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Ghana Civil Aviation Authority Logo The Ghanaian government has announced plans to further liberalize its Freedoms of the Air as President Nana Akufo-Addo's administration seeks to bolster the country's role as West Africa's key aviation hub. While it already offers generous 5th Freedom traffic rights (i.e the freedom to fly between two foreign countries on a flight originating or ending in one's own country)  to multiple foreign carriers using Accra Kotka International Airport, Deputy Minister of Aviation, Kwabena Okyere Darko, has now mentioned the plans to allocate full-cabotage or 9th Freedom (i.e. the freedom to carry traffic between two domestic points in a foreign country) to Nigerian operators. “Ghana is prepared to collaborate with all airlines in Nigeria to also allow them to operate in our domestic market," Darko was quoted by the BF&T newspaper. "So we are using this opportunity to invite you to invest in Ghana." The deputy min...

Caverton Helicopters Viking DHC-6-400 Caverton Aviation Cameroon (Douala) has taken delivery of its maiden DHC-6-400 following the arrival of TJ-TIM (msn 934) from Victoria Int'l last week. Delivered direct from Viking Air (VKN, Victoria Int'l), the new-build turboprop replaces DHC-6-300 TJ-TMM (msn 816). Parent firm, Caverton Helicopters (CJR, Lagos) from Nigeria secured a five-year contract in 2012 with the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO) to provide it with onshore pipeline surveillance and passenger transfer services. Source:https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/57346-caverton-aviation-cameroon-adds-maiden-dhc-6-400

Mahogany Air EMB 120 Mahogany Air (Lusaka) has resumed commercial operations following a three-year long hiatus. The carrier said in a statement on Monday, June 26, its maiden service operated between Lusaka and Ndola. Additional services are expected to Solwezi, Mfuwe, and Livingstone. Operations are onboard EMB-120 capacity wet-leased from South African ACMI/charter specialist Sahara African Aviation (Nelspruit). Earlier this year, airline Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jim Belemu said a consortium of Zambian and Dubai-based investors had pledged to recapitalize Mahogany Air to the tune of USD23 million spread over the next three years. Source:https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/57320-zambias-mahogany-air-resumes-operations

Air Zimbabwe B767-200ER Zimbabwe Airways, a Zimbabwean government-owned entity aimed at reestablishing the Southern African state's longhaul operations, is set to add its maiden aircraft, a B777. ch-aviation research shows the start-up has secured ex-Malaysia Airlines B777-200(ER) 9M-MRP (msn 28421) with it having conducted air tests at Kuala Lumpur Int'l on June 24. Earlier this year, Zimbabwean media reports indicated Zimbabwe Airways would acquire four B777s for use in resuming longhaul flights to Europe and the Far East. Despite repeat announcements proclaiming its imminent resumption of flights to London Gatwick and Guangzhou, de-facto national carrier Air Zimbabwe (UM, Harare Int'l) has yet to do so ostensibly because of the threat of asset seizures over unpaid debts. Creditors are known to include Algerian air navigation service provider ENNA, Pan African air navigation provider ASECNA, China's National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (C...

SAA A340-600 Debt-laden South African Airways (SA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) is renegotiating its loans, with ZAR9 billion (USD696 million) due and payable by June 30. The airline has announced that only one lender has asked for a full repayment, with the other loans supported by a government guarantee of ZAR19.1 billion (USD1.47 billion). "We remain optimistic that the company will meet its loan obligations as these become due through negotiations with lenders and other initiatives," said Musa Zwane, SAA's acting CEO. The troubled airline has committed to a turnaround plan, and recently brought on Seabury Consulting to assist in developing initiatives. In a statement, the airline said that management was "alive to liquidity and solvency challenges that face the business and has taken steps to ensure that the airline remains in business." A corporate plan filed by South African Airways shows that the airline is on track for a net loss of ZAR853 millio...

