Zimbabwe signs Air services agreement with India

Government today signed an Air Services agreement with India, a development which will promote the national airliner and improve the country's tourist arrivals and the sector's gross domestic product (GDP) contribution.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Transport and Infrastructural development Minister Obert Mpofu said the agreement would go a long way in improving relations between the two countries.

"Today's signing ceremony marks yet another milestone as we regularise the operation of air transport services between the two countries," he said.

The agreement has been in discussion since the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in 2010.

Minister Mpofu said terms of the agreement stipulate that the designated airlines of the two countries can operate seven passenger or combined services per week in each direction while being allowed to operate any number of allcargo services. The airlines can also code-share. This could be a major boost for Air Zimbabwe which is poised to resume international flights after being readmitted to the International Air Transport Association International (IATA) Operational Safety Audit program (IOSA) following a successful safety audit.

AirZim had been de-registered from the IOSA certification in September 2012 after failing IOSA's assessment subsequent to a brief halt of business because of an industrial strike.

Minister Mpofu said the agreement will promote an international aviation system based on competition between airlines and ensuring the highest degree of safety and security in international air services.

"As a ministry and Government, we are really excited by this development…which shows the extent of the good bilateral relations between our countries," he added.