Airzim turnaround on course

Farirai Machivenyika, Senior Reporter

THE turnaround programme is on course with the company expecting to restore and initiate more regional and local routes, a senior official has said.

Speaking while the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development was touring the Air Zimbabwe premises in Harare yesterday, chief executive Mr Edmund Makona said the airline has put in place strategies that are aligned to the reconstruction process.

“What we have done is we have taken up a four-pillar strategy which basically is looking at corporate governance issues, air transportation services, human capital training and development and aircraft maintenance and engineering.

“When it comes to air transport services, we are obviously focusing on growth. It cannot be a strategy if it doesn’t have an integral aspect of growth. So, arising from the transport services growth, we really want to grow our route network.

“You are aware we have re-established the Harare-Johannesburg route with effect from July 29. We are flying four times a week and we have looked at the market response and shortly we will increase the frequency to Johannesburg.

“You are also aware that the Minister of Transport Felix Mhona spoke about London which will be on shortly. There is also Windhoek in Namibia which is coming on soon. There is also Bulawayo-Johannesburg and Victoria Falls-Johannesburg which are also coming on board,” Mr Makona said.

Air Zimbabwe has re-opened its training schools, which apart from developing the human resources base, are also an avenue to raise income.

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“We have re-opened the commercial training school which is focusing on the International Air Transport Association airline ticketing.

“You are aware that most of our people were going outside the country to South Africa and Kenya for the IATA ticketing courses which we have now availed to our people. The response has been very positive,” Mr Makona said.

The committee’s chairperson, Cde Knowledge Kaitano, said the revival of the national carrier was key for the image of the country.

“The aviation industry is a key aspect of the country’s development and Air Zimbabwe as the national flag carrier plays an important role in that.

“It is therefore important that we revive its operations to what they were before and as a committee we are going to assist them to achieve that,” Cde Kaitano said.