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Harare Bureau
AIR Zimbabwe says it is ready to resume direct flights to Lusaka, Zambia, starting this month after suspension of that route three years ago.This will be a relief to local passengers who had to connect via Johannesburg or Nairobi to access Lusaka from Zimbabwe by air.
Air Zimbabwe said on Tuesday that direct flights linking Harare and Lusaka would resume on June 22.
Flying three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the route will be serviced by the 52-seater MA60 aircraft.
Departing Harare at 06:00hrs on Monday and Wednesday, arriving in Lusaka at 07:15hrs, a return trip will cost $230.
On Fridays, it will depart Harare at 1800hrs, landing in Lusaka at 1915hrs. The aircraft will depart Lusaka at 0800hrs to arrive in Harare at 0915hrs on Mondays and Wednesdays.
On Friday’s, the MA60 will depart Lusaka at 2000hrs, arriving in Harare at 2115hrs.
Last month Air Zimbabwe acquired a new airbus A320 in a bid to revamp its business and restore confidence in the aviation sector.
In addition, the government has said it was in talks with about 15 potential strategic partners who are keen work with Air Zimbabwe.
The national carrier is saddled with a debt of over $298 million to different creditors.
It has also been marred by mismanagement and corruption accusations involving a number of top executives who included Grace Nyaradzo Pfumbidzayi, Nicholas Munjere, Peter Chikumba and Osweld Madziva.
Chikumba and Pfumbidzayi were recently found guilty of defrauding the airline of over $10 million between 2009 and 2013 and were jailed. The fraud contributed to the financial woes the airline is facing.
Online Reporter