Libyan Wings a step closer to launch

Libyan Wings, a new Tripoli-based airline, is a step closer to its launch plans with the arrival in Malta of the second of its two Airbus A319 aircraft following the arrival of the first aircraft last week. The aircraft are expected to remain with Lufthansa Technic at Luqa International Malta while the final clearances and approvals are obtained to commence operations out of Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport.The privately-funded airline, by Libyan investors, will function as a full-service carrier, with the two aircraft configured with both business and economy class seating. The two 7-year-old aircraft, have been maintained  by Lufthansa Technik Philippines.Libyan Wings initially intends to serve a number of strategic destinations in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, with future expansion planned into Europe, as well as other markets in the Arabian Gulf, when additional aircraft are inducted into the fleet.The grey and blue corporate livery of the exterior has been carried into the cabin design  - complete with leather seats - providing a light and airy feel for the 12 passengers in business class and 108 in economy.”We are both delighted and excited at having received the first two aircraft as we embark on the next phase of our launch plans,” said Edgardo Badiali, Libyan Wings’ CEO “We are confident of setting a new benchmark for quality of service and customer satisfaction to and from Libya when we commence operations.” Libyan Wings’ Chairman, Wesam Al Masri said: “We have invested in modern aircraft that further demonstrates a commitment to innovation and technology while endeavouring to exceed customer expectations in terms of comfort and safety. As we scale, this will be supported on the ground by investments in infrastructure and services at Mitiga in order to enhance all stages of the customer’s travel experience.“Libyan Wings is now looking forward to leading a new era in Libya’s aviation sector and providing the stimulus for economic growth through the provision of high quality, efficient, safe and affordable air travel for the people of Libya,”he said  The new airline has signed an agreement with Lufthansa Technik (LHT), to provide MRO and aircraft engineering services including preparation of a comprehensive maintenance programme, compliance assessment for airworthiness directives and service bulletins [to ensure Libyan Wings complies with all mandatory inspections/checks as advised by the manufacturer and/or the regulatory authorities.“This arrangement with Lufthansa Technik is another demonstration of Libyan Wings’ commitment to ensure the most reliable and safe operation of its aircraft in order to provide regional connectivity to strategic destinations in the MENA region,” said COO, Mike McTighe.  The airline is expected to announce its official launch date soon and customers will be able to book flights on-line at www.libyanwings.ly and through sales’ offices and appointed travel agents.In 2013  the Tripoli carrier signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for three A350-900s and four A320neo’s

Lumka Msibi receives South Africa's Ubuntu Youth Diplomacy Award

Lumka Msibi's, a 24-year old engineer at Denel, has received South Africa's highest award for young ambassadors who promote a positive image of the country.

She received the Ubuntu Youth Diplomacy Award at a banquet hosted in Cape Town by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and attended by Pres. Jacob Zuma. It recognised her contributions “to promote South Africa as a dynamic country which creates an environment where youth can thrive and help to make the world a better place.” 

Born in Soweto, Lumka matriculated from the Parktown High School for Girls as one of the top ten achievers in Gauteng in 2008. With a bursary from Denel she then studied for a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand. 

During her internship at Denel Dynamics, the division in the defence group responsible for advanced technology in the fields of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicle systems, Lumka was offered the opportunity to participate in a mission to Antarctica.

In November 2013 she joined the Summer Relief Voyage which travelled to the southern edge of the world to replenish the South African team at the Antarctica Expedition Base (SANAE). 

During her time on the icy continent Lumka participated in the upgrade of the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) at the research base, SANAE IV.  This installation is used to monitor the dynamic space weather and serve as an early warning system for satellites by analysing solar activities. 

On her return to South Africa Lumka joined Denel Spaceteq as a Structural Engineer. Spaceteq is the group’s space engineering unit which is responsible for projects such as the development of an earth observation satellite, the EO-Sat1. 

In November last year she won the first prize among 500 entries in a global competition hosted by the International Astronautics Conference in Toronto, Canada. Her technical paper was based on the research work done in Antarctica but also her involvement in Denel Spaceteq’s Schools Outreach Programme. 

Engineers from Spaceteq visit various schools in the Western Cape where they inform young learners about the activities of Denel and engineering as potential careers. More than 200 learners in grades 10 to 12 participated in this programme in 2014. 

The group chief executive of Denel, Riaz Saloojee, said: “Lumka represents everything that is good about South Africa. In her young career she had already received international recognition for her research but she also contributes to the growth of the next generation of engineers and artisans through her participation in Denel’s outreach programmes.

