(Posted 30th July 2024)
Courtesy of Aero Trails Ltd and Mr. Alex Koech
Africa’s aviation industry is surging, as evidenced by recent reports from various nations. The Mozambique Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) released its 2023 air transport outlook, indicating a rise in passenger and aircraft movements. Moroccan airports recorded improved traffic in the first half of 2024, while Cape Town International Airport also saw increased traffic, along with Ivorian and Tanzanian air transport. Additionally, airlines are expanding their route networks and ramping up their fleets. For more details, read the article below.
Introduction.
In an effort to foster a thriving aviation industry crucial for unlocking Africa’s potential, Boeing, in collaboration with RwandAir Ltd, hosted the third annual Boeing Africa Operators Forum in Kigali. This event brought together industry players to address operational challenges and enable the industry to fully contribute to the socio-economic transformation of the continent by driving investment, trade, and tourism flows. The forum aimed to support the growth and development of African nations and create opportunities for Africans to contribute to a sustainable, safe, and prosperous global aviation industry.
African Aviation: Projections and Statistics.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Mozambique (IACM) reported an increase in air transport passengers from 1,649,901 in 2022 to 1,974,523 in 2023. Aircraft movements grew by 7% to 60,250. Maputo International Airport saw a 22% passenger growth, reaching 1,051,868, followed by Nampula with 199,366 (+13%) and Beira with 198,269 (+21%). Domestic air transport saw a passenger increase of 11% to 1,272,263, while regional connections grew by 46% to 524,879 and intercontinental connections by 28% to 149,507. Mozambique is served by eight international operators and had 14 Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) by December 2023, with 88 registered aircraft.
Morocco’s Office National Des Aéroports (ONDA) reported a 19% increase in passenger traffic during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Over 15.1 million passengers were processed, setting a new record for the country. Rabat-Sale Airport recorded the highest jump at 40%, followed by Agadir (34%) and Marrakech (29%). Other airports like Tetouan, Tangier, and Fes saw increases ranging from 12% to 23%. International traffic rose by 19% to 13.5 million passengers, with significant growth in regions like Europe (20%), Africa (16%), and the Middle and Far East (15%). Domestic passenger numbers reached 1.5 million, a 22% year-on-year increase. Aircraft movements also saw a 15% rise, exceeding 110,000, with Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport handling the most traffic (35%). Airfreight traffic increased by 24%, reaching over 46,209 tonnes. Given these positive trends, the Minister of Tourism announced a 40% increase in airline seats for the year, following a 22% increase in 2023.
The Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) recorded a 13% increase in passenger arrivals as of June 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The number of passengers arriving at the country’s airports rose from 2.8 million in 2023 to 3.8 million based on recent statistics.
Cape Town International Airport reported a 13% increase in international visitors for the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year, equating to over 1.5 million passengers. For June, there was a 14% year-on-year growth with over 197,000 two-way international passengers, while the domestic terminal recorded a 9% year-on-year growth for June with over 550,000 two-way passengers. The domestic terminal achieved a 9% year-on-year growth year-to-date, with over 3.5 million passengers.
Ivorian air transport saw an 11.5% increase in passenger traffic, reaching 601,057 in the first three months of 2024, driven by increased travel during the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Commercial passengers rose by 13.3% to 553,951, while direct transit passengers dropped by 9.9% to 37,651. There was growth in national traffic (+10.9%), Europe (+13.8%), ECOWAS (+2.3%), the rest of Africa (+29.1%), and the rest of the world (+0.7%).
According to Embraer, the sub-150 seat aircraft fleet in Africa is expected to nearly double in the next two decades, with the region requiring approximately 600 new aircraft, including 380 regional jets and 220 turboprops.
Air Service Agreements (ASA’s) and Airline Agreements/Partnerships.
A high-level delegation from the Algerian Civil Aviation Authority visited Mitiga International Airport to audit its security and operational procedures. The goal is to assess compliance with international standards and explore the possibility of resuming flights between Algeria and Libya, which were suspended in January 2016.
