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AirZim gets greenlight for their grounded aircraft to resume service
10 Jul 2011 at 00:18hrs | Views
Struggling Air Zimbabwe has received a major boost after three of its planes that were grounded due to safety concerns almost three months ago were finally cleared to fly on Friday.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ), which prohibited the three Boeing 737-200 planes from flying in April after ruling that they were compromising passenger safety as they had passed their design service objective of 20 years, finally gave the greenlight for the aircraft to resume service.
Air Zimbabwe board chairman Mr Jonathan Kadzura yesterday confirmed that the three planes would resume flights after CAAZ granted permission on Friday.
"We have been granted the authority to fly the three Boeing 737-200 aircraft which will soon be using our normal regional and local routes.
"The planes were grounded as the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe wanted certain service conditions, which we met," he said.
Although he would not disclose the amount spent on servicing the planes, Mr Kadzura said Air Zimbabwe had wholly funded the process.
"Despite our precarious financial state, we managed to service the planes using our own funds. We are happy that we did not seek any Government support. For us, this is a big step and it will help in our recovery given all the challenges that we have faced recently," he said.
CAAZ chief executive officer Mr David Chawota also confirmed that the planes had been given the go-ahead to resume flights, adding that they had met all the conditions set by CAAZ.
"The three 737-200 planes that had been grounded have been cleared. One is ready for service immediately and the other two are almost done. All the conditions required by CAAZ are being met, and the planes are fit for all the purposes," said Mr Chawota. The grounding of the planes had been identified as one of the major issues stalling the revival of the national airline, which was leasing planes from Zambezi Airlines at punitive rates.
In May, Zambezi Airlines withdrew its plane from the national airline over a US$460 000 debt.
It was also reported that Air Zimbabwe forked out a whopping US$1,8 million deposit at the beginning of the lease.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ), which prohibited the three Boeing 737-200 planes from flying in April after ruling that they were compromising passenger safety as they had passed their design service objective of 20 years, finally gave the greenlight for the aircraft to resume service.
Air Zimbabwe board chairman Mr Jonathan Kadzura yesterday confirmed that the three planes would resume flights after CAAZ granted permission on Friday.
"We have been granted the authority to fly the three Boeing 737-200 aircraft which will soon be using our normal regional and local routes.
"The planes were grounded as the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe wanted certain service conditions, which we met," he said.
"Despite our precarious financial state, we managed to service the planes using our own funds. We are happy that we did not seek any Government support. For us, this is a big step and it will help in our recovery given all the challenges that we have faced recently," he said.
CAAZ chief executive officer Mr David Chawota also confirmed that the planes had been given the go-ahead to resume flights, adding that they had met all the conditions set by CAAZ.
"The three 737-200 planes that had been grounded have been cleared. One is ready for service immediately and the other two are almost done. All the conditions required by CAAZ are being met, and the planes are fit for all the purposes," said Mr Chawota. The grounding of the planes had been identified as one of the major issues stalling the revival of the national airline, which was leasing planes from Zambezi Airlines at punitive rates.
In May, Zambezi Airlines withdrew its plane from the national airline over a US$460 000 debt.
It was also reported that Air Zimbabwe forked out a whopping US$1,8 million deposit at the beginning of the lease.
Source - TSM
