Fastjet Zimbabwe today launched flights from Zimbabwe’s tourism capital, Victoria Falls, to South Africa’s Mbombela Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, which serves the Kruger National Park and other nearby wildlife reserves.
The schedule services operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays using a 50-seater Embraer ERJ145 aircraft.
Flights depart VFA at 10h30, arriving in MQP at 11h15. The return flights depart MQP at 12h45 and arrive in VFA at 14h30. It is expected that, come July, the flights could run to a daily frequency.
The route provides a boost for tourism between the two countries and the new direct flight will be a seamless connection for travellers on the safari circuit, effectively linking the Lowveld lodges in and around the Kruger National Park, directly with Victoria Falls, one of Southern Africa’s greatest tourism attractions.
Fastjet Zimbabwe spokesperson, Nunurai Ndawana, said: “We are delighted to be adding another crucial direct flight connection to Victoria Falls. We believe this route will facilitate accelerated travel between these two globally recognised tourism destinations of Zimbabwe and South Africa, thereby massively contributing to the restart of tourism in the region.”
“Since our announcement of this route, the response from Victoria Falls and the Mpumalanga Province has been overwhelmingly positive. Our nonstop service from Victoria Falls to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) will benefit a variety of travellers, especially those that want to maximise their holiday by exploring multiple Southern African destinations in a single visit,” said Fastjet Group Chief Commercial Officer, Julian Edmunds.
The introduction of this route today between Vic Falls and KMIA and the route between Vic Falls and Maun (due to commence mid-year), is significant for tourism in southern Africa, linking Victoria Falls, one of the great tourism icons of the world, with Maun, the gateway to the Okavango, and with KMIA, the gateway to Kruger National Park and its surrounding reserves with their incomparable wildlife offerings.
