● IATA: African airlines' August pax traffic up 5.4% on 2012 as freight continues downward trend.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for August showing a strengthening of the healthy demand trend of the last few months. Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 6.8% compared to August 2012. Capacity increases over the year-ago period lagged demand at 5.6%. This pushed the load factor to match the record high of 83.4% set in July 2011. In terms of its Passenger traffic results, African airlines’ traffic climbed 5.4% compared to August 2012. Meanwhile August international air freight demand was up 3.6% on the previous year. That is considerably better than year-to-date performance of a 0.7% expansion. However, African carriers' cargo experienced another decline in freight volumes, down 9.7%.

► KENYA: Astral Aviation outlines B747-400F plans; to codeshare with Emirates SkyCargo on Joburg - Nairobi flights.

Nairobi-based cargo operator, Astral Aviation (8V), and ANA Aviation Services have announced a new strategic partnership in Africa following the delivery of a B747-400F (MSN 29261 | N408MC), on wet-lease from ACMI specialists, Atlas Air (5Y), on September 27.

► KENYA: Astral Aviation signs lease deal with Atlas Air Worldwide for one B747-400F due shortly.

Kenyan cargo carrier, Astral Aviation (8V), has signed a deal with US-based ACMI specialists Atlas Air Worldwide for the lease of one B747-400(F), Astral's first widebody freighter, for use in expanding its Africa-Europe cargo operations.

■ AIRBUS: Airbus releases its 2013-32 Global Market Forecast.

As aviation becomes increasingly accessible in all parts of the world, future Journeys will increasingly be made by air particularly to and from emerging markets. According to European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus' latest Global Market Forecast (GMF) in the next 20 years (2013-2032), air traffic will grow at 4.7 per cent annually requiring over 29,220 new passenger and freighter aircraft valued at nearly USD4.4 trillion. Some 28'350 of these are passenger aircraft valued at USD4.1 trillion. Of these, some 10'400 will replace existing aircraft with more efficient ones. With today’s fleet of 17'740 aircraft, it means that by 2032, the worldwide fleet will double to nearly 36'560 aircraft. 

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Imperial Logistics accuses SAA Cargo of anti-competitive practices.

South African logistics and freight specialists, Imperial Logistics, has joined the growing list of South African private firms taking action against state-backed carriers with a request to the Competition Commission of South Africa to initiate a market inquiry into alleged anti-competitive behaviour by South African Airways' (SA) freight division, SAA Cargo, in the domestic overnight express airfreight market.

● IATA: African airlines' July Pax traffic grows 7.5% on 2012 as Cargo takes a knock.

In its July pax & cargo figures, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has noted that overall global demand for air travel recorded another solid month of growth in July. Overall revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) were up 5.0% compared to July 2012. All regions were up year-on-year, with emerging markets recording the strongest increases with African airline's pax figures growing 7.5% on July 2012. Overall global air cargo traffic results for July showing a continuation of the modest improvement trend experienced in June though African airlines faired for the worse with a 4.9% contraction in July year-on-year.

► TANZANIA: fastjet, bidAir Cargo sign freight-haulage deal.

In a departure from the orthodox LCC business model, fastjet (FN) has signed an agreement with freight specialists, BidAir, in which it will carry belly-hold cargo on its fleet of Airbus A319s.  According to the LCC, it intends to carry "dry" cargo such as post and newspapers.

■ SENEGAL: Spain, Senegal agree to boost traffic frequencies between them.

The Spanish Ministry of Development, through the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (Dirección General de Aviación Civil - DGAC), has agreed with the Senegalese Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to increase the number of weekly flights (round trip) that can be operated between the two countries, to twenty (20) - representing an increase of 13 frequencies between Spain and Senegal in the last eight months. The newly signed MoU supersedes the previous one signed in December 2012 which had provision for only 7-14 weekly frequencies.

► LIBYA: Air Libya, Chapman Freeborn sign deal for placement, operation of an An-26F in Libya.

Chapman Freeborn Airchartering has announced the formation of an exclusive partnership with Air Libya (7Q) to place and operationally manage an Antonov An-26 transport in Libya. The freighter will be based out of Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport (MJI) on a long-term lease agreement with immediate effect.

