African Aviation News

[Mulopwe]

UAE airline to launch new Congo national carrier
Reuters

18 jul. 08 - 09.44h


KINSHASA (Reuters) - United Arab Emirates-based RAK Airways plans to launch a new national airline in Democratic Republic of Congo within three months, a company representative said on Thursday.

RAK Airways, promoted by the government of tiny Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), will invest around $160 million and hold a 60 percent stake in the joint venture with the Congolese state.

Ras Al Khaimah is part of the oil-exporting United Arab Emirates (UAE) federation, which also includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

In addition to domestic routes and flights to Ras Al Khaimah, the new company, expected to be called Air Congo, will service several African destinations yet to be determined, with a fleet of nine aircraft.

"It's all or nothing. You really need to come with all the means, otherwise you won't be able to cover such a vast territory," RAK Airways' representative in Congo, Marc Orphanides told Reuters.

Orphanides said the airline was also looking into establishing long-haul flights to two destinations in China via its hub in the UAE.

The venture is the latest foray by the tiny emirate into the vast mineral-rich former Belgian colony. Last month, Rakeen Congo Ltd, a subsidiary of the state-sponsored property developer, broke ground on construction projects in the capital Kinshasa valued at $540 million.

RAK Minerals and Metals Congo, operated by Ras Al Khaimah's investment authority, is already involved in copper and cobalt exploration in Katanga province, Congo's mineral heartland.

Few passable roads traverse Congo, which has been blighted by decades of war, forcing the country's impoverished people to rely on often unsafe boats and planes to travel.

Congo has one of the worst air safety records in the world.

In April, at least 21 people were killed when a passenger jet slammed into a busy market after failing to take off from the eastern city of Goma. The accident was the country's fifth fatal plane crash in less than a year.

All Congolese airlines are currently on a European Union blacklist of companies banned from flying to European destinations.

Orphanides said Air Congo would need to be cleared by the EU before serving destinations outside Africa -- a process he said could take six months to a year.

RAK Airways, launched two and a half years ago, is the UAE's third-largest carrier, with international routes to Colombo, Dhaka, Kolkata, Beirut, and Sofia.

[DanteXavier]

Cape Verdean archipelago has new airline

Praia, Cape Verde, 21 July – Cape Verde’s new airline – Halcyonair-Cabo Verde Airways – Friday received its Air Operator Certification from the Aviation Agency (AAC) allowing it to start operating, according to news agency Panapress.

Halcyonair - Cabo Verde Airways, which is the result of the initiative of some tourism companies in Cape Verde, is mainly Cape Verde-owned and includes tourist organisations from all of the archipelago’s islands.

This new airline is set up at a time when more than 2,000 new beds are due to be come available in Cape Verde, generating the need for 10 more international flights, and over 30 inter-island flights.

According to its promoters, Halcyonair, with headquarters on Sal Island, was set up with a view to filling the deficit of regional flights in Cape Verde and in links to the African mainland.

The new airline is the third on the archipelago after state-owned TACV and Cabo Verde Expresso, a charter company flying between the islands and Cape Verde and the African mainland. (macauhub)

http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/news.php?ID=5754

[Tounsi]

One of the major private airlines in Tunisia



Karthago airlines is a private charter airline company, created in 2001, and introduced to the Tunisian stock market in summer 2005.

The company operates with a fleet of 6 aircrafts type Boeing 737-300 offering 148 seats and flight autonomy of 5 hours.
Karthago airlines operate with the most prestigious tour operators from France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Belgium and Czech Republic etc...

Karthago Airlines deserves presently around 20 European destinations and transported number of passengers increased by 15.6% from 556000 passengers in 2005 to 645000 passengers in 2006. The company is planning for 2007 to fly with 900000 passengers

[Tounsi]

In french : New airline company created in November 2007

Dans le cadre du développement de la région du nord-ouest notamment dans le secteur touristique et conformément aux instructions du Président Zine El Abidine BEN ALI, SEVENAIR lance à compter du mercredi 19 mars 2008 un vol régulier quotidien entre la Capitale et la Cité du Corail (Tunis-Tabarka).



