African Aviation News

[Harkeb]

17/06/2006 19:45 - (SA)
ACSA shortlisted in Nigeria

NIGERIA has shortlisted three bidders for a contract to operate its fastest-growing airport located in Abuja, the privatisation agency said this week.

The suitors are Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and two new local consortia, Nigeria International Airport Partners and the Nairanet consortium.

The suitors for the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport are now conducting due diligence after a pre-bid conference earlier this week, the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) said.

Privatisations are one of the key elements of a programme of free-market reforms in Nigeria.

State-owned ACSA, Africa's biggest airport company, had been slated for privatisation before the government shifted its focus from selling off state assets to turning them around to help motor economic growth.

The BPE's director-general, Irene Chigbue, urged the suitors to "work fast on the due diligence and focus on offering sound business, technical and financial proposals rather than waste time looking for lobbyists".

The winner will be granted a concession of 25 to 35 years to finance, upgrade and operate the airport, which includes domestic and international terminals.

The airport handled 27 percent of Nigeria's airline passenger traffic in 2004. It is the second-busiest airport in Nigeria after the Murtala Mohamed International Airport in Lagos.

The planned concession is part of a reform of the Nigerian air sector, under which the state-run Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is giving up its rights to be the operator. - Reuters

[SE9]

Egypt Air

Cairo

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6154/egyptair8kc.jpg

Ethiopian Airlines

Addis Ababa


Kenya Airways

Nairobi

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6...airways9au.jpg

Royal Air Maroc

Casablanca

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/848/ram3bw.jpg

South African Airways

Johannesburg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7113/sa4dl.jpg

[SE9]

Kenya Airways introduce special $99rtn Fare to East African Cities

Kenya's national airline yesterday introduced a special fare, of Sh7,227 ($99), for Entebbe, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

Kenya Airways travels to Mombasa will enjoy a special discount of Sh6,999 return, or a one way fare of Sh3,500 up to July 31.

"This special offer represents a discount of up to 60 per cent on the East African routes to encourage East Africans to visit each other as well as tap into the rapidly expanding East African trade," said commercial director Hugh Fraser.

Flights

The offer comes at a time when Kenya Airways is increasing its frequencies to Entebbe, Dar es Salaam. It operates daily flights to Entebbe except on Tuesday and Thursday.

Dar es Salaam will receive a night flight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Zanzibar will receive night flights on Saturday and Sunday.

Already, Kenya Airways flies 26 times to Entebbe, 18 to Dar es Salaam and 21 to Zanzibar weekly.

[Harkeb]

More airline photos please. I like the big bold name on Ethiopian planes. imo Egypt Air , South African & Ethiopian are prob the best looking planes. Clean, simple bodies with interesting & colourful tails.
When will Maroc change its old, outdated livery?

[GregPz]

The new Kenya Airways livery is also great. I agree about RAM though, they desperatly need an update - looks like something out of the 70's.

[SE9]

More airline photos on their way

[SE9]

Afriqiyah

Tripoli Libya




Air Algerie

Algeirs Algeria




Air Seychelles

Seychelles Seychelles




Egypt Air

Cairo Egypt




Kenya Airways

Nairobi Kenya





Royal Air Maroc

Casablanca Morocco





South African Airways
*Special Livery

Johannesburg South Africa




TAAG Air Angola

Luanda Angola




Virgin Nigeria

Lagos Nigeria

[belgiumguy]

Royal air maroc should change her logo,btw cameroon airlines is now from SN brussels airlines.

[Matthias Offodile]

Nigeria: 'Virgin Nigeria to Begin Lagos-New York Route'


Daily Trust (Abuja)

June 30, 2006
Posted to the web June 30, 2006

Shakirat Abdulmajeed

The chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airline, Sir Richard Branson has assured Nigerian travelers that Virgin Nigeria would soon get the right to operate the lucrative Lagos -New York route, saying the approval given by the Nigerian Government to an American airline to begin operations on the US-Lagos route may facilitate that.

