■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian opens first phase of New Cloud Nine lounge in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has opened the first phase of its new business class (Cloud Nine) lounge at its main hub, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. The phase now features modern facilities and amenities and is available exclusively to premium travellers.

■ NIGERIA: (Pics) FAAN again gives aircraft owners 1 month to clean up airport boneyards.

The Nigerian Federal Aviation Authority (FAAN) has issued a 1 month ultimatum to the country's aircraft owners and operators, to remove all  abandoned aircraft that litter Nigeria's 8 major airports or risk legal proceedings as the country moves to cast off the stereotypical image of African aviation - decrepit potholed taxiways and runways, poorly maintained colonial era terminal buildings and above all, the obligatory aircraft boneyard filled with rusting 707 hulks (and the occasional Antonov tossed in for good measure).

► ANGOLA: See Pic of Guicango's Embraer 120 in new company colours!

Angolan private carrier Guicango Agência de Viagem (NCL) has had its first non-Russian aircraft - an Embraer 120 (MSN: 120212 | D2-FFZ) painted in the company's new livery and corporate identity.

■■ MOZAMBIQUE: Search for missing South African pilots to end Friday.

[UPDATED 20 NOVEMBER 2012] The search for two South African pilots who went missing on 27 October as they flew home to South Africa is to be called off Friday. 

Bryan Simms, 60, and his son Robert, 22, from Midrand, Johannesburg, were flying back to Lanseria airport, Johannesburg in a Beechcraft Baron 58 (MSN TH-737 | ZS-JPG). They had departed Lilongwe, Malawi en route to Lanseria when contact was lost around 45 minutes from Beira airport, Mozambique.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Mango to start Joburg & Cape Town to PE flights from December.

South African LCC Mango (JE) are to launch daily return flights between Johannesburg and the coastal city of Port Elizabeth as well as Cape Town and Port Elizabeth effective 5 December. Johannesburg - PE bookings will be available from Tuesday 20 November.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Singapore Airlines Cargo launches new dedicated Johannesburg flights.

Singapore Airlines Cargo (SQ) has announced various changes to its world cargo routes, in addition to the announcement of a new direct Singapore - Johannesburg, South Africa dedicated terminator service. The changes have been in vigour since 28 October.

● GABON: Air CEMAC names Etienne Robin Mintsa Mi Owono as boss, as January launch date seems increasingly unlikely.

Gabon's Etienne Robin Mintsa Mi Owono, the Deputy Director General of Gabon's Civil Aviation Department, has been named as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Air CEMAC whilst a Central African, Alfred Bouba Dalambaye, has been named Director General of the carrier.

► MOZAMBIQUE: Mozambican airspace "supposedly" now open to all as LAM gets a B737-500, Embraer E190.

During a speech on Friday to welcome the national carrier Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique LAM's (TM) latest aircraft - a Boeing 737-500 leased from GECAS (MSN: 29074 | C9-BAP) and an Embraer E190 (MSN? | C9-EMC) - Mozambican Transport and Communications Minister Paulo Zucula stated that Mozambique’s air space has been liberalised, and invited everyone that was interested in the sector to “come and invest, come and fly.”

►►► NAMIBIA: Flight disruptions as Pilot strike forces Air Namibia to issue revised timetable.

[SEE NEW POST FOR ADDED UPDATES] Air Namibia's (SW) pilot union, the Namibian Airline Pilots Association (NAPA), has proceeded with industrial action after a breakdown in talks with the carrier's management. The strike went into effect this morning, Friday 16 November 2012 at 00h01.

■ TANZANIA: fastjet to recruit local Tanzanian pilots, as Precision Air clears the air over PATP allegations.

fastjet's (FN) plans to include local Tanzanians in its pilot recruitment drive says the airline's Chief Commercial Officer, Richard Bodin. With its launch date fast approaching (29 November), the carrier has recruited pilots to fly its three Airbus A319 planes, set to arrive in Tanzania shortly.

► MALI: Douniah Airlines to start ops from 2013.

Malian startup, Douniah Airlines (DTS), is planning to launch operations from January 2013 using a Boeing 737-300. Its initial routes will encompass various destinations in West and Central Africa.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Bombardier appoints SA Express its first Authorized Aircraft Service Facility in Africa; sees strong potential market for C-Series jets.