● IATA: Strong domestic pax traffic in Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia & the DRC buoys African growth as cargo ekes up in June.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its June passenger demand figures showing year-on-year global growth of 6.0%. Africa saw a growth of 11.2% with African airlines benefiting from strong domestic economic growth in key markets such as Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While global air freight demand figures showed a 1.2% year-on-year expansion, Africa's figures showed growth in June of 2.4% on June 2012.

■ GAMBIA: Construction of new $3mln Gambia International Airlines cargo facility at Banjul begins.

Construction of a new USD3million cargo terminal at Banjul International Airport has officially commenced following a ceremony presided over by Gambian vice president and Minister of Women's Affairs, Dr. Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, on Tuesday. Once complete, the facility will be turned over to the Gambian national carrier, Gambia International Airlines (GC).

● IATA: Africa's May Passenger Traffic continues strong growth as Cargo continues to flatline.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for May 2013 with the global air travel industry continuing its April growth momentum with emerging markets, among them Africa and the Middle East, showing the strongest potential. Compared to the same period last year, overall demand rose 5.6%, while capacity climbed 5.2% pushing the load factor up 0.3 percentage points to 78.1%. Figures for global air cargo markets show that growth has continued to flatline in May, Africa included, broadly following the trend of the last 18 months. 

► TOGO: Magma Aviation launches new West African cargo ops beginning July 14.

Magma Aviation, a private United Kingdom-based cargo operator, will from July 14, launch flights from Brussels to Lome, Brazzaville and onto Kinshasa with a weekly B747-400F. Out of Lome, scheduled connections are to be offered into Bamako, Cotonou, Douala, Libreville, Monrovia and Niamey onboard ATR aircraft.

■ NIGERIA: Thirteen airports to have dedicated perishable cargo facilities says FAAN.

Thirteen airports in Nigeria - Abuja, Akure, Calabar, Ilorin, Jalingo, Jos, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi, Minna, Owerri, Port Harcourt and Uyo - have been singled out for the construction of perishable cargo terminals, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN has announced.

■ SOUTH SUDAN: Ethiopian Cargo starts 2x weekly Juba ops as exporters eye Asian markets.

Ethiopian Airlines Cargo (ET) has continued its expansion drive into Africa with the recent launch of twice weekly dedicated cargo flights to the South Sudanese capital, Juba. The route will serve to supply the country with fruit and vegetable exports from Ethiopia.

► CONGO (KINSHASA): Chapman Freeborn begins weekly Joburg - Lubumbashi - Kinshasa cargo ops.

Ad-hoc cargo charter specialists, Chapman Freeborn Africa, has launched a new scheduled service from Johannesburg to Lubumbashi and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

► KENYA: Astral Aviation outlines expanded regional cargo network; to replace DC9s with MD83Fs.

Kenyan cargo operator, Astral Aviation (8V), has announced an enhanced intra-African freighter schedule which is based on a cautious expansion strategy to increase connectivity from its Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International hub to the East African region.

► SOUTH AFRICA: SAA Cargo's future hinges on domestic, regional markets as Emirates et al make their presence felt.

South African Airways Cargo, and air cargo in general in South Africa, is suffering at the hands of a buoyant East African economy, a weak South African Rand and an influx of foreign carriers to countries that were, in the past, reliant on a Johannesburg hub for their international exports.

► KENYA: British Airways sees strong East African market potential as a result of newly discovered mineral wealth.

British Airways (BA) plans to leverage Kenya’s strategic position to help improve its market share in East & Central Africa and South Sudan, with the region's recent discovery of oil and minerals set to boost it's passenger and cargo traffic potential, BA's regional commercial manager George Mawadri, has said.

► NIGERIA: Allied Air Cargo to replace B727Fs with B737-400Fs.

Allied Air Cargo (4W) of Nigeria has selected Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI), to provide two firm B737-400SF 11 Pallet Configuration conversions, with an option for one additional conversion. The first aircraft is a high gross weight B737-400 (MSN 26081) built in 1993 and will undergo freighter modification in June 2013 at AEI’s Authorized Conversion Centre in Jacksonville, Florida.