• The African Aviation Tribune •

Friday, March 8, 2013

■ CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Despite not actually operating any flights, Air CEMAC opens new swanky HQ in Brazzaville.

At a ceremony held today in the Republic of Congo's capital, Brazzaville, Congolese Minister of State for Transport, Civil Aviation and Shipping, Rodolphe Adada, officially handed over the keys of the headquarters of Air CEMAC, the planned regionally backed airline, to chairman of the board of Air CEMAC's directors, Etienne Robin Mintsa Mi Owono.

■ EGYPT: Egypt Airports Co. awards ARINC 3 year passenger processing software contract.

The Egyptian Airports Company (EAC) has awarded US-based Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC) a three year contract for the installation of its vMUSE passenger processing solution at five regional airports in Egypt including Sharm El Sheikh, Luxor, Aswan, Borg El Arab and Abu Simbel.

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.

Senior Interpol, EU and Libyan officials have inaugurated the connection of an Interpol real-time passport control capacity at Tripoli International Airport as part of international efforts to improve Libyan border security. Under Interpol’s EUR2.2million Project RELINC (Rebuilding Libya’s Investigative Capability) funded by the EU, Libyan border control authorities will, for the first time, be able to directly access Interpol’s global database to detect stolen and lost passports, enabling the instant identification of persons seeking to conceal their true identity, including internationally wanted persons, suspected terrorists and transnational criminals.

As the Somali Federal Government slowly regains territory from the barbaric Al-Qaeda-affiliated savages in Al Shabaab, so life and business are beginning to show signs of revival. Unhampered by any meaningful government regulatory bodies, the country's airlines, too, have begun to exploit the demand for flights into cities such as Kismayo, Beledweyne and Baidoa, formerly no-go areas due to the ongoing civil war.

Air Seychelles' (HM) second Airbus A330-200 (MSN ? | A6-EYZ), christened Vallée de Mai, this afternoon touched down at Seychelles International Airport, Mahé. The aircraft made its first test flight in February and will now enter active service on Air Seychelles’ new international schedule, which includes new services to Hong Kong and increased frequencies to Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg and Mauritius.

Skywise, the nascent South African LCC run by former 1Time (T6) executives, was on Monday its air service licence by the South African Air Services Licensing Council. The new airline is now in the process of acquiring its AOC (air operator certificate) from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) with Johannesburg - Cape town ops due to launch in H2 of this year.

In the latest episode in the fastjet vs Don Smith soap opera, the Tanzanian LCC has now moved to take legal proceedings against Mr Smith, owner of 540 Aviation, seeking "a declaration that it has fulfilled its obligations under the Sale and Purchase Agreement" regarding Mr Smith's shares in Fly540.

► NAMIBIA: Former BBC filmmaker, Namibian pilot die in Sesfontein crash.

The wreckage of a Jabiru J400 light aircraft (MSN ? | ZU-EWR) carrying Namibian pilot Mike Berry and Emmy award winning South African filmmaker and photographer, Richard Mathews, was found yesterday morning in the rugged and highly mountainous area north of Purros near Sesfontein in Namibia's north-western Kunene Region. There were no survivors according to Namibian Police.

Air Seychelles (HM) and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at increasing Seychelles’ visibility as a destination around the world by leveraging the airline’s expanding international network and growing number of airline partners.

Following on from our previous bulletin yesterday, Air Zimbabwe's (UM) planned route expansion and fleet utilization plans have been unveiled. AirlineRoute writes that as per the 06MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, as well as OAG Schedules iNet, Air Zimbabwe’s planned Northern Summer 2013 operation are as follows, effective 31MAR13. Amongst the routes being introduced are Bulawayo - Victoria Falls, and tentatively Harare - Lagos - Accra - Harare and Harare - London Gatwick. No mention has been made of the Embraer ERJ135s.

National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) Zambia

Prince Chintimbwe, the director of airport services at Zambia's National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL), has dispelled reports alleging that the new terminal at Livingstone's Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport was "sinking", claiming his remarks had been taken out of context.

