News / National
SAA increase flights to Zimbabwe to 18 every week
14 Aug 2012 at 06:04hrs | Views
WITH Air Zimbabwe flights still grounded, South Africa Airways (SAA) is moving in to plug the gap by increasing its flights to Harare to 18 every week.
The Zimbabwean airline,seen widely as emblematic of the country's national failure, has been run down by extended periods of mismanagement and lack of capital.
Commandeering of planes by politicians has also contributed to its decline.
The airline, which had 18 planes 32 years ago, now has only eight, but only two of its Boeing 737 aircraft and one Boeing 767 plane are servicing domestic routes with only a few flying hours left.
The rest are grounded. The status of the airline is a perfect projection of the dysfunctional Zanu PF rule over the past 32 years that has now extended into the last functional vestige of the aviation industry.
According to SAA's latest in-flight magazine, SAA is now operating 18 flights a week to Harare.
All flights use the Boeing 737-800 planes, except for the Thursday midday flight which is operated by the Airbus 330-200.
And SAA is also operating a daily flight to Victoria Falls from Johannesburg on the Airbus 319.
The collapse at AirZimbabwe has been a boon for SAA.
The SA carrier has also engaged former Air Zimbabwe staff to run its operations at the Harare International Airport, where SAA has established a Premier class lounge facility, the first one in Africa outside South Africa.
The "Baobab Lounge" is open for all SAA departures and serves hot and cold beverages as well as a selection of snacks, with an Internet facility and enclosed smoking area.
The South African airline has benefitted immensely from Zimbabwean expertise.
SAA's Zimbabwe country manager Winnie Muchanyuka, a veteran travel industry expert with experience spanning 22 years, is a former Air Zimbabwe employee.
SAA's Harare Airport manager Lloyd Shoriwa is also a Zimbabwean and coordinates all SAA operations at Harare International Airport where he ensures flights meet their turnaround times.
Just to underline the increasing lucrativeness of the Harare route, Zimbabwe has been voted the"Best Commercial Station" for the entire SAA network.
And SAA is benefitting from the infrastructure at the Harare International Airport, which has one of the longest runways in Africa at 4 725 metres.
The Zimbabwean airline,seen widely as emblematic of the country's national failure, has been run down by extended periods of mismanagement and lack of capital.
Commandeering of planes by politicians has also contributed to its decline.
The airline, which had 18 planes 32 years ago, now has only eight, but only two of its Boeing 737 aircraft and one Boeing 767 plane are servicing domestic routes with only a few flying hours left.
The rest are grounded. The status of the airline is a perfect projection of the dysfunctional Zanu PF rule over the past 32 years that has now extended into the last functional vestige of the aviation industry.
According to SAA's latest in-flight magazine, SAA is now operating 18 flights a week to Harare.
All flights use the Boeing 737-800 planes, except for the Thursday midday flight which is operated by the Airbus 330-200.
And SAA is also operating a daily flight to Victoria Falls from Johannesburg on the Airbus 319.
The SA carrier has also engaged former Air Zimbabwe staff to run its operations at the Harare International Airport, where SAA has established a Premier class lounge facility, the first one in Africa outside South Africa.
The "Baobab Lounge" is open for all SAA departures and serves hot and cold beverages as well as a selection of snacks, with an Internet facility and enclosed smoking area.
The South African airline has benefitted immensely from Zimbabwean expertise.
SAA's Zimbabwe country manager Winnie Muchanyuka, a veteran travel industry expert with experience spanning 22 years, is a former Air Zimbabwe employee.
SAA's Harare Airport manager Lloyd Shoriwa is also a Zimbabwean and coordinates all SAA operations at Harare International Airport where he ensures flights meet their turnaround times.
Just to underline the increasing lucrativeness of the Harare route, Zimbabwe has been voted the"Best Commercial Station" for the entire SAA network.
And SAA is benefitting from the infrastructure at the Harare International Airport, which has one of the longest runways in Africa at 4 725 metres.
Source - weekendpost
