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Air Zimbabwe to resume flights to China
16 Aug 2013 at 01:17hrs | Views
NATIONAL airline Air Zimbabwe is planning to resume flights to China while flights to London will be re-introduced in mid November, the airline's acting chief executive, Mr Innocent Mavhunga, has said.
In an interview on the sidelines of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Victoria Falls Invitational Golf tournament prize giving ceremony at Victoria Falls Hotel on Friday, he said the resumption of flights on the two routes was part of the national airliner's drive to return to the international scene.
Air Zimbabwe has not been servicing its international routes after flights were suspended following attempts to attach its aircraft due to unserviced debt.
"Plans are already in motion for us to return to Europe, in fact by November we should be going to London. We are also finalising the China route but we will advise in due course in terms of logistics," said Mr Mavhunga.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joice Mujuru praised outgoing Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development Minister Nicholas Goche and the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Munesu Munodawafa, for working tirelessly to revive Air Zimbabwe.
The Vice President was giving her keynote address at the same event where she was the guest of honour and patron of the General Assembly that will run from 24-29 August in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
"I would like to recognise the enormous efforts made by Minister Goche and his staff in making sure our national airline is back in the skies, the efforts you are putting are quite commendable," said Vice President Mujuru.
Air Zimbabwe was recently re-admitted to the International Air Transport Association's International Operational Safety Audit registry after complying with the aviation body's minimum standards.
This means the national airline now meets IATA's operational safety, efficient and quality benchmarks observed by operators worldwide. IATA's IOSA safety and operational audits are carried out bi-annually.
The re-registration followed an IOSA audit programme undertaken from 17-21 December 2012 after which Air Zimbabwe had 12 months to close gaps that were identified.
The re-registrations make Air Zimbabwe one of the 25 airlines in Sub-Saharan Africa on the IOSA registry out of a total of 34 in Africa.
In an interview on the sidelines of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Victoria Falls Invitational Golf tournament prize giving ceremony at Victoria Falls Hotel on Friday, he said the resumption of flights on the two routes was part of the national airliner's drive to return to the international scene.
Air Zimbabwe has not been servicing its international routes after flights were suspended following attempts to attach its aircraft due to unserviced debt.
"Plans are already in motion for us to return to Europe, in fact by November we should be going to London. We are also finalising the China route but we will advise in due course in terms of logistics," said Mr Mavhunga.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joice Mujuru praised outgoing Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development Minister Nicholas Goche and the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Munesu Munodawafa, for working tirelessly to revive Air Zimbabwe.
The Vice President was giving her keynote address at the same event where she was the guest of honour and patron of the General Assembly that will run from 24-29 August in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
"I would like to recognise the enormous efforts made by Minister Goche and his staff in making sure our national airline is back in the skies, the efforts you are putting are quite commendable," said Vice President Mujuru.
Air Zimbabwe was recently re-admitted to the International Air Transport Association's International Operational Safety Audit registry after complying with the aviation body's minimum standards.
This means the national airline now meets IATA's operational safety, efficient and quality benchmarks observed by operators worldwide. IATA's IOSA safety and operational audits are carried out bi-annually.
The re-registration followed an IOSA audit programme undertaken from 17-21 December 2012 after which Air Zimbabwe had 12 months to close gaps that were identified.
The re-registrations make Air Zimbabwe one of the 25 airlines in Sub-Saharan Africa on the IOSA registry out of a total of 34 in Africa.
Source - chronicle
