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Zimbabwe’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Felix Mona has announced plans are underway to resume direct flights from Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom in a move aimed at boosting trade and capitalising on Zimbabwe’s central location in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region.
Currently, many Zimbabweans travel to Europe via South Africa, Kenya, Dubai or Ethiopia and the re-opening of direct flights to the UK will significantly reduce travel costs for Zimbabweans and tourists from neighboring countries.
Under President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic, more than 20 airlines have begun operating in Zimbabwe, reflecting the success of the President’s policy of engagement and re-engagement in foreign affairs. This has increased Zimbabwe’s global connectivity, promoting business, tourism, cultural exchange and access to new markets.
Air Zimbabwe will resume flights from Harare to Johannesburg on July 29, and Uganda Airlines recently announced it would start services to Harare, reflecting the momentum of Zimbabwe’s open skies policy, which has made the country more attractive to investment and tourism.
The government’s open skies policy and improved business environment, underpinned by the Zimbabwe Open for Business initiative, has boosted investor confidence. In 2022, Air Zimbabwe paid off its $1.4 million debt to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is now focusing on expanding international routes and building global partnerships.
As the London route serves as a gateway to many western countries, this development is expected to provide a significant boost to tourism.
Minister Muna confirmed the latest developments while speaking to journalists in Harare on Monday. “Air Zimbabwe will resume flights from Harare to Johannesburg on July 29 and we will also resume flights from Harare to London. Many people travel to the UK and we want to take advantage of that. Having an airline flying to Gatwick (London) is a huge advantage given our central location in the region. We will also be shipping our minerals to the UAE via the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said.
Last year, Minister Mona informed Parliament that Air Zimbabwe was expecting to receive a new aircraft. He stressed the government’s strong policy on air transport and expressed the hope to resume the London route and other western routes in line with the re-engagement policy.
Minister Mona also clarified that Air Zimbabwe aircraft were no longer banned from flying to London because the government had paid off its outstanding debts and reconnected to international communications systems.
In May last year, the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport installed a state-of-the-art radio navigation system that can communicate with at least 200 aircraft simultaneously as part of a $153 million expansion project. The upgraded facilities at RGM Airport are expected to attract more international airlines and increase the number of tourists.
RGM International Airport will become a regional aviation hub, increasing its passenger capacity from the current 2.5 million to approximately 6 million passengers per year.
Source: The Herald
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