Three local airlines get operating licences

THE Government has issued operating licences to three local companies that are expected to fly before the end of the  year.

In an interview yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Mr Munesu Munodawafa said the three firms were non-scheduled airlines set to ply domestic and regional routes.

"As a Ministry, our role is to issue operating licences to operators that have a serious potential to fly.

"We are expecting three non-scheduled indigenous operators to start flying before the end of the year.

"Some of their routes include Victoria Falls-Johannesburg, Harare-Kariba and some have even indicated to fly international routes," he said.

The airlines are Sol Air, Royal Airline and Fresh Air.

The Government issues licences to scheduled and non-scheduled airlines.

Scheduled airlines have their aircrafts flying on fixed timetables while non-scheduled aeroplanes fly on a charter basis.

Due to large capital outlays required to operate scheduled airlines, a number of prospective investors have in the past applied for permits for non-scheduled carriers.

Mr Munodawafa said while the Government had not stipulated the funding requirements to operate an aviation firm, the resources were dependent on the operator's business model.

"Before an airline starts operating, we need to know the type and number of aircraft it claims to have and its financial position has to be sound. This will assist to curb the licensing of fly-by-night operators," he said.

Mr Munodawafa said potential airlines were required to start operating within six months of securing the licences as failure to do so within the stipulated period would see the permits being cancelled.

He said the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe had a mandate to inspect the airlines before they start flying, checking on different issues.

"For instance, CAAZ will do checks on the airline's personnel such as pilots to find out their credibility as well as establishing whether the company's senior management has a strong background of the aviation industry," he said.

Mr Munodawafa said it was Government's policy to welcome every investor interested in Zimbabwean skies adding that operating licences were given on merit of each prospective operator.

"If they do not meet our standards, we ask them to improve on issues that we would have not been satisfied with.

"We have never denied anyone a licence to fly into the country. As Government, we have never denied anyone to fly into the country but it is our policy that we welcome everyone who meets our standards.

"Thus our safety standards in the aviation industry have been regarded as one of the best in the world."

He said some of the regional and international aircrafts flew into Zimbabwe based on the Bilateral Air Service Agreement.

"The agreement is based on the concept of reciprocacity where if our airline is allowed into their countries, we also accept them to fly into the country.

"But we have never denied any aircraft from flying into the country," he said.

Last year, the aviation sector saw some of the regional and international airlines such as KLM, Emirates, Royal Dutch and Precision Air of Tanzania that had suspended servicing the country few years ago, bouncing back.