Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tasew said: “This newly introduced Boeing 737-800 Business Jet is designed to offers a spacious and luxurious cabin, featuring premium seating. Its customised seating arrangement with 19 for commercial operation and 32 for private operation ensures an exclusive and intimate atmosphere, accommodating a select number of passengers. Additionally, with its extended range and efficiency, the Boeing 737-800 VIP guarantees a seamless and reliable journey for short- and medium-haul charter operations.”

He added: “As Africa’s leading carrier, we are always looking for ways to enhance our offerings and meet the unique demands of our diverse clientele. With the addition of this Boeing 737-800 Business Jet, we are elevating our charter service to new heights, ensuring that our customers enjoy unparalleled luxury, convenience, and world-class service. This is yet another step in our commitment to fostering business and investment opportunities across Africa and beyond.”

Commenting on the launch, Adrian Hamilton-Manns, CEO of SalamAir, said, "We are thrilled to expand our network by introducing flights between Muscat and Nairobi. This new route supports our vision to connect Oman to key global destinations, strengthening economic and cultural ties in alignment with Oman Vision 2040. Nairobi is a dynamic city with significant business potential and rich tourism offerings, and we are pleased to provide our passengers with an affordable and convenient travel option.

Additionally, this connection will allow Kenyan travellers to visit Oman and discover its unique attractions, among the region's most sought-after destinations. The route also opens seamless connections from Nairobi to the GCC and the Indian subcontinent."

He further emphasised that Nairobi is the first of several destinations SalamAir aims to introduce across East Africa, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to expanding connectivity across the region.

Nasra Salim Mohamed Al Hashmi, the Omani Ambassador to Kenya, said: “The commencement of SalamAir’s direct flight to Nairobi marks a significant development in the bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Kenya. This new air route is expected to enhance trade, tourism, and investment opportunities, further strengthening economic ties between our two nations. Improved connectivity will facilitate business engagements and promote cultural exchange, reinforcing the historical relationship that has long existed between Oman and Kenya. The introduction of this service reflects a mutual commitment to expanding cooperation across key sectors. We look forward to the positive impact of this initiative on the movement of people and goods between our countries.”

The Kenyan Ambassador to Oman, Abdi Aden Korio, added: “The SalamAir inaugural flight to Nairobi commenced on 17th March 2025. The airline will be the only carrier linking Oman with Kenya directly. The route is ultimately important as it serves as the single most vital connection for our guests within the travel and tourism industry, the business community and government officials. Kenya welcomes SalamAir with open arms and look forward to the continuation of this crucial passenger and cargo transportation between Kenya and Oman.”

The project, worth $7.8 billion, aims to dramatically scale up Ethiopia’s aviation capacity, to handle 60 million passengers annually by 2040, up from the current 17 million.

The landmark MoU was signed between Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, and Nnenna Nwabufo, vice president for regional development, integration, and strategy at AfDB.

The new airport will be constructed in Abusera, near Bishoftu, in Ethiopia’s Oromia region.

The check included additional work, such as removing and reinstalling the wing’s outermost surface and modifying the wing’s dry bay.

The major modification which adds a sealed boundary area in the wing structural fuel tank, acts as a safety buffer and an extra layer of protection to the aircraft in case of damage.

The process required extensive labour hours and involved the removal and reinstallation of around 2,000 screws.

A cabin interior refurbishment and the overhaul of the landing gear were done additionally during the scheduled 2C check to minimise aircraft downtime.

The aircraft owner is a repeat customer of the Johannesburg’s Lanseria International Airport centre. Vince Goncalves, Regional VP Africa for ExecuJet MRO Services, said: “Falcon operators prefer to send their aircraft to us because we are a factory-owned Falcon service centre that has an experienced local workforce trained by Dassault,” says Goncalves.

“We support all in-production Falcon models at our facility. With the growing number of Falcons in the region, we look forward to more line and base maintenance work coming to the facility,” he adds.

Dassault’s three-engine Falcons are popular with African operators due to their range and airport runway performance, particularly in ‘hot and high’ flying conditions.

Separately, ExecuJet MRO Services South Africa has also concluded 1C inspection on a South African-registered Falcon 50B.

The simulator will be certified by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and is expected to be ready for training in the second half of 2025.

Meeting Africa’s Growing Demand for E190 Training

The integration of the E190 simulator aligns with the evolving needs of Simaero’s clients, many of whom are transitioning from the Embraer ERJ 145 to the more modern E190 aircraft.African carriers are increasingly switching their ERJ 145 fleets with the larger, more fuel-efficient E190 E-Series jets, while newer start-up airlines are opting for this model due to its extended range and ETOPS capabilities. This growing demand for the E-Seriesj et has created a pressing need for high-quality simulator training in Africa.

The introduction of the E190 full-flight simulator at Simaero’s Johannesburg Training Center will enhance training opportunities for external clients in South Africa. As the largest independent aviation training facility in the region, this expansion strengthens Simaero’s role in supporting the continent’s shift to the latest Embraer fleets on short-to-medium-haul routes, establishing Johannesburg as a key hub for both local and international airlines.

Strengthening Johannesburg asa Leading Training Hub

This expansion builds on the recent relocation of a Bombardier CRJ 200/700 full-flight simulator, solidifying Simaero’s Johannesburg Training Center as a leading hub for regional aircraft training. With upcoming CRJ and E190 comprehensive training programs, from initial type-rating to command upgrade, the center will offer high-quality solutions tailored to Africa’s evolving aviation sector.

