A new dossier on Air Zimbabwe (UM) entitled "Aircraft rotation for summer 2013" purportedly showing the carrier's service resumption plans for Summer 2013, has been published with Embraer Regional Jets set to join the fleet. Additionally, flights to the UK, Germany, Ghana, Mauritius, Kenya and Nigeria are planned. |
| Air Zimbabwe's other A320 with entire grounded fleet (TAAT) |
According to Radio VOP Zimbabwe, following an inter-governmental trip to Brazil last year by a high powered Zimbabwean delegation, the struggling Zimbabwean national carrier is set to receive two Embraer ERJ135s to aide in the carrier's planned resumption of services in the sub region. The ERJs will likely serve to replace UM's fleet of three MA-60s which have been retired from active ops over what sources at Air Zimbabwe called "customer dissatisfaction."
Regionally, the airline is said to be planning on resuming several previous routes abandoned at the height of Zimbabwe's economic downturn, in addition to the start of flights to Ghana and Nigeria, as previously reported.
"In Africa, Air Zimbabwe will commence flights to three countries, Ghana, Mauritius, Kenya and Nigeria, where several Zimbabweans including President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s allies have been trooping to seeking salvation. The airline will operate two of its Airbus aircraft on the routes including on the Harare-Johannesburg, Dar es Salaam, Lubumbashi and Kinshasa jaunt.
....The (Embraer ERJ135) planes will complement the airline’s fleet on local and regional flights including Harare-Lusaka, Lilongwe and Johannesburg routes."
Source [RadioVOP]
Curiously, no mention has been made of any potential China/Malaysia flights given Harare's cozy relationship with both Beijing and Kuala Lumpur, and the heavy influx of Chinese immigrants to the southern African country.
Air Zimbabwe is currently undergoing its IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) with results due out at the end of February.
Thanks to BoyFromHarare.