Harare - A new privately-owned airline in Zimbabwe is set to hit the skies this month. Fresh Air is co-owned by Zimbabwean company Nu-Aero and SA’s low-cost carrier 1time. Fresh Air will be flying from Joburg to Victoria Falls. The airline hopes to add Harare to its routes in a few months.
Chairman of the Civil Aviation Association of Zimbabwe Jacob Mudenda said it was important to improve connectivity within the country and within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“Emirates and Air Namibia have just become part of this effort to improve connectivity in the region,” he said. “Airlines are giving a more serious look into Zimbabwe and this will benefit businesses and the general citizenry,” he said.
Earlier this year, Air Namibia launched a Harare-Windhoek route, while Emirates, based in Dubai, has started servicing the Lusaka (Zambia)-Harare-route. KLM is due to start flying to Harare three times a week in October. Mudenda said Air Tanzania would also start on a direct route to Zimbabwe before the end of the year.
1time CEO and vice chairman of Fresh Air Blacky Komani said the new company was keen on adding more routes and was confident that the venture would succeed. “This is a viable venture,” he said, adding that Fresh Air was looking at getting licences for more Zimbabwean routes and regional routes within SADC. Fresh Air’s first flight would be at the end of the month. - Saturday Star