Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter
AIR Zimbabwe’s Airbus A330-300 aircraft landed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport yesterday morning with 165 passengers on board from London.
Fares for the direct route start from £490 or US$495, while a return ticket costs between £675 and US$900.
The fares are subject to availability and applicable terms and conditions.
So far, 1 479 passengers have confirmed bookings and more than 30 tonnes of cargo secured.
Flights depart Harare on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while return services from London Gatwick will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
“165 reasons to celebrate. Flight UM725 has landed safely at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport with 165 passengers on board, reconnecting families and loved ones through the convenience of Air Zimbabwe’s direct London–Harare service.
“No stopovers. Just one seamless journey bringing Zimbabwe closer to its global community,” read a statement from the airline.
This development comes after the head of London Gatwick Aviation, Jonny Macneal, hailed Zimbabwe, saying the relaunch of the Harare-London route is the latest addition to Gatwick’s expanding route network, which has introduced 11 new routes.
The airport currently offers 27 routes to Africa operated by 18 carriers, with new routes and airlines continuing to expand its international connections.
According to Macneal, the new route comes as passenger traffic between London Gatwick and Africa has increased by 72 percent since 2023, according to the airport.
Air Zimbabwe relaunched the flights on July 22, ending a 16-year absence of a direct air link between the two destinations.
Dr John Mangudya, the CEO of Mutapa Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund which acts as the State shareholder and financial backer for Air Zimbabwe, described the new route as a game-changer.
“This is a significant milestone in the history of our country because it does three things.
“It connects Zimbabwe to Europe through the UK and, therefore, it means easy movement of people between Zimbabwe and Europe and the UK.
“Number two, it promotes trade between Zimbabwe and the UK, in particular in this case, because most of our horticulture produce is destined for Europe and, therefore, it means overnight, we have got our products, our horticulture produce, our blueberries going through this aircraft, which is about 34 tonnes of freight. “Thirdly, it promotes tourism in the country and, more significantly so, this shows a turnaround of our public enterprises in Zimbabwe.”
He said Mutapa Investment Fund’s role was to transform the national assets into national value.
