Air Zimbabwe to sell 2 Boeing passenger planes

Air Zimbabwe has announced plans to sell two Boeing 777-200ER passenger aircraft it acquired from Malaysia a few years ago, as the national carrier continues to battle longstanding financial difficulties. The airline's challenges have been attributed largely to years of alleged mismanagement, corruption, and political interference.

The government notice (1075 of 2025) invited reputable and eligible international bidders registered with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) to participate in the disposal of the two planes. The sale will be conducted on an "as is" basis at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, with a deadline for submissions set for July 25, 2025, at 10:00 am.

Air Zimbabwe's current fleet struggles follow an earlier initiative in June 2017, when Zimbabwe Airways was launched with the aim of revitalizing the national carrier's fleet and expanding its routes. Zimbabwe Airways leased four Boeing 777-200 aircraft from Malaysia Airlines on long-term leases as part of that effort. However, the national carrier's financial woes persisted, forcing it to consider asset sales.

At independence, Air Zimbabwe inherited a well-maintained fleet of 15 aircraft, including five Boeing 720s, three Viscount 700s, and seven Hawker Siddeley HS 748s, making it one of the top regional airlines. However, decades of financial mismanagement and political meddling have eroded this once-promising status, turning the airline into a cautionary tale.

The airline has struggled with a foreign debt exceeding US$30 million and has been unable to secure a foreign strategic partner despite multiple efforts. In October 2018, Air Zimbabwe was placed under reconstruction to enable debt clearance and operational turnaround, but progress has been slow and fraught with difficulties.

Adding to the airline's troubles is a notorious scandal involving three MA60 aircraft purchased from China that have reportedly "vanished into thin air." In July 2019, former Auditor General Mildred Chiri confirmed there was no paper trail or documentation - no lease agreements or sale contracts - to account for the whereabouts or status of these planes, which were acquired for US$48 million between 2005 and 2006.

In a further indication of its financial struggles, last year Air Zimbabwe reportedly leased out one of its two long-haul Boeing 767 aircraft to Mont Gabaon Airlines of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As Air Zimbabwe moves to offload the two Boeing 777-200ER planes, questions remain over the future viability of the national carrier, which once stood as a symbol of Zimbabwe's aviation ambitions but now grapples with survival amid mounting debts and operational challenges.