► RÉUNION: See Pics of Corsair International's sexy new A330 at Roland Garros!

Réunion, the French Overseas Territory in the Indian Ocean, was the first recipient of Corsair International's (SS) recently delivered Airbus A330-300; the first of two with the second due in late January 2013. The new aircraft are part of a renewal programme that follows a EUR300million recapitalization of the carrier by parent company, TUI, the largest tourism group in the world.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Fly Go-Air delays launch until 10 December, to use a Beech 1900.

South African start-up Fly Go-Air (KEM) has announced that it will now launch operations on Monday 10 December with its debut route still to be Johannesburg Lanseria airport to Kruger/Mpumulanga International Airport.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian successfully issues bond for $363m with backing from US ExIm Bank.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) on 28 November 2012, successfully placed its first bond issue with the backing of the US Export-Import Bank, to finance several brand new Boeing 787-8 aircraft ordered for the Ethiopian national carrier. (A bond is a certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principal.)

■ SENEGAL: ASECNA signs $35million contract with Thales, INEO Engineering for Radar, ATM Systems.

The Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (L'Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar) or ASECNA has signed a USD35million contract with a French consortium comprising Thales Air Systems SAS and INEO Engineering & Systems for the supply and installation of Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radars (MSSR) with Mode S capability in addition to its Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems.

■ GABON: Cargolux looks to expand sub-Saharan network as Luxembourg signs new BASA with Gabon.

Luxembourg-based cargo carrier, Cargolux (CV), is set to benefit from the recent signing of a new revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Gabon and Luxembourg, on 26 November 2012.

 

► TANZANIA: (Pics) fastjet's inaugural revenue flight to Mwanza.

LCC fastjet (FN) finally became a reality with the launch today of its maiden route from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza followed by Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro later in the morning.

► EGYPT: Air Arabia Egypt launches Alexandria - Kuwait, Riyadh ops.

LCC Air Arabia Egypt (E5) this past Monday (25 November 2012) expanded its operations with new services to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. 

■ EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Iberia goes 7x weekly to Malabo as Spain, Equat'l Guinea sign off on BASA.

Equatorial Guinea and former colonial power Spain have formally signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries during an official visit to Spain by the Equato-Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs & Cooperation, Agapito Mba Mokuy. The agreement has paved the way for Spain's Iberia (IB) to increase its flights to the Equato-Guinean capital, Malabo, from 6x weekly, to 7x weekly effective 1 December 2012.

■ TANZANIA: Construction of Terminal III Extension to Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport to finally go ahead?

Construction of the new Terminal III complex at Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International (JNIA) Airport is set to proceed once a suitable qualified contractor has been found by the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA).

■ NAMIBIA: Air Namibia strike ends as pilot's union accepts management's offer.

After nearly 2 weeks on strike and protracted negotiations that severely disrupted Namibian national carrier Air Namibia's operations, the Namibian Pilots Association (NAPA) has acquiesced to Air Namibia management's initial offer of a 5% pay rise.

► CHAD: Kenya Airways rumoured to have dropped Ndjamena flights citing high taxes, poor loads.

Reports out of Chad claim that numerous passengers have been left stranded in the Chadian capital Ndjamena after Kenya Airways (KQ) "suddenly" dropped its Nairobi - Ndjamena route. In corroboration, reservation system Amadeus shows no flights available either now, or in the future, though no official confirmation has yet been heard from the Kenyan national carrier itself.

► KENYA: Skyward Int. Aviation set to receive first Fokker 100; another Fokker 50.

Swiss aviation newswire CH-Aviation is reporting that Kenyan aircraft charter company "Skyward International Aviation" is set to receive their first jet - a Fokker 100 (MSN 11307 | 5Y-SIA) in addition to a Fokker 50 (MSN 20111 | 5Y-MIS).

■ 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.

► 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.