africanflyer

South Africa’s Civil Aviation Authority issued a directive to ground all B732 aircraft in order to perform inspections after an engine fell off an airplane belonging to Nationwide Airlines.

Air Zimbabwe, having reintroduced its weekly flights to Dubai, UAE and Guangzhou, China, will double services to the former to 2x per week. Dubai will be served on Mondays and Wednesdays, with stops at Lusaka, Zambia and Lilongwe, Malawi. Zambia Skyways and Air Malawi also place their respective codes on the route.

A new airline by the name of Ecoairlines is being promoted by private sector interests within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with Togo-based bank, Banque Atlantique, in the forefront. The airline aims to fill the weak presence that exists in West Africa since the demise of Air Afrique.

Nigeria has suspended the operating licenses of the following four airlines over the weekend citing safety: Sosoliso Airlines, Fresh Airlines, Space World and Nicon Airways.

Ethiopian Airlines announced a deal it signed with Atlasjet of Turkey for the lease of a single B752 in all-economy configuration effective September 13, 2006. The aircraft, which will be operated on an ACMI-lease (but with Ethiopian cabin crew), will remain with the airline for a period of 6 months and operated on African routes.

The head of Virgin Mobile South Africa was quoted this week mentioning plans by the Virgin group to set up a low-frills airline in South Africa. The airline would operate services within the South African region going head to head with Kulula.com and South African Airways.

The European Union has issued a black list of airlines that it deems unsafe to fly, and effectively bans from its airspace. Passenger and cargo airlines based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Swaziland and Liberia are banned from flying into Europe, while specific airlines from other countries are also included.

The only exception made in the DRC is for Hewa Bora Airways, which is allowed to use one approved aircraft for its services to Europe. Air Mauritania on the other hand has been given a two month grace period to meet EU safety standards, while Buraq Air of Libya is only allowed to operate certain planes that have met safety requirements.

A new low-cost airline is being planned for Morocco, with TUI of Germany holding 40% of its shares, and the remainder owned by local Moroccans. The airline will start up in March 2006 with a 5.5 Million Euro startup capital.

The Nigerian government has grounded all 737-100 and 737-200s operating in the country following the recent crash of a Bellview Airlines B732. The government has indicated that all of these aircraft would have to undergo checks for stress cracks. This order affects major domestic airlines including Bellview, Chanchangi, ADC and Albarka.

Morocco has reached open skies agreements with the EU, set to take effect in 2006. This agreement replaces the bilateral agreements the country currently has with each individual European country.

A new national flag carrier appears to be in the works for Uganda. According to news reports, the airline, which will operate by the name of “Victoria International Airline Uganda” is to be established in cooperation with South Africa-based Arch Airways, who will own 75% of the airline while the Ugandan government will retain 25%. The airline targets a start date of February 2006 using a 130-seat aircraft, with flights expected to be “within the region” to cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and West Africa.

Sudan is to build a new 58km² airport near Khartoum at a cost of $530-Million.

Work on the first phase of the three-phase project based on designs by a German company will start in early 2006 with the construction of two runways, two passenger terminals, service utilities and administrative offices.

The first phase is due to be completed in three years after which the new airport will begin operations and Khartoum’s existing facility will close.

This month has been a busy one for airlines in Africa… so what better time to start keeping track of their activities?