Congo Airways SA has been granted a 90-day moratorium by the International Civil Aviation Organization (IATA) and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Civil Aviation Authority. The Ministry of Transport, Communication Routes, and Disenclavement announced this extension on Monday, September 16, 2024, via their official X account. This moratorium is intended to allow Congo Airways to finalize the return to service of one of its Airbus A320 aircraft, registered as 9S-AKD,
Category: Southern Africa
DRC Relaunches Air Congo with Inaugural Flight Set for December
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), under Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, has revived its plans to establish a new national airline, “Air Congo SA.” During the 14th Council of Ministers meeting held on Friday, September 20, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, confirmed that the project, stalled since 2023, is back on track. The inaugural flight is scheduled for December 1,
Transnet Enhances South African Port Operations with New Shore Tension Units
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has delivered six hydraulic shore tension units to the Ports of Cape Town and Ngqura, aiming to reduce shipping and cargo delays caused by high swells and adverse weather conditions. This recent delivery increases the total number of units to 12, part of a larger batch of 52 shore tension systems procured in September 2023. Previously, eight units were already installed at these ports. The
TAAG Partners with Habana Forwarding to Expand Cargo Services
TAAG, Angola’s national airline, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Habana Forwarding to enhance the transport of cargo and mail on the Luanda-Lisbon-Luanda and Luanda-Havana-Luanda routes. The one-year renewable agreement positions TAAG as Habana Forwarding’s preferred operator, enabling the transportation of diverse cargo to intercontinental destinations, particularly in the Americas, Africa, and Europe. The agreement was formalized by TAAG’s commercial director, Miguel Carneiro, and Habana Forwarding’s chairman, Cenén Portuindo
New Luanda Airport Set for November Launch as Transfer Process Nears Completion
Domestic and international flights at Dr. António Agostinho Neto Airport (AIAAN) are scheduled to begin in the second half of November, according to António Pombal, the general director of the Temporary Operator of the New Luanda Airport (ATO). Speaking during the third integrated operational test simulation, Pombal confirmed that airlines are currently reprogramming flight codes and adjusting operational and logistical procedures. The transfer of operations from the 4 de Fevereiro
Daimler Truck Warns of Unsustainable EV Targets Amid Infrastructure Shortcomings
On Monday, Daimler Truck raised concerns about the rapid pace of electric vehicle (EV) adoption and the unsustainable costs associated with meeting decarbonization targets. Dr. Andreas Gorbach, a board member at Daimler Truck AG and head of its truck technology division, stressed that the burden is not on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) but rather on the lack of supporting infrastructure. Speaking ahead of the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) Transportation show, Gorbach
Transnet Freight Rail Restores Full Operations on Cape Mainline After Flood Repairs
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has fully resumed operations on the Cape Mainline after completing extensive repairs to sections of the railway damaged by the severe floods in July 2024. In a statement released on Friday, TFR announced that freight operations had returned to full capacity after more than a month of intensive work to restore the line. “The rail infrastructure sustained significant damage in the De Wet and Sandhills areas,
Unifeeder’s Maputo Service Sees Growth in Exports from Eswatini
Unifeeder’s weekly ocean freight service via the Port of Maputo, initially launched in 2022 for citrus exports from South Africa’s Letsitele and the Lowveld, is now experiencing significant growth in exports from Matsapha, Eswatini. Logan Naidoo, Unifeeder’s Southern Africa representative, highlighted the success of the twice-daily rail service from Matsapha to the Mozambican port. The two-hour journey moves dry bulk cargo, particularly from Eswatini’s thriving sugar industry, to the terminal
KZN Finance MEC Backs Call for Relief on eThekwini’s Sydney Road Amid Truck Congestion
KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers has pledged to advocate for relief on Sydney Road in Umbilo, eThekwini, where escalating truck congestion is severely impacting businesses near the port area. Rodgers made this commitment following a meeting with the Umbilo Business Association (UBA) representatives, including Chairperson Doran Subiah, Policy Director Ian Campbell-Gillies, and Legal Adviser and Policy Strategist Nontokozo Mpanza-Seme. The UBA raised concerns over the ongoing congestion, which is hampering
Walvis Bay Port Set for Major Revamp as Terminal Investment Namibia Takes Over Operations
Namibia’s Port of Walvis Bay is entering a new phase following the long-awaited handover of container operations to Terminal Investment Namibia (TiN), a subsidiary of Terminal Investment Limited (TiL). The port’s revamped container facility, upgraded at a cost of $300 million, will now benefit from private sector management starting October 1, 2024, after delays pushed the original timeline back from 2023. TiN, a joint venture between state-owned Namport and TiL