(Posted 12th November 2024)
Courtesy of Aero Trail Ltd and Mr. Alex Koech
Introduction.
The Tenth Meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization Regional Aviation Safety Group for the AFI Region (RASG-AFI/10) officially begun in East London, South Africa. The significant event was led by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Director General Fred Bamwesigye, with support from Senegal Civil Aviation Authority Director General Diaga Basse and ICAO Eastern and Southern African Regional Office Regional Director, Lucy Wanjiku Mbugua, serving as secretary. Delegates from member states convened to review progress on the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP), focusing on safety goals, targets, indicators, and regional priorities.
Simultaneously, on November 4, the Maghreb civil aviation authorities held a coordination meeting in Nouakchott, Mauritania to prepare for the upcoming ICAO Council (Category III) elections. Discussions included joint Maghreb representation, a memorandum from Mauritania, and cooperation projects among the Maghreb nations. Additionally, preparations are underway for the 35th African Civil Aviation Commission AFCAC session, scheduled for November 26-28, 2024.
African Aviation: Projections and Statistics.
A recent study by researchers from Sweden’s Linnaeus University reveals a sharp rise in private jet emissions over the past five years. According to the findings, a two-hour private jet flight can emit more greenhouse gases than the average person produces in a year. Private jets account for 1.8% of aviation’s carbon emissions, while aviation overall is responsible for around 4% of human-caused greenhouse gases, highlighting the disproportionate environmental impact of high-net-worth travelers.
In commercial aviation, Airbus delivered 62 aircraft in October—a 24% increase over September’s 50 deliveries—bringing its total for 2024 to 559 aircraft as it aims to reach 770 deliveries by year-end. Boeing, meanwhile, delivered 34 jets in October, with minimal month-over-month growth due to an ongoing strike by 33,000 workers since mid-September, affecting production of its 737, 767, and 777 models.
Cairo International Airport saw a busy day on November 2, handling approximately 90,000 passengers on 590 flights. This marked a high-traffic day, though just below its record set on April 13, 2024, when the airport managed 94,000 passengers on 647 flights.
Air Service Agreements (ASA’s) and Airlines Agreements/Partnerships.
In a significant step to strengthen ties between Rwanda and Malawi, Hon. Dr. Jimmy Gasore, Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, led the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), establishing a framework for air transport between the two countries. This agreement aims to boost connectivity, trade, and collaboration.
Madagascar‘s Minister of Transport and Meteorology, Mana Mbahoaka Valérie, met with Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister, Sameh El-Hefny, to discuss strengthening civil aviation ties. Key topics included a request from Madagascar to update the existing bilateral air agreement and explore a direct air route between the two countries.
The Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), in partnership with the Office of the Ombudsman, held a Code of Conduct Awareness and Signing Ceremony on November 4, 2024, at LCAA Headquarters in Margibi County. Under the theme “Building Relationships to Implement the Code of Conduct,” the event highlighted the importance of integrity and accountability in the public sector.
Chad has requested the resumption of flights with Libya through its Chargé d’Affaires in Tripoli. Discussions also covered the coordination of operations at their shared land border and preparing a transportation cooperation memorandum, per Libya’s Ministry of Transportation.
Libya’s Civil Aviation Authority signed an MoU with Spanish company Indra on November 5, 2024, to enhance Libya’s air traffic management. This agreement, made during the Libya Aviation Forum and Expo in Tripoli, aims to improve national connectivity.
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has appointed Euroairlines as its global air distribution partner, focusing on expanding routes in Central and South America. The agreement, signed at the end of October, will see Euroairlines manage ET’s domestic and international services.
The International Trade and Research Centre (ITRC) has named Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir Ltd as Official Travel Partners for the 5th Africa Intellectual Property Summit, set for November 28–30, 2024, at the Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda.
Routes and Airline Connectivity.
On November 4, 2024, South African Airways (SAA) launched its first direct flight from Johannesburg to Lubumbashi, boosting connectivity and trade between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The A320 flight departed OR Tambo at 10:50 a.m., arriving at Luano International after just over three hours. SAA will operate this new route five times weekly, serving both direct and connecting passengers.
After a six-year hiatus, Dutch charter airline TUI resumed flights to East Africa with a Boeing Dreamliner landing at Mombasa’s Moi International Airport, connecting Mombasa and Zanzibar. This service is expected to support the tourism sectors in Kenya and Tanzania, with 40% of inaugural passengers planning to explore Kenya and the rest heading to Zanzibar.
On October 20, 2024, easyJet began flights from Portugal to Cape Verde, with its first plane landing on Sal Island. The service, operated by an A320 NEO, includes four weekly flights from Lisbon and two from Porto.
TUI Airways UK launched its seasonal flights to Luxor, Egypt, from Manchester and London Gatwick on November 7, 2024, operating weekly until April 2025, with plans to resume the service for the winter 2026 season.
Discover Airlines, Lufthansa Group’s leisure carrier, will begin direct flights between Munich and Windhoek, Namibia, on April 1, 2025. The year-round service, operated by an Airbus Aircraft A330, will fly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Starting January 8, 2025, Saudi budget airline flynas will expand its African network with routes to Uganda and Djibouti, connecting Riyadh-Entebbe and Jeddah-Djibouti with three weekly flights, in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s goal of expanding international connections and attracting 150 million visitors annually by 2030.