AirlineRoute writes that Royal Air Maroc (AT), from 19APR13, will resume its service to Zurich, after an 18 month service suspension. The airline will operate a 3x weekly Casablanca – Zurich service on board a Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

kulula (MN), the South African LCC known for its edgy advertising campaigns and humour, has taken it a step further by rebranding itself as "The Most South African Airways", a development likely to cause some backlash from South African Airways (SA), with whom parent company, Comair Ltd, is currently in court with, disputing the legality of SAA's bailouts.

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.

Algeria's Tassili Airlines (SF) new domestic timetable routing has been released following the launch of the airline's inaugural Algiers to the Saharan oases of Adrar and Tamanrasset on Saturday 2 March.

The Swaziland Government is set to force national carrier, Swazi Airlink (SZL) to use Sikhuphe International Airport come its opening due in either "August or September 2013." Works are scheduled to be completed in April with a three month staff testing familiarization period planned thereafter.

Air Botswana (BP) has officially opened its new lounge at Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA). Dubbed the Pula Lounge, after Botswana's national currency, the Pula, the facility will be available to members of Air Botswana's frequent flyer scheme, Teemane Club.

Air Zimbabwe (UM) has delayed its planned launch date for international operations to London Gatwick to 1 July as its pushes to consolidate its domestic and regional operations first. Previously, the carrier had mentioned March as a possible date.

■ LIBYA: Lufthansa Systems, Libyan Airlines sign 5 year deal for supply of flight ops software.

Lufthansa Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group that provides consulting and IT services for selected industries, today announced that Libyan Airlines (LN) has signed a five-year contract for its Lido/Flight flight planning solution as well as its Lido/RouteManual and Lido/eRouteManual navigation charts.

China Sonangol, the joint venture between the Hong Kong based China International Fund (or the 88 Queensway group) and Angola's state-owned oil company Sonangol, has denied a report by whistle-blower site, 100Reporters, alleging that its Airbus A319 (MSN 2706 | VP-BEX) was being used to "smuggle" diamonds from Zimbabwe's controversial Marange diamond fields.

In what is fast becoming a bad trend amongst southern African carriers - the South African government "loaning" South African Airways (SA) over USD500million and Zimbabwe set to cover Air Zimbabwe's USD188million debt bill - it appears that the Namibian Government has now budgeted a whooping USD120million (NAD1.1billion) to pay for "business plan updates and outstanding debts" for struggling national carrier Air Namibia (SW), with further allocations due until 2016.

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

Congo's Radio Okapi is reporting that a Fokker 50 (MSN 20270 | 9Q-CBD) belonging to CAA - Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation (FPY) crashed into a residential area at 17h44L on Monday afternoon while landing in bad weather at Goma International Airport, North Kivu Province in the eastern DRC. CAA operates four Fokker 50s.

Nigerian private carrier, Arik Air (W3), will partner Lufthansa Technik, Bombardier and Boeing in rebuilding its aircraft maintenance hangar at Lagos Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

Kinshasa-based Air Kasaï is planning to take delivery of its first, and the Democratic Republic of Congo's first, ATR72 (MSN 408 | 9Q-?) according to Skyliner.de. The delivery will mark the relaunch of the airline into the local and regional market.

Marcus Van Heerden, the owner of Blu Crane Air, the Port Elizabeth based start up, says his plan for the airline is to fill "a gap in the Eastern Cape air route network," and not to compete with established carriers, though the addition of charter operations to Mozambique and Namibia in future does remain a possibility.

►► ALGERIA: Tassili Airlines to début domestic ops with Algiers - Adrar, Tamanrasset flights on 2 March.

On the occasion of its venture into the scheduled domestic operation scene, Algeria's Tassili Airlines (SF) has announced that its inaugural flight, with accompanying ceremony, will be held on 2 March at Algier's Houari Boumediene International Airport.

► THAILAND: Air Austral switches Chennai/Bangkok flights to night time ops from late March.

Réunion-based carrier Air Austral (UU), from 31MAR13, is to adjust its operational schedule on its St. Denis de la Réunion – Chennai (Madras) – Bangkok service. Currently, the airline operates morning and night-time departure from St. Denis, 1 weekly each. This will be changed to a night-time departure only.

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.

