NEW AIRLINE - Nigeria’s Binani Air Cleared For Scheduled Operations After Aoc Upgrade

Binani Air (Binani Global Air Services) is a Nigerian domestic airline established by the Binani Group, planning to operate from its hub at Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS). Led by Senator Aishatu Binani, it aims to serve cities including Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Yola, having obtained its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in July 2024

Operating a small fleet of 2 aircraft, including Embraer E170s.

 

NEW BRAND - BermudAir launches AnguillAir brand

BermudAir (2T, Bermuda) has introduced its new sub-brand AnguillAir by launching non-stop flights from Anguilla to Boston, New York Newark, and Baltimore International, with debut dates on December 17, 18, and 19, respectively.

All three are seasonal routes, with 2x weekly services available through to April 2026.

AnguillAir features its own identity and design, but it does not hold a separate air operator’s certificate (AOC) and all flights will be operated by BermudAir. Launching the new brand “represents the first step in a broader strategy to grow additional seasonal service, expanding its network reach,” the company said in a statement.

ch-aviation fleet data shows that BermudAir operates two E175s and two E190s.

CH Aviation / Photo: BermudAir

FLEET - EMBRAER CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF E-JETS SERVICE WITH FINNAIR AND NORRA - FLYING TOGETHER SINCE 2005

Helsinki, Finland – Today marks a special milestone in European aviation as Embraer, Finnair, and Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra) celebrate 20 years of E-Jets service. On October 1, 2005, Finnair operated its first Embraer E170 revenue flight from Helsinki to Oslo, ushering in a new era of regional connectivity, comfort, and reliability. Since October 2012, Norra has proudly flown the Embraer aircraft across the skies of Europe on behalf of Finnair.
To commemorate this anniversary, executives from the airlines and Embraer gathered at Helsinki Airport for a celebratory event ahead of flight AY915, which retraced the historic route to Oslo, departing at 16:10 local time. The flight was assigned a specially designated call-sign – “FIN20Y”.
Christine Rovelli, Chief Revenue Officer at Finnair, remarked, “For 20 years, the Embraer fleet has been essential to regional connectivity, feeding traffic into our Helsinki hub. Operated by our partner Norra, the fleet continues to deliver excellent punctuality and reliability. We’re now renewing the cabins to further enhance the customer experience.”
Juha Ojala, Managing Director, Norra, added, “Norra has succeeded with Embraer for 20 years. The E-Jets are the reliable backbone of our operations, enabling us to deliver efficient, high-quality regional service to Finnair’s customers. We’re honoured to be part of this journey and to celebrate this milestone together.”
Marie-Louise Philippe, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Head of Region Europe and Central Asia, Embraer Commercial Aviation, said, “Flying together since 2005, our partnership with Finnair and Norra is a testament to the enduring value of the E-Jets family. These aircraft have delivered unmatched performance, efficiency, and passenger satisfaction across Europe. This is a moment of high emotion and great pride for the Embraer team, working in partnership with Finnair and Norra to ensure a reliable service for the last 20 years. We are proud to celebrate this milestone and look forward to many more years of collaboration and success together.”
The event featured a celebration at the gate, speeches from executives, gifts for passengers, and a special send-off for AY915, symbolizing the enduring partnership and shared values of the three companies.

EMBRAER
 

FLEET - interCaribbean Airways plans to acquire a total of eight ex-EgyptAir Express E170s, backed by financing from Investec (UK).

The bank is also refinancing five ATRs. The E170s will gradually replace ERJ145s and EMB120s.

Images - interCaribbean Airways
 

Republic Airways and Mesa Airlines to merge

 

On 7 April 2024, Republic Airways Holdings and the Mesa Airlines Group announced that both companies entered into a definitive agreement in which both companies will merge and continue as as Republic Airways Holdings. The deal is expected to be finalised in the final quarter of this year but is dependent on receiving all the regulatory approvals.

The newly merged company will continue to operate the Capacity Purchase Agreements it has in place with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.

Currently, Republic Airways is operating a fleet of 31 Embraer ERJ170s and 178 ERJ175s. Mesa Airlines has a fleet of 60 ERJ175s. It also has four remaining CRJ900s in service which will be retired. Combined, the company will be the largest operator of the ERJ175 in the world.

Photos: Duncan Stewart

FLEET - Eastern Airways (KLC tls) / ERJ 170 / G-CMPI

Ton Jochems
 

ROUTES - Air Botswana plots fleet, regional route expansion

Air Botswana (BP, Gaborone) plans to buy at least three Embraer aircraft with financial assistance from the government, allowing it to expand its regional footprint, according to newly appointed General Manager Lulu Rasebotsa.

Speaking to various media at the recent ITB Berlin Convention in Germany, Rasebotsa disclosed that the airline is already advertising for Embraer crew but did not specify which aircraft type is being considered. ch-aviation has reached out to the airline for more details.

Meanwhile, Rasebotsa, who was appointed in December 2023 following the departure to CEIBA Intercontinental of former GM Agnes Khunwana, told The Punchline in a podcast at ITB that the carrier is buying at least three Embraers with government funds.