Air Cairo, part-owned by EGYPTAIR, will launch flights to Libya’s Mitiga and Benghazi airports in mid-December, with four weekly flights from Mitiga to Cairo and four from Benina to Alexandria.
easyJet’s winter 2024/2025 schedule includes new and resumed routes, such as flights to Cairo on Wednesdays and Fridays from November 6, 2024, and flights to Agadir, Morocco, on Tuesdays and Sundays beginning November 8, 2024.
Since the start of Gambia’s winter tourism season in October, the country has welcomed new flights from both traditional and emerging markets. Recent arrivals include Corendon Airlines from the Netherlands, Titan Eastern Europe from Poland, and TUI UK, along with direct flights from Denmark operated by SAS.
XEJet Limited, formerly a charter-only operator, has launched scheduled commercial flights between Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria, marking its transition to scheduled services following its recent Air Operator Certificate expansion.
Royal Air Maroc has temporarily canceled flights to and from Nantes, France, on November 6 due to a firefighter strike at Nantes Airport.
Airline Fleets and ACMI’s.
Ethiopian Airlines made aviation history on November 5, 2024, by becoming the first African airline to take delivery of the Airbus A350-1000, the largest and most advanced model in the A350 family. Powered by Rolls-Royce engines, this aircraft seats 395 passengers in Ethiopian’s custom configuration. It debuted with an intra-African flight to Lagos, Nigeria, followed by routes to Dubai, UAE, and Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, where it was greeted with celebratory water cannon salutes.
Kenyan private carrier Fly Skyward Express, based at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, has expanded its fleet with a second Fokker 70, registered as 5Y-SKD. The 29.7-year-old aircraft, formerly operated by TUS Airways in Cyprus, arrived in Nairobi on November 4, 2024.
Air Cairo has added a new Airbus A320neo, registered as SU-BVL, to its fleet. Leased from Maverick Aviation, this aircraft is powered by CFMI LEAP-1A26 engines and configured to seat 180 passengers in a single-class layout.
Aviation Infrastructure, Financing & Profitability.
The Burkinabe government has announced an 80 billion FCFA (About USD 1.3 million) investment to modernize Bobo-Dioulasso Airport, with support from financial partners. The project includes a new terminal designed to handle at least 1.5 million passengers annually, along with upgrades to the runway, taxiways, and aircraft parking areas. The revamped airport is expected to boost hospitality, tourism, and commerce in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s economic hub and second-largest city.
The TANZANIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY(TCAA) will soon release a tender for constructing a state-of-the-art Civil Aviation Training Centre (CATC), with an estimated cost of $34.6 million (VAT inclusive). Scheduled to span three years, this project was to begin in the 2023/24 fiscal year and finish by 2025/26.
Emirates has opened its first Emirates World store in Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. Located at The Cube on Riverside Drive, this new store offers passengers a choice of expert travel guidance from consultants or self-service through smart technology.
Uganda Airlines reportedly owes over USD 8 million (USH 29 billion) to Dubai-based MixJet Flight Support for fuel credit. The airline acknowledged delays in payment, attributing them to disputed invoices, which it aims to reconcile. Uganda Airlines has committed an initial payment of USD 2 million as part of its efforts to resolve the debt.
Aviation Accidents/Incidents
Last Monday, Air Peace Limited reported that its 12:50 p.m. domestic flight from Benin to Abuja returned to Benin shortly after takeoff due to a technical issue. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers disembarked without incident.
On Tuesday, two Egyptian air force officers lost their lives when a helicopter crashed during a training exercise near Shalufa Air Base in Suez province. The military attributed the crash to a technical malfunction.
On November 5, 2024, at 12:40 local time, a U.S. Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicle crashed near Farsoley in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region. The incident was confirmed by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
In other news:
Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN) in Angola, located 40 kilometers from Luanda, officially commenced operations on November 10, 2024. TAAG-Linhas Aereas de Angola kicked off service with a domestic flight to Cabinda, marking the start of the airport’s phased operational rollout. Full international flight transfers to AIAAN are anticipated by March 31, 2025.
FlySafair, South Africa‘s largest airline and a leading on-time performer in Africa, may face suspension or cancellation of its aviation license due to foreign ownership concerns. The International Air Services Council (IASC) found that FlySafair’s ownership structure violates the Air Services Licensing Act, which requires at least 75% local ownership. Ireland-based ASL Holdings controls 74.86% of FlySafair, exceeding the permitted 25% foreign ownership cap for South African airlines.
On November 5, 2024, Ghana launched its national space policy, a landmark step for the country’s space sector. The policy aims to leverage space technology for economic growth, national security, and sustainable development.
Air Algérie has received the Excellence Award from Dubai International Airport, joining an elite group of airlines recognized for outstanding service quality, innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.
Tunisia’s Minister of Transport recently ordered the dismissal of several TUNISAIR officials following a string of flight delays and cancellations. Senior staff let go include the CEO of Tunisair Techniques, the head of Catering, and the head of central product management.
Ethiopian Aviation University welcomed nearly 200 Gabonese students for specialized aviation training programs, Ethiopian Airlines announced on social media.
Nigeria is set to host its first international airshow in Lagos in April 2025 to highlight the country’s aviation potential. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo stated that the event would bring together aviation experts and innovators to open new opportunities for the sector.
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