► MOROCCO: Royal Air Maroc to establish Rabat as second local base; eyes five new routes before year end.

As part of plans to establish Rabat as its second local base after its main hub in Casablanca, Royal Air Maroc (AT) says it will launch twenty-two new flights from the Moroccan capital before year end.

► ANGOLA: Iberia announces Luanda as first exclusive A330 destination from late October.

Spanish carrier Iberia (IB) has confirmed that Luanda, Angola will become its first international route to be served by its A330-300 exclusively, with effect from October 27. Iberia currently has four of the type in service. The wide-bodied, long-haul aircraft connects the capital cities of Spain and Angola twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

■ 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.

► EQUATORIAL GUINEA: CEIBA to take delivery of three 737-800s within the next 12 months; hunting for more 777s.

Equatorial Guinean national carrier, CEIBA Intercontinental, (C2) has confirmed that it will take delivery of three Boeing 737-800 (as reported by us here) within the next 12 months, with plans to add further Boeing 777s to its current one as the fledgling airline begins to spread its proverbial wings.

► SPAIN: Air Algérie to tentatively offer Summer flights between Oran and Madrid.

Algerian national carrier, Air Algérie (AH), is planning to offer an Oran – Madrid service from 24JUN13 to 18SEP13  though reservations are not, at present, available to general public.

► CAPE VERDE ISLANDS: TACV Cabo Verde Airlines unveils further Summer 2013 routes.

Leading on from our previous post, as per the 21MAR13 GDS timetable display, TACV Cabo Verde Airlines’ (VR) planned Summer 2013 operation changes are as follows.

► CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Launch of Air CEMAC delayed once more; this time until late 2013.

As prognosticated by The African Aviation Tribune in November 2012, Air CEMAC, the planned regional carrier to link Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and São Tomé & Príncipe, has indeed been forced to delay its intended January 2013 launch date, this time, to November/December 2013.

■ 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. 

►► SPAIN: Iberia to drop Cairo; to boost capacity to Casablanca, Algiers, Dakar, Nouakchott, and Malabo.

[UPDATE 30 JANUARY] Spanish carrier, Iberia (IB), has announced details of its new commercial and routes policies under the Transformation Plan it announced recently with various routes in Africa to be affected, for better and for worse.

► ALGERIA: Air Algérie in talks to buy 787-8s, 737-800NGs and A330s as international expansion plans move forward.

Algerian carrier, Air Algèrie (AH), in an announcement via its official Facebook page, is to forge ahead with the first stage of its previously announced renewal plan with the carrier said to be negotiating a deal for the purchase of an undisclosed number of Boeing 787-800s, that it hopes to "make concrete very soon." Delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled for 2017.

► LIBYA: (Pic) New Terminals for Benghazi, Misrata as Libyan Airlines moves to expand network in 2013.

The Libyan Ministry of Civil Aviation is to embark on two infrastructural improvement projects in the cities of Benghazi and Misrata as Libyan Airlines (LN) are to launch new regional routes following the delivery of their fifth and sixth brand new Airbus A320s in Misrata and Beiba respectively.

 

► SPAIN: Ethiopian to start Madrid via Rome from June 2013.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) are to start flights to Madrid, Spain via Rome, Italy starting 15 June 2013 with a 3x weekly Boeing 757 service. Consequently, Ethiopian's overall Rome service will increase from 8x to 11x weekly (Northbound, 10 on Southbound).

■ SPAIN: Rwandair awards Iberia contract for CRJ900 maintenance.

The maintenance division of Spanish carrier Iberia (IB), Iberia Maintenance, and Rwandan carrier Rwandair (WB) have signed a comprehensive contract which will see the Spanish firm being responsible for the up keep and maintenance of the components of Rwandair's two brand new Bombardier CRJ900s.

► SPAIN: CEIBA Intercontinental starts Malabo - Madrid flights.

Since transferring its sole Boeing 777-200LR (MSN 40668| CS-TQX) onto the registry of Portuguese airline White Airways, Equatoguinean national carrier CEIBA Intercontinental (C2) has now been able to launch a 3x weekly service between Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, and Madrid, Spain, effective 4 October 2012.

► SPAIN: Royal Air Maroc launches Tangier - Madrid flights from October.

In a press statement today, Royal Air Maroc (AT) announced it will start 3x weekly flights between the Spanish capital, Madrid, and the northern Moroccan city of Tangier effective 11 October. The flights will be operated with ATR72-600 aircraft.

► GAMBIA: Air Europa to start Madrid - Banjul from June.

Spanish carrier Air Europa (UX) is to launch a weekly service from Madrid to Banjul, Gambia with effect from 20 June 2012, using a Boeing 737-800.

An Air Europa Boeing 737 (© Erik T. Jensen)

Madrid - Banjul, Gambia (from 20 June 2012)

• UX1059 MAD2355 – 0250+1BJL 738 3

• UX1060 BJL0350 – 1025MAD 738 4

Read More Here [Airline Route]

Presently, Air Europa African routes consist of Nador and Oujda in Morocco, along with Dakar, Senegal.

► NIGERIA: Iberia to increase Lagos to 4x week from July.

Spanish carrier, Iberia (IB), is to increase the frequency of Madrid - Lagos, Nigeria with effect from 6 July 2012.