fastJet in talks over Zambia-based operation

fastjet has started discussions with the Zambian government over creating a new operation based in Lusaka.
The low cost airline said a fastjet operation in Zambia would benefit trade and tourism links as well as improve the Zambian aviation industry. It would be a Zambian registered company in which fastjet plc would have a substantial stake, with the business marketed as part of the pan-African fastjet network.
The application for an Air Services Licence and Air Operator Certificate is likely to take up to six months.
Before then, astjet is start flights to Zambian capital Lusaka from De es Salaam in Tanzania in February though other key routes that could be served by a new carrier include Ndola and Livingstone, it said.
“Ndola on the DRC border and in the centre of the copper belt is a key hub which is currently poorly served.” Regional international routes are all provided by non-Zambian airlines.

Nigeria's Med-View takes delivery of B737-800; now eyes B767s, B777s

Med-View Airline (VL, Kano) has taken delivery of an B737-800 to be used in launching flights from Kano to Jeddah shortly. Speaking to the Nigerian press at Lagos shortly after the jet's arrival, Managing Director Alhaji Muneer Bankole said: "The airline will be using a Boeing 737-800 to kick-start the operation, while a B767-300(ER), which has a 14-hour flight endurance, and a B777 aircraft are on the shopping list for the long-haul operations," he said. As published recently by ch-aviation, Med-View has been awarded traffic rights to service Accra, Dakar, Singapore Changi, Libreville, Jeddah and Dubai Int'l.
Chi aviation

Azman Air, ferries its two B737-300s to Kano ahead of demo flights

Azman Air (Kano) has ferried its two  B737-300s to Kano ahead of demonstration flights to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Marking the occasion, CEO Alhaji Sani Yunusa, said: "Though not as easy as expected, when we fully commence operation Azman Air will be flying Kano to Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt Omagwa routes and we hope in the nearest future to go into international flights God willing." Several NCAA functionaries accompanied the flight from the United Kingdom.

Nigeria's IRS, Chanchangi Airlines to resume operations shortly

IRS Airlines (IS, Abuja) is hoping to resume operations in either late January or early February once its aircraft, a Fokker 100, is returned into service. Along with Chanchangi Airlines, the airline was grounded by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in late October 2013. In the wake of the Associated Aviation (SCD, Lagos) crash in September, the NCAA ordered all scheduled airline operators whose fleet size consisted of only one operational aircraft to immediately suspend flight operations. For its part, Chanchangi had pledged to restart flights to Kaduna, Abuja and Lagos on either January 13 or 14. Its fleet consists of three B737s: two B737-300s and one B737-500. At the time of its grounding, two of the airline's aircraft had been in for necessary maintenance
chi aviation

Nigeria's Dana Air to acquire two Egyptian B737-500s

 Suspended Dana Air has acquired two Boeing 737-500 planes as it seeks to phase out its old McDonnell Douglas aircraft that became infamous in 2012 following a plane crash that killed 163 people, sources at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, disclosed on Tuesday.
Sources said the planes were bought in Cairo, the Egyptian capital, and NCAA officials have travelled to inspect them before they are allowed into the country.
Sources said the two planes are not brand new but not as old as the MD-83 aircraft, the only aircraft in the fleet of Dana.
All Dana planes are more than 20 years old and old planes need more money to maintain.
Nigerians have accused some airlines often of cutting corners as they struggle with overwhelming financial challenges.
The newest acquisition will bring Dana fleet to about five planes.
Samuel Ogbogoro, Communication Manager at Dana Air, did not return text messages sent to his phone.
Dana Air was suspended on 6 October last year following an air return caused by a mechanical problem on one of its aircraft.
The incident happened only three days after an Associated Airlines plane crashed in Lagos and killed 16 people.
Sources at NCAA said Dana was given a list of items to comply with before it is allowed back into the skies.
The airline was said to have completed most of it and may return to the skies next week.
Training of staff is currently ongoing and a quality assurance manager is also needed before the suspension can be lifted, sources said.

PM News

Nigeria's Med-View Airline outlines its planned new int'l routes

Med-View Airline (VL, Kano) Managing Director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, has unveiled plans to start international operations in the first quarter of this year. The domestic carrier was granted international traffic rights in August last year. Nigerian paper, the Nation, quotes Mr Bankole as stating that the routes had been chosen in line with an extensive study the airline had recently carried out. ”Our international operations will begin in the first quarter of 2014 and we are going to fly on routes such as Abuja - Dubai Int'l, Lagos - Dubai, Kano - Jeddah, Abuja - Jeddah, Lagos - Accra, Lagos - Dakar, Enugu - Singapore Changi, Lagos - Libreville, and Nigeria - Israel,” he said. Founded in 2007, Med-View currently operates three B737-400s and one B737-500.

Culled: from Ch-Aviation