Air Zimbabwe

Flag carrier of Zimbabwe

Air Zimbabwe

| IATA | ICAO | Call sign

|
|

UM  | AZW  | AIR ZIMBABWE
Founded| 1 September 1967; 57 years ago (1967-09-01) (as Air Rhodesia Corporation)
Salisbury, Rhodesia
Commenced operations| 2 April 1980; 45 years ago (1980-04-02)
Hubs|

* Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport

Frequent-flyer program| Rainbow Club
Fleet size| 10
Destinations| 5
Parent company| Air Zimbabwe (Private) Limited
Headquarters| Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport
Harare, Zimbabwe
Key people|

* Joseph Makonise (Acting CEO)[1]

Website| airzimbabwe.aero

Air Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd (operating as Air Zimbabwe) is the national carrier of Zimbabwe,[2] headquartered on the property of Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport,[3] in Harare.[4][5] From its hub at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, the carrier used to operate a network within southern Africa that also included Asia and London-Gatwick. Following financial difficulties, Air Zimbabwe ceased operations in late February 2012. Serving a reduced domestic network, the carrier resumed operations for a short period between May and early July 2012, when flights were again discontinued. Some flights were restarted on a discontinuous basis in November that year. The airline resumed operating some domestic routes as well as the regional service to Johannesburg on a daily basis in April 2013.

The company has been a member of the International Air Transport Association, and of the African Airlines Association since 1981.[5] It is owned by the Government of Zimbabwe.[6]

## History

[edit]

### Early years

[edit]

Main article: Air Rhodesia

An Air Zimbabwe Boeing 707-320B on final approach to London Gatwick Airport in 1989.

The entity that eventually became Air Zimbabwe formally came into being on 1 September 1967, when the Government of Rhodesia created 'Air Rhodesia Corporation' to succeed Air Rhodesia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Central African Airways Corporation (CAAC) that had existed since 1964 as a domestic airline within Rhodesia.[7][8] Following the dissolution of CAAC at the end of 1967, Air Rhodesia inherited CAAC operations,[7] as well as a fleet of Boeing, DC-3 and Viscount aircraft.[9] It became the short-lived 'Air Zimbabwe Rhodesia' in 1978,[10] and finally 'Air Zimbabwe' in April 1980 when the Republic of Zimbabwe was formed.[11] Services connecting Harare with South Africa (Durban and Johannesburg) had been operated before the country gained its independence.[9] Scheduled services began on 2 April 1980 to London Gatwick.[12] The company had leased a Boeing 707 from South African Airways until May 1981, when three Boeing 707-320Bs were bought from Lufthansa. That year, flights to Frankfurt were inaugurated.[9] The airline recorded a ZWL 330,000 (£220,000) profit for the fiscal year that ended on 30 June 1980.[13]

In the 1980s, the carrier adopted a new aircraft livery based on the colours of the flag of Zimbabwe.[14]

During 1982, a service to Perth and Sydney commenced; it was run in cooperation with Qantas and flown with Qantas Boeing 747SP aircraft.[9] In May that year, the Government directed Air Zimbabwe and the national freighter airline Affretair to merge their operations; the freighter company was eventually taken over by Air Zimbabwe in July 1983.[11] The cargo carrier continued its operations under the Affretair brand. During 1983, Air Zimbabwe became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA); it also extended its regional routes to Gaborone, Lilongwe, Lusaka and Nairobi.[9]

An Air Zimbabwe Fokker 50 at Victoria Falls Airport in 1995

By March 1985, Air Zimbabwe had 1,443 employees and the fleet comprised five Boeing 707-320Bs and seven Viscount 700s. At this time, the airline flew domestic services linking Harare with Buffalo Range, Bulawayo, Gweru, Hwange National Park, Kariba, Masvingo and Victoria Falls, regional services to Blantyre, Durban, Gaborone, Johannesburg, Lusaka and Nairobi, and intercontinental flights to Athens, Frankfurt and London; the Harare–Perth–Sydney route offered using Qantas Boeing 747SP aircraft was flown in association with Air Zimbabwe.[11] A Boeing 737-200 that had been leased from Maersk was returned to the lessor in 1986 and the first of three owned Boeing 737-200s was phased in and put into service in December that year; the second and third aircraft of the type were delivered in June and July 1987. The additional capacity permitted route extensions to Dar es Salaam, Manzini, Maputo and Mauritius. A BAe 146-200 was bought in 1987 for domestic routes.[15] Also in 1987, the airline announced its intentions to acquire Ilyushin Il-62s and -86s and Yakovlev Yak-42s instead of Western-built aircraft. These plans never materialised and Air Zimbabwe placed an order for two Boeing 767-200s. With registration Z-WPE and named "Victoria Falls", the first Boeing 767-200ER entered the fleet in November 1989. The Boeing 707 was retired from serving long-haul routes shortly afterwards; these aircraft were still used to cover regional routes. The Viscount was definitely withdrawn from service in November 1989. The airline phased in the second 767-200ER (Z-WPF, named "Chimanimani") in late 1990. Two Fokker 50s were ordered in April 1995; they were delivered a month later.[16]