Ethiopian MRO, a division of Ethiopian Airlines Group, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with ATR at the Farnborough Air Show to enhance Ethiopian’s ATR aircraft maintenance and training capabilities. This expansion will significantly increase ATR’s presence in Africa and the Middle East, supporting the 36 airlines operating 131 ATRs across the region.
Royal Air Maroc Cargo has partnered with cargo.one to launch its first digital sales channel. This partnership allows cargo.one freight forwarders to access the carrier’s bellyhold and freighter capacity, enabling digital bookings for general cargo shipments up to 1000kg (widebody) and 500kg (narrowbody).
Air Mauritius has signed an exclusive three-year partnership with Sanad for MRO services on Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines for its Airbus A330 fleet. The airline also selected Airbus Fleet Technical Management (FTM) and Design Studio for cabin interior design services to enhance the operational efficiency and passenger experience of its A350 and A330 fleets. Additionally, Air Mauritius opted for the latest generation business seats from STELIA Aerospace for its direct order of A350 aircraft.
Vallair, a multi-disciplinary MRO and mature aircraft asset specialist, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA). This partnership will focus on aeronautical training, aircraft maintenance, aircraft disassembly, and workforce training and development.
FlyUs Aviation Group has been appointed as the General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA) partner for Ethiopian Airlines in the United Kingdom.
Routes and Airline Connectivity.
EGYPTAIR has been actively expanding its routes. Recently, the airline launched three intra-Africa routes to Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, and Somalia. On in the inter-continental stage, the airline on July 9, 2024, inaugurated its latest European service between Cairo and Prague with flight MS789. The 2,640-kilometer route will be maintained thrice weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, using the Boeing B737-800 aircraft. This marks the first nonstop air service between the two cities since 2011. Additionally, the carrier launched a three-weekly service to Zurich on July 8. Meanwhile, on July 23, 2024, the Egyptian Ambassador to Portugal, Wael al-Naggar, welcomed the crew of EgyptAir’s first direct flight between Cairo and Lisbon since 2011, marking a 13-year hiatus. This route will operate twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, using the A321neo aircraft with a flight time of approximately 320 minutes. EgyptAir now serves 25 European airports.
Moroccan based airline, Air Arabia Maroc, the leading low-cost airline in the Arab market, announced three new direct routes starting October 2024, utilizing Airbus A320 aircraft seating 180 passengers. The Tangier-Girona route will operate on Mondays and Thursdays, the Tangier-Bordeaux route on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and the Tetouan-Lyon route on Tuesdays.
Starting July 29, 2024, Fly Air Zimbabwe will reintroduce two direct flights: an international route connecting Harare and London, UK, and an intra-Africa route connecting Harare and Johannesburg.
Safarilink Aviation announced a new twice-weekly domestic service from Nairobi-Wilson Airport to Mombasa, beginning August 2, 2024.
TAAG-Linhas Aereas de Angola will increase its flights from Luanda to South Africa starting September 4. The airline will add three flights to Cape Town and two to Johannesburg each week, in addition to its regular daily flights.
Due to increased demand, Jambojet will make its recently inaugurated Mombasa-Zanzibar service daily starting in September, up from the current four times a week. This route, targeting leisure and business travelers, charges $113 for a one-way ticket.
The Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority has notified Ethiopian Airlines that all flights to Eritrea will be suspended effective September 30, 2024. The regulator cited consistent issues such as luggage theft, pilferage, unjustified price hikes, and prolonged delays without compensation as reasons for the suspension.
Effective August 9, 2024, Kenya Airways will suspend its five weekly flights to Bangui, Central African Republic, due to low demand and poor performance. The airline will offer alternative travel options, including rebooking, refunds, or re-routing to affected passengers. This suspension will not affect cargo services.
Airline Fleets and ACMI’s.
Berniq Airways has placed a firm order for six Airbus Aircraft A320neo, as announced by Airbus at the Farnborough Airshow. This move aims to modernize the airline’s fleet and enhance its regional and international routes.
At the Farnborough Airshow, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited confirmed that the Tanzanian government has signed a purchase agreement for a refurbished DHC Q400 aircraft to be added to AIR TANZANIA COMPANY LIMITED‘s fleet. De Havilland’s program refurbishes pre-owned DHC 8 aircraft for resale to existing and new customers.
