■ QATAR: QCAA signs Open Skies deals with Chad, Tunisia; BASAs with Burundi and Egypt.

The State of Qatar, through the Qatari Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), has announced the signing of various bilateral air service-related agreements and memoranda with various African countries over the past month. Agreements and Memoranda include: a finalized bilateral air services agreement (BASA) with Burundi that had previously been only initialled back in March 2010; a memorandum of understanding with Tunisia regarding its planned Open Skies treaty, a finalized Open Skies deal with Chad and an MoU pertaining to a BASA with Egypt.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Royal Air Maroc, Marsland Aviation, Syphax, Ghadames Air & Kenya Airways.

The following is a fleet update bulletin for aircraft that are in use, have been in use or will be in use for these listed airlines: Royal Air Maroc (AH), Marsland Aviation (M7), Syphax Airlines (FS), Ghadames Air Transport (0G), and Kenya Airways (KQ).

► TUNISIA: SunExpress launches weekly Enfidha - Frankfurt flights.

SunExpress (XQ), the Turkish based scheduled and charter operator, launched a once weekly flights between Enfidha, Tunisia and Frankfurt on Friday, May 3.

■ TUNISIA: Syphax planning IPO to help fund ambitious international expansion drive.

Tunisian operator, Syphax Airlines (FS) says it expects to generate revenues of USD9.9million (TUD16million) in 2014 to grow to USD26.6million (TND43million) expected in 2017 on the back of a projected growth rate of 85.6%. While revenue projections remain ambitious, the airline does not expect to make a  profit for 2012 or for 2013. However, despite this, the airline is planning an IPO in order to raise further capital for use in building new facilities as well as a acquiring new aircraft needed in its international expansion drive.

► BURKINA FASO: See Pics of Tunisair's inaugural Ouagadougou flight, agency opening.

Tunisair (TU) held its inaugural flight to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, on the morning of Monday 15 April. Flights will operate three times weekly with an occasional stop in Bamako. The route was meant to have been launched on 30 March.

► FRANCE: Nouvelair Tunisie plans Paris CDG from Djerba, Monastir and Tunis this Summer.

Tunisian private operator Nouvelair Tunisie (BJ), during Summer 2013, is to introduce a scheduled service to Paris CDG, from Djerba, Monastir and Tunis. The carrier operates 3 weekly flights each.

► TUNISIA: See Pics of Syphax's first A330 in the paint shop!

Tunisian private airline, Syphax Airlines (FS), has posted the first pictures of its first of two Airbus A330-200s (registry unconfirmed) due to join the airline's fleet in the next few weeks.

■ TUNISIA: Tunisair gets greenlight to proceed with job cuts but no word yet from unions.

Tunisian national carrier Tunisair (TU) has received the greenlight from government to proceed with the downsizing of the company announced in 2012 which will see the loss of 1'700 jobs, though the airline's all powerful unions have yet to come on board.

■ TUNISIA: Air BP, AGIL sign agreement covering 7 major airports.

Aviation fuel supplier, Air BP is to enter the Tunisian aviation fuel sector through the signing of a Commercial and Technical Service Agreement with the Société Nationale de Distribution des Pétroles (AGIL), Tunisia's national oil distribution company. The agreement, effective immediately,  includes service coverage at seven airports in Tunisia including: Tunis Carthage, Djerba, Enfidha, Tozor, Tabarka, Monastir and Sfax.

► RUSSIA: Tunisair starts Monastir - St Petersburg from late April.

Tunisian national carrier, Tunisair (TU), is to launch direct 2x weekly seasonal flights between the Mediterranean coastal city of Monastir and St Petersburg, Russia from 26 April onwards. Flights will operate with an Airbus A320.

► TUNISIA: Syphax to launch new Paris, Jeddah flights as A330 plans begin to take shape.

As per the 07MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Tunisian carrier Syphax Airlines’ (FS) Summer 2013 operation will include new and added flights to Paris from Djerba, Sfax and Monastir. A new Jeddah - Sfax service is also planned.

► TUNISIA: Alitalia to launch 2x weekly Rome - Djerba flights from June.

Italian carrier, Alitalia (AZ), is to launch twice weekly seasonal flights from Rome Fiumicino to Djerba, Tunisia for the duration of Summer 2013.

► COTE D'IVOIRE: Egyptair to start Abidjan via Accra from June; boosts Kano, Tunis capacities.

AirlineRoute reports that Egyptair (MS) is to start daily flights from Cairo to Abidjan via Accra with effect from 1 June 2013. In addition, the Star Alliance carrier will also boost capacity to Kano, Nigeria and Tunis also effective 1 June.

► BURKINA FASO: Tunisair to start Ouagadougou from 30 March; Ndjamena, Niamey, Douala to follow later.

Tunisian national airline, Tunisair (TU), has announced it will start 3x weekly Tunis - Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso flights with a stop in Bamako, Mali effective 30 March 2013. Flights will operate with an Airbus A320. The new route is part of Tunisair's new model of targeting under served emerging markets in Sub Saharan Africa, with twenty new routes planned for in the coming 5 years.

► TUNISIA: (Pics) Tunisair takes delivery of its fourth Airbus A320 at Tunis Carthage International.

Tunisian carrier, Tunisair (TU), yesterday took delivery of its fourth Airbus A320-214 (MSN 5474 | TS-IMU) christened "Sousse". The aircraft was welcomed at a ceremony held by the airline at Tunis Carthage International Airport.

► SAUDI ARABIA: Tunisair to tentatively start Tunis - Madinah from late March.

Tunisian national carrier, Tunisair (TU), will from 31MAR13 commence scheduled operations between Tunis and Madinah (Medina), Saudi Arabia with a 5x weekly Airbus A320 service.

► TUNISIA: Tunisair A320 suffers nose gear collapse after landing at Carthage International ; no casualties.

A Tunisair (TU) Airbus A320 (MSN 119 | TS-IMB) operating as flight TU712 from Casablanca to Tunis, yesterday suffered a runway excursion after landing at Tunis - Carthage International Airport's runway 09. 

► ITALY: Tunisair boosts Manchester, Milan, Venice ops from late March.

Tunisair (TU), for the upcoming Summer 2013 season, will increase its services to select European cities most notably Manchester, Milan and Venice. The planned operation from 31MAR13 is as follows:

► LIBYA: Ryanair in negotiations with Tunisia, Egypt and Libya over possible flights.

Irish low cost megacarrier, Ryanair (FR), has announced that it is looking at starting flights to Tunisia, Libya and Egypt "over the next few years," though any potential flights would depend on the deregulation of their own aviation industries as well as the signing of an Open Skies agreement with the European Union.

► TUNISIA: Tunisair boss Jrad whinges about Syphax's network expansion plans calling them "unfair."

Rabah Jrad, the boss of Tunisia's national carrier, Tunisair (TU), in an interview with a local Tunisian radio station has labelled as "illegal" and "unfair" the networkexpansion plans of private Tunisian private carrier, Syphax Airlines (FS).