Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
NATIONAL carrier, Air Zimbabwe, has apologised for the cancellation of Flight UM724, which was scheduled to depart Harare for London Gatwick on Friday night, saying this was caused by “operational reasons”.
The flight, which was due to leave Harare on Friday, has been rescheduled to Saturday, August 1 (today), and is now expected to depart at around 9pm, arriving in London on August 2 at around 6am.
The return flight is scheduled to depart London on August 2 at around 8am and arrive in Harare at around 7pm the same day.
In a statement, Air Zimbabwe confirmed the changes and apologised to affected passengers.
“Dear passengers, please note that Flight UM724 has been rescheduled to Saturday, 01 August 2026 at 9pm. We apologise for the delay and appreciate your understanding as we continue to serve you with safe, reliable connections,” said the airline.
“Air Zimbabwe advises that Flight UM724, scheduled to depart Harare on 31 July 2026, has been postponed due to operational reasons. We sincerely apologise for this delay and the inconvenience it causes to our valued passengers.”
The delay comes shortly after Air Zimbabwe relaunched its long-awaited direct Harare-London service, restoring a key international route that had been dormant for 16 years.
The resumed service marked a major milestone in the airline’s efforts to rebuild its international network and strengthen Zimbabwe’s air connectivity with the United Kingdom, a key market for tourism, trade, investment and the Zimbabwean diaspora.
In a recent statement, Air Zimbabwe said the direct scheduled passenger service between Harare and London Gatwick would operate three times a week, providing passengers with a convenient, seamless and reliable travel experience between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom.
“Flights will depart Harare on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while return services from London Gatwick will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays,” the airline said.
Air Zimbabwe described the resumption of the Harare-London route as one of the most significant milestones in its history, reflecting the national carrier’s commitment to restoring international connectivity and strengthening Zimbabwe’s links with key global markets.
The airline said the service is expected to boost tourism, facilitate trade and investment, improve travel convenience for Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom and support the country’s broader economic engagement with the UK.
The route is operated using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft under an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) wet lease agreement with Spanish carrier Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas.
Under the arrangement, Plus Ultra provides the aircraft, flight crew, maintenance and insurance, while Air Zimbabwe oversees ticket sales, passenger services and the commercial operation of the route.
