Air Zimbabwe unveils its Airbus A320

Published: 10 June 2013

Air Zimbabwe has introduced a leased Airbus A320 to its fleet to service the Harare - Johannesburg route.

The plane has been in South Africa for mandatory safety tests and is one of the two Airbus A320s leased by Air Zimbabwe to complement its current fleet.

"Air Zimbabwe is pleased to introduce the Airbus A320 on the Harare-Johannesburg route," it said in a statement.

"The aircraft will initially be deployed on the Harare-Johannesburg route and later on the other regional routes. This is an exciting moment for us at Air Zimbabwe as we will be able to better serve our valued customers."

However, the company did not specify the dates on which flights using the Airbus A320 would commence.

An official at Air Zimbabwe said more details would be announced today by the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development.

The A320 is a fly-by-wire modern aircraft with a configuration of 12 business class and 138 economy class seats. Air Zimbabwe is trying to restore its viability following years of decline characterised by industrial action by its workers, among other challenges.

It has managed to retire part of its debt mostly to South African creditors after Government injected US$8,5 million into its operations last year, while it is also making strides to regain its IATA membership.

The national carrier is sitting on a debt overhang of over US$100 million owed to various creditors and has depended on Government bailouts now and again in recent years. Air Zimbabwe is one of the parastatals earmarked by Government for privatisation to restore viability.

- New Ziana.