"We are on a new path now that the government has funded us to increase our aircraft, and that means we are going to expand our routes," she said. "As an airline, we are in the process of acquiring and adding to our fleet, which means that we will increase our routes. We are expecting to expand our footprint, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. We also think we are strategically located in Southern Africa to be a [regional] hub."

The Botswana government recently announced it had earmarked BWP121.2 million pula (USD8.8 million) in the 2024-25 draft budget for the national carrier.

Rasebotsa said that routes to be added at an undisclosed timeframe include:

Maun - Johannesburg O.R. Tambo;

Maun - Cape Town International;

Maun - Windhoek International;

Maun - Kasane; and

Gaborone - Durban King Shaka.

Air Botswana currently operates only one in-house ERJ 170-100LR and two in-house ATR72-600s, according to the ch-aviation fleets module. It operates from four domestic points (Gaborone, Maun, Kasane, and Francistown) to South Africa (Johannesburg and Cape Town), Harare International (Zimbabwe), and Lusaka (Zambia), the ch-aviation capacities module reveals.

The new GM also disclosed that her strategic turnaround plan for making Air Botswana financially sustainable is focused on three pillars: employees, customers, and digitisation.

"The airline has been struggling, financially and in terms of credibility. We are working very hard to make sure that we regain the confidence of Botswana. I think this is what increasing our equipment is directly going to translate into. The strategy going forward is to really try and become financially sustainable," she explained.

She outlined the three key pillars of her strategy included creating a compelling value proposition for employees to boost morale and dedication; prioritising customer experience in the belief that happy employees lead to satisfied customers; and digitisation to improve efficiency. She also emphasised the importance of maintaining safety standards, zero corruption tolerance, and complying with civil aviation regulations.
CH Aviation

 

SPECIAL COLORS - Belavia Belarusian Airlines / ERJ 170-200LR / EW-512PO - NEW Cosmo livery

Photo: Gleb Salko

Minsk - UMMS - Belarus

 

FLEET - American Eagle took delivery of two E170s, serials 17000131 and 17000051, operated by Envoy (US).

Photo: Duncan Stewart
 

AIRLINE - Jasmin Airways (Tunisia) is expected to announce it is moving to cease operations after its liquidation.

 Photo: Jasmin Airways

FLEET - CommuteAir Embraer E170

CommuteAir (C5, Cleveland Hopkins) has taken delivery of its first E170, which it plans to use to grow its passenger charter operations.

N780NC (msn 17000280) was ferried post maintenance at Saltillo to Houston Intercontinental on October 19, 2023, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. It has yet to begin revenue operations.

The 14.6-year-old jet was acquired by the airline earlier this year from Nordic Aviation Capital. It was previously operated by Airnorth (Australia) (TL, Darwin) and will join CommuteAir's existing fleet of seventy-five E145s. The smaller Embraer regional jets operate exclusively on behalf of United Airlines (UA, Chicago O’Hare).

Best Jets debuts Anguilla charters

Best Jets International (DOW) has launched a new charter service between New York’s White Plains Westchester County Airport and the Eastern Caribbean island of Anguilla using a 30-seater ERJ 170-100LR.

The Aurora Anguilla Public Air Charter Service is for the exclusive use of members and guests at the newly revamped Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club on the British Overseas Territory.

The first flight with N175RS (msn 17000141), took off on December 22, 2022. Charters will run twice weekly until April 30, 2023. All inbound flights make a technical stop at San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin, where passengers must clear customs.
Ch Aviation

 

Marathon Airlines eyes US charters

Marathon Airlines (MTO, Athens Int'l) wants to make its aircraft available to charter customers requesting service to and from the United States, according to a regulatory filing with the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

To do so, the Greek business/private charter specialist has applied for the full extent of charter authority available to air carriers from European Union member states under the EU-United States Open Skies agreement.

Marathon Airlines has applied for an exemption and a US foreign air carrier permit for charters ferrying persons, property, and mail to and from points in the US and for other charters subject to DOT regulations. It seeks exemption for two years, or until the effective date of its FACP, whichever occurs first, and the tentative awarding the FOP. As soon as possible after that, Marathon Airlines requests a final order for an FACP of indefinite duration.

Objections must reach the DOT by December 28, 2022. The detailed application reads that Marathon Airlines seeks foreign charter air transportation of persons, property, and mail:

• from any point/s behind any member state of the European Union, via any point/s in any EU Member state and via intermediate points, to any place/s in the US and beyond;

• between any point/s in the US and any place/s in any member of the European Common Aviation Area;

• foreign charter air transport of cargo between any point/s in the US and any other station/s;

• other charters as stipulated by the DOT's regulations; and

• charter transport authorised by any additional route rights made available to European Union carriers in the future, to the extent permitted by Marathon Airline's homeland license on file with the DOT.

The airline's fleet comprises two ERJ 170-200LRs and one Embraer Legacy 600, according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module.

Ch Aviation