Branson while urging the US Government to allow a Nigerian carrier fly direct to their country route, however said the US had done everything to prevent Virgin Nigeria from plying the US route, expressing hope that there would be a change.

Branson told newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday that America should not continue to pra-ctice a one-sided open skies policy, which European carriers were resisting.

He noted that even tho-ugh Virgin Atlantic had 49 per cent of shares in Virgin Nigeria, the Nigerian inves-tors had 51 per cent and the company also had a Nigerian chairman which qualified it to fly on the route.

On Virgin Nigeria, Bran-son expressed satisfaction at its performance so far expla-ining that in the last one year, it had been like a baby mo-ving towards maturity.


He expressed delight that the airline was doing well on the domestic route as well as on the regional and Intern-ational routes, plying Johan-nesburg, Ghana and London, noting that it was an airline that made Nigeria proud.

Branson stated that by the end of the year, Virgin Ni-geria would have 1,000 staff, 850 of whom would have been Nigerians trained by the airline.

He said he looked fo-rward to the airline being one of the best in the world, in the next 10-15 years and com-mended Mr. John Adebayo, Virgin Atlantic represe-ntative in Nigeria, for making project a reality.

[SE9]

Very good for Nigeria.

Several airlines use Lagos as a jump off to the United States. Now VgNg can cash in on the route.

[SE9]

Kenya Airways route map. Not as many destinations as Ethiopian, but a much higher frequency and capacity:

[SE9]

Etihad flies to Khartoum tomorrow


A330-200 to be used on Abu-Dhabi - Khartoum route

The Khartoum service joins Etihad's growing network of international destinations, including the new route to Kuwait that was launched on 1 July. It will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, and supports Etihad's current freighter operations between the UAE and Khartoum.

"Etihad is experiencing a period of rapid expansion with the launch of these exciting new destinations, and the arrival of our new purpose-built fleet of aircraft. Khartoum is a special destination for us due to the established cultural and commercial ties between Sudan and the UAE, which we look forward to building upon," said HH Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan, chairman at Etihad Airways.

Etihad flight EY611 will depart from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) at 14:05 arriving at the Civil Airport in Khartoum (KRT) at 17:05. The return flight will depart Khartoum at 18:20, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 23:05.

Guests will fly on an Etihad Airways A330-200 configured with two zones offering 262 seats with 22 in Pearl and 240 in Coral, which can carry up to 14 tonnes of cargo.

Khartoum will join Johannesburg, Cairo and Casablanca as Etihad's fourth destination in Africa, demonstrating the airline's ambitions on the continent.

It is widely anticipated that the new route will be popular among the large Sudanese community living in the UAE, many of whom work within the public sector such as the civil service and education, as well as the UAE's booming construction industry.

'Etihad is delighted to be catering for the UAE-based Sudanese community, not only those living in Abu Dhabi, but across the whole country. Sudanese nationals will now be able to travel home regularly, enjoying Etihad's distinctive levels of hospitality and service,' added HH Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan.

Etihad Crystal Cargo has been successfully operating freighter flights to Khartoum for the last year. 'This has been extremely successful, with our capacity being well utilised. We look forward to building on these high payloads and gaining new customers,' said Ingo Roessler, VP Etihad Crystal Cargo.

The current Etihad Crystal Cargo freighter operations between Abu Dhabi and Khartoum offer a payload of up to 44 tonnes on each flight, three times a week.

[SE9]

Somalia: Mogadishu International Airport Reopens After 11 Years


An airplane carrying Arab League delegates who arrived in Mogadishu this morning left Somalia using Mogadishu international airport for the first time in 11 years.

The plane landed at 2:30pm local time after taking off from Esiley airfield in northern Mogadishu after Islamists and Arab delegates decided to use the international Airport in southern part of the capital to show that Mogadishu is under Islamists control after 11 years of warlord dominance.

