►► THAILAND: Ethiopian Airlines boosts Bangkok, Hong Kong flights from late November.

[UPDATE 22 NOVEMBER 2012] Ethiopian Airlines (ET), will from 24 November 2012, increase its Addis Ababa – Bangkok – Hong Kong 767 operated service from 4x weekly, to daily. As a result, Bangkok will see an increase from 7x to 10x weekly flights.

► HONG KONG: Air Mauritius to go 3x weekly to Hong Kong from July 2013.

Fresh from last week's announcement of direct Shanghai flights from 2013, Air Mauritius (MK) will from 2 July 2013 add a 3rd weekly flight on its Mauritius – Hong Kong route. The 3rd weekly flight is expected to be maintained into the Northern Winter 2013/14 season as well.

► 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.

■ 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.

►► 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.

► ALGERIA: Air Algérie now wants Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Amsterdam, New York in addition to Joburg and Lagos.

Following on from our previous report, Algerian carrier, Air Algèrie (AH) has announced plans to open routes to South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United States and a second route in China.

► HONG KONG: Air Seychelles to start 3x weekly Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi flights from 2013.

Seychelles national carrier (HM), today announced intentions to start flights between Mahé, Seychelles and Hong Kong (SAR) China via Abu Dhabi, UAE effective February 2013.

■ ZAMBIA: Ambitious aviation infrastructure projects to pave the way for Zambia Airways 2.0?

According to reports in the Zambian press, the Government there is said to be considering various business models, necessary in setting up a rejuvenated national airline, almost 20 years after the liquidation of national carrier, Zambia Airways (QZ).

► BURUNDI: China Southern to operate military charters to Monrovia, Bujumbura, Juba, Nairobi in November.

Guangzhou based carrier, China Southern (CZ), will operate three military charter flights to Monrovia (Liberia), Bujumbura (Burundi), Juba (South Sudan) and Nairobi (Kenya) this November on behalf of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, under the auspices of the United Nations.

► UNITED STATES: Ethiopian swaps Guangzhou and Washington equipment over Christmas period.

Effective 15 December 2012, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is to switch operational aircraft in service between Addis Ababa and Guangzhou, China and Addis Ababa and Washington DC, USA as traffic demands during the period grow.

► CHINA: Egyptair increases Beijing frequencies from December.

Egyptian national carrier, EgyptAir (MS) will, from 3 December 2012, add an additional 4th weekly frequency on its route between Cairo and Beijing, China.

► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania resumes flights Friday as Government wants Lufthansa for joint venture.

As we reported last week, Tanzanian national carrier Air Tanzania (TC) will resume flights on Friday 12 October 2012 using their Bombardier Dash 8-300 (MSN 474 | 5H-MWF) along with two leased Boeing 737-500 of unknown origin. 

►► UNITED STATES: Dreamliner delivery delays force Ethiopian to postpone Washington 787 route launch by 11 days.

With their second Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (MCN: 34746 | ET-AOR) now due on 26 September 2012, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) have announced a delay in their inaugural Addis Ababa - Washington DC, USA scheduled service, from 20 September 2012, to 1 October 2012.

► MOZAMBIQUE: LAM Mozambique getting a B737-500, but cash crunch delays launch of international routes.

Mozambican national carrier LAM Mozambique (TM) is, at the end of this month, to receive a Boeing 737-500 (likely MSN: 25418 | ZS-PKV), in addition to its third and final Embraer E190 due in late October/early November, as the carrier moves to consolidate itself domestically and regionally writes the Mozambican national daily, O País.

► MAURITIUS: Emirates to go 14x weekly as Air Mauritius, Air Austral & Air Madagascar band together to survive.

Bucking the ongoing trend amongst European carriers of reducing their frequencies to the Indian Ocean island, Dubai based mega-carrier, Emirates (EK), has announced an increase in its weekly frequencies from 11x weekly to 12x weekly from 28 October 2012, with the route going 14x weekly from 28 November 2012.

Emirates: Dubai, UAE - Port Louis, Mauritius

- EK3705/3706 operate Day 23456 from 28 October 2012 until 27 November 2012

• EK701 DXB 0310 – 0940 MRU 773 | 2457
• EK3703 DXB 0310 – 0940 MRU 773 | 136
• EK3705 DXB 1000 – 1645 MRU 773 | 1234567

• EK3706 MRU 1820 – 0110+1 DXB 773 | 1234567
• EK702 MRU 2320 – 0555+1 DXB 773 | 2457
• EK3704 MRU 2320 – 0555+1 DXB 773 | 136

Source [Airline Route]

► CHINA: See (teasing) pics of Ghana's Africa World Airlines first Embraer ERJ145 fresh out the paint shop.

On track for its much anticipated September launch, Ghana's Africa World Airlines (AW) has released a photo of its first Embraer ERJ145; one of two ex-Tianjin Airlines (GS) Embraer ERJ-145s (c/n 14500996 and c/n 14500992) to enter service from Accra to Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale.

Ghana's Africa World Airlines' Embraer ERJ145 '9G-AET' in Xi'an, China.

According to Africa World, the Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft is now ready and is awaiting its delivery flight to Ghana next week from  Xi'an Xian Yang International Airport, China. In July, the Ghanaians entered into a joint venture with Haiku (China) based Hainan Airlines (HU) which sees the Chinese carrier having a controlling stake in the fledgling African carrier.

See this post: ► GHANA: (Pics) Africa World Airlines first Embraer ERJ145 finally arrives in Accra.

► SOUTH SUDAN: Government looks for partners in new national airline as China helps build new terminal at Juba International.

Reuters Newswire is reporting that the South Sudanese Government is looking for an "international company" to enter into a potential private/public joint venture for the running of a new South Sudanese national carrier. The government plans to retain a minority 20% stake in the airline, and will sell 31% to the domestic South Sudanese private sector with the remaining  49% being sold to international investors.

► ALGERIA: Air Algérie to start Nigeria & South Africa flights but axes Beijing.

Algerian national carrier Air Algérie (AH) has joined the growing list of carriers, both African and international, that are turning their focus towards the long neglected African market in the hopes that it will provide the stimulus needed for sustainable long term growth.

►►► ETHIOPIA: See Pics of Ethiopian's 787 ready for delivery; axes 787 on Harare and Lusaka route.

- Updated 6 August 2012. On-line aviation resource Airline Route is reporting (though these reports are uncorroborated) that Ethiopian Airlines (ET), set to receive its and Africa's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the next few weeks, has axed its planned Boeing 787 flights to Harare, Zimbabwe and Lusaka, Zambia originally slated to start on 28 October 2012.

Ethiopian's 787 ET-AOQ exits the paintshop (Josh Rawlin)

Ethiopian's 787 ET-AOQ in Seattle (Bernie Leighton)

UPDATE [AUGUST 8]: FOR RE-REVISED SCHEDULE PLEASE SEE THIS THREAD.

■■ MOZAMBIQUE: (Pics) New Domestic Terminal at Maputo Airport to be ready by October.

-Updated 28 December 2012.

Construction works on Maputo Airport's new Domestic Terminal have been concluded with functionality testing to be run from August onwards. The final touches now being applied include the cooling system, electrical appliances, safety equipment, escalators and an FIDS (flight information display system).