Congo Airways, the national airline of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has officially announced its return to the skies, with the first flight scheduled for November 10, 2024. In a press release, the airline’s management expressed gratitude to the Congolese Government, the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), and the airline’s dedicated staff for their collective efforts in making this long-anticipated relaunch possible. The resumption of Congo Airways flights is a
Category: Air Freight
SARS Approves Year-Long Jet Fuel Importation to Prevent Holiday Airport Fuel Crisis
South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has authorized a special year-long exemption to allow the importation of jet fuel, preventing a potential supply shortage at OR Tambo International Airport and other major airports over the busy December travel period. The exemption, effective from October 21, 2024, to October 20, 2025, comes after concerns were raised by the fuel industry about a looming shortage of jet fuel, or aviation
Emirates Expands Fleet with Order for Five More Boeing 777 Freighters
Emirates has announced a firm order for five additional Boeing 777 freighters, scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2026. This latest order brings the airline’s pending deliveries of the Boeing 777F to a total of 14, set to arrive by the end of 2026. To further bolster its cargo capacity, Emirates has also extended a multi-year lease with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for four Boeing 777 freighters currently in its fleet.
Qatar Airways Launches World’s First Boeing 777 with Starlink Internet Service
Qatar Airways has launched the world’s first Boeing 777 equipped with Starlink, marking a significant advancement in in-flight connectivity. The announcement was made via a media release sent using the ultra-high-speed, low-latency internet service while flying at 35,000 feet from Doha to London. The complimentary Starlink service is available to all passengers from gate to gate. Initially targeting three Starlink-equipped aircraft, Qatar Airways now plans to deliver 12 upgraded Boeing
SAA Expands African Network with New Johannesburg-Lubumbashi Route and Increased Flight Frequencies
South African Airways (SAA) has announced the launch of direct flights between Johannesburg and Lubumbashi, scheduled to commence on November 4. This new route joins SAA’s existing service to Kinshasa, providing five weekly flights to both key Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) destinations. In addition to this new service, SAA has outlined a substantial increase in flight frequencies to several African cities starting in November. Flights to Harare and Lusaka
DHL Optimistic About Airfreight Growth in Q1 2025 Amidst Port Disruptions
DHL has expressed optimism for the first quarter of 2025, forecasting continued growth in airfreight volumes. During a recent webinar, Tim Robertson, Chief Executive for the Americas at DHL Global Forwarding, shared his insights on airfreight trends for the upcoming year. Robertson noted that, following a strong fourth quarter, significant changes in airfreight patterns are not expected in Q1. He highlighted a rise in airfreight volumes from the Asia-Pacific region
Zambia Airways and Motor Dealers Association Partner to Boost Regional Trade
Zambia Airways has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zambia Motor Dealers Association to improve travel logistics for association members, marking a major milestone in supporting local businesses with affordable, efficient transport options. Announced at a ceremony in Lusaka, this partnership enables Zambia Airways to offer specialized flights to key regional hubs like South Africa and Tanzania, directly catering to the needs of Zambia’s motor dealers. Zambia Airways’
Aviation Drives Dubai’s Economy with Projected 32% GDP Share by 2030
The latest economic impact report from Emirates Group and Dubai Airports underscores aviation as a cornerstone of Dubai’s economy, contributing 27% of the emirate’s GDP in 2023—an impact of AED 137 billion (USD 37.3 billion). By 2030, aviation’s share is projected to rise to 32%, as forecasted by Oxford Economics. Aviation’s influence extends beyond flights to include supply chain effects, wage-based spending, and tourism. In 2023, the sector supported over
Angola Seeks Operators for New Luanda Airport Concession
Angola’s government is inviting bids to manage the new Luanda Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport under a 25-year concession. The Ministry of Transport has launched a formal tender process, with a deadline for proposals set for February 16, 2025. Interested parties must have operated at least one international airport for a minimum of three years, with prior annual traffic of at least 10 million passengers between 2018 and 2022. If
Proflight Zambia Expands Fleet with New CRJ-200 Jet, Strengthening Regional Operations
Proflight Zambia has announced the addition of a fifth Bombardier CRJ-200 passenger jet, further enhancing its position as a leading regional airline. This new acquisition underscores Proflight’s commitment to improving connectivity, operational capacity, and service excellence across Southern Africa. With the arrival of the CRJ-200, Proflight’s fleet now consists of five 50-seater Bombardier CRJ-200 passenger jets and a Bombardier CRJ-100 freighter. Eric Simukonde, Proflight’s Maintenance Manager and flight engineer for