Air Zimbabwe – don’t book

Reports from southern Africa confirm that Air Zimbabwe is grounded and unlikely to get airborne again whilst the present regime remains in power.  Any agent offering seats on the carrier, which was banned from Heathrow last year, should be treated with the utmost disdain.

Workers from the national carrier have not received salaries since September 2011 and are owed over US$35m.  Acting CEO, Innocent Mavhunga, confirmed to the state media last Thursday the indefinite suspension of all flights, blaming it on cash flow problems.

“We failed to resume flights as planned on Monday as we still have challenges relating to payment of salaries.  Part of our workers did not report for duty.  We are now grounded indefinitely,” Mavhunga said.

International carriers still fly to the capital Harare and earlier this month Emirates made its maiden flight from Dubai starting a five times per week service that includes Lusaka (Zambia – the former Northern Rhodesia).  Air Zimbabwe’s future now looks uncertain, as a new local airline has been granted a licence by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.  Sol Air is expected to service the Harare – Bulawayo and Harare – Victoria Falls routes. www.airzimbabwe.com

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