Air Zimbabwe to Expand Domestic Flights
Air Zimbabwe to expand domestic flights HARARE, May 4 (Xinhua) — Air Zimbabwe (Airzim) is set to introduce a new flight package dubbed Skylink to serve local tourist destinations as it seeks to expand its domestic network, according to Friday’s The Herald. Skylink will see Airzim flying to tourism attractions nationwide, including Hwange National Park, Masvingo and Buffalo Range, at the end of this month.
Airzim spokesman David Mwenga said a joint venture between the national airline and strategic partners such as Zimbabwe Sun Hospitality, will soon launch flights to other domestic airports that are currently outside its network.
Mwenga pointed out that Airzim was already serving these routes but was merely boosting them by way of Skylink as business and tourist destinations.
He also stressed the importance of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park’s proximity to Buffalo Range in terms of tourist arrivals.
“Hwange is a purely tourist destination, while Masvingo will cater for both business people and holidaymakers. On the other hand, Buffalo Range in Chiredzi will have as its focal point the Gonarezhou National Park (now part of the GTLF),” he said.
Airzim, through this initiative, wants to promote local tourist destinations ahead of 2010 and beyond.
The national airline will begin by ferrying passengers using the MA60, but is also looking at securing a smaller aircraft with a carrying capacity of 12 or more passengers.
Currently, Airzim plies the Harare, Bulawayo and Kariba routes and plans to link the new destinations with the existing routes. Plans are also underway to add Mutare, capital of the scenic Eastern Highlands, to its flight schedule.
“You will notice that we service the major cities in Zimbabwe. We are, therefore, putting logistics in place to put Mutare on our flight plan,” said Mr Mwenga.
Within the region, Airzim has a vision of connecting Skylink routes with Johannesburg, and Lilongwe.
Apart from the regional destinations, the airline will from May 7 this year fly to Luanda and Kinshasa.
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