TASSILI AIRLINES B737-800 NG  Boeing and Tassili Airlines today announced an order for three Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes, valued at over $294 million at list prices, at the 2017 Paris Air Show. The order was previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website. “The 737 has played a critical role in the development of Tassili Airlines. We have grown from an oil charter operation to become a scheduled passenger airline, connecting North Africa with mainland Europe,” said Mr. Belkacem Harchaoui, Chief Executive of Tassili Airlines. “This order signifies an important next step in the development of the airline as we look to the future, adding additional capacity on to existing and new routes across the Maghreb, into France and beyond.” The 737-800 is one of the best-selling versions of the highly successful Next-Generation 737 family, the most technologically advanced single-aisle airplane family. Tassili Airlines’ new 737s will...

Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 CemAir (5Z, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Bombardier (BBA, Montréal Trudeau) for two Dash 8-400/Q400s. Once firmed, the two turboprops would be the South African operator's first of the type. CemAir currently operates a fleet of fourteen CRJ-100s, three CRJ-200s, one Dash 8-100, two Dash 8-300s, and nine Beech 1900Ds. Aside from ACMI/charter work, it also offers scheduled passenger flights throughout South Africa serving Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, Bloemfontein, Hoedspruit, Margate, Plettenberg Bay, Sishen, George, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth. Source:https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/57020-south-africas-cemair-inks-loi-for-two-q400s

RAM B767-300 Royal Air Maroc (AT, Casablanca Int'l) has ordered one B767-300(ER) passenger-to-freighter conversion from Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare). The two parties said in a statement the aircraft, once converted, will be used to boost the Moroccan carrier's cargo capacity thus enhancing Casablanca Int'l as an international freight hub. RAM-Cargo's Managing Director, Amine El Farissi, said the addition of a dedicated widebody freighter would increase the airline's annual cargo capacity from 25,600 to 77,000 tonnes. "This change will also allow the company to expand the scope of its services by transporting new products such as live animals and pharmaceuticals," he said. Royal Air Maroc currently operates four B767-300(ER)s alongside five B787-8s. In terms of freighters, its fleet currently consists of one B737-300(F) used primarily for flights between Morocco and Europe as well as other neighbouring North and West African states. Sourc...

Ethiopian Airlines Logo Rolls-Royce has won a major order from Ethiopian Airlines to provide Trent XWB engines for ten new Airbus A350-900 aircraft with TotalCare service support, further increasing our order book for new engines. In addition, the order includes TotalCare for 14 of the aircraft already in service or on order. In total, the deal is valued at $1.5 billion. Ethiopian became Africa’s first A350 operator in 2015 and currently has four of its initial 14 aircraft in service. Tewolde Gebremariam, chief executive officer, Ethiopian Airlines, said: “We have been impressed by the performance of both aircraft and engines in service, which gave us confidence to go forward with our order for ten additional aircraft which will bring even greater levels of comfort and service to our customers.” Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce, President – Civil Aerospace, said: “A repeat order from Ethiopian is a huge testament to the performance of our engines in service. We look forward to cont...

Mauritania Airlines B737 MAX 8 Boeing and Mauritania Airlines today announced an order for one 737 MAX 8 airplane at the 2017 Paris Air Show. The order, valued at $112.4 million at list prices, was previously attributed to an unidentified customer on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website. “The 737 MAX will complement our growing fleet and is the perfect aircraft for short to medium-haul operations across the Sahel region and Europe, feeding traffic into our hub airport at Nouakchott,” said Mohamed Radhi Bennahi, chief executive officer, Mauritania Airlines. “This aircraft will play a major role in growing our business in the years to come.” The 737 MAX family has been designed to offer customers exceptional performance, flexibility and efficiency, with lower per-seat costs and an extended range that will open up new destinations in the single-aisle market. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets...

