Business / Companies
Precision Air of Tanzania sets eyes on Zimbabwe skies
11 Mar 2012 at 05:52hrs | Views
PRECISION Air of Tanzania could be the next international airline to fly into Zimbabwe after Emirates, as more international companies seek to exploit the market gap left by the inconsistent Air Zimbabwe.
The company's national sales manager, Mr Tuntufye A Mwambusi, met officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority during the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin, Germany last week, where preliminary discussions were held.
Officials from the airline are now set to visit the country this week.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief operating officer, Mr Givemore Chidzidzi, said the coming in of Precision Air will boost tourism, trade and commerce between the connected countries.
"This is a morale booster from a tourism perspective and we are convinced that this development will further enhance our tourism and bilateral co-operation with Tanzania in all spheres of life including trade and commerce," said Mr Chidzidzi.
Mr Mwambusi told the Zimbabwean delegation that his company had acquired a Boeing 737 aircraft, which is set to be delivered in April this year, which was likely to ply the
Tanzania (Dar es Salam)- Zimbabwe (Harare) route.
The route was previously being serviced by the countries' national airlines - Air Zimbabwe and Air Tanzania, both of which have since pulled out owing to operational challenges.
Meanwhile, Air Namibia which has been flying to Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls, in particular two times a week, has announced that it will be doubling its frequency and start flying to
Harare on 15 March 2012.
In a meeting held in Berlin, Germany, the airline's sales executive Ms Ireen Schroder, said this development had been prompted by the unprecedented and renewed interest in Zimbabwe by travellers.
"We used to fly two times a week into Victoria Falls but we are going to be flying to Harare now four times a week starting from 15 March," said Ms Schroder.
Accessibility into Zimbabwe has been a major problem hampering efforts to revive tourism sector.
Air Zimbabwe has been failing to service the country effectively due to operational challenges. The company has withdrawn from a number of international routes while a number of airlines have also stopped flying into the country.
In 1999 about 46 international airlines were flying to Harare but now only 12 international airlines are coming to Zimbabwe.
The Government has, however, moved in to revive Air Zimbabwe after disbanding the company to form a new State- owned company Air Zimbabwe Private Limited.
The Government is expected to inherit the company's assets and liabilities while National Handling Services, a subsidiary of Air Zimbabwe Holdings, will now operate as a stand-alone company.
The company's national sales manager, Mr Tuntufye A Mwambusi, met officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority during the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin, Germany last week, where preliminary discussions were held.
Officials from the airline are now set to visit the country this week.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief operating officer, Mr Givemore Chidzidzi, said the coming in of Precision Air will boost tourism, trade and commerce between the connected countries.
"This is a morale booster from a tourism perspective and we are convinced that this development will further enhance our tourism and bilateral co-operation with Tanzania in all spheres of life including trade and commerce," said Mr Chidzidzi.
Mr Mwambusi told the Zimbabwean delegation that his company had acquired a Boeing 737 aircraft, which is set to be delivered in April this year, which was likely to ply the
Tanzania (Dar es Salam)- Zimbabwe (Harare) route.
The route was previously being serviced by the countries' national airlines - Air Zimbabwe and Air Tanzania, both of which have since pulled out owing to operational challenges.
Meanwhile, Air Namibia which has been flying to Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls, in particular two times a week, has announced that it will be doubling its frequency and start flying to
Harare on 15 March 2012.
In a meeting held in Berlin, Germany, the airline's sales executive Ms Ireen Schroder, said this development had been prompted by the unprecedented and renewed interest in Zimbabwe by travellers.
"We used to fly two times a week into Victoria Falls but we are going to be flying to Harare now four times a week starting from 15 March," said Ms Schroder.
Accessibility into Zimbabwe has been a major problem hampering efforts to revive tourism sector.
Air Zimbabwe has been failing to service the country effectively due to operational challenges. The company has withdrawn from a number of international routes while a number of airlines have also stopped flying into the country.
In 1999 about 46 international airlines were flying to Harare but now only 12 international airlines are coming to Zimbabwe.
The Government has, however, moved in to revive Air Zimbabwe after disbanding the company to form a new State- owned company Air Zimbabwe Private Limited.
The Government is expected to inherit the company's assets and liabilities while National Handling Services, a subsidiary of Air Zimbabwe Holdings, will now operate as a stand-alone company.
Source - Sunday News