### Financial turmoil and service disruption

[edit]

In February 2004, it was revealed that the company had been temporarily suspended by the IATA over unpaid debts.[4][17] In late October 2006, the prices of Air Zimbabwe tickets increased up to 500%, partly due to the inflation in the country rising to over 1,000%—at that time the Zimbabwean Central Bank stated that it could not continue supporting Air Zimbabwe and other money-losing state companies—and partly because the airline was in need of foreign currency to pay for fuel, spare parts, and catering.[18] A foreign exchange crisis in the country led to the cancellation of the carrier's operations in late 2005, following the lack of hard currency to pay for the fuel.[19][20][21][22] In 2006, it was disclosed that passenger numbers had fallen from 1 million in 1999 to 23,000 in 2005.[19]

In May 2011, the airline was suspended from IATA's international financial and booking system over unpaid booking fees.[23][24][25] It was announced in early November 2011 that the government would absorb a US$140 million debt in order to make the company more attractive to foreign investors.[26][27] Already in December 2011, the carrier struggled to provide its regional and overseas services amid aircraft impoundments over unpaid debts.[28][29][30]

In January 2012, the airline came under judicial management.[31][32] Following a failed revival attempt, in which the pilots refused to resume domestic services over US$35 million in unpaid salaries and allowances, it was announced on 24 February 2012 that Air Zimbabwe would be grounded indefinitely.[33][34][35] In March of the same year, the government of Zimbabwe established Air Zimbabwe Private Limited as the new owner of the carrier after disbanding the airline's former parastatal owner Air Zimbabwe Holdings and absorbing a US$150 million debt.[36][37][38] The airline resumed flying on a continuous basis in early May 2012,[39] yet using a single aircraft and serving only three domestic destinations—Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls—and only for a short period of time until the grounding of the aircraft on 2 July 2012.[40] The airline was reactivated in late November 2012, with a reduced flight scheme serving the Harare–Johannesburg route.[41] Reports indicated the carrier resumed domestic operations connecting Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls, as well as the regional route to Johannesburg, on a daily basis in April 2013,[42] ahead of the 2013 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.[43][44] Approximately 600 employees out of more than 1,000 had been laid off by late May 2013 as part of cost-cutting measures aimed at recapitalising the airline.[45] The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority revealed in June 2013 that the airline's market share suffered a steep decrease in the year ending 31 December 2012, with a 0.8% participation in this period down from 27% in the same period of 2009.[46]

In May 2017 Air Zimbabwe was added to the list of air carriers banned in the European Union as a result of not meeting EU safety standards.[2][47]

As of July 2017[update], Air Zimbabwe's debts were estimated to be US$330 million.[2] On 8 June 2018, it was reported that Air Zimbabwe has debts of more than $300 million and can no longer fly to most destinations due to threats by debtors to impound its aircraft.[48] With mounting debt and only three of its aircraft operational, the airline was put under administration on 6 October 2018.[49]

On 26 March 2020, the airline was forced to suspend all flights indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[50] The airline was subsequently forced to put all employees on unpaid leave and was in the process of creating a post-pandemic masterplan.[51][52] It returned to flying domestic routes in September and regional routes in October 2020.[53]

By March 2023, Air Zimbabwe reported clearing its debt to IATA, and was hoping to resume London-Harare flights.[54][55]

## Corporate affairs

[edit]

### Ownership and management

[edit]

Since March 2012 the airline has been operated through Air Zimbabwe Private Limited, which is wholly owned by the Zimbabwe Government,[36] although there have long been plans to privatise the airline in some degree.

Chipo Dyanda is the airline's chairwoman, as of July 2017[update].[2] In October 2016, Simba Chikore was appointed to be the Chief Operating Officer (COO), amid much controversy and accusations of nepotism as he is also the son-in-law to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.[56] Captain Ripton Muzenda was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in late August 2016. He eventually, resigned 15 months after his appointment, ultimately suing the company for allegedly violating contract terms.[57] Simba resigned from Air Zimbabwe in November 2017.[58]

### Business trends

[edit]

Air Zimbabwe has been loss-making for many years, with irregular services. Although the airline is government owned, full annual reports are not published. Audited accounts were last presented in 2008, and despite press reports that audits have been completed for the years 2009 to 2012, these do not appear to have been published.[59][60]

