adminPeter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
Fly Africa a regional airline will next week Wednesday introduce daily air services between Johannesburg, South Africa and the resort town of Victoria Falls before expanding the service to include three local flights daily.
The airline on Saturday conducted a demonstration flight from South Africa to Victoria Falls before flying to Harare.
The trip was observed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe as well as South African Civil Aviation personnel who also inspected the aircraft, safety equipment on board procedures as well as validity of ground and air licences among others as required by regulations.
In an interview after landing at the Harare International Airport Fly Africa Zimbabwe chairman Professor Chakanyuka Karese said the introduction of the low-cost airline was aimed at demystifying flying.
He said the tourists were flown from SA to Victoria Falls for only R100.
“This was an introductory offer but we will be charging very low fares to encourage people to fly. So our charges will be around US$70 and US$80 for a round trip from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg,” he said.
“We want to demystify the myth on flying. This is a new revolution in the aviation industry,” Prof Karese said.
He said the airline would this year also introduce flights between Harare and Victoria Falls, Harare-Bulawayo, Harare-Johannesburg and Harare-Kariba. Since 2009, Zimbabwe has been a major target of several airlines that are seeking to establish or re-establish air-links with Harare.
So far several airlines including Emirates, Air Namibia, Egyptair, Linhas Aereas de Mocambique Airline are flying to Harare.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu