Jetairfly (TB, Brussels National Zaventem (BRU)) is to lodge an official complaint with the European Commission over what it terms "more proof that the Belgian government favours Brussels Airlines (SN, Brussels National Zaventem (BRU)) over it" following a recent decision to award two extra frequencies to Kinshasa N'Djili International (FIH) to Brussels Airlines. The dispute arises after a renewed Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Belgium and the DRC was signed in February this year which made provision for designated Belgian carriers to serve Kinshasa 7x weekly, up from the previous allotment of 5x weekly. While Brussels Airlines was able to hang on to its 5x weekly flights, Jetairfly applied for the other two frequencies in an attempt at gaining a foothold into the lucrative Congolese market. However, late last week, Belgian State Secretary for Mobility, Melchior Wathelet, granted the two additional weekly Kinshasa frequencies to Brussels Airlines, a move Jetairfly has rejected as "yet more proof that there is only one airline for the Belgian government and it is Brussels Airlines." Gunther Hofman, CEO of Jetairfly, says his company will lodge a complaint with the European Commission adding that "Brussels Airlines already has a monopoly on this route and it now has the help of the government."

Thomson Airways (BY, London Luton (LTN)) has announced that it has activated its contingency plans to switch passengers scheduled to fly on its first two B787-8s from East Midlands (EMA), Glasgow Abbotsinch International (GLA), London Gatwick (LGW) and Manchester Ringway International (MAN) to Cancún International (CUN) and Orlando Sanford International (SFB) in May and June to flights operating with B767-300(ER) equipment. Thomson says it still did not get any indication of a potential delivery date of its B787-8s as a result of the worldwide grounding of the aircraft type. As part of its plans, Thomson will also get additional capacity from sister carrier Jetairfly (TB, Brussels National Zaventem (BRU)) that will operate some of the flights with its two B767-300(ER)s on behalf of Thomson Airways.

Jetairfly (TB, Brussels National Zaventem (BRU)) has applied for the allocation of traffic rights to be allowed to launch several weekly services between Brussels National Zaventem (BRU) and Kinshasa N'Djili International (FIH). Belgium has been assigned two new weekly frequencies in the bilateral air services agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Jetairfly is now considering launching services on the route with its B767-300ERs in competition with Brussels Airlines (SN, Brussels National Zaventem (BRU)). Kinshasa is served on a daily basis by Brussels Airlines with a combination of A330-200s and A330-300s and some flights being combined with Luanda 4 De Fevereiro (LAD).

Air Explore (ED, Bratislava Milan Rastislav Stefánik (BTS)) has wet-leased one of its B737-400s OM-CEX (MSN 25839) to its Cambodian partner TonléSap Airlines (K9, Phnom Penh Pochentong International (PNH)) as of January 17. It currently already has dry leased its single B737-300 to TonléSap and operates another B737-400 on a wet-lease contract on behalf of TonléSap's sister carrier Palau Airways (P7, Koror Babelthuap (ROR)). Air Explore has just add a third B737-400 OM-DEX (MSN 28867) to its fleet earlier this week that has been retired from Jetairfly (TB, Brussels National Zaventem (BRU))'s fleet as the last older generation B737.

Jetairfly (TB, Brussels National Zaventem (BRU)) will base one of its B737-800s at Lille Lesquin (LIL) from April 6. It will offer weekly seasonal services from Lille to Agadir Al Massira (AGA), Antalya (AYT), Bodrum Milas (BJV), Djerba Zarzis International (DJE), Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis (HER), Izmir Adnan Menderes (ADB), Kerkyra Ioannis Kapodistrias International (CFU), Malaga Pablo Ruiz Picasso (AGP), Monastir Habib Bourguiba International (MIR), Olbia Costa Smeralda (OLB), Palermo Falcone e Borsellino International (PMO), Palma de Mallorca Son Sant Joan (PMI), Rhodes Diagoras/Maritsa (RHO), Taba International (TCP) and Tunis Carthage International (TUN) from the airport. Jetairfly already serves Lille up to two times weekly from its Morrocan base at Marrakech Menara (RAK).