Various performance figures have been publicly professed, but are subject to change and may therefore not be accurate (for example, the number of employees have allegedly remained fixed in recent years). Recent financial figures (2014 to 2018) are from the 'Reconstruction Report' by the airline administrator Grant Thornton, as reported by the Zimbabwe Independent. Publicised figures (for years ending 31 December):

| 2013  | 2014  | 2015  | 2016  | 2017  | 2018  | 2019

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Turnover (US$m)  |  | 111.6  | 32.9  | 34.2  | 95.3  | 45.7  |
Profits (US$m)  | -44.8 | -40.1 | -28.9 | -22.3 | -33.1 | -14.3 |
Number of employees  | 799  | 543  | 543  | 425  | 232  | 232  | 232
Number of passengers (000s)  | 151  | 196  | 194  | 195  |  | 198  |
Passenger load factor (%)  | 60.6  | 46.5  | 47.0  | 41.3  |  | 46.0  |
Number of aircraft (operational) (at year end)  | 3  | 4  | 8  | 5  |  | 2  | 1
Number of aircraft (stored) (at year end)  | 6  | 4  |  |  |  | 5  | 8
Notes/sources | [61][62] | [63][64][65] | [64][66] | [64][67]
[68] | [69][64]
[70] | [71][72]
[64][73] | [74][75]

## Destinations

[edit]

An Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767-200ER on short final to Singapore Changi Airport in 2005.

### Network development

[edit]

The Harare–Beijing service was launched in November 2004, following an increase of the Chinese–Zimbabwean economic ties.[76] Likewise, the carrier added Kuala Lumpur to its network in 2009.[77] A capacity boost was disclosed to occur on the Harare–London-Gatwick route effective 1 April 2011.[78][79] The Harare–London route that was once served by both British Airways and Air Zimbabwe had become one of the most lucrative routes for Air Zimbabwe since the British carrier discontinued the service in 2007.[80][81][additional citation(s) needed]

As part of its recovery strategy, the airline in April 2020 has launched a comprehensive revival plan. The airline is planning new routes from Victoria Falls, as well as from Harare.[82] Victoria Falls will connect local resorts (Buffalo Range, Kariba, Matopos, and Hwange) and regional destinations in Windhoek (Namibia), Maun (Botswana) and Cape Town (South Africa).[83] The main Harare hub will introduce regular flights to Lusaka (Zambia), Cape Town, Dubai (UAE) and Lubumbashi and Kinshasa (both in the Democratic Republic of Congo).[82] through to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In February 2011 the airline temporarily suspended its flights to Johannesburg over likely impoundments of its planes by creditors due to unpaid debts.[84] Regional and domestic services were suspended for a short period in May 2011, following both the grounding of its Boeing 737-200 fleet by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) over maintenance concerns,[85] and the impoundment of a leased aircraft from Zambezi Airlines over a US$460,000 unpaid debt.[86] Operations resumed in late May 2011, following an agreement between the two airlines,[87][88] yet the aircraft was repossessed by the owner in late June 2011.[89] In mid-June 2011, flights to London and South Africa were temporarily suspended because of a due debt with fuel suppliers.[90] Owing both to the grounding of the 737-200 fleet and to fuel shortages in the country, domestic services were suspended and regional flights were operated on an irregular basis.[91][92] The airline started regularising medium- and short-haul operations in July 2011, as it got clearance from the CAAZ to operate one of its three grounded 737-200.[93][94] Operations were discontinued again in late July 2011, this time due to a pilots' strike, resuming in mid-September after a 50-day-long strike.[95][96][97] Once again, overseas and domestic flights were temporarily cancelled in early November 2011, this time owing to an unpaid debt with fuel providers.[26][98][99] Overseas routes resumed on 11 November 2011.[100] However, flights to the United Kingdom and South Africa were suspended in January 2012 over likely impoundments of the airline's aircraft for outstanding debts.[101][102]

### Overview

[edit]

Following is a list of destinations Air Zimbabwe flies to, according to its scheduled services, as of March 2018[update].[103] Terminated destinations are also shown.

Country  | City  | Airport  | Notes  | Refs

|
|
|
|

Botswana | Gaborone | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport | Terminated | [10]
China | Beijing | Beijing Capital International Airport | Terminated | [104]
Cyprus | Larnaca | Larnaca International Airport | Terminated | [10]
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Kinshasa | N'djili Airport | Terminated | [105]
Lubumbashi | Lubumbashi International Airport | Terminated | [104]
Mbuji-Mayi | Mbuji Mayi Airport | Terminated | [12]
Eswatini | Manzini | Matsapha Airport | Terminated | [10]
Germany | Frankfurt | Frankfurt Airport | Terminated | [10]
Greece | Athens | Hellinikon International Airport | Terminated | [106]: 887
Kenya | Nairobi | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport | Terminated | [10]
Malawi | Blantyre | Chileka International Airport | Terminated | [106]: 887
Lilongwe | Lilongwe International Airport | Terminated | [10]
Mozambique | Maputo | Maputo International Airport | Terminated | [10]
Mauritius | Mauritius | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport | Terminated | [10]
Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur International Airport | Terminated | [104]
Namibia | Windhoek | Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport | Terminated | [10]
Singapore | Singapore | Changi Airport | Terminated | [107]
South Africa | Durban | Durban International Airport | Terminated | [10]
Johannesburg | O. R. Tambo International Airport |  | [103]
Tanzania | Dar es Salaam | Julius Nyerere International Airport |  | [108]
United Arab Emirates | Dubai | Dubai International Airport | Terminated | [107]
United Kingdom | London | Gatwick Airport | Terminated | [109]
Zambia | Lusaka | Lusaka International Airport | Terminated | [110]
Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport |  | [111]
Chiredzi | Buffalo Range Airport | Terminated | [10]
Gweru | Gweru-Thornhill Air Base | Terminated | [10]
Harare | Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport | Hub | [103]
Hwange National Park | Hwange National Park Airport | Terminated | [10]
Kariba | Kariba Airport | Terminated | [111]
Masvingo | Masvingo Airport | Terminated | [10]
Victoria Falls | Victoria Falls Airport |  | [103]

### Interline agreements

[edit]

* Hahn Air [112]

## Fleet

[edit]

Air Zimbabwe Boeing 737-200Adv Belly of an Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767-200ER. With registration Z-WPF and named "Chimanimani", this aircraft entered the fleet in 1990.[16] It wears the carrier's latest eurowhite livery in 2011. Air Zimbabwe Xian MA60

### Current fleet

[edit]

As of September 2019[update], the Air Zimbabwe fleet consists of the following aircraft:[67][113][needs update]

Air Zimbabwe Fleet Aircraft  | In Fleet  | Orders  | Passengers  | Notes

|
|
|
|

C | Y | Total
Airbus A320-200 | 2  | -- | 18  | 142  | 160  | both stored[67]
Boeing 737-200Adv | 1[114] | -- | 12  | 93  | 105  |
Boeing 767-200ER | 2  | -- | 30  | 167  | 197  | 1 stored[67]
Boeing 777-200ER | 2  | -- | TBA | both stored[115][116]
Embraer ERJ-145 | 2  | -- | -- | 50  | 50  | [117]
Xian MA60 | 1  | -- | -- | 52  | 52  | stored[67]
Total  | 10  | —  |

### Historic fleet

[edit]

The airline previously operated the following aircraft:

* BAe 146-100[118]
* Boeing 707-320B[119]
* Boeing 737-500[85]
* Fokker 50[120]
* Viscount 700[119]
* Viscount 800[119]

### Fleet development

[edit]

Two Viscount 800s were purchased from Dan-Air in the early 1980s, to replace the Viscount 700s inherited from Air Rhodesia that were near the end of their life; these aircraft flew for the company until their retirement in 1989.[121][additional citation(s) needed]

The initial fleet of five Boeing 707s sourced from Lufthansa replaced the Boeing 720 aircraft used by Air Rhodesia. These 707s joined the Vickers Viscount fleet, that was strengthened by the addition of two Viscounts 810s from Dan Air.[122] The airline saw the incorporation of the Boeing 737-200 into the fleet in 1985.[123] Long-haul operations that were once operated with the 707s were gradually shifted to the newly acquired Boeing 767-200ER aircraft; the first of them entered the fleet in late 1989.[124] A British Aerospace BAe 146 was added to the fleet from the Zimbabwean Air force in the 1980s. Leased Fokker 50s were used from 1995 but proved unsuitable to the hot and high conditions and were returned to the lessor.[120]

In late 2010 the airline announced it had ordered two Airbus A340-500s to serve the Harare–Beijing and Harare–London routes;[125] the order was later cancelled after the company failed to raise the money.[126] In late June 2011, Air Zimbabwe was forced to return the Boeing 737-500 it was hiring from Zambezi Airlines to partially compensate the lack of equipment following the grounding of its Boeing 737-200 fleet,[85] as it was unable to afford the costs of its leasing.[89] The aircraft was mainly used to operate the Harare–Johannesburg route; it was disclosed the company had to fly the route using one of their Boeing 767s.[89]

Despite versions for the acquisition of new aircraft were officially declined in July 2011 owing to a precarious cash position,[127] it was disclosed that the airline bought an Airbus A340-500 and an Airbus A320, both new, in August 2011.[128] As of January 2012[update], there had been discrepant versions over the acquisition of new Airbus aircraft, since the secretary of the Zimbabwean Ministry of Transport has denied the transaction,[129] but there exist records for the delivery of an A320 to the company.[130][131] The introduction of A320 services was informed in May 2013,[132] when it replaced the Boeing 767s on the Harare–Johannesburg route.[133][134]

On 20 January 2020, the airline received the first of 2 Boeing 777-200 jets from Malaysia Airlines.[135]

## Accidents and incidents

[edit]

According to the Aviation Safety Network,[136] the company has not had a fatal accident since Air Rhodesia was renamed Air Zimbabwe in 1980. The only hull-loss accident is listed below.

* July 1984: A Vickers 756D Viscount, registration Z-YNI, was damaged beyond repair in an incident on the grounds of Harare International Airport.[137] It was withdrawn from service and transferred to the airport fire department for use as a training aid.[138][unreliable source?]

In June 1999 the Chicago Tribune published a story, later withdrawn, in which the reporter Gaby Plattner claimed she had flown from Kariba to Hwange on an Air Zimbabwe service, and that the flight departed without a co-pilot, and during the flight the pilot was locked out of the cockpit, and had to use an axe to chop down the door.[139] The newspaper later stated that this story was untrue.[140] The carrier then sued the Chicago Tribune and also CNN, after it ran a story claiming it was the most dangerous airline in the world.[141]

## See also

[edit]

* Transportation in Zimbabwe

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Management Team | Air Zimbabwe". Archived from the original on 3 September 2018.
2. ^ a b c d Dron, Alan (14 July 2017). "Reports: Air Zimbabwe cuts half its workforce". Archived from the original on 14 July 2017.
3. ^ "Airline Membership Archived 11 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine." (Archive) International Air Transport Association. Retrieved on 27 February 2012. "Air Zimbabwe Corporation Harare Airport Harare Zimbabwe"
4. ^ a b "Trade body suspends Air Zimbabwe". BBC News. 4 February 2004. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
5. ^ a b "AFRAA current members – Air Zimbabwe". AFRAA. 21 August 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
6. ^ "flyafrica.com and fastjet give Zimbabwe its first taste of LCCs with local start-up". Centre for Aviation. 2 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. "Government-owned flag carrier Air Zimbabwe currently operates only two international routes although it has been trying for some time to resume more international services."
7. ^ a b "World Airline Survey – Air Rhodesia Corporation". Flight International. 93 (3083): 519. 11 April 1968. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
8. ^ "World Airline Survey – Central African Airways Corporation (CAA)". Flight International. 91 (3031): 564. 13 April 1967. Archived from the original on 6 April 2013.
9. ^ a b c d e Guttery (1998), p. 122.
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "World Airline Directory – Air Zimbabwe". Flight International. 143 (4362): 66. 24–30 March 1993. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014.
11. ^ a b c "World Airline Directory – Air Zimbabwe". Flight International. 127 (3953): 50. 30 March 1985. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013.
12. ^ a b "Directory: world airlines – Air Zimbabwe". Flight International: 66. 12–18 March 2002. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014.
13. ^ "Air transport – Short hauls". Flight International. 119 (3742): 209. 24 January 1981. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013.
14. ^ "Air Transport". Flight International. 125 (3915): 1311. 19 May 1984. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. "Air Zimbabwe has adopted a new colour scheme for its Boeing 707 and Viscount fleet, featuring the colours of the country's national flag."
15. ^ Guttery (1998), p. 222.
16. ^ a b Guttery (1998), p. 223.
17. ^ "Air Zimbabwe set to pay debt". BBC News. 6 February 2004. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
18. ^ "Air Zimbabwe tickets up by 500%". BBC News. 23 October 2006. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
19. ^ a b "Air Zimbabwe suspends flights to London". The Sydney Morning Herald. AFP. 13 November 2006. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
20. ^ "Fuel crisis disrupts Air Zimbabwe". BBC News. 22 November 2005. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2012. "Flights on Zimbabwe's national airline are not yet back to normal, a day after all its seven aircraft were grounded when the airline ran out of fuel."
21. ^ "Grounded Air Zimbabwe resumes flights". Mail & Guardian. 22 November 2005. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
22. ^ "Zimbabwe halts flights over fuel". BBC News. 21 July 2005. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
23. ^ "IATA demands $2m from Air Zimbabwe". New Zimbabwe. 27 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
24. ^ Latham, Brian (16 May 2011). "Air Zimbabwe Suspended by IATA, Nehanda Radio Reports". Durban: Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
25. ^ "IATA suspends Air Zim over debt". New Zimbabwe. 15 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
26. ^ a b "Air Zimbabwe courts foreign partners". New Zimbabwe. 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
27. ^ "Government assumes Air Zim's US$140m debt". New Zimbabwe. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
28. ^ "Air Zimbabwe Plane Impounded in London". The Zimbabwean. 12 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
29. ^ "Zimbabwe suspends flights to S.Africa over debts". Reuters Africa. 16 December 2011. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
30. ^ Reals, Kerry (14 December 2011). "Air Zimbabwe 767 impounded at Gatwick". Flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
31. ^ Latham, Brian (22 January 2012). "Air Zimbabwe Placed Under Judicial Management, Mail Reports". Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
32. ^ Niati, Kytsepile (22 January 2012). "Air Zimbabwe on final step to liquidation". Harare: Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
33. ^ "Air Zimbabwe arrête tous ses vols" [Air Zimbabwe halts flights] (in French). Air Journal. 25 February 2012. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
34. ^ "Air Zimbabwe vanishes from the skies indefinitely". The Zimbabwean. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
35. ^ "Air Zimbabwe suspends flights". Air Transport World. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014.
36. ^ a b "Simple ownership change to forgive USD150m of debt is not enough to place Air Zimbabwe back on track". Centre for Aviation. 15 March 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
37. ^ "Air Zimbabwe targets Christmas flights". New Zimbabwe. 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
38. ^ "Air Zimbabwe Holdings". Air Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012.
39. ^ "Air Zimbabwe resumes domestic flights". New Zimbabwe. 2 May 2012. Archived from the original on 11 December 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
40. ^ "Air Zimbabwe suspends operations". Centre for Aviation. 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
41. ^ Kandongo, Fanuel (29 November 2012). "Zimbabwe: Air Zim Back in the Skies". Allafrica.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
42. ^ Bell, Alex (10 April 2013). "Zimbabwe: Airzim Resumes Daily Flights". London: AllAfrica.com. SW Radio Africa. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014.
43. ^ "Zimbabwe: Airzim Cashes in on ZITF". AllAfrica.com. Financial Gazette. 26 April 2013. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013.
44. ^ "Air Zimbabwe resumes daily flights". New Zimbabwe. 7 April 2013. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
45. ^ "AirZim 600 on forced leave". Zimbabwe Independent. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013.
46. ^ Mpofu, Bernard (12 June 2013). "AirZim market share tumbles: ZTA". NewsDay. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013.
47. ^ Moores, Victoria (16 May 2017). "Air Zimbabwe among four airlines added to EU blacklist". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017.
48. ^ "Mugabe's son-in-law Simba Chikore in custody". Daily Nation. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
49. ^ "Zimbabwe puts troubled national airline under administration". ewn.co.za. Reuters. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
50. ^ Health, P. M. N. (10 April 2020). "Air Zimbabwe to put workers on unpaid leave over coronavirus | National Post". National Post. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
51. ^ "Air Zimbabwe to put workers on unpaid leave over coronavirus". Reuters. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
52. ^ Chronicle, The (24 April 2020). "Air Zim crafts post Covid-19 recovery strategy". The Chronicle. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
53. ^ "COVID-19: Zimbabwe resumes domestic, regional flights". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
54. ^ Freddy, Trust. "Airzim clears IATA arrears, eyes London return". The Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
55. ^ Nowakowski, Adrian (14 March 2023). "Air Zimbabwe Plans Return to London". Airways. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
56. ^ Paidamoyo Muzulu (5 October 2016). "Mugabe son-in-law gets top AirZim post". newsday.co.zw. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
57. ^ Nemukuyu, Daniel (17 February 2018). "Former CEO sues Air Zim". The Herald. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
58. ^ Daniel Sibanda (19 November 2017). "Mugabe's son-in-law Simba Chikore resigns from Air Zimbabwe". My Zimbabwe News. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
59. ^ "Air Zimbabwe $300Million Broke". Archived from the original on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
60. ^ "AirZim now ready for Iata recertification – Dyanda". 20 July 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
61. ^ "Zimbabwe national carrier incurs U.S. $44.77 million dollar loss". Archived from the original on 29 September 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
62. ^ "Annual Report 2014". African Airlines Association. 2014. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
63. ^ "AirZim to resume UK, China route". 27 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
64. ^ a b c d e "US$137m loss sinks run-down AirZim". Zimbabwe Independent. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
65. ^ "Annual Report 2015" (PDF). African Airlines Association. 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
66. ^ "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). African Airlines Association. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
67. ^ a b c d e "Air Zimbabwe cleared to take B777s from Malaysia - minister". ch-aviation GmbH. 12 September 2019.
68. ^ "Annual Report 2017" (PDF). African Airlines Association. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
69. ^ "AirZim in $270m loss". 26 April 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
70. ^ "Annual Report 2018" (PDF). African Airlines Association. 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
71. ^ "AirZim legacy debts spook investors". 24 May 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
72. ^ "Air Zimbabwe in crisis as fleet dwindles to one active B767". ch-aviation. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
73. ^ "Annual Report 2019" (PDF). African Airlines Association. 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
74. ^ "3 investors eye AirZim". The Herald. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
75. ^ "Annual Report 2020" (PDF). African Airlines Association. 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
76. ^ "China raises stakes in Zimbabwe". BBC News. 22 November 2004. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
77. ^ Sobie, Brendan (21 September 2010). "Routes: Kualu Lumpur Airport bullish on growth". Flightglobal.com. Flight Daily News. Archived from the original on 30 November 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
78. ^ "Air Zimbabwe renforce sa ligne Harare – Londres" [Air Zimbabwe reinforces the Harare – London route] (in French). Air Journal. 24 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
79. ^ "Air Zimbabwe aumenta frequência de voos para Grã-Bretanha" [Air Zimbabwe increases frequencies on flights to the United Kingdom] (in Portuguese). Angola Press Agency. 22 February 2011. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
80. ^ Berger, Sebastien (29 October 2007). "British Airways abandons flights to Zimbabwe". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014.
81. ^ Sibanda, Tichaona (29 October 2007). "Zimbabwe: Country Increasingly Isolated As British Airways Pulls Out". London: AllAfrica.com. SW Radio Africa. Archived from the original on 1 January 2008.
82. ^ a b "Air Zimbabwe upbeat as revival plans gather pace – CAJ News Africa". 30 April 2020.
83. ^ "Air Zimbabwe crafts post Covid-19 recovery strategy". 24 April 2020.
84. ^ Tapiwa Makore (17 February 2011). "Air Zimbabwe Planes Could Be Attached". Zim Daily. Retrieved 12 March 2011.[dead link]
85. ^ a b c "Troubled Air Zim cancels regional flights". New Zimbabwe. 19 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
86. ^ "Air Zimbabwe plane seized over debt". New Zimbabwe. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
87. ^ Sithabile, Mafu (24 May 2011). "Air Zimbabwe resumes flights". Bulawayo24 News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
88. ^ Mashingaidze, Brett (24 May 2011). "Air Zimbabwe resumes flights". The Zimbabwe Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
89. ^ a b c Roy, Moyo (28 June 2011). "Air Zimbabwe forced to return Zambezi Airlines' plane". Bulawayo24 News. Archived from the original on 20 February 2013.
90. ^ "Air Zimbabwe cancels flights after fuel suppliers close taps". New Zimbabwe. AFP. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
91. ^ "Air Zim puts passengers on buses". New Zimbabwe. 2 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
92. ^ "Fuel shortages hit the skies". The Zimbabwean. 30 June 2011. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
93. ^ Sithabile, Mafu (11 July 2011). "Air Zimbabwe, back in the sky". Bulawayo24 News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012.
94. ^ "Air Zim planes cleared to fly". New Zimbabwe. 10 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
95. ^ "Air Zimbabwe pilots end third strike over 10 months, flights yet to resume". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.[dead link]
96. ^ "Air Zimbabwe resumes flights as pilots end 50-day strike". New Zimbabwe. 15 September 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
97. ^ "Air Zimbabwe grounded again following strike by pilots". The Zimbabwean. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
98. ^ Nyakazeya, Paul (10 November 2011). "AirZim leaves passengers stranded". Zimbabwe Independent. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