The first deals of the recently convened African Airlines Association (AFRAA) 44th Annual General Assembly being held in Johannesburg have been announced with Canada's Bombardier selecting South African Express Airways better known as SA Express (XZ) for the company's first Africa-based Authorized Service Facility (ASF) for its CRJ100, CRJ200 and CRJ700 regional jets, as well as its Q400 turboprops and other Dash 8/Q-Series turboprops. 

■ MALAWI: Ethiopian Airlines, Comair Ltd express interest in 49% stake in Air Malawi.

The Malawian government this afternoon announced that a liquidator had been appointed for Air Malawi Ltd (QM) in order to facilitate the speedy settlement of its debts and liabilities as it moves ahead with the restructuring of the struggling national airline. Additionally, a short-list of possible investors has also been announced with Ethiopian Airlines, and twice shy suitor Comair Ltd in the running.

► ZIMBABWE: Very low pax uptake for Air Zimbabwe's regional routes.

In what is fast becoming a bad trait associated with Air Zimbabwe (UM), the carrier on Monday, flew an empty (i.e no pax) Boeing 767 aircraft from Johannesburg to Harare on its inaugural flight, as the carrier struggles to resume regional operations.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): See Pics of CAA's Fokker 50 in the new livery!

Kinshasa-based private carrier Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation CAA (FPY) has adopted a new livery and corporate image.

► SOUTH SUDAN: Kenyan Fokker 50 crash lands in Aweil; no casualties.

News wires are reporting the crash landing this afternoon, of a Kenyan Skyward International Fokker 50 (MSN: 20175 | 5Y-CAN) in Aweil, the capital of Northern Bhar al Ghazal state, South Sudan. The flight was carrying members of the International Office of Migration (IOM) returning from a conference in Khartoum, Sudan.

 

■■ SOUTH AFRICA: 7 million litres of fuel contaminated in pipeline to Joburg OR Tambo International.

UPDATE [16 NOVEMBER 2012 19h00L]The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) this morning issued a statement to the effect that fuel in its AVTUR pipeline to Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport had been contaminated with "off-specification Jet A-1" and had therefore been rendered unfit for use by airlines.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Johannesburg's Lanseria Airport sold to Harith, BEE consortium.

Johannesburg's Lanseria International Airport has been sold to a consortium of investors, it has been announced. The consortium consists of Harith, an infrastructure development fund management company and a Black Economic Empowerment consortium which includes the women's empowerment company Nozala; and the Government Employee Pension Fund (GEPF), through the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).

► SOMALIA: Ethiopian boosts Berbera capacity from December.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will, from 1 December 2012, increase its capacity from Addis Ababa to the coastal town of Berbera in Somaliland, Somalia, by operating a Boeing 737-700 on the route 5x weekly. The daily flight is currently operated by a Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 exclusively.

► KENYA: Jetlink Express ceases operations citing South Sudanese forex crunch.

Citing "an inability to access USD2million (KES171million) worth of funds tied up in South Sudan", Kenya's Jetlink Express (J0) has announced that effective today, Friday 16 November 2012, it is suspending operations.

● ETHIOPIA: Class of 2012 graduates from the Ethiopian Aviation Academy.

At a ceremony held in Addis Ababa on 13 November, 255 trainees graduated from the Ethiopian Aviation Academy schools of aviation maintenance, marketing and cabin crew. Of the 255, one hundred and fifty are maintenance technicians (of whom four are Tanzanian nationals), sixty cabin crew and forty four are marketing trainees.

► SOUTH AFRICA: British Airways boosts Johannesburg from late April 2013.

British Airways (BA) will once again boost its London Heathrow – Johannesburg, South Africa frequencies  from 14x to 17x weekly effective 29 April 2013. A Boeing 777-200ER will add capacity.

► UNITED KINGDOM: Libyan Airlines resumes Heathrow flights; hopes for removal from EU Ban List at upcoming safety review.

Libyan carrier, Libyan Airlines (LN), yesterday (Wednesday 14 November) resumed twice weekly flights between Tripoli and London Heathrow, UK using an Airbus A320. In September, the carrier resumed its Tripoli, Libya - Manchester, United Kingdom service that was suspended in 2011 due to the Libyan Civil War. 

