Business / Companies
Air Zimbabwe dumps Airbuses to concentrate on Boeings
24 Feb 2014 at 06:46hrs | Views
AIR Zimbabwe is reportedly planning to abandon it Airbus fleet as it seeks to concentrate on Boeings which its captains have extensive experience in piloting in addition to having technicians and workshops equipped to service them locally, the NewsDay reported.
Although Air Zimbabwe spokesperson Shingai Taruvinga could neither confirm nor deny the planned move, referring all questions to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, NewsDay has it on good authority the decision to dump the Airbuses was reached after it emerged that the airline staff did not have the requisite experience to operate the aircraft.
"We acknowledge receipt of your questions on the Airbuses, but unfortunately only the shareholder (government) can specifically speak on that. Try the ministry," Taruvinga said.
Air Zimabwe has a mixed fleet of planes among them three MA60s, three B737s, three B767s and two leased Airbus A320s.
The ministry officials were, however, not immediately available for comment.
Sources told NewsDay that the airline had for the last couple of months been contemplating to terminate the Airbus lease.
The Ozias Bvute-led AirZim board was recently booted out of office before it implemented its turnaround programme that among other things included the airline choosing only one type of plane for its services.
The board then believed that it was prudent for the airline to have its fleet based on one type of plane - preferably Boeings since it has considerable experience in using the same.
More than half of the airline's current fleet is made up of Boeings and the company has workshops and technicians who can make repairs locally.
Meanwhile, NewsDay has established that AirZim since March 2013 had been placing its insurance directly with Marsh Insurance (UK) after it received a waiver from the Commissioner of Insurance, Pensions and Provident Funds.
Acting commissioner of Insurance, Pensions and Provident Funds, a T Pupurayi, in April last year wrote approving AirZim insurers, Champions Insurance, to place the risk directly on the external market. Champions then was seeking approval to externalise AirZim's aviation policy to the tune of $1 328 036.
"You may therefore proceed to apply to your bankers to remit the premiums amounting to . . . $1 328 036," Pupurayi wrote.
AirZim then through its CBZ Bank account transferred the premiums to Marsh's Morgan Chase account.
The airline's insurance policy has become a controversial issue with several AirZim executives facing prosecution for inflating the premiums.
Although Air Zimbabwe spokesperson Shingai Taruvinga could neither confirm nor deny the planned move, referring all questions to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, NewsDay has it on good authority the decision to dump the Airbuses was reached after it emerged that the airline staff did not have the requisite experience to operate the aircraft.
"We acknowledge receipt of your questions on the Airbuses, but unfortunately only the shareholder (government) can specifically speak on that. Try the ministry," Taruvinga said.
Air Zimabwe has a mixed fleet of planes among them three MA60s, three B737s, three B767s and two leased Airbus A320s.
The ministry officials were, however, not immediately available for comment.
Sources told NewsDay that the airline had for the last couple of months been contemplating to terminate the Airbus lease.
The Ozias Bvute-led AirZim board was recently booted out of office before it implemented its turnaround programme that among other things included the airline choosing only one type of plane for its services.
More than half of the airline's current fleet is made up of Boeings and the company has workshops and technicians who can make repairs locally.
Meanwhile, NewsDay has established that AirZim since March 2013 had been placing its insurance directly with Marsh Insurance (UK) after it received a waiver from the Commissioner of Insurance, Pensions and Provident Funds.
Acting commissioner of Insurance, Pensions and Provident Funds, a T Pupurayi, in April last year wrote approving AirZim insurers, Champions Insurance, to place the risk directly on the external market. Champions then was seeking approval to externalise AirZim's aviation policy to the tune of $1 328 036.
"You may therefore proceed to apply to your bankers to remit the premiums amounting to . . . $1 328 036," Pupurayi wrote.
AirZim then through its CBZ Bank account transferred the premiums to Marsh's Morgan Chase account.
The airline's insurance policy has become a controversial issue with several AirZim executives facing prosecution for inflating the premiums.
Source - newsday
