FLYAFRICA Zimbabwe plans to
partner with a South African
carrier to strengthen its value
proposition on its HarareJohannesburg
route, which is
expected to launch next year.
Chairman, Cassidy
Mugwagwa, says an alliance
with a local carrier would
enable FlyAfrica Zimbabwe
to offer travellers onward
connections within South
Africa and allow it to compete
with other carriers like SAA
that fly Harare-Johannesburg
and offer onward connections
domestically.
Though Cassidy can’t
confirm with which airline
FlyAfrica Zim is seeking an
alliance, he expects the
news to be revealed in the
New Year.
The airline had originally
planned to relaunch flights
by the end of October (see
TNW September 28) but
Cassidy says it had to settle
issues with the Zimbabwean
government, specifically a
US$2,5m (R34m) tax debt
left by the airline’s previous
shareholders.
However, he says the
airline’s papers are now all in
order, with the exception of
its Foreign Operators Permit
(FOP) which it expects to
acquire any day now.
“Our plan is to start
flying sometime in the last
week of February towards
the beginning of March.”
The strategy behind this
is to avoid commencing
flights in the typically lowrevenue
months of January
and February.
According to Cassidy, the
airline has landed a US$34m
(R463m) equity investment
from foreign investors.
Part of this investment is in
the form of Boeing aircraft.
To comply with
indigenisation laws, the
equity has been provided on
a buy-back basis spanning
two years, he says.
Significant changes
with regard to FlyAfrica
Zimbabwe’s executive team
are also in the pipeline, with
the announcement of a new
ceo to happen soon.
The airline will position
itself as a value carrier
rather than a low-cost carrier,
which means checked
baggage will not be charged
for but other extras, such as
a loyalty programme, will not
be offered.
FlyAfriva court local carrier
Comments | 0