► ALGERIA: Tassili Airlines to start domestic ops next year?

Algeria's Tassili Airlines (SF), until now a charter company operating flights mainly for oil companies, will "at some point in the first half of 2013", launch scheduled domestic Algerian operations, which until now, has remained the preserve of Air Algèrie.

► SENEGAL: Senegal Airlines starts Libreville and direct Cotonou flights; inks code-share with Corsair for daily Paris ops from February 2013.

Senegalese national carrier, Senegal Airlines (DN), has signed a code-share deal with French carrier Corsair International (SS) which will result the introduction of daily flights Dakar-Paris-Dakar flights from February 2013 on.

► CHINA: Air Mauritius goes direct to Shanghai from January 2013.

Air Mauritius (MK) has announced that, from 24 January 2013, it will launch twice weekly Airbus A340 Mauritius - Shanghai, China non stop flights, with connections being offered to and from Reunion and South Africa. The flight will continue to operate via Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia until the January switch over.

► LIBYA: Air Libya gets two B737-400s; an ARJ-100 set to arrive shortly.

Air Libya (7Q), the private Libyan carrier formerly known as Tibesti Air Libya, has announced the lease of 2 Boeing B737-400 for use on its daily Benghazi - Alexandria, Egypt flights.

► ZAMBIA: Zambezi Airlines ceases ops until 2013?

News reports out of Zambia are claiming that private carrier, Zambezi Airlines (ZJ), has ceased operations owing to a serious liquidity crunch.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines to launch e-freight initiative by year's end.

In a bid to reduce both the amount of paperwork and time needed to process airway bills and other travel documents necessary for cargo shipments, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will, by the end of the year, introduce e-freight to certain cargo destinations.

► ITALY: Tunisair set for Bologna flights from April 2013.

Tunisian national carrier, Tunisair (TU), will from 1 April 2013 relaunch its Tunis – Bologna service, offering thrice weekly flights with Airbus A319/320 aircraft. The carrier last operated this route in July 1989 using a once weekly Boeing 727.

► TANZANIA: fastjet website now live; announces timetable.

fastjet (FN) this morning activated their online booking portal - www.fastjet.com - thereby allowing passengers the option of making online reservations. Additionally, the carrier can now be followed on Facebook and Twitter.

►► LIBYA: Afriqiyah announces Paris, Casablanca, Rome, Khartoum, Dubai from December.

Libyan carrier, Afriqiyah (8U), has announced plans to launch various new routes ex-Tripoli and ex-Benghazi effective 1 December.

► NIGERIA: Aero Contractors gets two extra 737-400s as Parliament launches safety inquest.

Nigeria's second largest domestic airline, Aero Contractors (AJ), has acquired two additional Boeing 737-400 aircraft, bringing its total fleet to 12, the company's publicists said in a statement Monday.

► MALAYSIA: Air Mauritius modifies codeshare with Malaysia Airlines; launches interline with Virgin Australia.

Air Mauritius (MK) has since October 28, been operating a modified codeshare agreement with Malaysian Airlines (MH).

■ CAMEROON: China's AVIC to set up technical centre; "gives" two MA-60s to government.

After meeting with Cameroonian government officials last week, a high powered Chinese delegation led by Mr. Ma Fuan, the Chairman and CEO of the AVIC International Company in China, manufacturers of the MA 60 plane, and several other businessmen, has pledged to make Cameroon the technical base for the maintenance of all its aircraft operating in Africa.

► TANZANIA: fastjet to start ops on 29 November with Kilimanjaro & Mwanza.

fastjet, the first pan-African low-cost airline, which is backed by easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, announced today that it will start flights between Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam and Mwanza  on November 29, with tickets to cost $20 one-way, excluding taxes. Flights will operate from Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Global Aviation MD82 aborts takeoff from Joburg causing wheel fire; no casualties.

A chartered McDonnell Douglas MD82 (MSN: 49905 | ZS-TOG) flight QG-112 operated by Global Aviation carrying 120 passengers and seven crew members aborted take-off at around 07h15 this morning at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport en route to Lilongwe, Malawi. It was later discovered that one of the tyres of the airplane had exploded on take off , causing a wheel to catch fire.

