► MADAGASCAR: Air Madagascar announces Asia operational changes for Summer.

Air Madagascar (MD) has announced that it will introduce its Airbus A340-300 on its Asian routes for the duration of 5 July to 27 October 2012. Presently, the airline operates a Boeing 767-300ER on its Antananarivo – Bangkok – Guangzhou and Antananarivo – Bangkok routes.

Air Madagascar's A340 "F-GLZL" (Didairbus)

The Madagascan carrier signed a 6 year lease with Air France for two Airbus A340-300s in March of this year, with the option of buying the two aircraft when the lease expires. Previous attempts in May of last year to modernize the fleet with other Boeing 767s ran into a brick wall as the planes were added to the European Union's Banned Operator's List.

Antananarivo – Bangkok – Guangzhou

• MD010 TNR1625 – 0540+1BKK0720+1 – 1110+1CAN 343 15
• MD011 CAN1355 – 1555BKK1730 – 2205TNR 343 26
• MD012 TNR1850 – 0805+1BKK 343 3
• MD013 BKK2315 – 0350+1TNR 343 4

 Read More Here [Airline Route]

► UNITED STATES: Delta drops Atlanta to Accra & Monrovia.

American carrier Delta (DL) is to axe its Boeing 767-300ER service from Atlanta to Accra, Ghana and Monrovia, Liberia with effect from 11 August 2012 as a result of high jet fuel prices and inconsistent passenger traffic. 

However, the airline has stated that it will increase its better performing New York - Accra route from 4x weekly, to 5x weekly.

Delta Boeing 767 at Accra (PRM)

"Although the Atlanta flight will be phased out, Delta will increase its weekly frequency from New York to Accra from four flights to five, the airline said in a statement.  The removal of three Atlanta flights and three to Monrovia cuts the number of Delta weekly flights serving the Ghanaian capital in half. Delta still has the New York routes, which also connect in two days per week to Abuja, Nigeria."

Read More Here [Global Atlanta]

 The airline first serviced the route in 2010, and comes in the wake of fellow American carrier United's decision to cancel its Washington DC - Accra route from July 2012, citing poor yields aswell.

► ETHIOPIA: See Ethiopian's B767 - now with Winglets!

As reported by Ethiopian Airlines (ET) in March, its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Unit scored another first in Africa, by successfully fitting winglets to one of Ethiopian's Boeing 767-300s - ET-ALJ - which, it says will "reduce fuel burn by up to 5% and carbon dioxide emissions by up to 5,000 tons per year. The blended winglets will improve the 767-300ER performance from Addis by increasing the takeoff weight to 2.0 - 2.5 tons and the payload range by 204 nautical miles"

Ethiopian's 767 ET-ALJ at Accra, Ghana (PRM)

"Ato Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO Ethiopian Airlines said, "I would like to congratulate our MRO team for the outstanding performance and for the job well done. From an economics point of view, the winglets will allow the airline to make substantial cost saving, through lower fuel consumption, which is highly critical at a time when the industry as a whole is feeling the brunt of persistent high fuel prices. This fitting will also reduce engine maintenance cost. The winglets will enhance our take-off performance specifically from our high altitude hub and increase our payload including the flight range.""

Read More Here [Ethiopian Airlines]

► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles' crew complete Airbus A320/A330 training in Abu Dhabi.

In preparation for the introduction into service of the Airbus A330 and Airbus A320, Air Seychelles crew have recently completed their conversion courses for the types in Abu Dhabi, under the auspices of Etihad Airways.