Air Zimbabwe launches Jo’burg to Vic Falls Flight

AIR Zimbabwe says it is re-launching the Johannesburg-Victoria Falls route and company executives have also urged locals and non-resident Zimbabweans to use the national carrier and help efforts to turn-around the country’s economy.

Air Zimbabwe general manager Moses Mapanda said in Harare that the air line was resuming direct flights between Victoria Falls and Johannesburg to help support the recovery of the country’s primary tourist destination.

“The most critical thing we have done in terms of supporting tourism is to re-establish a direct link between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls beginning the first of June this year. This service will initially be offered three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

“We are doing this in conjunction with local tourism groups such as RTG, African Sun as well as Meikles Holdings and we will also be holding road shows in South Africa to promote the service,” Mapanda said.

Most hotels in the resort town have reported an uptick bookings as political concerns about the country continue to ease following the establishment of the coalition government and executives at national air line are keen to benefit from the improvement in tourist traffic.

Mapanda also urged locals and non-resident Zimbabweans to travel with the national airline and support efforts to turnaround the country’s economy.


“People should support their own national asset because Air Zimbabwe belongs to Zimbabweans and by travelling with us customers would also be helping rebuild their own nation,” he said.

The Air Zim boss said the air line was the only carrier to offer direct daylight flights to the United Kingdom as well as direct links to Far East destinations which meant passengers would not have to endure long lay-overs as they wait for connecting flights.
Air Zimbabwe offers direct flights to Singapore, Malaysia and the Chinese capital, Beijing.

“We are also the first airline out of Harare to Johannesburg and the last one back into the country on a daily basis. This means travellers have a lot of time to conduct their business in South Africa,” Mapanda said.

He added that efforts to acquire more aircraft were ongoing but declined to give details saying ‘this is a matter for the shareholder’.

Travel agents have also urged the company to consider entering into code share agreements with other airlines for customer convenience in cases of disruptions such as the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland which led to the closure of airspaces across Europe.