Hundreds of people including officers from the Islamists have gathered at the airport to participate the historic event by which Islamists achieved after 11 years.

The Airport, as well as the main seaport have been closed for the feuds in Capital after the united nations left Somalia in 1995.

Chairman of the Islamic Courts Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed has addressed briefly the people saying the International Airport is open from now on.

"We are very happy to witness unforgettable moments like today, we tell everybody that Mogadishu international Airport is open for international planes". Sheik Sharif said.

"This is what we have been looking forward after people's Islamic uprising in the capital which achieved to defeat warmongers, we tell the international community the capital is safe after years long", he added.

The plane has taken off crying eleven Arab League delegates led by Abdalla MubaraK, Special Representative for Somalia and other fifteen delegate members from the Islamic Courts which will represent Islamists at the planed Khartoum Peace accord.

"We are very much appreciated today we are taking off from Somalia International Airport which closed for a period of 11 years", Abdalla Mubarak said.

Prof. Ibrahim hassan Adow led the Islamic Courts delegates who flew to Khartoum to participate a meeting which previously planed to be held on July 15th.

Somalia Government is dragging foot on participating the meeting though Arab states are persuading to attend.

[cladiv]

From Flightglobal:

Farnborough: Libya's Afriqiyah to acquire up to six Airbus A330s

By David Kaminski-Morrow in Farnborough

Libyan carrier Afriqiyah Airways has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire up to six Airbus A330-200s as well as up to 14 Airbus A320 family jets.

The Tripoli-based carrier’s agreement, disclosed at the Farnborough air show, covers three A330s plus three options, as well as six A320s and three A319s, with options on another five narrowbodies.

No engine selection for either the widebodies or the narrowbodies has been given.

Afriqiyah told Flight towards the end of last year that it was considering acquiring A330s to operate long-haul services.

[skipperBill]

South Africa: SA Airlink, Comair Pursue Air Botswana

Business Day (Johannesburg)
July 21, 2006
Posted to the web July 21, 2006

Rob Rose
Johannesburg

AIRLINE operator Comair is set to go head to head with SA Airlink and six other companies in a bid to take a stake in Botswana's national airline.

This is one the largest privatisation exercises yet undertaken by Botswana's government, selling an interest in Air Botswana which brings in about R180m in revenue every year.

Two years ago, the Botswana government tried a similar exercise but the plan was put on ice as it became clear the aviation market had still not recovered from its 2002 nadir.

Importantly, five South African aviation firms have been short-listed, Botswana's Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatisation Agency said yesterday.

The JSE-listed Comair, which operates British Airways and kulula.com in SA, is the largest of the South African companies short-listed.

SA Airlink, which services the smaller towns in SA and Swaziland, is also on the list.

SA-based regional air carrier Interair and another company registered in SA, African World Airways, are also on the list.

The other candidates on the short list are Botswana freight operator Lobtrans, Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise and the Swiss-based ExecuJet.

Botswana's government has given no indication of how much of the airline it wants to sell. One insider said the government "is totally open-minded".

"The parties will now put a proposition on the table but the government will consider a myriad possibilities, from ownership to agreements to operate the airline," he said.

Any deal would be wrapped up "within a few months", he said.

SA Airlink CEO Roger Forster said his company would look to take 49% ownership, based on Air Botswana's "interesting opportunities" in the region.

"As joint-venture partners (with the Botswana government), we could turn Air Botswana into a mutually beneficial enterprise," he said.

Comair spokesman Stuart Cochrane said this move "falls in line with our strategy of expanding into Africa".

But Cochrane said Comair had not yet decided on whether it would want to take shares in Air Botswana, or simply do a deal to operate the airline.

"It depends on what the findings are as to the health of the business after our due diligence exercise," he said.

Botswana's government and those close to the airline are not keen to put a value on the airline just yet, and the company's latest annual report is still being drafted.

