- Route: Harare (Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport) to London Gatwick, marking the airline’s return to the UK after a 14-year hiatus (last flights were in 2011–2012).
- Operation: It will use a wet-lease (ACMI) arrangement with Spanish carrier Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas. This means Plus Ultra provides the aircraft (likely an Airbus A330-200 or A340-300), crew, maintenance, and insurance, while the flights operate under the Air Zimbabwe brand. This avoids issues with Air Zim’s own limited long-haul fleet.
- Background: Earlier targets aimed for June 2026 (announced by Mutapa Investment Fund CEO John Mangudya), but that slipped slightly. The route is seen as commercially important due to the large Zimbabwean diaspora in the UK, potential for tourism, and exports (e.g., fresh produce).
Context and Caveats:
Air Zimbabwe has faced repeated delays and past announcements that didn’t materialize, often due to fleet shortages, regulatory/safety issues (it has historically been on EU/UK bans for safety standards), and financial challenges. This wet-lease approach is a pragmatic workaround.