Ethiopian Logo CAE and Ethiopian Airlines signed a five-year agreement where CAE will market third-party pilot training capacity in Ethiopian Airlines' training centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The centre is equipped with Boeing 737NG, 757, 767, 777, 787 and Bombardier Q400 simulators. Ethiopian Airlines and CAE share a long-standing relationship that spans over 7 years, with the provision of crew resourcing services and the delivery of innovative training equipment. Ethiopian Airlines currently operates three CAE-built full-flight simulators and has one CAE Airbus A350 full-flight simulator on order, which will be ready for training in the first half of 2018. Source:http://www.africanaerospace.aero/cae-and-ethiopian-airlines-sign-five-year-agreement.html

Air Peace B737-500 Over the coming weeks, Air Peace (P4, Lagos) will add an undisclosed number of ERJ-145s to its current fleet of four B737-300s, five B737-500s, and one Do328-300 as it seeks to expand its market focus. Air Peace Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, told ThisDay the Embraer Regional Jets would be used to expand the carrier's domestic network coverage beyond the current Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Benin City, Calabar, Owerri, Port Harcourt Omagwa, and Enugu. On the regional and international fronts, Air Peace plans to open up West African services to Lomé, Abidjan, Douala, Dakar, and Niamey using its growing B737 fleet. Flights to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, South Africa, are also planned as are services to Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson, Guangzhou, Dubai Int'l, and London Gatwick likely using the B777 the carrier is expected to take delivery of in the near future. Concerning its proposed European operations, Air Peace has formally applied to the Euro...

KQ B787 aka Dreamliner A Kenyan government plan to convert Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) debt to equity has stalled with the Kenyan National Assembly's Finance, Trade and Planning committee unable to authorise a parliamentary guarantee of KES77.3 billion (USD747 million). The Star reports that the Committee needs to determine the legality of using aircraft as collateral before approving the guarantee. Under the restructuring deal, the Kenyan Treasury, which owns 29.8% of the airline, would exchange its KES25 billion (USD241.5 million) loan for shares, and would also extend the guarantee for the airline's debts. These include a USD525 million loan from the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) and other loans from local lenders (USD225 million). Defending the deal, former CEO of Kenya Airways Mbuvi Ngunze emphasised that the assets to be used as collateral are not leased. "These are the planes we acquired using funds from US Exim Bank. These are not leased...

ET A350-900 aka XWB Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa) has placed a firm order with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) for ten additional A350-900s. The order adds to the twelve that Ethiopian has on order from the Europeans of which two have thus far been delivered. Ethiopian currently operates four of the type with three leased from AerCap and one leased from Ping An Aircraft Leasing. "We will deploy the additional aircraft on our long haul routes connecting Addis Ababa with destinations in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia," Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said. Source:https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/56995-ethiopian-airlines-orders-ten-more-a350-900s

ATR72-600 (Aircraft type to operated by Air Senegal) Air Sénégal (Dakar) has ordered two ATR72-600s from Avions de Transport Régional (Toulouse Blagnac) as it prepares to commence operations later this year. The Senegalese Minister for Tourism and Air Transport, Maimouna Ndoye Seck, said in a statement during the 2017 Paris Airshow the aircraft would arrive in November in time for Air Senegal's inaugural flight, slated for December 7. As previously reported, the date will coincide with the opening of Dakar's new Blaise Diagne International Airport. “Since the liquidation of Senegal Airlines, domestic air services have been disrupted within the country,” Mamadou Lamine Sow, Chief Executive Officer of Air Senegal SA, said. “Our ambition is for this new airline to play a major role in Senegal, and in all of West Africa. After a year of assessment, conducted by a team of experts assisted by a consulting firm, and on the basis of the airline’s business plan, the choice o...

ET B777-F Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa) has signed a commitment with Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) for the purchase of two B777-Fs, a statement issued during the 2017 Paris Air Show has said. Ethiopian currently operates six of the type alongside two B757-200(PF)s. In the same statement, Ethiopian confirmed it has now firmed up the ten B737 MAX 8 options included in its original MAX order placed back in 2014. As it stands, the carrier has firm orders for thirty B737 MAX 8s. Separately, Bombardier (BBA, Montréal Trudeau) confirmed Ethiopian Airlines to be the previously undisclosed customer that signed a firm purchase agreement for five additional Dash 8 Q400s. It currently operates fourteen of the type. Source:https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/56998-ethiopian-bumps-b777f-b737-max-and-q400-order-books

Air Peace B737-700 Nigerian airline Air Peace has taken delivery of a new Boeing 737-300 aircraft as it prepares for the launch of flights to new West African destinations that include Abidjan, Douala, Dakar, Niamey and Lome. In a statement, Air Peace chairperson Allen Onyema said with the delivery on Friday of the new B 737-300, the Lagos-based company was on course to expand its fleet to 22.“The arrival of the aircraft underscores our resolve to make a difference in the Nigerian aviation industry. We are matching our huge expansion project with the right equipment and people to ensure the delivery of the best flight services to our valued customers". “In a couple of weeks, more B737, B777 and Embraer 145 jets will be delivered to grow our fleet to 22. We want to cover more Nigerian cities. We will deploy more aircraft to strengthen regional operations that started with a flight to Accra in February," Onyema said. New West African routes will be serviced by some n...

