Flights using Zimbabwe airspace subject to new US$ fees

Flights passing through Zimbabwean airspace without landing are now subject to new fees, with recreational flights required to pay at least US$31 to the government. The Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry has implemented these regulations through Statutory Instrument 98 of 2024, effective from June 1.

According to the notice, "Any person who flies any aircraft within the Flight Information Region (FIR) shall be liable to payment of en-route navigation fees to the director-general." The director-general will determine the fees for each aircraft or flight.

For foreign-registered aircraft, fees must be paid in United States dollars, while Zimbabwe-registered aircraft can pay in either U.S. dollars or the equivalent local currency. Aircraft intending to fly across the FIR without landing must pay the en-route fees in advance.

The notice specifies that recreational flights (such as gliding, parachuting, and ballooning) and training flights (including instrument training, general flying, and circuits) will incur a fee of US$31 per flight, regardless of the aircraft's registration.

Flights for rescue missions and disaster management are exempt from these fees.

The new fee structure is expected to impact both domestic and international airlines operating within Zimbabwe's airspace. By outlining precise methods for calculating the distance flown within the flight information region, the regulations ensure a standardized approach to fee assessments.