Air Zim to add more flights

Africa Moyo
Deputy News Editor
Air Zimbabwe is set to add more flights from March 28.

The flights, operated by the Embraer ERJ145 aircraft and the Boeing 737-200, will run between Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, and Harare and Johannesburg, and between Harare and Dar es Salaam.

Strict compliance of health protocols and regulations will be followed to curtail risk of Covid-19 infection.

In a statement yesterday, the company said:  “Air Zimbabwe wishes to advise its valued passengers and other stakeholders of the resumption of additional flights operated by the ERJ145 and B737-200, with effect from March 28 as follows: flight UM324; Harare-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls-Harare every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 1200/1245-1315/1400/1530 hours, flight UM467/6; Harare-Johannesburg-Harare twice daily every weekday at 0700/0845-0915/1100-1645/1645/1830-1900/2045 hours while flight UM438/9; Harare-Dar es Salaam-Harare will continue as per current schedule every Tuesday and Saturday at 1200/1515-1600/1715 hours.

Bookings are underway through the website www.airzimbabwe.aero and the sales offices in Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, OR Tambo International Airport and Dar es Salaam Interline offices.

Passengers are reminded to comply with Covid-19 regulations as set by the World Health Organisation and Government.

The Embraer was delivered to Air Zimbabwe on April 31, 2019 but had not started flying for various reasons.

It was taken for servicing in South Africa, not because it had technical challenges, but in line with aviation requirements that aircraft should be serviced even if they are not operational.

The ERJ145 was acquired to ply regional and domestic routes, to replace the long-haul aircraft that Air Zimbabwe was using.

Air Zimbabwe had been operating one serviceable aircraft, the Boeing 767-200ER, which has done well in recent months as it was used to ferry Zimbabweans and South Africans that were holed up in China and other destinations following the outbreak of Covid-19.

It has also delivered vaccines from China and on the latest trip, it also brought Namibia’s vaccines.

The coming in of the Embraer and the 282-seater Boeing 777-200ER bought from Malaysia, was designed to revive Air Zimbabwe’s waning fortunes.

Air Zimbabwe was recently praised across the region for being probably the only operational national flag carrier, which brought Covid-19 vaccines when other countries had to charter.