99. ^ "Fuel dispute grounds Air Zimbabwe". New Zimbabwe. 5 November 2011. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
100. ^ "Air Zimbabwe resumes Beijing, London flights". New Zimbabwe. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
101. ^ "Air Zimbabwe suspends flights to London, Joburg". The Zimbabwe Guardian. 2 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012.
102. ^ "Après Johannesburg, Air Zimbabwe suspend Londres" [Air Zimbabwe suspends (flights to) London after discontinuing Johannesburg] (in French). Air Journal. 4 January 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
103. ^ a b c d "Flight Schedule (Effective 31 March 2018–27 October 2018)". Air Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018.
104. ^ a b c "Air Zimbabwe Timetable (Effective 16 September 2011 - 2011-10-31)" (PDF). Air Zimbabwe. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 May 2012.
105. ^ "Routes". Flightglobal. Flight International. 19 December 2000. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
106. ^ a b "World Airline Directory – Air Zimbabwe". Flight International: 882–887\. 2 April 1983.
107. ^ a b "Air Zimbabwe March–October 2006 Timetable". Airline Timetable Images. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
108. ^ "Greek resort islands to set up tourist ghettos for rowdy visitors". 31 July 2013.
109. ^ "Air Zimbabwe prepares to rebuild its regional network and relaunch London services". Centre for Aviation. 13 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013.
110. ^ "Flight Schedule". Air Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016.
111. ^ a b "flyafrica.com 2015 outlook: rapid expansion and new Namibia base as competition intensifies". CAPA Centre for Aviation. 7 January 2015. Archived from the original on 7 January 2015. "Air Zimbabwe does not currently serve any of the potential new international destinations for flyafrica.com Zimbabwe. The flag carrier's only international destination is currently Johannesburg (served from Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls). Domestically it operates from Harare to Bulawayo, Kariba and Victoria Falls as well as from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo and Kariba."
112. ^ "Partner Carriers | Hahnair".
113. ^ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part Two)". Airliner World (November 2019): 42.
114. ^ Sipinski, Dominik (11 March 2024). "Air Zimbabwe puts B737-200s, BAe 146s up for sale". www.ch-aviation.com. ch-aviation GmbH. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
115. ^ Jonga, Michael (21 March 2022). "Air Zimbabwe keen to lease 777 fleet". Aerotime. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
116. ^ Birns, Hilka (17 March 2022). "Air Zimbabwe to convert B777s into freighters". ch-aviation. ch-aviation GmbH. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
117. ^ Razemba, Freeman (25 January 2024). "Airzim gets Embraer, refurbished B737". The Herald (Zimbabwe). Retrieved 17 February 2024.
118. ^ "Marketplace". Flightglobal. Flight International. 6 August 1997. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. "Air Zimbabwe has added a BAe 146-100 on long term lease from Air Botswana."
119. ^ a b c "World Airline Directory – Air Zimbabwe". Flight International: 47. 26 March 1988. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012.
120. ^ a b "Zimbabwe Government loses patience with Fokkers". Flightglobal.com. Flight International. 15 May 1996. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
121. ^ "Short hauls..." Flight International. 118 (3736): 2158. 13 December 1980. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. "Dan-Air Services has sold this Viscount 800 to Air Zimbabwe."
122. ^ "History". Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
123. ^ "Market Place". Flight International. 128 (3980): 6. 5 October 1985. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. "Air Zimbabwe has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-200, on lease from Guinness Peat."
124. ^ "Operations: Air Transport – Boeing 767s for Air Zimbabwe". Flight International. 186 (4187): 10. 21 October 1989. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. "The first of Air Zimbabwe's two Boeing 767-200ERs will be delivered next month."
125. ^ Nyakazeya, Paul (21 October 2010). "Air Zim buys two Airbuses". Zimbabwe Independent. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012.
126. ^ Nyakazeya, Paul (14 April 2011). "Air Zim fails to buy planes". Zimbabwe Independent. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
127. ^ "Air Zimbabwe on the verge of collapse". ZimDaily. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011. "The Minister said there was no money to buy new aircraft and all the recent talk of the acquisition of new planes were a creation of the media."
128. ^ "Air Zimbabwe gets new Airbus planes". New Zimbabwe. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
129. ^ "We have not secured a pre-owned Airbus for AirZim - Mbiriri". Bulawayo24. 18 January 2012. Archived from the original on 22 January 2012.
130. ^ "Air Zimbabwe leases Airbus A320". New Zimbabwe. 11 March 2012. Archived from the original on 11 December 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
131. ^ "Airbus A320 - MSN 630". Airfleets.net. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
132. ^ "Air Zimbabwe launches Airbus plane". New Zimbabwe. 26 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
133. ^ "Bird attack grounds Air Zimbabwe's A-320 after maiden flight". People's Daily Online. Xinhua. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014.
134. ^ "Zimbabwe: New Airzim Airbus in Maiden Jo'burg Flight". Allafrica.com. The Herald. 28 May 2013. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014.
135. ^ "Air Zimbabwe receives first 777-200ER | CAPA".
136. ^ "ASN Aviation Safety Database – Air Zimbabwe". Aviation Safety Network. 28 November 2004. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
137. ^ Incident description for Z-YNI at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 10 May 2011.
138. ^ "VH-TVN Vickers Viscount 756D. c/n 374". Aussie Airliners. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
139. ^ Plattner, Gaby (6 June 1999). "Choppy Skies - A White-knuckle Flight on Air Zimbabwe". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
140. ^ "No Truth to the Story". Chicago Tribune. 18 June 1999. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. "The Tribune on 13 June published a Correction and Clarification on the story. The supposed incident did not happen. The free-lance writer who wrote the first-person account now says she passed along a story she heard as something she had experienced."
141. ^ "Air Zimbabwe sues CNN and Chicago Tribune over negative press coverage". BNET. 4 January 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2015.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Guttery, Ben R. (1998). Encyclopedia of African Airlines. Jefferson, North Carolina: Mc Farland & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-7864-0495-7.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Air Zimbabwe at Wikimedia Commons

