Zimbabwe’s troubled national airline reportedly has a debt of USD140 million to various institutions. Local newspapers report the heavily subsidised Air Zimbabwe is operating at a loss of USD2 million per month. The country’s aviation industry has been dwindling over the past years and saw the number of active pilots drop from 1206 in 1988 to 380 at the start of 2011. The country has a handful of small carriers that do not operate scheduled commercial services. Plans to establish domestic carrier Royal Zimbabwe Airline were shelved in Aug-2011. Before Air Zimbabwe grounded its fleet, Zimbabwe had nine commercial aircraft in operation, with none on order.
While total capacity in Zimbabwe fell from May-2011 to Dec-2011, South African Airways and Air Namibia increased existing services and introduced new ones that helped made up for Air Zimbabwe taking out 5000 seats over the six month period. Factors leading to this decrease from the national carrier included pilot strikes, mounting debt, maintenance issues and a loss of consumer confidence.
South African Airways added capacity on the Johannesburg-Harare route with a daily A330-200 service, seating 222 passengers (36 in Business and 186 in Economy), bringing its total frequency to 21 weekly – a 66% increase. Neighbouring Zambezi Airlines increased its six times weekly service to 10 times weekly in Oct-2011. On 01-Apr-2012, Air Namibia will return to Harare for the first time in 13 years when it adds 148 seats a week with a four times weekly Windhoek-Harare service using ERJ-135 equipment. It will be the carrier’s second destination in Zimbabwe, after Victoria Falls, and seventh in Africa.
Air links vital to economic developmentWithout steady air links, Zimbabwe will become isolated from its trade partners and risks losing tourism revenue. In 1H2011, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority reported a 10% decrease in passenger arrivals by air from 97,552 in 1H2010 to 87,877 in 1H2011. This was due to the national airline’s erratic operations.
Local reports in mid 2011 said Zimbabwe’s Tourism Minister, Walter Mzembi, was engaging – optimistically – in talks with foreign carriers to start international services to the country, and has reportedly held discussions with British Airways, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic about commencing air service to Victoria Falls for 2013, when Zimbabwe and Zambia will jointly host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly conference. Nothing has eventuated.
Industry reflects economyZimbabwe’s infamously troubled aviation industry, led by the mismanaged national airline Air Zimbabwe, reflects the country’s economic climate, which saw a decade of contraction right up until 2010, when the country finally recorded real growth of 5.9%. While the economy is now growing at a brisk pace the country still faces continuing political uncertainly, debt, 95% unemployment, hyperinflation and damage to its commercial farming sector due to the government’s land reform programme. A Feb-2009 power-sharing agreement has done little, and further economic growth is dependent on further political reforms.
Zimbabwe’s strongest links are to southern AfricaZimbabwe’s regional connections are strongest between its neighbours but dither elsewhere on the continent. South African Airways, the largest carrier operating in Zimbabwe, provides strong coverage to southern African cities, but elsewhere on the continent destinations served are not strong trading partners with Zimbabwe. Routes also require backtracking through South African’s hubs, primarily in Johannesburg, adding time and cost; intra-Africa fares run high before even considering local incomes.
Comair, a franchise of British Airways, operates to Harare, Livingstone and Victoria Falls from Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport and serves Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Windhoek, but like South African Airways, requires backtracking though South Africa for any connecting services.
Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways provide more links to east Africa and, to a lesser extent, West Africa, however North Africa remains unconnected, with services from both carriers only operating to Cairo. Angolan flag carrier TAAG has a limited network, while Air Namibia’s network is centred around the country with links to neighbouring countries.
Source: CAPA
Gravity always wins!