Africa

Oman Air has launched its new four times weekly flight from Muscat to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

By Oscar Nkala| Egyptian airline Petroleum Air Services (PAS) says it will in 2017 invest up to US$80 million in a fleet modernisation programme that is aimed at replacing most of its old aircraft.

The US Army has engaged defense contractor DynCorp International to provide aviation field maintenance services in Egypt and the Netherlands on behalf of the Aviation Field Maintenance Division, which is a component of the Army Aviation and Missile Command. By Oscar Nkala

Travelport has appointed Jasmeen Kaur in the role of head of product and solutions EMEA.

Avinor's Oslo Airport has announced the addition of Addis Ababa to its route network with new airline partner Ethiopian Airlines.

By Oscar Nkala: A top official of Russian Helicopters has confirmed that the delivery of the 46 Kamov Ka-52 'Alligator' helicopters ordered by the Egyptian Navy in 2015 will start in the second half of this year.

The Zimbabwean government is continuing with the hunt for a technical partner for ailing flag-carrier Air Zimbabwe after holding failed negotiations with all the nine companies which have expressed interest in the last three years, reports Oscar Nkala

RwandAir is planning to make its European debut during the second quarter of the year, reports ch-aviation.

Nigeria's First Nation Airways has suspended operations for a second time in six months, reports ch-aviation.

ASKY Airlines has confirmed it will make its Southern African debut early during the next quarter, reports ch-aviation.

Fastjet has ended its executive search for its leadership team with three key appointments. The low-cost carrier has named a new non-executive chairman, a non-executive director and a new chief financial officer to its board.

IATA has named Kenya based Astral Aerial Solutions as the winner of the IATA Air Cargo Innovation Award for 2017, for the company's Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) Concept for Africa.

ASKY is to add a new nonstop service between Lomé and Johannesburg effective 8 April 2017.

Gulfstream Aerospace G500 flight-test programme is making significant progress toward the aircraft's anticipated 2017 certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Zimbabwe has approached the Chinese Import Export Bank (Exim) asking for an undisclosed loan amount to fund the planned upgrading and expansion of the Harare International Airport. By Oscar Nkala

The UK government has announced changes to aviation security measures on selected inbound flights to the UK that restrict the size of electronic items that may be carried by passengers in the cabin.

Ethiopian Airlines has finalised preparations to launch flights to three new destinations – Victoria Falls, Oslo and Antananarivo – within three days, 26-28 March 2017.

Ethiopian Airlines has added Ahmedabad, a fifth cargo gateway to India, to its global cargo network as of March 28, 2017.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has licensed new entrant Genesis Global Aviation Limited (GGAL) to operate a commercial helicopter service across the country. Oscar Nkala reports.

Kenya Airways will start a direct flight between Nairobi and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on May 1, 2017.

FlightSafety International, that has training facilities in South Africa, has announced the start of the only factory-authorised Gulfstream G650 training programme located close to operators in Europe, the Middle East, and surrounding regions.

Yahsat has started a long-term strategic partnership with UAE communications solutions company X SAT FZE. Under the agreement, X SAT is committed to capacity on Yahsat's upcoming Ka-band satellite, Al Yah 3, to be launched later this year.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that Kenya based Astral Aerial Solutions is the recipient of the IATA Air Cargo Innovation Award for 2017, for the company's Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) Concept for Africa. The award was presented at the 11th World Cargo Symposium (WCS) in Abu Dhabi.

Alsim has announced the sale of an ALX Light Turboprop to the Morocco Aviation Private Academy (MAPA), located in Benslimane, Morocco. The device will be delivered to the academy this spring.

The US Department of Homeland Security is to implement a ban of passengers carrying personal electronic devices flying from key North African airports of Casablanca and Cairo.