* Air Zimbabwe Official website
* "Flight Schedule (Effective 25 October 2015–30 November 2015)". Air Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016.
* "Air Zimbabwe Timetable (Effective 1 June 2013)". Air Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
* "Intercontinental and regional carriers look to serve Zimbabwe in absence of national carrier". Centre for Aviation. 16 January 2012. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.

Portals:

* Companies
* Aviation

* v
* t
* e

Airlines of Zimbabwe

Full service|

* Air Zimbabwe

Low cost|

* Fastjet Zimbabwe

Defunct|

* Affretair
* Air Rhodesia
* Avient Aviation
* Expedition Airways
* Global Africa Aviation
* Zimbabwe Airways
* Zimbabwe Airlink
* Zimbabwe Express Airlines
* Zimbabwe flyafrica.com

* v
* t
* e

Members of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA)

Current|

* AB Aviation
* Afriqiyah Airways
* Air Algérie
* Air Botswana
* Air Burkina
* Air Djibouti
* Air Madagascar
* Air Mauritius
* Air Peace
* Air Senegal
* Air Tanzania
* Air Zimbabwe
* Allied Air
* ASKY Airlines
* Astral Aviation
* Badr Airlines
* Cabo Verde Airlines
* Camair-Co
* CEIBA Intercontinental
* Congo Airways
* Cronos Airlines
* Egyptair
* Ethiopian Airlines
* Express Air Cargo
* Jubba Airways
* Kenya Airways
* LAM Mozambique Airlines
* Libyan Airlines
* Mauritania Airlines
* Nile Air
* Nouvelair
* Overland Airways
* Precision Air
* Royal Air Maroc
* RwandAir
* Safarilink Aviation
* Safe Air Company
* South African Airways
* Sudan Airways
* Syphax Airlines
* TAAG Angola Airlines
* Tassili Airlines
* Tunisair
* Uganda Airlines

Former|

* Air Burundi
* Air Namibia
* ECAir
* Ghana Airways
* Ghana International Airlines
* Interair South Africa
* South African Express
* Starbow
* Toumaï Air Tchad

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

*[C]: Business class
*[Y]: Economy class
*[TBA]: To Be Announced
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template