Mr Lekani Katandula, a partner at audit and business advisory firm Deloitte, the officially appointed liquidators for the now defunct Air Malawi Ltd (QM), has announced that the airline's fleet of three aircraft, an ATR42, a B737-300 and a B737-500, are now up for sale to all interested parties. |
| Air Malawi's 737-300 stored in Joburg (RBexten) |
According to the Nyasa Times, an expression of interest notice has been published in the Malawian press with the sale meant to help offset the parastatal's debts in preparation for the launch of the renewed Air Malawi 2012 Ltd, a joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines (ET) set to begin operations later this month. The launch, however, is still pending the Malawian Ministry of Finance's go ahead.
Research by The African Aviation Tribune shows Air Malawi's fleet is currently listed as follows:
- 1x ATR 42-300 (MCN 236 | 7Q-YKQ) stored in Blantyre; age: 22.3 years
- 1x B737-300 (MSN 25056 | 7Q-YKP) stored in Johannesburg since 2009; age: 22 years
- 1x B737-500 (MSN 25384 | 7Q-YKW) stored in Johannesburg; age: 21 years
Malawi's Privatization Commission is overseeing the transformation of the airline into a Public/Private initiative.
In a related development, the Malawian government is reported to have considered selling off the airline's aircraft and spare parts as a means of keeping Air Malawi Ltd afloat. A confidential report entitled "The Future of Air Malawi Ltd" published in 2012 planned to break the two 737s mentioned above in order to sell them off in the hopes of raising USD1million+ to help pay off a USD2.2million (MWK902million) debt for engine repairs to the ATR42, unpaid costs for a Boeing 737-200ADV (MSN 22890 | ZS-PUI) leased from Star Air Cargo South Africa, as well as other services.
Air Malawi is also said to owe over USD1.57million (MWK643million) in unpaid pension benefits to 240 staff retrenched earlier this year.