German charter carrier, Condor Flugdienst (DE), is to launch once weekly Munich - Mombasa and once weekly Munich - Mauritius flights in November and December respectively. Both destinations are currently served out of Frankfurt.

Swiss charter airline, Edelweiss Airlines (WK) is to maintain its seasonal twice weekly Zurich - Cape Town service during the Northern Winter 2013/2014 season. The Airbus A330 service operates under a code share with Swiss Airlines (LX).

London-based cargo outfit Coyne Airways (7C) has launched what it terms "customer-focused services" to over 30 destinations across Africa, routed through three of the Continent’s main hubs - Lagos, Nairobi and Johannesburg.

Portuguese carrier TAP Air Portugal (TP) has announced it will increase its Lisbon - Maputo flights effective 1 April. In addition, TAP will deploy its Airbus A330 onto the route according to demand.

South African trade union, Solidarity, has announced that only 139 employees out of 523 will be retained on a new aircraft maintenance contract to be signed between the South African Air Force (SAAF) and defense contractor Denel Aviation/AeroManpower Group. This means that 384 employees will lose their jobs by the end of March. The union had originally pinned its hopes on 150 personnel being retained.

■ LIBERIA: Government clarifies awarding of contract for new $11mln hotel at Roberts International Airport.

The Liberian Government says it has indeed awarded an USD11million contract for the construction of a 5-star hotel at Monrovia's Roberts International Airport to local tycoon, Mr. George Abi-Jaoudi, a Lebanese businessman. Liberian Minister of Transport, Eugene Lenn Nagbe, made the statement following much speculation in the Liberian press over the nature of the award given Mr Abi-Jaoudi's relationship to the Liberian First Family.

An Antonov An-2 christened Anushka (Little Annie in Russian) (MCN 1G226-49 | RA-33390) has completed its 20'000km journey from northern Russia to South Africa, where it is to be used to carry out charitable work supporting humanitarian causes in southern Africa. Donated by Russian airline UTair (UT) with South Africa's ExecuJet set to provide the necessary support and maintenance, Anushka, a former cargo hauler, will now operate out of Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg under the "Just Love" banner.

Egyptair's (MS) fleet of retired Boeing 737-500s have become a hot potato on the Egyptian domestic scene with two carriers, Midwest Airlines and Egypt Leisine Airlines, eyeing them for use in planned operations.

Banjul based ACMI outfit, Aeolus Air (AAZ) is to offer a weekly scheduled Let 410 service between Banjul and the Senegalese capital, Dakar effective 7 April.

The Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (L'Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar - ASECNA) the pan-African air navigation service provider, has been awarded a EUR2.8million contract for the implementation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems across Africa. The contracts comes under a EUR9million programme entitled "Support to the airline industry and applications of satellite services in Africa" under the joint auspices of the ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) Group of States Secretariat and the European Commission (EC).

Keith Luxton was last month appointed the CEO of Ghanaian private carrier Starbow Airlines (S9), replacing previous CEO, Dr. Brock Friesen, who oversaw the carrier's inaugural flight in 2012.

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.

Yemen's government has motioned to reopen investigations into the 2009 crash of Yemenia Airways flight IY626 in the Comores, claiming that new "information" has come to light, showing the crash may not have been an accident. Results are said to be due this month (March 2013).

Justin Kalunga, the Democratic Republic of Congo's Minster of Transport, says a new national airline has already been white-papered and approved by his government with a new strategic partner set to be chosen in due course. The new airline, due to take delivery of its first aircraft in June, will replace the current quasi-defunct national carrier, LAC Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (4V). The move is one of the initiatives the Congolese are undertaking to ameliorate the country's poor aviation safety record and international image.

■ TANZANIA: Fastjet to settle $2mln in debts with Tanzanian taxman, Airports Authority as deal with 1Time said to be under "reconsideration".

Tanzania based fastjet (FN), has agreed to settle debts amounting to over USD2million (TAS3.14billion) owed to both the Tanzanian Revenue Authority (TRA) and the Tanzanian Airports Authority (TAA). Previously, fastjet had claimed that the debts had been incurred under predecessor Fly540's previous owner, 540 Aviation, who were therefore responsible for them.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Monday, March 4, 2013

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Friday, March 1, 2013