News / Regional
Air Zimbabwe to re-introduce Vic Falls-Johannesburg route
26 Feb 2013 at 04:30hrs | Views
AIR Zimbabwe has set in motion a plan to re-introduce the Victoria Falls-Johannesburg route before the country co-hosts the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly, a government official has said.
Zimbabwe and Zambia co-host the tourism indaba scheduled for 24 to 29 August.
Addressing journalists after the tour of UNWTO projects in Victoria Falls on Friday last week Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development Mr Munesu Munodawafa said accessibility of the resort town of Victoria Falls from Harare and Johannesburg was a major concern which needed to be addressed.
Munodawafa said in April, as the summer season begins in Europe, Air Zimbabwe was also going to increase flight frequency into Victoria Falls from Harare. Currently the airline only services the Harare-Victoria Falls via Bulawayo route three times a week.
"We have set in motion plans to re-introducing the Victoria Falls-Johannesburg route from April. This is because most airlines change their flight patterns in April which coincides with the summer season in Europe. So a plan has been set in motion to re-strategise come April".
Mr Munodawafa said they were going to use the 737 and 320 aircrafts.
"In terms of aircrafts to be used, we are ready on that front," he said.
Mr Munodawafa, recently told Parliament that Air Zimbabwe's debt had increased to $188 million from about $140 million last year as the company defaults on payments and also picked up new bills from service providers.
He said at least $30 million of the debt were foreign obligations which needed to be paid for Air Zimbabwe to resume international flights after pulling out on the London route in December 2011 when creditors seized its aircraft.
Air Zimbabwe recently appointed a new board chairman, Mr Ozias Bvute, who has vowed to turnaround the airline teetering on the brink of collapse, weighed down by a host of operational problems, including huge debts and an ageing fleet.
Zimbabwe and Zambia co-host the tourism indaba scheduled for 24 to 29 August.
Addressing journalists after the tour of UNWTO projects in Victoria Falls on Friday last week Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development Mr Munesu Munodawafa said accessibility of the resort town of Victoria Falls from Harare and Johannesburg was a major concern which needed to be addressed.
Munodawafa said in April, as the summer season begins in Europe, Air Zimbabwe was also going to increase flight frequency into Victoria Falls from Harare. Currently the airline only services the Harare-Victoria Falls via Bulawayo route three times a week.
"We have set in motion plans to re-introducing the Victoria Falls-Johannesburg route from April. This is because most airlines change their flight patterns in April which coincides with the summer season in Europe. So a plan has been set in motion to re-strategise come April".
"In terms of aircrafts to be used, we are ready on that front," he said.
Mr Munodawafa, recently told Parliament that Air Zimbabwe's debt had increased to $188 million from about $140 million last year as the company defaults on payments and also picked up new bills from service providers.
He said at least $30 million of the debt were foreign obligations which needed to be paid for Air Zimbabwe to resume international flights after pulling out on the London route in December 2011 when creditors seized its aircraft.
Air Zimbabwe recently appointed a new board chairman, Mr Ozias Bvute, who has vowed to turnaround the airline teetering on the brink of collapse, weighed down by a host of operational problems, including huge debts and an ageing fleet.
Source - TC
