africanflyer

Fly540’s parent company has signed a MOU with ATR for eight 66-seat ATR 72-500s, with delivery beginning this year and continuing into 2009.

Lufthansa will start new service between Frankfurt, Germany and Luanda, Angola on April 1. The weekly flight will operate on using an A343.

LH560 FRA - LAD: 2030 - 355
LH561 LAD - FRA: 2030 - 605

Emirates will introduce new service to Cape Town, South Africa from Dubai effective March 30. Flights will be operated daily using A332 aircraft.

EK770 DXB - CPT: 815 - 1625
EK771 CPT - DXB: 1810 - 600

A newly created joint venture between the Djibouti government, Istithmar World Aviation and Daallo Airlines’ founders will see Daallo Airlines transformed and branded into the flag carrier of Djibouti, which will enjoy all traffic rights held by the state.

easyJet will open air links between Madrid, Spain and Tangiers, Morocco with six weekly flights effective February 2008.

U27869 MAD - TNG: 1345 - 1400
U27870 TNG - MAD: 1430 - 1620

Nationwide of South Africa has been grounded by the country’s CAA citing concerns about the maintenance of the 16 aircraft in its fleet.

Yemenia intends to add new African destinations in the coming years, with Nairobi, Kenya and Dakar, Sénégal being cities of interest.

Jetlink Express has acquired two CRJ-100ERs. The aircraft will be used on services to Eldoret, Mombasa, Juba, Goma and Bujumbura.

Belgium-based Brussels Airlines and Democratic Republic of Congo-based Hewa Bora Airways have announced the launch of a new airline to be named AirDC. The airline will operate domestic flights as well as jointly operate with Brussels Airlines on three European routes. The airline, which will be based at Kinshasa N’Djili airport, will operate BAe 146 and B737 aircraft beginning in early 2008.

Sudan Airways has reportedly pulled out of the Juba - Entebbe route.

EgyptAir reportedly intends to increase service to India by the end of 2008 with daily flights to Mumbai, as well as three weekly flights to Delhi and Bangalore.

Zambian Airways will cease flights to Harare, Zimbabwe on December 1, citing high fuel costs and extreme currency fluctuations in Zimbabwe.

Kenya Airways and China Southern Airlines, both affiliated with Skyteam, will cooperate on services between Nairobi, Kenya and Guangzhou, China and beyond their respective hubs.

Kenya Airways, which currently serves Guangzhou 4x per week, plans to increase its frequency to daily by April 2008 (via Dubai or a third country), and operate the route nonstop as of 2010.

Transaero will begin service between Moscow (Domodedovo),Russia and Johannesburg, South Africa on December 29. Flights will be operated on Saturdays using B763 aircraft.

UN887 DME - JNB: 2300 - 940
UN888 JNB - DME: 1120 - 500

Ethiopian Cargo has leased two B742Fs from Southern Air Inc on an wet lease basis. The first aircraft will join ET on November 17 on a 14-month lease, while the second one will arrive on December 31, on a 19-month lease. Both aircraft will ply the Addis Ababa-Brussels route.

The airline will also start weekly cargo service to Hong Kong effective January 4.

New Egyptian startup Nile Air has agreed to buy nine A321 aircraft from Airbus. The airline plans to serve  Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, Dammam, Kuwait, Dubai, Doha, and Bahrain with passenger, freight, and airmail services from its base in Cairo.

South African Airways and SAS Scandinavian Airlines, both members of Star Alliance, will begin codesharing from European points points served by SAA to Scandinavian as well as South African destinations

1time is reportedly planning to start services from South Africa to Zanzibar early next year, pending government approval. Flights would be operated twice per week.

Virgin Nigeria has agreed to buy 10 Embraer aircraft comprised of seven Embraer 170 aircraft and three 190s. The agreement also includes an option to buy six more 190s and purchase rights for eight 190 and 195 aircraft

Jet Airways is reportedly planning to start services between Mumbai, India and Johannesburg, South Africa begining in April 2008 with a 3x per week frequency. The airline is also said to be interested in serving Durban before the end of the same year.

South African currently flies 4x per week between Johannesburg and Mumbai.

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 Tanzania is reportedly set to receive two used Bombardier Dash 8-Q300s before the end of the year, and two brand new -Q400s next year. The aircraft are to be used on short-range routes, while the airline is also reportedly working on acquiring A320 aircraft to serve international routes.

Sénégal’s government will retake control of its flag carrier Air Sénégal International in a move that will see it holding 75% of the company, while Royal Air Maroc will retain 25%. Since 2001, the government held 49% while RAM held the rest.

According to posted schedules, Hainan Airlines will begin services from Beijing, China to Luanda, Angola shortly with a weekly flight. The service will be operated on Mondays via Dubai using B763 aircraft.

HU7923 PEK - DXB: 730 - 1230
HU7923 DXB - LAD: 1350 - 1830
HU7924 LAD - DXB: 2030 - 730
HU7924 DXB - PEK: 850 - 2245

TAAG, Angola’s flag carrier, will begin services to Beijing, China on November 23. Flights will be operated on Wednesdays and Fridays using B772 aircraft.

DT690 LAD - PEK: 1700 - 1530
DT691 PEK - LAD: 1830 - 0230