Cet appareil sera également opérationnel sur la ligne quotidienne Tunis-Tozeur assurée par SEVENAIR en activité complémentaire de son programme actuel.



La flotte de SEVENAIR compte à ce jour un CRJ 900 de 88 sièges, trois ATR 72 de 70 sièges chacun et un Beechcraft de 19 sièges.

Au mois de mai prochain, cette flotte sera à nouveau renforcée par l’arrivée d’un nouvel ATR 72-500 totalement neuf identique en tous points à celui déjà reçu en juillet 2007.

[Tounsi]

Another new low -cost company : JETSBA




The company will start at the delivery of the new Enfidha Airport in October 2009 .

[Tounsi]

Nouvelair : private owned company





Nouvelair , Tunisia's Private Companywith more than 1.5 million passengers a yaer was founded in 1989 under the name of Air Liberte Tunisie .


The fleet is made up of 14 Airbus( 12 A320 177 seats and 2 A321 215 seats )

[Tounsi]

ENFIDHA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (TUNISIA)









Construction of New Enfidha International Airport in Tunisia
Commencement Date: June 2007
Completion Date: October 2009

Facts & Figures

Terminal Design Capacity: 5,000,000 passengers per year
Est. Terminal Capacity in 40 Years: 20,000,000 passengers per year
Building Construction Site Area: 130,000 m²
Airside Construction Site Area: 2.000.000 m²
Landside Construction Site Area: 800.000 m²
Total Airport Area: 5,800 ha.
Terminal Footprint Area: 44,000 m²
Terminal Usage Area: 90,000 m²
Car Park Area: 52,000 m²
Car Park Capacity: 804 vehicles
Passenger Boarding Bridges: 18 units
Connected Apron Area: 72,000 m²
Connected Apron Capacity: 18 aircraft
Remote Apron Area: 57,000 m²
Remote Apron Capacity: 14 aircraft stands
Runway Length: 3,300 meters
Runway Width: 60 meters
Total Taxiway Length: 13,000 meters
Taxiway Width: 25 mt
Total Filling Volume: 8.500.000 m3
Total Asphalt Quantity: 700.000 ton
Total Subbase Quantity: 1.000.000 ton
Total Excavation Volume: 3.000.000 m3
Total Earthworks Quantity: 11.500.000 m3

ATC Tower Height: 90 mt




In recent years Tunisia has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa. The attraction of the Sahara Desert, its temperate climate, bright skies, fine hotels and beach resorts, golf courses and other features make it a must-see country for adventure-seeking travelers, particularly Europeans.

In order to handle the increase in air traffic, Tunisia’s Ministry of Communications, Technology and Transport, along with the Tunisian Airport Authority (OACA), made the bold decision to erect a world-class airport on a 6,500-hectare site in Enfidha, in the heart of the country’s primary northeast tourist region. In being awarded the tender, TAV Construction and TAV Airports Holding beat out some of the world’s leading airport building and operation companies. The BOT tender, a 40-year concession, also includes the operation of the existing nearby Monastir Airport, about 60 km away, thereby eliminating any unnecessary competition between the two facilities.

Situated approximately 80 km south of the capital city Tunis, the new airport will be an architectural and aesthetic wonder, boasting of the latest technology and first class facilities and services, both for passengers and the airlines themselves.

The terminal will be over 90,000 m² area and is originally designed for a capacity of 7,000,000 passengers annually. With future expansion it will be able to accommodate up to 22,000,000 travelers per year by the middle of the century. The initial work will include a total connected apron area of 72,000 m² with a capacity to handle 18 aircraft. The remote apron area will cover 57,000 m², sufficient for 14 airplanes. The runway length will be 3,300 meters, while the width will total 75 meters.

In all, 18 passenger boarding bridges will be built, along with check-in counters, baggage carousels, immigration and customs booths, etc. commensurate with the size of the airport. Every traveler’s need has been thought about in detail and the airport will feature shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafes and every other service imaginable. The finished work will ensure safe, comfortable and enjoyable travel for all who come to this enchanting land.