Air Zimbabwe partner’s Botswana’s Mack Air to boost domestic and regional flights

Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - Air Zimbabwe has partnered a Botswana- based air charter airline, Mack Air, for daily and regional scheduled air services in Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique. In a joint statement released on Thursday from Air Zimbabwe and Mack Air, the airlines said the agreement outlines an integrated and synergistic operational and commercial partnership between them. This agreement includes the imminent launch of daily domestic scheduled air services between Victoria Falls, Harare and the major tourist destinations, including Hwange, Kariba and Chiredzi. Additionally, the agreement includes services to camps and lodges within the environs of these major tourism hubs; on an anticipated per seat basis to service the lodge and camp clientele and drive additional tourism growth in these critical areas, reads part of the statement. The Agreement also includes the launch of daily regional scheduled air services between Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique. These flights will initially focus on leveraging the historic tourism links between Zimbabwe and Botswana, obvious geographic positioning and thereby ensuring the inauguration of additional tourism circuit products, by operators and using a platform of integrated flights, services and links provided on the Flame Lily Hoppa. According to the joint statement, the flights will be operated using a blend of brand new Cessna Grand Caravan EX operated by Mack Air and the Embraer 145 jet aircraft from Air Zimbabwe. The agreement comes at a time when Air Zimbabwe is trying to resuscitate itself after incurring perennial losses over the past few years resulting in a huge debt of US$381 million to date. Grant Thornton, the special administrator which now runs the affairs of Air Zimbabwe, says despite attracting 10 potential investors this year, the airline's ballooning debt remains a deterrent to foreign partners. Grant Thornton has since applied to Treasury for a debt assumption plan which would see government warehouse the US$381 million debt. Currently, Air Zimbabwe is using one aircraft to service all its daily and regional routes. Mack Air and Air Zimbabwe have also committed to supporting and spearheading the upgrade of both Kariba and Hwange Airports, alongside and in co-operation with the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and additional key stakeholders; in order to ensure the complete suitability of facilities for the region becoming a world class safari and recreational destination, reads part of the statement. Engagement has been initiated with the International, Regional and Domestic Tourism Industry in order to ensure that all stakeholder interests are efficiently and effectively serviced. Additional announcements will be made in the coming weeks as these discussions further mature and crystallise. Mack Air operates a fleet of 24 aircraft and have in the past 18 months acquired 17 brand new Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft as well as a Citation M2 Jet to support additional operations within the region. -0- PANA TZ/VAO 4July 2019