adminThis means the national airline now meets IATA’s operational safety, efficient and quality benchmarks observed by operators worldwide.
The national airline was de-registered from the IOSA registry in September 2012 when Air Zimbabwe technically failed IOSA’s test after temporarily stopping operations due to an industrial strike.
Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche yesterday announced the re-admission of Air Zimbabwe to the IOSA registry through a statement read on his behalf by his ministry’s secretary Mr Munesu Munodawafa at a press conference.
“We are, therefore, proud to announce the airline’s re-registration following the international air transport association operational safety audit (IOSA) in December 2012,” Minister Goche said.
He said IOSA was an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational and management and control systems of all member airlines.
As an IOSA registered operator, Minister Goche said, Air Zimbabwe retains its IATA membership, meets part of requirements to attract strategic partnership with world class airlines and high safety standards, while realising notable cost savings.
IATA’s IOSA safety and operational audits are carried out bi-annually.
The re-registration followed an IOSA audit programme undertaken from December 17 to December 21, 2012 after which Air Zimbabwe had 12 months to close gaps that were identified.
Air Zimbabwe acting group chief executive Mr Innocent Mavhunga said the airline was able to close the gaps on May 24, 2013, which culminated in the national airline being re-admitted to IOSA.
The development augurs well for the rebuilding of passenger and stakeholder confidence as Air Zimbabwe resumed operations starting with regional flights to Johannesburg and selected domestic routes recently.
The re-registrations make Air Zimbabwe one of the 25 airlines in Sub-Saharan Africa on the IOSA registry out of a total of 34 in Africa.
Online Reporter