■ CONGO (KINSHASA): (Pics) N'djili Airport Runway 06/24 rehabilitation nearing completion.

Kinshasa's N'Djili International Airport's runway 06/24 refurbishment.

Kinshasa's N'Djili International Airport's runway 06/24 refurbishment is nearing completion, after more than 58 years of neglect, mismanagement and successive wars left it seriously damaged (cracks, rot, potholes, subsidence, reduced exploitable length),  thereby making landing and takeoffs both difficult and dangerous.

■ UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Air Arabia posts huge $61.5million net profit for Q3 2012.

Air Arabia Group, the largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, today announced a net profit of USD61.5million (AED226 million) for its third quarter (Q3) of 2012, an increase of 126% as compared to USD27.2million (AED100 million) posted in the corresponding period for 2011. 

■ ANGOLA: Luanda's 4 de Fevereiro Airport to get Thales radar.

The CEO and Chairman of Angola’s airport and air traffic authority Empresa Nacional de Aeroportos e Navegação Aérea (ENANA), Manuel Ceita, on Friday said that Angola would, by 2014, have the country's first radar to support air traffic control, to be situated at Luanda's Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport.

● UGANDA: Ethiopian asked to help resurrect Uganda Airlines as Tanzania & DRC are considered for a Central African hub.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) management has taken its search for a suitable regional hub in central and southern Africa to Tanzania, Congo (Kinshasa) and Uganda. Zambia, too, is to be visited, having recently held talks with Ethiopian officials in Addis Ababa over the possibility of establishing the carrier's "southern hub" in Lusaka.

► LIBYA: Afriqiyah orders 4 more A350-900s in preparation for future US, Asia route launches.

Libya's Afriqiyah Airways (8U) has announced an increase in its Airbus A350 XWB fleet with a new firm order for four A350-900s. The carrier has also converted its original order for six Airbus A350-800s into six of the larger A350-900 model bringing Afriqiyah’s total number of the type on order to ten Airbus A350-900s. 

► NIGERIA: Etihad Cargo launches 15 new West African destinations via its reactivated Lagos hub.

Etihad Cargo, a division of Etihad Airways (EY), will re-introduce a weekly freighter service from Abu Dhabi to the Nigerian city of Lagos, effective November 15. The service will be complemented by the addition of 16 new interline destinations across West Africa.

► MAURITIUS: Air Seychelles to operate select A330 service to Mauritius in December 2012 & January 2013.

Air Seychelles (HM) will operate a limited airbus A330-200 service between Mahé and Port Louis, Mauritius during the period December 2012 to January 2013 though only on selected dates. The route is currently operated with an Airbus A320.

►► CHINA: TAAG Angolan increases flights to Beijing from November.

[UPDATE 12 NOVEMBER 2012] Effective 1 November 2012, Angolan national carrier, TAAG Angola Airlines (DT), will double its Boeing 777-200ER operated flights between Luanda, Angola and Beijing, China from once weekly, to twice weekly.

■ MOROCCO: Regional Air Lines gets $7.3million cash injection to settle debts.

Following an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on 24 October 2012, the board of Moroccan carrier Regional Air Lines(FN), inactive for roughly 3 years, has received a cash injection of USD7.36million (MAD64million) to help settle its total accumulated losses amounting to USD23.74million (MAD206.5million).

► FRANCE: (Pic) fastjet's first branded A319 rolls out the paintshop.

fastjet's first Airbus A319-100 (MSN: 2176 | 5H-FJA) has finally rolled out of the paintshop in Montpellier, France.

■ ALGERIA: IATA boss Tyler urges a hub be built in North Africa as Cape Verde makes plans to establish its own Dubai-esque airport.

The International Air Transport Association's boss, Tony Tyler, present at the recently ended 45th General Meeting of the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) in Algiers, Algeria has called for the establishment of a hub in North Africa comparable in size to that of Dubai or Doha.

■ NIGERIA: Dana Air issues update; says new AOC issuance imminent.

Nigerian carrier Dana Air (9J) has issued an update apropos its return to scheduled ops. Amongst the points mentioned is the conformity to a new Nigerian aviation regulation stipulating that all aircraft operated by domestic airlines in Nigeria are to be fitted with an Automated Flight Information Reporting System, as part of efforts to ensure air safety in the country.