Africa

Ethiopian Airlines is to inaugurate the reopening of the Abuja Airport with its Airbus A350-900.
Airports & Networks

By Vincent Chappard
Air Mauritius announces that it will operate one direct weekly flight to Geneva during part of the Northern Winter period which corresponds to the peak season.
Airports & Networks

Boeing's 737 MAX 9 completed its first flight in the skies above Puget Sound yesterday. The 737 MAX program achieved the milestone on schedule, beginning a comprehensive flight-test program leading to certification and delivery.
Air Transport

Solenta Aviation Group has added a maiden aircraft to its Solenta Aviation Côte d'Ivoire unit's Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), reports ch-aviation.
Air Transport

By Richard Maslen
In one of the most significant brand expansion in the history of luxury travel and hospitality, Crystal Cruises is not only introducing new ships to its fleet effectively establishing three brand new classes of cruising, but also inducting two commercial airliners to launch Crystal Luxury Air in 2017.
Airports & Networks

Ethiopian Airlines has signed a codeshare agreement with Air Europa, with immediate effect.
Airports & Networks

JetWest Airways is a Nigerian start-up planning to offer budget flights across Nigeria as well as West and Central Africa as a whole using A320-200 aircraft.
Air Transport

The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) has divested itself of its 51% stake in Air Burkina selling it to the Burkinabe government, reports ch-aviation.
Aerospace

By Richard Maslen
February international passenger demand rose 5.8 per cent compared to February 2016, which was down compared to the 9.1 per cent yearly increase recorded in January. Adjusting for the leap year, however, growth actually accelerated slightly compared to January. Total capacity climbed 3.4 per cent, and load factor rose 1.8 percentage points to 78.4 per cent.
Airports & Networks

Gabon's Afrijet will shortly add a maiden pair of ATR72-500s, reports ch-aviation.
Air Transport

George Airport in the Western Cape has received exemption from the South Africa Civil Aviation Authority (SACCA) to upgrade from a CAT 7 aerodrome to a CAT 8 aerodrome.
Airports & Networks

Commsoft has announced that Cronos Airlines International's AMO (CAI Aerospace) has become the latest member of the worldwide OASES community and is the company's first active customer in South Africa.
MRO

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for February showing a second month of strong demand growth to begin 2017.
Air Transport

Ethiopian Airlines has inaugurated three more wide body hangars during the ICAO Symposium which Ethiopian is hosting from April 11-13, 2017.
MRO

Aerospace and Aviation Engineering programme students at Technical University of Kenya (TUK) can now afford hands-on training on a high-tech CF6-80A2 aircraft engine that powers Airbus A310 and Boeing 767.
Maintenance & Training

Tunisia's Syphax Airlines has denied reports in the Tunisian media claiming its application to the North Africa state's civil aviation regulator seeking the reinstatement of its AOC had been flat out rejected, reports ch-aviation.
Aerospace

Embraer Executive Jets has been placed first in customer support, according to Aviation International News' 2017 Product Support Survey.
Business Aviation

Ethiopian Airlines and Singapore Airlines will expand their codeshare agreement as of June 1, 2017.
Airports & Networks

Major leadership changes at Rwandair have followed a cabinet meeting decision chaired by the country's President Paul Kagame yesterday reports Hillary Muheebwa
Maintenance & Training

The first jointly hosted African Business Aviation Association Regional Symposium and Nigerian Business Aviation Conference highlighted the need for regional stakeholders to collaborate to make real change happen.
Business Aviation

By Vincent Chappard
Corsair International confirms its ambition to develop regional air transport in Indian Ocean with a new route between La Réunion and Madagascar.
Airports & Networks

Airbus is developing a full spectrum of new Cabin Enablers for customers of its flagship A380 airliner.
Interiors & Connectivity

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released demand growth results for global air freight markets for February 2017 showing an 8.4% increase in demand measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs) compared to the same period last year.
Aerospace

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic results for March 2017 showing that demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs) rose 6.8%, compared to the same month a year ago. Middle East carriers' traffic growth slowed to 4.9% in March compared to a year ago, which was a considerable slowing from January and February year-over-year demand growth.
Air Transport

According to the SITA Baggage Report 2017, released today, the rate of mishandled bags was 5.73 bags per thousand passengers in 2016, down 12.25% from the previous year and the lowest ever recorded.
Airports & Networks