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Air Zimbabwe, the once proud flag carrier of Zimbabwe, is ailing. The national airline is a pale shadow of its former self when it used to fly numerous international and regional routes. In its heyday, Air Zimbabwe could hold its own against other international airlines. Zimbabweans going abroad would opt to fly on Air Zimbabwe. These days, passengers board Air Zimbabwe at their own peril. The risk of missing connecting international flights when using Air Zimbabwe is very high as the airline is no longer keeping to its schedules.
Flight delays now appear to be the order of the day, with passengers subjected to frequent inconveniences.
The reputation of this once mighty airline is in tatters. Air Zimbabwe should consider itself lucky that there are no other airlines plying local routes, otherwise it would have been consigned to the dust bins of history years ago.
Or is the lack of competition the reason why the airline is subjecting its customers to such regular inconvenience? Is the company paying lip service to customers’ interests because there is no alternative for them and even if they are delayed for hours, they will still use the airline?
Air Zimbabwe’s problems have been mounting for some time now and a diligent board would have by now come up with solutions.
The challenges facing the airline are not insurmountable.
The major challenge is recapitalisation.
While other airlines are investing in new aircraft, our flag carrier is using aeroplanes acquired almost 30 years ago.
Faced with this scenario, most travellers now opt to travel with foreign airlines that boast a modern fleet. This is the reason why on its remaining few international and regional routes, Air Zimbabwe travels with a handful of passengers, incurring major losses.
But with a modern fleet, Air Zimbabwe can once again become the proud flag carrier it was in the early days of independence.
Investment in modern aircraft is a prerequisite if Air Zimbabwe is to move from the doldrums.
With a modern fleet, Air Zimbabwe would not have a problem attracting passengers because of its impeccable safety record and qualified staff.
There are one or two African airlines recognised as being among the best in the world because they have invested heavily in modern aircraft.
Kenya Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines are profitable ventures for their shareholders as they have recognised the importance of buying new aircraft.
Air Zimbabwe board needs to come up with a turnaround programme that will see it investing in modern aircraft. It must also review its strategy of continuing to fly costly medium and long haul aircraft on domestic routes.
We are happy to note that Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu, under whose watch Air Zimbabwe falls, is kept abreast of the issues at the airline.
We hope the minister has given the interim board he recently appointed a time frame to solve the problems at the company.
If the board cannot come up with a strategy to recapitalise, then serious introspection is required whether Air Zimbabwe should continue operating.
A number of African countries have liquidated their national airlines because they could not run them profitably and were a burden to the fiscus. If the Air Zimbabwe board cannot recapitalise the company, maybe it should also consider this route.
Online Reporter