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2010 World Cup - Airzim to Boost Fleet |
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Zimbabwe is considering either
acquiring or leasing more passenger planes to boost its
fleet ahead of the 2010 World Cup to be held in South
Africa, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Cde Christopher Mushohwe has said. |
Cde Mushohwe said Airzim
currently has a fleet of only eight planes. "Air
Zimbabwe will either acquire or lease modern aircrafts
to meet demand. It is true that the airline in
conjunction with the ministry has been looking at the
possibility of acquiring additional aircrafts. We have
talked to the Russians, the Chinese, Boeing, Airbus and
Ambrea," he said.
The minister said the airline has been talking to major
aircraft |
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>manufacturing a 100-seater
jet. I went to see what they are doing and see if
there is scope for us to discuss with them in the
future." The Government and Airzim, said the
minister, were working on beefing up the national
airline ahead of 2010. There are consented efforts
to recapitalise the airline.
Airzim is also in talks with international airlines
to form strategic alliances. "But the kind of
relationship Air
Zimbabwe seeks is real strategic
alliance. They are discussing with Gulf Air,
Emirates and Qatar. I am aware that with
preparations for 2010, there is need to look beyond
the issue of strategic partners," Cde Mushohwe said.
Plans are also underway for the airline to increase
its local and international destinations. "Air
Zimbabwe is now flying to Luanda. Plans are at an
advanced stage for them to fly to Brussels in
Belgium. We are in discussions with Qatar and India.
Plans are also underway to fly to Moscow (Russia)
and Teheran. All those markets are being explored
now and market surveys are underway," he said.
In the region, the national airline is considering
to venture into Mozambique and to increase flights
to Angola. On the upgrading of the country's
airports, Cde Mushohwe was certain that the Civil
Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe would do the job on
time.
"Despite the fact that they have been affected by
the shortage of foreign currency, CAAZ is doing
everything possible to make sure we get to 2010 with
a state-of-the-art airport at Victoria Falls. "The
Victoria Falls airport would be ready to accommodate
any size of aircraft by 2010. CAAZ is in discussions
with world class airport developers," Cde Mushohwe
said.
Last year, CAAZ chief executive officer Mr David
Chawota pledged before a Parliamentary Portfolio
Committee on Transport and Communications that by
December 31, 2007 the authority would have found a
contractor. Cde Mushohwe could not say when the
discussions between CAAZ and the strategic partners
would be concluded. "As to when, it depends on the
nature of the discussions." He said such discussions
were done with due diligence. Cde Mushohwe expressed
satisfaction with the work being done by the
Air Zimbabwe board and management led by Mr Mike Bimha
and Dr Peter Chikumba, respectively.
On the withdrawal of other airlines from Zimbabwe,
the minister said it had nothing to do with the
viability of routes they plied.
British Airways and Zambian Airways withdrew their
services from Zimbabwe late last year. "I am not
surprised that the BA pulled out. The then country
representative of BA came to see me and indicated
they were having economic problems with their route
to Harare. I told him the London-Harare route was
the most lucrative with every flight to and from
London at 80 percent load factor," he said.
"I personally think that while it may be true that
they were not having the best facilities, I strongly
suspect that the British Government had a hand in
the pulling out of the BA." On Zambian Airways, the
minister said the airline was small, insignificant
and might have withdrawn due to lack of capacity to
continue servicing the route.
He said good relations remained between Zambian
Airways and Air
Zimbabwe by a way of code sharing.
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