New Zimbabwean airline, KuvaAir, wants to connect tourism destinations in Zimbabwe, and is due to fly its inaugural Harare-Hwange-Victoria Falls flight today, June 1, according to a report in Zimbabwe’s state-owned newspaper, The Herald.
KuvaAir will operate scheduled flights linking Harare, Kariba, Victoria Falls and Hwange on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tour operators and residents of Kariba alike welcomed the new player as it has potential to grow Kariba’s economy, which is beset with accessibility problems.
Speaking at Kariba Airport, KuvaAir managing director Stewart Dunlop, said: "The hassle of getting in and out of Kariba was the inspiration behind setting up the airline.”
The hassle, according to KuvaAir marketing executive Darryl Dzapasi, refers to the unsafe roads that lead to the town. “The flights offer a more affordable and safer option for travellers,” he said.
Dzapasi told Travel News that the airline is aiming to become an established player within the Sub-Sahara African aviation industry by growing and expanding in Zimbabwe, but he does not rule out the possibility of route expansion to other African countries, and even overseas routes in the future.
The airline currently has three aircraft, each carrying up to 30 passengers.