RSS 2.0 FeedMay 2011 Vol 33, Takeoff Africa: Aviation and Travel Indaba
Air Zimbabwe keeps flying, despite IATA suspension
Air Zimbabwe took to the skies on Monday, despite a financial suspension from the International Air Transit Association (IATA), which means its tickets were not available through the IATA’s 60, 000 accredited travel agents.
Over the weekend, reports indicated Air Zimbabwe, one of Africa’s oldest airlines, had been suspended by IATA over a 280, 000 dollars debt. This would affect its ability to make bookings from abroad.
“We flew to Johannesburg and returned ... and we expect our evening (flight) to land as scheduled,” according to one official at Air Zimbabwe, while another said they were still taking bookings.
The airline was battling to raise the money before it can resume foreign bookings through IATA agents.
The airline has experienced several industrial actions recently, the latest in the form of a pilots’ strike over unpaid salaries, which grounded Air Zimbabwe for weeks last month.
The airline keeps its daily Harare-Johannesburg line and the twice a week Harare-London routes as the only major international routes
