Econet suing Air Zimbabwe

Econet is suing Air Zimbabwe over a $64 000 debt for telecommunication services.

According to summons filed in the High Court on Friday, Air Zimbabwe accumulated the debt from March 2008 when it entered into an agreement for Econet to supply mobile telecoms services to the airline but failed to pay for the services.

Government has not approved any partnership deal between Air Zimbabwe and KLM Airlines, Transport and Communications minister Nicholas Goche has said. Dispelling merger rumours as nothing but "dreams", Goche yesterday said if there was any such proposal, it had not been brought to his office for consideration. He said the KLM Airways could not partner with Air Zimbabwe as the KLM Airways was already in partnership with another national airliner in Central Africa.

Air Zimbabwe is back on the global reservation system after renewing its membership, a move that is expected to drive traffic to the national airline. The return comes more than 6 months after the airline was kicked out for failing to pay fees.

Air Zimbabwe has confirmed that the two A320 Airbus planes it received recently will take to the skies at the beginning of next year in a deliberate attempt to return to its regional and international routes. Air Zimbabwe acting chief executive officer Innocent Mavhunga said the airline had received two Airbus planes that will be operational at beginning of next year. The planes are being kept at the Harare International Airport hangar.