[skipperBill]

Etihad Crystal Cargo adds Addis Ababa to freight network

Staff Report
Published: 07/21/2006 12:00 AM (UAE)

Dubai: Etihad Crystal Cargo, the cargo division of Etihad Airways, said yesterday it will add the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to its freighter network.

The service to Addis Ababa will be incorporated into one of Etihad Crystal Cargo's existing freighter rotations to Khartoum.

Etihad said it is currently evaluating additional interline services throughout Africa which could feed into the Khartoum and Addis Ababa service.

Starting on July 28 , it will operate every Friday, departing from Abu Dhabi, and flying to Khartoum and Addis Ababa, before returning to the UAE's capital.

The service is being operated on Airbus A300-600 aircraft, which offers 44 tonnes freight capacity.

"Ethiopia is one of Africa's fastest growing economies, which is very much based on its blooming floriculture market.

"By adding Addis Ababa to our Khartoum rotation, we will be expanding our customer opportunities across the region, and also further developing our perishable services,? said Ingo Roessler, vice-president of cargo at Etihad.

Addis Express has been appointed General Sales and Services Agent (GSSA) for Etihad Crystal Cargo, which involves managing cargo sales and services across Ethiopia.

According to latest figures, Ethiopia's expanding floricultural market generated more than $21million in 2005. A new cargo terminal has been opened at Bole International Airport to cater for the booming sector, and further major expansions are planned for the future.

In addition to flowers, Etihad Crystal Cargo also expects to transport large volumes of meat from Ethiopia to Gulf destinations.

The majority of cargo that will be transported to Ethiopia will originate from Europe, South Asia, East Asia and South Africa, and consist of personal effects, hi-tech equipment, consumer goods, agriculture machinery and pharmaceutical products.

[Aícha]

Royal Air Maroc

[Cigar]

Some more good news for Angola! TAAG (Angola Airlines) will take delivery of their first new B777-200ER (pictured below) within the next couple of days. Will operate the LAD-JNB flight, taking over from the B747-300s currently flying the route.



Great looking colour scheme. TAAG will also receive some new B737-700s really soon for their regional / domestic network (WDH etc.).

[Aícha]

Morocco air fares war
By Ginny McGrath

Fares drop from more than £200 to £38 because of record numbers of flights between London airports and Morocco





Airlines flying between London and Morocco are engaged in an aggressive fares war because of record numbers of flights between the two countries.
Thomsonfly today cut fares to £38 return in response to yesterday’s announcement from Ryanair that it is starting new Morocco flights. “We have slashed our fares to hit back at Ryanair, which will also be flying to Marrakesh out of Luton,” a spokeswoman told Times Online Travel.

The news from Ryanair comes just days after GB Airways signalled its intention to boost Morocco services and two weeks after easyJet launched flights to the North African country.

According to flight information provider, OAG, there were around 39 flights a week between London airports and Marrakesh before easyJet’s launch, - once Ryanair and Thomsonfly get onboard there will be 99 flights a week between the two cities.

Until July this year two airline groups enjoyed a monopoly over flights between the UK and Morocco – British Airways and Royal Air Maroc, with fares averaging more than £200 return.

In 2004 Royal Air Maroc launched a no-frills airline, Atlas Blue, which operates alongside the parent airline - and now BA franchise carrier GB Airways intends to boost flights to a record 32 per week between London and Morocco from the end of October, with services to Marrakesh, Fez, Agadir and Casablanca.

Ryanair’s flights will operate from Luton to Fez and Marrakech from October 31, with fares from £40 return including taxes and charges.

The surge in UK-Morocco flights follows a decision by EU and Moroccan authorities to relax airspace regulations and allow any EU registered airline to operate between the EU and Morocco.

Need to know

www.ba.com
www.gbairways.com
www.royalairmaroc.com
www.atlas-blue.com
www.easyjet.com
www.ryanair.com
www.thomsonfly.com

[SE9]

Nice... maybe I'll be making my 1st trip to Morocco if the air-fares are this low!