"Our Johannesburg centre is evolving into a key training hub for regional aviation in Africa. The introduction of the E190 simulator, alongside the recently added CRJ 200/700, allows us to offer a full range of training solutions tailored to the needs of African airlines," affirmed Keith Roseveare, general manager of Simaero South Africa.

Accelerating Expansion Through Strategic Collaboration with HNCA

This milestone stems from a strategic partnership between Henan Aviation Investment Management Company (HNCA), the Bank of China, and Simaero. In 2024, Simaero and HNCA launched China’s first cross-border simulator operating lease business, designed to accelerate the relocation and acquisition of training devices. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between training demand and available simulator capacity, ensuring airlines worldwide have agile and cost-effective access to the latest training technologies.

"By working closely with HNCA, we are setting new industry standards for the rapid deployment of simulators. This project highlights our commitment to supporting the aviation sector’s growth in Africa and beyond," said Nicolas Mouté, CEO of Simaero.

The Embraer E190 full-flight simulator will be relocated from China to Simaero’s Johannesburg training center in the coming weeks by Simaero Engineering’s expert teams. It is planned to be certified by SACAA and ready for training in the second half of 2025.

The collaboration aims to provide flexible and reliable leasing solutions to airlines in the region and beyond.

Zela Aviation's chairman, Andreas Christodoulides, said: “We are excited to be working with XEJet and supporting their ACMI leasing opportunities. This cooperation strengthens our presence in Africa and allows us to provide additional capacity to airlines in need of efficient regional jet operations.”

Sukhjinder Mann, chief operating officer, added: "Putting our aircraft for lease on the international market is a major milestone for XEJet as it signifies the growth of XEJet and demonstrates the diversification of our business model, we operate and run a number of airlines and our ACMI business is also growing nicely. We are pleased to partner with Zela Aviation due to their international network of airline clients and operators. We believe in and are committed to this partnership.”

Dan Morgan-Evans, Group cargo director for ACS Time Critical’s parent company, Air Charter Service, commented: “Andreas joined us seven years ago after more than a decade of onboard courier experience and has helped to build up the team to the size it is today. His leadership and qualities have shone through in this time, and the natural next step is to promote him to CEO of time critical services for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.”

Spies added: “ My focus will be the further development of both our OBC and Next Flight Out (NFO) offerings, with NFO experiencing exciting growth last year."

The $440 million order for 24 of the type was made in June 2020 along with an option to acquire 12 more. Boeing began production in November 2023..

The deal also includes 551 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, 200 AIM-92H Stinger air-to-air missiles, and 558 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System precision-guided rocket kits. Africa reported

GE Aviation is supplying 48 T700-701D turboshaft engines and spare parts for the new fleet. Longbow LLC - the joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, is supplying AN/APG-78 Longbow radars.

Boeing’s vice president of attack helicopter programmes, Christina Upah, said the milestone delivery was important and will strengthen Morocco’s defence capabilities for years to come.

“Boeing’s partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco spans decades, and I am proud the Apache is now part of this legacy,” Upah said .

“This is another step forward in our long partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco,” said Jeff Shockey, Boeing Defense vice president, global sales and marketing, “Worldwide demand for the Apache is growing and we are proud to provide this best-in-class capability to Morocco.”

The AH-64E features an improved modern target acquisition designation system that provides day, night and all-weather target information, as well as night vision navigation capability. In addition to classifying ground and air targets, the fire control radar has been updated to operate in a maritime environment.

Morocco is Africa’s second-largest military spender behind Algeria and its modernisation programme includes the latest Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 Fighting Falcons to eplace older Mirage F1s and Northrop F-5E/F Tiger IIs and augment the F-16C/Ds received from 2011. 

The event was marked by flight operations entirely managed by women— from catering, Maintenance, and check-in to lounge services, and flight operations.

These all-women-operated flights depart from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar, Athens,

Delhi, Dubai, Windhoek, and Sao Polo, showcasing a significant milestone in Ethiopian Airlines' ongoing efforts to elevate the presence and participation of women in the aviation industry.

Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Mesfin Tasew, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate March 8, as we do every year at Ethiopian Airlines. As an employer of choice, we are deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within the aviation industry and the broader community. In today’s modern aviation landscape, women play an indispensable role across all sectors, significantly contributing to the industry's dynamic growth. Today, we honour the remarkable achievements of women in aviation and beyond, while also inspiring future generations to pursue their dreams without limitations.”

Women currently make up around 40% of Ethiopian Airlines' workforce across a range of business divisions, including cockpit crew, cabin crew, aircraft technicians, commercial, managerial roles, and others.

The contract includes the delivery of a comprehensive self-protection suite for Mi-17/8 and Mi-35 helicopters, ensuring enhanced survivability against missile threats.

The AMPS also features the SPREOS (Self-Protection Radar Electro-Optic System) DIRCM.

As part of the contract, BIRD Aerosystems will also provide comprehensive training for pilots and maintenance crews, ensuring operational proficiency and long-term system sustainability.

Ronen Factor, co-chief executive officer of BIRD Aerosystems, said: “We are witnessing an increasing global demand for advanced airborne self-protection systems as air forces seek to enhance their defense capabilities. This latest agreement further expands BIRD’s portfolio of international contracts, reinforcing the trust in our combat-proven self-protection solutions. By integrating our cutting-edge technology into additional Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopter fleets, we take pride in contributing to crew protection and mission success in high-threat environments."