This 2023 Paris Air Show was an opportunity for Air Mauritius to confirm an order for three Airbus A350-900s. The three latest generation aircraft will bring Air Mauritius’ A350 fleet to a total of seven. “Air Mauritius is proud to renew its confidence in Airbus and its products, continuing a three-decade partnership. An additional A350-900 will also help us strengthen our European network and ensure our growth in other markets. “said general manager Kresimir Ku?ko, who gave no indication of the delivery dates, and therefore of financing, of the devices. The inventory of fleets made by ch-aviation shows that the Mauritian flag carrier currently operates four A350-900s, two A330-900s, one A330-200 (with another planned soon) and three ATR72-500s. A call for tenders has also been launched for a single-aisle A320/A321.
Alongside Air Mauritius, Air Algérie has confirmed its order for eight Boeing 737 MAX9s. She was also interested in two B737-800 freighters. Deliveries of passenger aircraft are expected from 2027.
For its part, TAAG Angola Airlines has added four Airbus A220-300s to its leased fleet. The company aims to operate a fleet of 50 aircraft within 5 years.
As for Cabo Verde Airlines, it obtained a loan of 5.8 million euros to cover the rental lease of its first Boeing 737 MAX8. The entry into service of its second plane, also a Boeing 737 MAX8, expected next month, should make it possible to rebuild its international network.
Finally, launched a few weeks ago, Cronos Airlines Benin, which flies with an Embraer, by joining the global network of Hahn Air, has tried to broaden its commercial visibility.
Afrijet, a private company based in Gabon, and Aura Aero, a French manufacturer and pioneer in low-carbon aviation, have signed a memorandum of understanding for ERA, the electric-powered regional business jet. Afrijet is the leading airline in the CEMAC zone. It operates regular flights between Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin and Equatorial Guinea. “Afrijet is very involved in aviation decarbonization projects and ERA is in our view the most credible and mature solution,” said Marc Gaffafolli, President and CEO of Afrijet. Brand new eco-responsible aircraft, ERA is a concentrate of avionics, aerodynamics and propulsion innovations. It appears as the solution to the decarbonization of regional aviation. It is a versatile aircraft capable of carrying 19 passengers or 1.9 t of cargo. It can also be configured for business aviation, carrying 8 or 9 passengers. Equipped with a pressurized cabin and offering a level of passenger comfort unequaled on this category of aircraft, according to its manufacturer, it is capable of covering up to 1,600 km and landing on the largest international airports as well as on runways. short and unprepared.
On the sidelines of the Paris Air Show and on the eve of its opening, the Paris Air Forum asked a crucial question in a round table: “Can Africa take off? The debates involved face-to-face or duplex Simon Kabore, Executive Secretary of the Union of Airport Managers of Central and West Africa, Jean-Claude Cros, Deputy Secretary General of the International Association of Carriers Airlines (IATA), Jenifer Bamuturaki, President of Afraa and Managing Director of Uganda Airlines, and Sylain Bosc of Avico. They were coordinated by Gesche Wuepper, economics correspondent and president of the Association of Professional Aeronautics and Space Journalists (AJPAE). The participants noted that the Covid had hit Africa less than the rest of the world. “Return to 2014 levels is expected in 2024 and some countries are emerging stronger,” the Avico representative said. Speakers stressed the need for dialogue between companies to anticipate the consequences of crises. Finally, ticket prices are always very high, 1,500 euros, for example for a Dakar-Yaoundé, half of a one-way ticket to Paris!