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Air Zimbabwe to acquire new aircraft

by Staff reporter
05 Nov 2014 at 13:21hrs | Views

The national airline, Air Zimbabwe is engaging a Canadian based aircraft manufacturer to acquire new aircraft for regional and international routes.

The engagement between the national flag carrier and an international aircraft manufacturer comes at a time Air Zimbabwe is facing stiff competition from local, regional and international airlines on the local market.

The aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier, conducted a demonstration flight with its Q400 aircraft from Harare to Kariba where stakeholders in the aviation sector, tourism stakeholders and journalists were on board to sample the latest plane from the Toronto-based company.

Air Zimbabwe Acting Chief Executive Officer Edmund Makona said globally, the aviation industry will retire 800 aircrafts due to old age this year and acquire 14 000 more, adding Zimbabwe's national flag carrier also need new ones.

Bombardier Director for Africa and Middle East Sameer Adam said the expansion to the African continent gives opportunities to various airlines to ensure they have new aircrafts which are suitable for Zimbabwe's routes.

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Obert Mpofu said there is need for both parties to focus on the speedy conclusion of their engagement as it provides traction in the recapitalisation of the national airline.

The Toronto-based firm had planned to set up US$3.4 billion for the manufacture of one hundred Q400 turboprops plant in Russia.

There are 396 flights daily of the aircraft into the continent. 

Source - zbc
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