Air Namibia selects Accelya solution

Air Namibia has selected Accelya's Cost Management (FinesseCostTM) & Flight Profitability (FinesseFPSTM) Solutions of FinesseSuite.

The airline was looking for a solution that could reduce their manual paperwork in their payable department and use their data & information to support fact driven decision-making. 

The airline selected Accelya’s FinesseCost and FinesseFPS solution. The scope of services include automate processing of Clearing House (CH) and Non-Clearing House invoices, accruals, Direct Operating Cost (DOC) verification, workflow, accounting integration with ERP and a supplier portal which will be used by airline’s suppliers to input their (bilateral) invoices. 

Marilyn Nel, manager finance, Air Namibia said: “Accelya has proven themselves to be a trusted partner and a valuable part of our team. We are very confident that their cost management and flight profitability solutions will help us automate entire procure-to-pay cycle and provide us with accurate and timely information about flight profitability”

EgyptAir calls in JWT to lead sales campaign

EgyptAir is stepping up its marketing push with a deal with one of the world's largest marketing and advertising agencies.

The Cairo-based airline group signed a cooperation protocol with JWT . The contract was signed by Capt. Hesham El-Nahas, Chairman and CEO of EgyptAir airline and Mr. Hany Shokry, Chairman of JWT Egypt Office. The signing was attended by Sherif Elmaghloub, head of commercial sector and a group of senior managers of both organisations.

Ethiopian Airlines plans on placing 20 wide body aircraft order

Ethiopian Airlines is going to place orders for 20 wide body aircraft, reports The Reporter.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, said management is evaluating the Boeing's new aircraft under development B777X and the Airbus A350-1000. The number of aircraft could be 15-20. 

Analyst Saj Ahmad said: “Ethiopian Airlines' continued expansion puts it right at the top of leading African airlines and its selection of a new widebody jet will solidify its position as Africa's fastest growing airline. 

“Ethiopian had early expressed a preference previously for the bigger 777-9X, given that it has more range and carries more passengers than the competing A350-1000, but with Ethiopian Airlines also inducting the first of 14 A350-900s next year, there is ample room for either a split deal between Airbus and Boeing as well as a "winner takes all" outcome.” 

Ahamad added: “The biggest challenge for both Airbus and Boeing is that while the A350-1000 and 777X are both years away from entering service, the performance metrics devised by both manufacturers will have to conform Ethiopian Airlines' stringent payload needs as they utilise many of the long haul jets to the fullest, with both passenger and cargo loads. 

“This would favour the 777-9X given the commonality with the 777-300ER and 787-8 fleets as well as its range superiority over the A350-1000, but the complexity of winning such a lucrative deal means both Airbus and Boeing will have to pull out all the stops to win this campaign.” 

The evaluation started last month and will be finalised within the next couple of months.

Ethiopian returns to EgyptAir training after a year away

The East African carrier has signed a contract for three months for providing type rating training for Boeing 777 pilots, but expectation is that the two sides will agree a one year deal. Meantime, the Cairo-based academy has received approvals by EASA for its simulator training on A320, A330/ A340, B777 and B737-800. The approval as an EASA-rated ATO will enable EgyptAir to compete against European schools and the Center said it becomes one of the few schools in the Middle East and Africa that can meet the EASA requirement.

SAA 'technically insolvent' and exploring emergency funding options

South African Airways (SAA) is exploring emergency funding options as part of a 90-day action plan intended to restore the state-owned carrier to solvency after it confirmed today that it is “technically insolvent”

“SAA is serious about rebuilding commercial sustainability and we will achieve our objectives,” said acting CEO Nico Bezuidenhout. “Tasks completed already include a review of the SAA long-haul international network as well as a re-evaluation of fleet requirements.” The airline confirmed it is now reliant on government guarantees, which stand at 1.2 billion. “SAA has been reliant on guarantees from its shareholder [the South African government] for several years and the delay in the release of the financial statements for the 2013/14 financial year is directly related to the continued weakness of the company’s balance sheet and due to the company being technically insolvent,” SAA said in a statement. Earlier this month, South Africa guaranteed another $565 million for SAA so its results for the year ended March 2014 could finally be released. Revenues for the year rose 12% to R30.3 billion and its EBITDA loss narrowed 12% to R374 million.  Long haul activities were seen as the major issue for the airline. Profits from domestic flights rose 10%  while the contribution from regional flying was up 17% and its budget arm Mango - which was run by Bezuidenhout until he was pulled back to SAA for the acting CEO role - also reported record profits. SAA is ending flights to Mumbai and Beijing, to help stem "substantial losses,” and passing the passenger traffic to codeshare partners Etihad and Air China. It will increase its regional activities, the airline said