Zambia Airways sets date for first Harare flight

ZAMBIA Airways has added the Lusaka- Harare route on its schedule effective November 1, in the process cementing Zimbabwe’s Open Skies Policy initiative.

The airline will be plying the route three times a week.

The coming in of more international airlines is testimony to the positive impact of Zimbabwe’s Open Skies Policy, which enhances the country’s attractiveness to potential investment and tourists.

The entry of new airlines buttresses the Government’s policy of backing away from over-regulating the air transport sector, which is a key enabler of any economic development.

On its X (Twitter) handle, Zambian Airways said its first flight from Harare to Lusaka will commence on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

“Our first flight from Harare to Lusaka will commence on Wednesday, 1st November 2023. The flight will be operated three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” said Zambia Airways.

When the Second Republic came into being in 2017, only three airlines were utilising the country’s airspace but now the number has jumped to more than 20 airlines flying into the country.

The aviation industry is regarded as the lifeblood of the global economy as it facilitates business efficiency through enhanced safety and security of travellers as well as cargo movement.

Zimbabwe being a tourism destination, player in the tourism sector commended the Government on the open skies policy saying that aviation is key in stimulating the growth of tourism especially as the country seeks to become one of the key hubs for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) Tourism in the region.

Since 2018 the country has been embarking on a programme to strengthen its aviation systems by transforming the sector through the separation of the regulatory and operational functions of the then Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, which prior to that played a dual role.

This culminated in the establishment of the Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) in line with global best practices.
Meanwhile, Fastjet will effective October 30, 2023 increase its frequency on Bulawayo to Johannesburg route to 12 return flights per week.

Fastjet connects the five major cities in Zimbabwe by flying between Harare and Victoria Falls, Harare and Bulawayo, Harare and Kariba, Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls and Kariba.

In addition, the airline offers international flights from Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls to Johannesburg in South Africa and from Victoria Falls to Mbombela (Kruger) Nelspruit Mpumalanga in South Africa. —chronicle