ABS ATR72-500 Afrijet Business Service (J7, Libreville) has taken delivery of its maiden ATR72-500 in the form of msn 715. The turboprop is the first of two such aircraft the Gabonese carrier will lease from Aergo Capital with the other, msn 833, to follow shortly. Afrijet currently operates an all-Avions de Transport Régional fleet of two ATR42-500s and one ATR72-200 which it uses on domestic flights connecting Libreville with Franceville/Mvengue and Port Gentil and on regional services to São Tome and Pointe Noire. It also operates three Falcon 900Bs on VIP executive charters. As well as operating cargo services from Nigeria, the airline also operated high-profile security flight operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The airline has moved from its offices at Murtala Mohammed International Airport to its corporate headquarters in Opebi, Lagos. It still maintains an aviation maintenance shop with its sister company Elite Aviation. Source:https://www.ch-aviation.co...

First Nation A319-100 First Nation Airways (FRN, Lagos) has appealed a fine imposed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over the failure of one of its pilots to renew his medical certificate. As previously reported, First Nation and the pilot were fined NGN32 million (USD100,000) and NGN1.5 million (USD4,700) respectively when a routine inspection found that the pilot operated a total of sixteen flights after his medical certificate expired in November 2016. The NCAA announced this week that it has brought together a panel to hear an appeal from the Nigerian airline, which was held on June 13 & 14. The result of the appeal is not yet known. First Nation launched services in 2011 and currently operates scheduled flights between Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt City on a pair of A319-100s leased from AerCap. Source:https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/56928-nigerias-first-nation-appeals-safety-violation-fine

Despite the need for air travel on the continent, African airlines have regularly been plagued with issues of frequent government interference, mismanagement, poor safety records, debt, old aircraft and bad services etc. These are just a few of the problems leading to an unending list of defunct airlines. But there are a few airlines in Africa challenging the odds such as Asky Airlines and RwandAir despite majority shares owned by the Togolese and Rwandan governments respectively. Asky Airlines and RwandAir have one of the youngest and modern fleet of NG (New Generation) aircraft. RwandAir A330-200 "There are more than one billion people on the African continent, which is home to just 3% of the world's aviation business, It is clear that the continent remains in desperate need of improved and affordable aviation connectivity." -Ed Winter, CEO of Tanzania-based fastjet. Asky Airlines B737-700 The reasons for taking such a small share of the aviation mar...

RwandAir A330-200 RwandAir is to start operating non-stop flights from Kigali to Brussels, in Belgium next month. All returning flights from Brussels to Kigali will be via London. With the new three flights a week between Brussels and Kigali, Rwanda's capital, which will be operated by the airline's Airbus A330 fleet configured in a triple class cabin and equipped with inflight connectivity, RwandAir offers a differentiated product in terms of passenger comfort and convenience. Brussels, Belgium’s fascinating capital and the administrative capital of the European Union, is mainly known for centuries of history, renaissance architecture and monuments. The city’s main attractions include the Grand-Place, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bronzed Manneken-Pis and admirable green spaces such as the “Parc du Cinquantenaire”, Belgian Independence Monument. “Adding Brussels to our fast growing network, reaffirms our commitment to create new opportunities for both continent...

