Industry News
Zimbabwe’s Air Zim Expects to Join IATA in 3 Months By Luke Bodell
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imbabwe’s national carrier, Air Zimbabwe, expects to rejoin the International Air Transport Association (IATA) over the next three months. The airline has been suspended from IATA multiple times over the years due to unpaid debts and safety concerns. Tafadzwa Zaza, acting CEO at Air Zimbabwe, said, “The process is underway to rejoin IATA, which I think in the next three months we should be a member of the IATA Clearing House. It’s very critical to join the IATA Clearing House to be able to contribute to the aviation global distribution system. Right now it’s difficult to pick us on the system since we are not a member.” The IATA Clearing House (ICH) provides settlement services in the air transport industry. It is one of several IATA Settlement Systems (ISS) which enable reliable and efficient movement of funds around the industry. In 2017, ISS settled a whopping $433.3 billion. $140 million debt in the way The airline’s membership of the IATA Clearing House has not been forthcoming due to unpaid debt. However, IATA has now stated that Air Zimbabwe is making progress on repaying its estimated $140 million debts. Membership in IATA would offer a wide range of
perks to Air Zimbabwe, including more partnership opportunities and financial security. Zaza added, “Once we are a member we will be able to get into these alliances as well as business sharing models with other airlines so that we can have our passengers, for example, traveling all the way to Harare or German or Dubai without a hassle. We will also be able to sell tickets for our passengers here in Dubai or connect passengers from here all the way to Victoria Fall.” Fleet and network expansion in 2022 Air Zimbabwe is hoping to expand its fleet in the next year, which will impact both domestic and international operations. Air Zimbabwe’s CEO was also part of a national delegation that visited Dubai recently and plans to expand the airline’s network into Dubai. Zaza said, “With Government support, we are going to expand and increase our frequency and we are open to engaging investors. In 2022, after consolidating on the domestic routes to enable tourism, we will grow regionally. We plan to do at least one inter-continental destination and one of the destinations earmarked is Dubai.” The airline has a fleet of eight aircraft, including two Boeing 777s that aren’t entering service anytime soon. According to Zaza, Air Zimbabwe is looking to wet lease or dry lease the aircraft in the short term. In the long term, its 777s could be converted into freighters. https:// simpleflying.com/ zimbabwe-air-zimiata-3-months/ Image credit: getty Images
9 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | May 2022
