls and Bulawayo.

Moyo cautioned the move may backfire as the national airline does not yet have the capacity to embark on such operations due to lack of funds and a crippling debt. "

Read More Here[VOA News]

This is not the first time the airline has caused controversy by flying near empty aircraft. In 2005 Air Zimbabwe jet flew 6,000 km (3,728 miles) from Dubai with a solitary passenger aboard.

To add insult to injury, the High Court in Harare also blocked the attempted sale of Air Zimbabwe's shares in National Handling Services, pending determination of an Air Zimbabwe's workers’ application for the airline to be placed under judicial management, and thus, allow them to recover some USD$40 million still owed in back wages.

At present, Air Zimbabwe owes creditors over USD$100 million, resulting in the airline ceasing foreign operations following attempted seizures of Air Zimbabwe aircraft in both Johannesburg and London Gatwick.

"While an application to place Air Zimbabwe under judicial management over debts to the tune of $140 million was pending, the workers picked up information that there was Government communication directing the company’s group chief executive to transfer the shares to a Government nominee firm. 

That did not go down well with the workers who felt the move was meant to strip Air Zimbabwe of its assets and frustrate the pending court application. Air Zimbabwe owes the workers $35 million and other creditors over $100 million.

Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary Mr Patson Mbiriri wrote the letter on March 26 this year advising the firm to transfer the shares. Part of the letter read: “Pursuant to the Cabinet decision of Air Zimbabwe Holding Private Limited dated 28 February 2012, Air Zimbabwe Holdings should immediately transfer its shareholding in National Handling Services to a nominee company wholly owned by the Government, which nominee company will hold Government shares in NHS."

 Read More Here [The Herald]