Flydubai B737-800NG Flydubai is to start flights to Kilimanjaro from 29 October. The relaunched service to the carrier’s third point in Tanzania, along with Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, will see Flydubai’s network in Africa expand to 12 destinations. Flydubai began operations to Tanzania in 2014 and has seen a steady growth in passenger numbers. Kilimanjaro will be served with six flights a week three of which are via a stop in the capital, Dar es Salaam. In addition, the carrier will increase direct flights to Zanzibar from three to eight flights a week. Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive officer of Flydubai, said: “With the addition of the service to Kilimanjaro and more direct flights to Zanzibar, Flydubai will operate 14 flights a week, marking a 133% increase in capacity to the market compared to the previous year. This is a healthy indication of the rising popularity of Tanzania as a preferred tourist destination and we are happy to be connecting the market to Dubai.” Ki...

Precision Air ATR 42-500 Tanzania leading airline Precision Air will launch scheduled flights into the Serengeti National Park through the Seronera air strip effective from 1st October 2017.The announcement comes shortly after the airline announced its expected return to Uganda in July 2017. Precision Air has been operating charter flights into Seronera and the announcement will make it the first and the only IATA member airline to operate scheduled flights to Serengeti National Park. Precision Air’s commercial director Robert Owusu said Serengeti National Park is among the seven wonders of the world,  and it is a beautiful place that everyone should visit, and to facilitate that Precision Air will operate four flights a week between Dar es Salaam-Seronera and Zanzibar. “With our flights to Seronera, we are going to transform the whole Safari experience, now tourist can fly direct to Serengeti and spend more time in the park unlike before where they had to drive for ho...

Ethiopian Airlines Logo The e-visa is processed and issued online on a single web page where applicants apply, pay and secure their entry visa online.Once the online application is approved, applicants will receive an email authorising them to travel to Ethiopia and they will get their passport stamped with the visa upon arrival in Addis Ababa. Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam said: "Ethiopia, the oldest independent civilization in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, is endowed with historical places, natural beauty, colourful and diverse cultural activities and various endemic wild animals which are of great interest to international tourists. However; we have not made best use of these natural resources to attract large number of tourists. To this effect, this project is part of a new national initiative to transform the tourism sector in the country. The full commencement of the Online Visa application and issuance system will promote tourism, tr...

Air Seychelles A330-200 Air Seychelles is looking for a new Chinese airline to partner in the provision of weekly chartered flights that will link Victoria and the Chinese capital, Beijing. Oscar Nkala reports. An airline spokesperson told the government-owned Seychelles News Agency (SNA) that there have been no flights to China since the lapse of the previous chartered flight contract in February. “The charterer decided not to extend beyond February 2017. Air Seychelles is open to further China services subject to a third party stepping forward and expressing a wish to commit to the resumption of cooperation,” the spokesperson said. Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive Officer Sherin Francis said the number of Chinese tourists has dropped markedly due to the lack of direct flights between the island nation and Beijing. The accessibility of Seychelles to Chinese tourists will be partially resolved through the recent expansion of an existing code-share agreement be...

Air Peace B737-700 Air Peace  (P4,  Lagos ) is threatening to sue the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) after its operations were halted at  Enugu  airport for two hours on June 9. The dispute over a NGN7 million debt (USD22,000) has been labelled 'sabotage' by the airline, reports news site The Guardian Nigeria. Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, claims that the airline's flights were halted by Enugu Airport Manager Mgbemena Orjiakor over a debt that Air Peace says it has already paid. "We do not know if the airport manager is sponsored by someone to bring down Air Peace because even after Lagos sent evidence of the payment, rather than own up to the fact that the agency lacked proper accounting, the agency said the airline is owing an outstanding NGN1.8 million (USD5,600). This is why I said this act is sabotage," Onyema said. FAAN's Acting General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu, apologised for the misunderstanding and con...

Arik Air B737-700 Arik Air (W3, Lagos) chairman Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide has confirmed talks have taken place with investors from the Middle East interested in investing in the Nigerian carrier. According to a source close to the talks who spoke to The Nation newspaper on condition of anonymity, the talks have focussed on the offset of Arik Air's hefty debt portfolio, said to stand at at least NGN145 billion (USD461 million). “We have been discussing with investors. We are having serious discussion with this organisation, which is based in the Middle East, because they have a package to invest in Africa and take advantage of the region’s growing economy," the source said. “They are interested in expanding our operations and will give us additional airplanes to augment the six we ordered from Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare)." Arik Air has been under the control of the Nigerian government's Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) since February. At the...

