Business / Companies
Air Zimbabwe eyes fleet modernization
14 Oct 2014 at 10:46hrs | Views
National airline, Air Zimbabwe will modernize its fleet in a phased approach, as part of a multi-pronged turnaround business strategy.
Fleet modernization is critical to the survival of the national airline's fleet chew up huge financial resources in maintenance fees and fuel consumption as opposed to what modern aircrafts would require.
Air Zimbabwe has embarked on a five year turnaround strategy beginning in 2015.
The airline's operational fleet comprises of two B767's procured in 1989, three B737's and three MA60 which joined the fleet in May 2005.
Chief Executive Edmund Makona said that Air Zimbabwe would modernize its flee on a long term basis with its short term strategy anchored on effectively utilising resources and route development.
Air Zimbabwe is set to conduct internal safety audits in addition to the one carried out by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), acting group chief executive officer Edmund Makona has said.
IATA carries operational safety audits on airlines after every two years.
Speaking at the company's breakfast meeting in Harare yesterday, Makona said IATA re-registered Air Zimbabwe in December 2012 following its suspension in June of the same year.
Air Zimbabwe was de-registered from the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry after the airline had temporarily discontinued operations and failed to conduct the audits which must be carried out every two years.
Air Zimbabwe acting board chairman Eric Harid told a Parliamentary portfolio committee that the airline required close to $368 million to recapitalise its operations and clear debts, among others.
Fleet modernization is critical to the survival of the national airline's fleet chew up huge financial resources in maintenance fees and fuel consumption as opposed to what modern aircrafts would require.
Air Zimbabwe has embarked on a five year turnaround strategy beginning in 2015.
The airline's operational fleet comprises of two B767's procured in 1989, three B737's and three MA60 which joined the fleet in May 2005.
Air Zimbabwe is set to conduct internal safety audits in addition to the one carried out by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), acting group chief executive officer Edmund Makona has said.
IATA carries operational safety audits on airlines after every two years.
Speaking at the company's breakfast meeting in Harare yesterday, Makona said IATA re-registered Air Zimbabwe in December 2012 following its suspension in June of the same year.
Air Zimbabwe was de-registered from the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry after the airline had temporarily discontinued operations and failed to conduct the audits which must be carried out every two years.
Air Zimbabwe acting board chairman Eric Harid told a Parliamentary portfolio committee that the airline required close to $368 million to recapitalise its operations and clear debts, among others.
Source - Zim Mail
