ch-aviation
• Hilka Birns
Ethiopian Airlines says it cannot repatriate $90 million in ticket revenue held in overseas markets, including $45 million trapped in Russia because of financial sanctions imposed after the war in Ukraine. The blocked funds underscore the cash-flow and settlement risks sanctions create for international carriers.
Africa
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South African Airways has placed acting group chief executive Matshela Seshibe on immediate special leave, just four months after his appointment. The carrier has named a new acting chief, but has not disclosed the reasons for the move or the scope and timing of the internal investigation.
Ethiopian Airlines says it cannot repatriate $90 million in ticket revenue held in overseas markets, including $45 million trapped in Russia because of financial sanctions imposed after the war in Ukraine. The blocked funds underscore the cash-flow and settlement risks sanctions create for international carriers.
Cabo Verde Airlines has received $4.7 million in funding to maintain operations, underscoring the carrier’s immediate financial pressure. The support provides near-term continuity for the airline while highlighting the challenges facing smaller African operators.
Eleven pilots resigned from Air Botswana between January and June 2026, worsening an existing cockpit-crew shortage, Botswana’s transport and infrastructure minister told parliament. The staffing losses have compounded fleet constraints, contributing to irregular operations and disruptions to the airline’s published schedules.
Air Canada is planning to launch service to Nigeria in 2027, marking the carrier’s entry into the Nigerian market. The announcement points to a prospective expansion of its Africa network, though the available information does not specify the destination city, route, frequency or aircraft type.
High activity
Boeing delivered 53 commercial aircraft in July—39 737 MAXs, 10 787s, three 767s and one 777 Freighter—down from 64 in June but up from 48 a year earlier. Airbus delivered 67 jets, while Boeing reported 30 net orders, including Uganda Airlines and AerCap agreements announced around Farnborough.
Kenyan carrier Jambojet has secured Ghanaian airline PassionAir as its first external maintenance customer, bringing Q400 9G-BPD to Nairobi for a C-check heavy maintenance visit. The contract follows Jambojet’s expansion of its aircraft maintenance capabilities into a new revenue stream.
Rwanda has launched a national program with Planet Labs to provide the company’s satellite data to government agencies and other users. The initiative positions Rwanda among African countries building domestic access to commercial Earth-observation data for public-sector applications.
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