► UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Etihad Cargo launches its Africa Summer 2013 timetable.

Etihad Cargo, the cargo division of Abu Dhabi based carrier, Etihad Airways (EY) has published its planned Summer 2013 Freighter operation, which has been in effect since 11MAR13. Its planned African operation based on the airline’s PDF timetable listing as follow.

● ETHIOPIA: IATA boss Tony Tyler to mark Aviation Day Africa in Addis Ababa next month.

Tony Tyler, the Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will visit the Ethiopian capital,  Addis Ababa, next month (16 April) on the occasion of Aviation Day Africa where he and his delegation will meet with executives from Ethiopian Airlines (ET) and officials from the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority.

►► ETHIOPIA: Lufthansa reduces Khartoum, Addis Ababa flights from 31 March.

[UPDATE 21 MARCH] German carrier Lufthansa (LH) is to reduce operations on its route between Frankfurt and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via Khartoum, Sudan effective between 31 March and 1 June.

► SOMALIA: Yemenia and Ethiopian Airlines both looking into starting possible Mogadishu flights.

After recent bilateral trade visits by delegations from Yemen and Ethiopia, both Yemenia (IY) and Ethiopian Airlines (ET) have expressed their desire to start regular flights to the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Currently, Yemenia serves all major cities in the Horn of Africa - Djibouti, Asmara, Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Cairo - excepting Somalia.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines to acquire Q400, B787 simulators this year.

Ethiopian Airlines' (ET) Aviation Academy is to acquire two new flight simulators for delivery later this year. The Bombardier Q400 simulator is expected in the coming months with a Boeing B787-8 simulator having recently been tendered for.

■ MALAWI: Ethiopian Airlines confirms talks have begun with Government over 49% stake in Air Malawi, choice of local partner.

After being declared the "preferred bidder" for a stake in Malawi's now dissolved national carrier Air Malawi (QM), Ethiopian Airlines (ET) says it has officially entered into negotiations with the government regarding its 49% buy-in.

■ ETHIOPIA: Works start on new $100mln Ethiopian Airlines MRO Hangar; new Cold Storage Cargo facility to come online shortly.

Ethiopian Airlines' (ET) Cargo and Maintenance divisions are to take a step closer to realizing their Vision 2025 objectives in the coming weeks following the launch of construction works for a new MRO hangar facility at Bole International Airport capable of housing Boeing 777s, 787s and 747s. Also on the cards is the upcoming inauguration of a USD3.4million (ETB63million) cold storage warehouse, due for completion shortly.

► ETHIOPIA: Abyssinia Ballooning Co. to expand operations to Debre Zeyit, Awassa and Bahir Dar.

Addis Ababa-based Abyssinia Ballooning, the joint venture between Netherlands based ballooning company Virgin Balloon Flights and a local Ethiopian business partner, is set to expand its market into the towns of Debre Zeyit, Awassa and Bahir Dar.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines MRO certified for both Bombardier Q-Series airframe maintenance and CFM56-3/7 engine overhauls.

Ethiopian Airlines MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) division has upgraded its product and has now been granted approval by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide full airframe maintenance services for Bombardier’s Q100, Q200 and Q300 turboprop aircraft. Additionally, it has also been certified to provide overhauls for the CFM International CFM56-3 and CFM56-7 engine respectively.

■ ETHIOPIA: New BASA signed with Spain raises hopes for an eventual Ethiopian Airlines' Madrid service launch.

The signing of a new Bilateral Air Transport Agreement  (BASA) between Ethiopia and Spain has reignited hopes of Ethiopian Airlines (ET) finally launching its currently shelved Madrid route plans. The BASA was signed yesterday in Addis Ababa by the Spanish Ambassador to Ethiopia Miguel Angel Fernandez Palacios Martinez, and the ECAA's Director-General, Colonel Wesenyeleh Hunegnaw. 

► COTE D'IVOIRE: Ethiopian announces various changes to its West African network from June.

AirlineRoute reports that Ethiopian Airlines (ET) will from June 2013 adjust its operations to West Africa with numerous equipment and frequency changes to come into effect.

► ETHIOPIA: Military claims to have pioneered country's first home-grown UAV.

Unnamed military sources in Ethiopia state that the country has pioneered its own indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone. The UAVs have allegedly already performed a geophysical survey of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam, a massive hydroelectric installation under construction on the Blue Nile.

■ MALAWI: Ethiopian Airlines wins 49% stake in renewed Malawian national carrier.

Leading on from our previous post, Malawi's Privatization Commission yesterday declared Ethiopian Airlines (ET) the winner of the 49% Foreign Shareholder stake up for grabs in a renewed Malawian national carrier, set to succeed the quasi-defunct Air Malawi (QM). The Ethiopian national carrier was named the preferred bidder for the position of strategic partner in the new airline, Air Malawi (2012) Limited, based on its "global experience and competitiveness".

■ ETHIOPIA: "We must protect Ethiopian Airlines against unfair competition from Gulf carriers": Kuma.

Diriba Kuma, Ethiopia's Minister of Transport, has confirmed that it is indeed Ethiopian Government policy to "protect the country's airspace and national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines (ET)" from foreign carriers, the Gulf ones in particular, whom he accused of "having an unfair competitive advantage" apropos their access to below market price-Jet A1 fuel.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Aviation Academy undergoing $50mln expansion project.

The Ethiopian Aviation Academy currently undergoing a USD50million expansion in a bid to boost its enrolment capacity, as demand for basic and recurrent training programs from domestic and international customers remains strong.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines announces changes to Somaliland, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania ops.

AirlineRoute reports that Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is to adjust its Horn of Africa/East Africa service in Summer 2013, which will see the following changes effective as of 06FEB13. Amongst the routes affected are those to Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan. As always, further changes remain possible.

■ ETHIOPIA: ECAA seeks to amend BASAs with numerous African countries in hopes of spurring on Ethiopian Airlines' intra African growth.

Spurred on by its consistent annual growth of 25%, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is seeking to consolidate its position as one of Africa's dominant carriers through the signing and amending of its Bilateral Air Service Agreements the country has with various African countries.

■ BOTSWANA: Ethiopia, Botswana officially ink new BASA; Ethiopian Airlines to start ops in the near future?

Ethiopia has continued its push into southern Africa with the recent official signing of a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Botswana, paving the way for possible flights between Addis Ababa and Gaborone by Ethiopian Airlines. Negotiations were concluded in May 2012 following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in May 2010.

■ ETHIOPIA: ECAA claims offers for talks with the UAE over a possible BASA have been ignored.

The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) says its "invitation" to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to negotiate and complete a Bilateral Air Transport Service Agreement (BASA) between the two states, has been ignored.

► ZIMBABWE: Ethiopian introduces extra 3x weekly Lusaka, Harare service from mid February.

Effective 27 January 2013, Ethiopian Airlines will adjust its Zimbabwe and Zambia operations with 3 out of its 7 weekly Addis Ababa – Harare – Lusaka – Addis Ababa flights to operate as Addis Ababa – Lusaka – Harare – Addis Ababa. Then, effective 18 February, an additional 3x weekly red eye flight operated with a Boeing 737-700 will be introduced bringing the overall frequency to 10.