Air Zimbabwe flies on borrowed wings in reviving the Harare-London route after 14 years
Air Zimbabwe has resumed direct flights between Harare and London Gatwick after a 14-year hiatus using a wet-leased aircraft from Spain. The airline is utilizing this partnership to test demand without the high capital cost of purchasing new long-haul planes.
Why it matters
The revival of this route signifies a strategic effort by the Zimbabwean government to restore international connectivity and boost the national carrier.
Air Zimbabwe has commenced its first direct flight between Harare and London Gatwick aboard a wet leased aircraft from Spain.
This Harare-London route is being revived after 14 years hiatus.
Restoring a route the national carrier last flew in early 2012, the airline confirmed the schedule as three flights a week, departing Harare on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with return services from Gatwick’s South Terminal on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The route was suspended over a combination of financial pressure at the airline and evolving European regulatory requirements, which had effectively kept Air Zimbabwe out of United Kingdom and European Union airspace since 2017.
Its last direct London service, in 2012, flew on Boeing 767 aircraft which the airline no longer operates.
Air Zimbabwe is relaunching the service without acquiring its own long-haul aircraft.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in