Kenyan carrier Fly Skyward Express has announced the acquisition of a refurbished De Havilland Dash 8-Q400. The 23-year-old aircraft, previously operated by US Horizon Airlines, has a manufacturer serial number of 4047.
South African low-cost carrier FlySafair is preparing for a busy summer by adding two Boeing 737-800 NGs to its fleet. The first aircraft is set to enter service in September and the second in November, in anticipation of high demand and pricing during the December peak season. This expansion will increase the airline’s daily flight capacity by 12 to 14 flights.
Aviation Infrastructure and Financing.
The Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) announced plans to revamp and build new VIP lounges at Mwanza and Arusha airports, as well as Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA). The TSh 600 million (£190,000) government-funded project was revealed shortly after Swissport Tanzania launched two brand new Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300 vehicles to enhance VIP transportation services at Julius Nyerere International Airport.
The Liberian Airport Authority has significantly boosted its infrastructure and security capabilities with the donation of 20 police vehicles and three 1200 KVA electricity generators from Engineers & Planners Ltd, courtesy of Ghanaian businessman Ibrahim Mahama. This donation is expected to enhance operational efficiency and security at Roberts International Airport in Monrovia.
The Kenyan Parliament has launched an investigation into an alleged private deal involving Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and an Indian firm under a 30-year concession. The investigation was triggered by revelations that the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) entered into a deal with Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, sparking widespread uproar and demands for transparency.
VISA/PASSPORTS
In an effort to reopen the country to the world following the costly Libyan civil war, Libya is set to introduce visa-free entry for citizens of eight countries, primarily from the Maghreb region. These countries are Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey.
Starting April 2025, citizens of Canada, Germany, the US, the UK, and 31 other ‘non-reciprocating’ countries will need a visa to enter Namibia. This move aims to ensure parity and fairness in diplomatic interactions. However, visitors from these countries will be able to obtain a 90-day visa on arrival for $90, unlike African passport holders who must secure their visas beforehand.
Aviation Accidents/Incidents
On July 21, 2024, Royal Air Maroc flight AT751, operated by a Boeing 737-800, declared an emergency while en route from Paris Orly Airport to Casablanca and was diverted to Bordeaux. The airline has not disclosed the nature of the emergency that necessitated the unscheduled diversion.
A Max Air Ltd domestic flight from Yola Airport to Abuja experienced an incident on the runway after aborting takeoff. The aircraft, carrying 100 passengers, lost a wheel while taxiing in preparation for takeoff. Fortunately, all passengers disembarked safely.
In other news:
Kenyan airline ALS Limited has been actively implementing strategies to reduce carbon emissions through fuel-saving and preservation techniques. Previously, ALS operations emitted up to 3.6 tonnes of carbon per hour. This has now been significantly reduced to 2.1 tonnes per hour. Operating the largest fleet in Kenya with 36 aircraft, ALS consumed 1,268,625 liters of fuel in January 2023. By the end of the year, this was reduced to 1,112,858 liters, resulting in an average monthly fuel reduction of 15,578 liters.
The Murtala Muhammed Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N80,351,299,068 (USD49.6 million) in duty during the first six months of 2024. This represents a 107.5% increase compared to the N38,707,054,216 (USD23.9 Million) collected in the same period in 2023. In anti-smuggling efforts, the agency seized items worth N6,064,987,480.27 (USD3.7 Million). Additionally, the command recorded export goods with an export value of N266,655,113.66 (about USD164601.92)( and an FOB (free on board) value of $204,597.07.
Kenya Airways (KQ) redirected several flights scheduled to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Mombasa and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania on Thursday morning due to adverse weather conditions affecting visibility. The airport’s runway, with International Civil Aviation Organization code E, is equipped with a Category I Instrument Landing System (ILS), which has operational limitations during bad weather.
Finally, TAAG-Linhas Aereas de Angola received the prestigious FILDA 2024 “Golden Lion” award for best transport and logistics participation. The ceremony was held on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Angola.
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