► COTE D'IVOIRE: Corsair International to start 4x weekly Abidjan flights from 2013.

French carrier Corsair International is to expand its presence in West Africa with the addition of Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. Effective 1 March 2013, Corsair will serve the Ivorian capital 4x weekly from Paris Orly with an A330-300.

► TANZANIA: See Pics of fastjet's inaugural non-commercial flight!

fastjet (FN) yesterday (Tuesday 27 November) celebrated its launch with its inaugural non-commercial flight from Dar es Salaam; a 40-minute round trip over the Indian Ocean above Zanzibar. Note: the carrier's official inaugural revenue flight is scheduled for Thursday 29 November.

■ MAURITANIA: Mauritania joins Libya, Madagascar in arguing their case to be struck off the EU Banned Carriers List.

Mauritania has joined a growing list of African countries trudging off to the Belgian capital  and seat of the European Union, Brussels, to argue their cases to be struck off the dreaded EU No Fly List. Last week, a Mauritanian delegation, led by the Minister of Equipment and Transport Yahya Ould Hadmine, held a meeting with officials from the European Union in Brussels to present their full report on air transport security and safety standards in Mauritania.

► COMOROS: Inter Îles Air Embraer 120 ditches into Indian Ocean shortly after take off; no casualties.

Comorien radio is reporting the ditching of a local Inter Îles Air (ZXA) Embraer 120ER (MSN: 120-149 | D6-HUA) off the coast of Hahaya, Grande Comore this afternoon Tuesday, November 27, 2012. Reports state that all on board survived.

■ NIGERIA: Embraer provisionally agrees to partner Government in Nigerian airline refleeting initiative.

Fresh from the announcement of its intention to open its first African Authorized Aircraft Service Facility (AASF) in Kenya next year, Embraer, the Brazilian regional aircraft manufacturer, has provisionally agreed to collaborate with the Nigerian Government's efforts to assist domestic Nigerian airlines in acquiring new aircraft "at concessionary rates."

■ ZIMBABWE: Government crafts law to protect Air Zim from creditors; puts 74% stake in UM up for grabs.

The Zimbabwean Government is once again looking for a strategic partner for Air Zimbabwe (UM). In a new proposal, a 74% shareholding in the ailing national carrier is to be put up for grabs after a previous deal with China's Hainan Airlines (HU), in February, broke down over Air Zimbabwe’s reluctance to grant Hainan a 65% stake rather than 45% as proposed.

■ KENYA: Jetlink Express bankruptcy sucks in Ministers as creditors go to court.

Bankrupt Kenyan regional operator, Jetlink Express (J0), grounded since 16 November due to the inaccessibility of USD2million worth of funds currently locked up in South Sudan, has suffered yet another blow as creditors have begun to move in to secure their interests.

■ KENYA: Embraer to open an Authorized Service Facility in Nairobi with Kenya Airways in 2013.

Embraer, the Brazilian regional aircraft manufacturer, has set its sights on Nairobi, Kenya and partner Kenya Airways (KQ) as a potential base for its first Authorized Aircraft Service Facility (AASF) in Africa to be opened in early 2013.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Group SAA finally releases its 2011/2012 Financials; records USD163.2million operating loss.

South African Airways (SA) has at long last, released its financial report for the Financial Year 2011/2012 ending 31 March 2012. In its brief, signed off by the airline's previous board, the carrier reported an operating loss of USD163.2million (ZAR1.3billion) despite its total revenue being up six percent on the previous year. Overall, the group posted a ZAR32million Total comprehensive loss.

► CAMEROON: Turkish Airlines to start 4x weekly Yaounde, Douala flights from late December.

Turkish Airlines (TK) has announced another route into Central/West Africa; this time to Cameroon. The Turkish carrier, which recently celebrated adding its 200th aircraft to its ever growing fleet, will serve the cities of Yaounde and Douala 4x weekly with a Boeing 737-900ER effective 21 December 2012.

● SOUTH AFRICA: South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) warns of looming strike.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has given notice of an impending strike by members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) set for tomorrow Monday 25 November 2012.

 

●● SOUTH AFRICA: All set for the 44th AFRAA General Assembly to be held from 18-20 November in Johannesburg.

[UPDATE 23 NOVEMBER 2012] The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) is set to convene its 44th Annual General Assembly slated for the 18th – 20th November 2012, and to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa's commercial hub, Johannesburg. 

►► OMAN: Ethiopian increases Muscat frequency from late November on.

Ethiopian Airlines will from 27 November 2012 increase its Addis Ababa – Muscat, Oman flights from the current 3/4x weekly, to daily. The flight is operated with a Boeing 737-700.

►► CAMEROON: Arik Air to start Lagos - Douala from late August.

[UPDATE 23 NOVEMBER 2012] Nigerian private carrier Arik Air (W3), is to launch a 3x weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) service between Lagos, Nigeria and Douala, Cameroon using a Boeing 737-700, starting Thursday 30 August 2012.

►► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia issues next round of updates as Strike persists.

Due to the increasing length of the previous post, a new one has been started to cover the latest update on Air Namibia's (SW) on-going  NAPA industrial action.

■ TUNISIA: Royal Luxemburg Soparfi SA set to invest in unnamed Tunisian carrier shortly.

Italo-Luxembourger financial holding company, Royal Luxemburg Soparfi SA, are set to invest in an as-yet undisclosed Tunisian airline. Exact details on the deal are still murky at this stage.

● ANGOLA: TAAG, Pimentel Araújo elected to Chairmanship of AFRAA.

Linhas Aéreas de Angola better known as TAAG Angolan Airlines (DT) were this week elected to the chairmanship of the Executive Committee of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), during their recently ended 44th Annual General Meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

► ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian announces 787 route changes to Johannesburg & Dubai for December.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) continues to adjust its Boeing 787 operations with changes for the month of December 2012 as follows:

■ ALGERIA: Construction of new Terminal at Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport set to begin in 2014.

The Algerian government has forged ahead with its previously mentioned plans of transforming Houari Boumediene International Airport in the Algerian capital, Algiers, into an international hub. In an interview with Algerian paper Tout sur l'Algérie, the airport's CEO Tahar Allache allured to a new terminal to be built by 2018 and which will accommodate 10 million passengers per year, in addition to extra-wide-bodies such as the Airbus A380.

► NIGERIA: Aero Contractors to start daily Abuja-Calabar flights from December.

Nigerian airline, Aero Contractors (AJ), will from 1 December 2012, commence daily Boeing 737-500 flights between Abuja and the south eastern city of Calabar, Cross River State.