As international travel to the African continent blossoms (visitation was up 6.5% in 2017), a number of carriers are increasing or expanding international service to their African hubs. While getting to the continent may be easier than ever, moving around Africa often times remains a challenge. Ethiopian Airlines, however, is seeking to alleviate some of that pain. The airline has announced it is looking to establish new hub airports in southern Africa, Central Africa and the Horn, in order to better connect neighbouring countries. “We are working with Malawi and Zambia as southern Africa hubs,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, the CE of Ethiopian Airlines Group. “Another hub would be in central Africa, covering the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville and Chad. We are also in talks with neighbouring Djibouti.” <br/>
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A United Airlines flight from Chicago to Hong Kong was diverted to Alaska after the flight crew reported a man on board had vandalised 2 airplane lavatories by spreading human waste, airport police said Friday. The man, a 22-year-old Vietnamese passport holder with US residency, was escorted off the plane in handcuffs Thursday night and met by law enforcement in the terminal. After being interviewed by authorities through a translator, he was transported to an Anchorage hospital for a mental evaluation. The man made no threats and did not try to interfere with the flight crew, Gamache said, adding that no charges have been filed. United said there were 245 people on board the plane and said it provided hotel accommodations for its customers. <br/>
Turkish Airlines has signed an MOU with Airbus to acquire 20 A350-900s, plus 5 options. The agreement was signed during Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to France with French president Emmanuel Macron. Turkish Airlines board chairman İlker Aycı said the order will “play a key role in our growing business in the years to come ... The increased business volume for the local Turkish supplier industry by Airbus will be a great gain for the sector.” Turkey, which has been a partner in all Airbus aircraft programs, has been an integral part of the Airbus supply chain for nearly 20 years. For example, Turkish Aerospace Industries has a 2% share in producing the A350, CE Temel Kotil has said. Turkish Airlines operates a mixed Airbus and Boeing fleet of 331 (passenger and cargo) aircraft. <br/>
Turkish Airlines is targeting 74m passengers carried in 2018, comprising 33m on domestic and 41m on international routes. By the end of the year, Turkish expects to switch operations from Istanbul Atatürk International to the Istanbul New Airport (INA), which is scheduled to open Phase 1 in late October. In its first phase, INA will open 3 runways and a terminal with an annual capacity of 90m passengers. If the new airport grows to the full size envisaged through a series of expansion phases, it will eventually have 6 runways, 3 terminals and the capacity to handle up to 200m travellers annually. By the end of 2018, Turkish Airlines expects a passenger load factor of 79%-80%; ASKs are predicted to rise 5%-6% to 183b compared to 2017. <br/>