AFRICAN AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS
(Posted 11th February 2020)
Cabo Verde
Domestic flight services between the islands have been reduced as a result of a delay in putting a leased ATR 42 on the local registry. Confirmation is awaited when this has been accomplished and a full domestic flight schedule has been restored.
Kenya
Wilson Airport based ALS, short for Aviation Leasing Services, has taken delivery of their first Dash 8-200. The airline already has eight Dash 8-100’s on their fleet. No information is available at this stage where the aircraft is to be placed, i.e. which Kenyan carrier will operate it.
Congo DR
Congo Airways’ present fleet of two A320 and two Dash 8 aircraft is due to be enhanced this year with the introduction of an Embraer E175 as well as the temporary replacement of their A320’s when these aircraft enter heavy maintenance. The airline has yet to announce if the two replacement aircraft will also be A320’s or as has been speculated, two Embraer 190’s.
Zimbabwe
Air Zimbabwe has taken delivery of the first of two Boeing B777-200’s, registered as Z-RGM – the same registration the aircraft was given when two years ago – when Zimbabwe Airways, now for all intent and purposes defunct, had placed orders with Malaysia Airways for four of these aircraft. Air Zimbabwe presently has no landing rights for Europe and would need to reapply for those alongside with slots at the airports of their choice. The airline will also need to meet the stringent EASA conditions for flights into and across the EU.
Meanwhile has an Embraer E145, purchased earlier last year from a company in the US, received the required clearance about the purchase / funding and is now awaiting registration and deployment.
