9 airlines have proposed to fly into Zimbabwe

NINE airlines have proposed to fly into Zimbabwe this year in a development that could see increased traffic and revenue for the tourism sector.

The development comes amid revelations that United Arab Emirates airline Fly Emirates has announced Harare as one of its new destinations with effect from February next year.

"Zambia and Zimbabwe will be Emirates' 20th and 21st African destinations and their addition to our global network will enable us to provide new flexibility and choice for customers, help to grow trade routes and create important new inbound.

"The arrival of an airline of Emirates' stature will be very significant for Zimbabwe, increasing capacity, connectivity and choice as the country strives to consolidate its economic recovery through attracting new trade, tourism and investment," confirmed Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) chief executive officer Mr David Chaota.

Other airlines that are expected to jet into the country are Air France, Austrian Airlines, Egypt Air, Swiss Air, Bulgarian Airlines, Qantas, Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) and Lufthansa.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development Mr Partson Mbiriri referred all questions to Minister Nicholas Goche

However, efforts to get a comment from Minister Goche proved fruitless by the time of going to print. Aviation experts are sceptical of the move by Government to grant these airlines licences to fly into the country as they will offer stiff competition to the struggling national airline, Air Zimbabwe.

The national flag carrier has been operating at a loss and accumulating huge debts since 2000.

In 2008, Government refused three airlines permission to fly into Zimbabwe in what aviation experts said was a move to protect the national airline from competition and loss of revenue.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke has in the past the criticised the stakeholders for their reluctance to implement the open skies policy.

"Reasons such as 'we are protecting our airlines' were cited. What are we protecting it (Air Zimbabwe) from? They should learn to compete with other airlines. That is the only way they can remain competitive," said Mr Kaseke.

Mr Kaseke said it was not wise to treat the national airline as though it began operating last year yet it has been in existence for a long time.

"Tourism ambassadors go out to market Zimbabwe. For example, in China they cannot come by rail or road. The presence of many airlines in the country also increases the amount of traffic, revenue and flexibility, as to when one wants to fly to Zimbabwe," Mr Kaseke was quoted as saying.

Air Zimbabwe has pulled out of 18 routes from 25 and scaled down on the number of flights per week to rationalise operations and contain costs.

While the airline has withdrawn from these routes, citing "viability" challenges, its competitors have stepped in to fill the void.

Kenya Airways now flies to Harare from Nairobi 12 times a week while Ethiopian Airlines now lands in Harare daily.

South African Airways (SAA) plies the Harare-Johannesburg route three times a day. SAA and British Airways (Comair) are now plying the Johannesburg-Victoria Falls flights daily.

Apart from Air Zimbabwe, SAA, Air Namibia and British Airways' Comair planes are landing at Victoria Falls Airport daily.

Air Zimbabwe currently has four planes flying ' one Modern Ark (MA) 60, two Boeing 737s and a long-haul Boeing 767.

A total of 18 international airlines have left the country since the economic crisis when negative publicity about Zimbabwe started 10 years ago. These include Lufthansa, Qantas, Austrian Airlines, Swissair, Air India, Air France and TAP Air Portugal. African airlines that no longer fly into Harare include Egypt Air, Air Mauritius, Linhas Aereas de Mozambique, Air Namibia, Royal Swazi Airlines and Air Seychelles.

Air Tanzania, Ghana Airways, Air Uganda and Air Cameroon have also pulled out of the route.