AVIATION safety is Africa's biggest challenge having a record 12 times worse than the rest of the world, said the director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Tony Tyler.

    CARGO flights are to return to Coventry airport as a first step towards having the airport become fully operational again, reports the Birmingham Post.

    A deal has been agreed with Atlantic Airlines to operate freight flights to Dublin, Lille and Maastricht, creating 16 jobs. Ten jobs are in air traffic control, operation and fire departments while six have been transferred from Birmingham after the return of Atlantic Airlines to Coventry. They were switched to the neighbouring airport in 2009 when Coventry temporarily closed.

    Said airport owner Peter Rigby: "This is a milestone for the future of the business and a signal of our intent to continue driving Coventry airport forward.

    "At the moment we have flying schools, business jets, general aviation and helicopter activity but signing the contract with Atlantic Airlines is important in terms of the airport moving back to where it was previously," Sir Peter said.

    Atlantic Airlines, part of the West Atlantic Group, is Europe's largest regional cargo operator.

    Said AA general manager Greg Little: "We will be working closely with our customers and the Coventry airport team to develop additional air cargo services now that the airport has regained the capability to support this."

    Bespoke Distribution Aviation, which is chartering most space on flights, has also moved its services to Coventry airport. The firm specialises in the daily movement of time critical spare parts by air from sectors such as medical, agriculture, hi-tech and the material handling industries, from Europe for next day delivery in the UK and Ireland.

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