HARARE, Jan 21 (NNN-XINHUA) – Zimbabwe’s state-owned airline, Air Zimbabwe, took delivery of one of two Boeing 777-200 aircraft, bought from Malaysia as part of efforts to revive its struggling national carrier.
Transport and Infrastructural Development minister, Joel Biggie Matiza, flew in with the new plane which was received at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga.
The aircraft will enable Air Zimbabwe to resume international flights to such destinations as the United Kingdom and China, which were stopped several years ago due to operational and viability challenges.
The troubled airline is operating with a severely reduced fleet, which is old and expensive to run.
The airline is currently plying domestic and regional routes, and has seen its route network shrink to less than 10 from around 20 in the 1990’s.
Speaking after receiving the aircraft, Chiwenga said, the purchase of the long-haul plane showed government’s commitment to reviving the troubled airline.
“Receipt of this B-777 aircraft is a clear testimony that we are taking concrete steps to capacitate our national airline, so that it plays its role in promoting economic growth, creating jobs and facilitating international trade and tourism,” he said.
He bemoaned Western sanctions, which he said, had rendered most of the country’s equipment in the aviation industry un-serviceable due to shortage of imported spare parts and other ancillary equipment.
Speaking at the same event, Transport Minister, Joel Biggie Matiza, said, he was optimistic that the aircraft will go a long way in unlocking value of the country’s aviation industry.
He said, the second aircraft was in the final stages of maintenance, to ensure that it is air worthy and ready to be deployed to Harare shortly.
He added that the government still needs to give support to Air Zimbabwe, to acquire a smaller regional aircraft, which will help the airline rebuild its national and regional network, which will act as a springboard to launch international routes.
