africanflyer

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

Effective October 28, members of Ethiopian Airlines’ ShebaMiles and Lufthansa’s Miles & More will be able to earn miles and redeem reward tickets on flights operated by the other airline.

Turkish Airlines resumed services to South Africa this week following a 5-year hiatus. The airline now serves Cape Town via Johannesburg 3x per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays using A332 aircraft.

TK080 IST - JNB: 2320 - 0910
TK080 JNB - CPT:1030 - 1240
TK081 CPT - JNB: 1720 - 1930
TK081 JNB - IST: 2025 - 0605

TACV, the flag carrier of Cape Verde, will begin services from Praia and Sal to London Stansted using B752 aircraft. Flights from Praia will operate on Mondays, while those from Sal will operate on Thursdays.

VR658 RAI - STN: 0120 - 0810 (from Praia)
VR659 STN - RAI: 0920 - 1420

VR656 SID - STN: 0120 - 0810 (from Sal)
VR657 STN - SID: 0920 - 1420

The Times reports that Lohnro, 49% stake holder of Kenya-based Fly540, has acquired three BAe 146 aircraft for use by the airline which intends to expand services across sub-saharan Africa. The airline was recently granted ‘partial international designation’ rights by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority with authorization to operate to Southern Sudan and the DRC.

Air Namibia has sold its two Fokker 28s to Johannesburg-based aircraft charter and leasing firm Airquarius Aviation.

Air Mauritanie has been liquidated over its inability to pay $2.7 million in debt for leased aircraft. Two planes were recently seized in Paris at the request of lessor ILFC.

Following the airline’s liquidation, a new company by the name of Mauritanie Airways was formed with flights expected to start on November 8. The state will control 10% of the new airline, while the rest will be held by TunisAir and a private entity.

TAAG, Angola’s flag carrier, will begin services from Luanda to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia beginning the end of October. Flights will be operated nonstop using B73Gs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

DT560 LAD - ADD: 1330 - 2000
DT561 ADD - LAD: 1000 - 1230

In response to British Airways’ pullout from Harare, Air Zimbabwe will boost its service between Harare and London Gatwick to 5x per week.