Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE recently relaunched Harare-London route is scheduled to commence this evening, with Cabinet ministers and senior Government officials set to travel to the United Kingdom for another launch event.
Recently, Air Zimbabwe resumed flights, ending a 14-year absence of a direct air link between the two destinations.
Promotional fares for the resumed direct service will start from US$495, while a return ticket will cost US$900.
The fares are subject to availability and applicable terms and conditions.
In an interview, Air Zimbabwe board chairperson Dr Silvanos Gwarinda said: “From this Wednesday (today), Air Zimbabwe will once again connect Harare directly with London Gatwick, restoring one of the most important gateways between our country and the world.
“This is the moment we have worked towards and the moment we have prayed for. It is the moment we now celebrate under our campaign banner: Fly Direct . . . Experience Zimbabwe.
“The reopening of the Zimbabwe-UK corridor is the clearest sign that your national airline, Air Zimbabwe, will leave no stone unturned until the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport takes its rightful position as the real and natural aviation hub for the SADC region.”
He said the airline must maximise Zimbabwe’s geographic centrality in relation to other SADC countries.
Dr Gwarinda said a central location was one of the key requirements for a successful aviation hub.
He said the granting of the Foreign Operator Permit on July 1, 2026, was a clear international vote of confidence in Air Zimbabwe’s operational standards, governance systems and safety oversight.
“Due to the perishability of our product, the seat, every sale counts and would be a move in the right direction, adding value to shareholder investment.
“Therefore, as management, do not shy away from co-operatively competing with your competitors through win-win ventures such as code-share initiatives.
“As Air Zimbabwe, we have to focus on sustainable service excellence as one of the pillars of our operations.”
On Monday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona led a delegation at the launch of the route at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, where they received the aircraft, an Airbus A330-300.
Flights will depart Harare on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while return services from London Gatwick will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Air Zimbabwe said the Harare-London route represented one of the most significant milestones in the airline’s history and reflected the national carrier’s commitment to restoring international connectivity and strengthening the country’s links with key global markets.
The service is also expected to strengthen tourism, trade, investment and diaspora connectivity while supporting Zimbabwe’s broader economic engagement with the United Kingdom.