KQ B787 aka Dreamliner The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) exemption authority and tentatively, a Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) following an application lodged in late April. "The authority sought by the applicant is encompassed by the U.S.-Kenya Air Transport Agreement," it said. "We, therefore, find that grant of the requested exemption authority, for a two-year term, or until the requested permit authority becomes effective, whichever occurs earlier, is warranted." The issuance of the FACP will however, be subject to show-cause procedures. Once secured, Kenya Airways will then have to obtain safety authority (commonly referred to as Part 129 Operations Specifications) from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Kenyan national carrier plans to begin service to the United States using its own metal in April 2018. Prior to that, it will codeshare with an already qualified operator...

Defunct Air Senegal International B737-700 After the bankruptcy of Senegal Air Lines, a new company, Air Senegal SA, will start operations later this year, officials said on Monday.Air Senegal SA will launch its activities on December 7 at the opening of Blaise Diagne international airport. “Our national airline is going to be the first that will roll on the runway of our new airport,” the minister of transport and tourism, Maimouna Ndoye Seck told local media RFM. The company, which already has three planes, will acquire two other ones. This means that Air Senegal SA will start with a fleet of five planes. The new company has an initial capital of 40 billion CFA francs (60 million dollars). The Senegalese government expects an increase of this capital with the arrival of new investors. These will enable the company to meet its expansion ambitions, it said. Initially planned to open in December 2015, the launch of Senegal’s Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) is no...

Egypt Air A321 EgyptAir is to operate a direct flight from Cairo to Narita, Japan and connect it to Egyptian tourist cities in winter flights schedule starting from October 29 with a frequency of one flight per week on Saturdays. EgyptAir and the Japanese side are working together to have necessary permissions to resume these flights", said Safwat Musallam, chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Holding Company. Captain Sherif Ezzat, chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Airlines said that it is time to operate this route after implementing the company’s fleet development and upgrading plan and adding new B737-800 NG aircraft, used on short and medium- haul routes, with the latest technology and luxury means. Thus the wide types used for long- haul flights, including the Japanese market that EgyptAir targeted but postponed operating flights there due to supply and demand in the last period. "It is planned to operate new flights to Narita aboard the company's latest B777-300ER ...

Ethiopian Logo Ethiopian Airlines has announced the inauguration of its state of the art Cargo Terminal-II during the Second ICAO Global Air Cargo Development Forum which Ethiopian is hosting from 27th to 29th June, 2017. Covering a total area of 150,000 m2 area of land, the new Cargo Terminal includes facilities such as Dry Cargo Terminal warehouse, Perishable Cargo Terminal with cool Chain Storage, fully automated with latest technology ETV (Elevating Transport Vehicle), G+2 office building, apron area which accommodates 5 additional big freighter aircraft, sufficient truck parking apron as well as employees canteen and wash rooms. The new Cargo Terminal is also fitted with different climate chambers for storage and handling of temperature sensitive products such as fresh agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, life Science Products etc. Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, said: “Infrastructure development being one of the four pillars of our fast, profitable...

Afric Aviation logo Gabon's Afric Aviation has suspended operations for a period of six months effective immediately, reports ch-aviation. Quoting an internal communique to staff issued by management, L'Union newspaper reports the carrier made the move given mounting financial difficulties. A skeleton staff will be retained over these next six months to help restructure and recertify the carrier. During this time, management will also attempt to find willing partners eager to invest in the Gabonese carrier. The communique blamed the carrier's difficult financial position on customers that have delayed payment of invoices, due to the widespread economic and financial crisis currently affecting the Central African state. It also recorded financial losses resulting from the prolonged grounding of its only ATR 72-212, and especially the unexpected termination of aircraft leases in operation. "Before long, management will put into effect, a recovery plan for th...

Air Algerie B737-800 Air Algérie has abandoned plans to start intercontinental services out of Oran this summer, reports ch-aviation. The carrier had previously planned to run a 2x weekly return service to Montréal Trudeau, Canada, effective June 21 to September 16, 2017. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) said in a statement that in October 2016, the Algerian carrier applied for five additional flights per week between Algiers and Montréal Trudeau to cover the summer 2017 season. This was followed by a further request to add Oran as a designated point in Algeria. However, in January of this year, the CTA says Air Algérie withdrew its request for the Montreal-Oran route without specifying a reason. An airline employee told TSA Algérie on condition of anonymity that the withdrawal was brought on by the fact that Air France (AF, Paris CDG) controls the Oran-Canada market despite requiring passengers to stopover at Paris CDG. "As the price difference between Air Fra...

Air Botswana ATR 72-500 Wilderness Safaris has announced it has formally withdrawn its Expression of Interest (EOI) in the privatization of Air Botswana (BP, Gaborone) a week after it was named the preferred bidder by the airline's owner, the Botswana government. "... after careful deliberation, the Company has decided to not pursue the matter any further. Accordingly, the Company has withdrawn its Expression of Interest and has advised the Government of its decision," the Botswana-based ecotourism specialist said in a disclosure to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. A report in the Southern African state's press last week indicated that aside from Wilderness Safaris, the only other firm to have made government's shortlist was Comair (South Africa) (MN, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo). It is currently uncertain whether the South African operator will automatically become the next preferred bidder in the tender process. Source:https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/...

Air Burkina Embraer 170 The Burkinabe government has begun its search for a new buyer for recently nationalized carrier Air Burkina, reports ch-aviation. The Aga Khan Foundation sold its 51% shareholding to the government for a symbolic 1 CFA franc as part of its strategy to reduce its exposure to the volatile African aviation industry. According to the Voice of America, Burkina Faso's president Roch Kaboré has confirmed he has already reached out to Qatar Airways "to see how far cooperation can be achieved by the end of the year." Air Burkina SA is the national airline of Burkina Faso, operating scheduled services to one domestic destination, Bobo-Dioulasso, as well as regional services to Togo, Benin, Mali, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Ghana. It is majority owned by an AKFED/IPS consortium, and operates from its main base at Ouagadougou Airport. Over the years, the airline has had serious debt problems, reaching a deficit of one billion CFA francs i...

Ethiopian Airlines Logo Ethiopian Airlines will host the ICAO Global Air Cargo Development Forum with the theme: “Action for the Sustainable Development of Air Cargo in Africa”, to be held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) conference hall from 27-29 June 2017. The forum is anticipated to allow policy-makers, air transport regulators, representatives from the aviation industry and other stakeholders, to review progress towards implementation of the Lomé Declaration, identify challenges and opportunities and building on the decisions of the 39th ICAO Assembly. Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, said: “As the largest cargo operator in Africa, we are pleased to host this vital communication platform, which builds upon the Declaration on the development of Air Cargo in Africa and commit a road map for priority actions. With the aim of complementing the booming African economy, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services has availed the most...

Eritrean Airlines A320-200 in new livery  Eritrean Airlines has switched wet-lease capacity providers, reports ch-aviation. The Eritrean state-owned carrier had been using B737-500 from Alexandria Airlines as of May 28, but is now using A321-200 wet-leased from YanAir. To be continued... Source: http://www.africanaerospace.aero/eritrean-airlines-switches-capacity-providers.html

Etihad B777F Etihad Cargo and Royal Air Maroc Cargo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will see the two airlines cooperate in a number of areas including network development, freighter deployment and increasing traffic on several trade lanes over the next nine months. The MOU was signed at Royal Air Maroc’s headquarters in Casablanca by David Kerr, Senior Vice President, Etihad Cargo, and Amine El Farissi, Vice President Cargo, Royal Air Maroc. Abdelhamid Addou, Chief Executive Officer of the Moroccan national airline, also attended the signing ceremony. David Kerr, Senior Vice President Etihad Cargo, said: “This new MOU reinforces Etihad Cargo’s commitment to our customers by providing more capacity and greater frequency to destinations around the world. Together with Royal Air Maroc, we have been working for the past year to deliver improved services for shippers to the US, Canada, Brazil and West Africa. “This MOU is a testament to the success of our...