MALAWI may soon have two commercial airlines if the privately owned charter company, Malawi Express, is successful in its bid to obtain a licence for scheduled domestic and international flights to, amongst others, Dubai, Mecca, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia.
Principal air transport officer of the Malawi Civil Aviation Authority, Augustin Khundi, told Travel Now that he had received the application from the company - headed up by former chief executive of Air Malawi, Lewis Mbilizi, but added that it could take "months" to process the application for a licence of this nature.
"There are several issues - such as the viability and the need for a second commercial airline in the country - which need to be considered before granting a licence."
Air Malawi's commercial director Roderick Chitaika confirmed that he knew about the application, done in conjunction with Mbilizi's partner Frank Tayub, but declined to comment on how the introduction of a second airline would affect the company.
Mbilizi could not be reached for comment.
(Adele Mackenzie)
