"The country is expected to take delivery of the aircraft soon and operational modalities have already been completed," said the government mouthpiece Sunday Mail, quoting an unnamed source.

"Staff, including engineering experts that had been sent for training in Germany, is now returning, but it should be noted that Airbus is prepared to send some of the crew to be attached to the planes for a two-year period," it said.

The paper said the plans would cost a total of 400 million dollars, but Air Zimbabwe chairman Jonathan Kadzura said he was not aware of the order.

"I have also heard about it, but to be frank, I am not aware of it," Kadzura told the paper.

But the report was likely to inflame tensions with the embattled airline's pilots, who went on strike on September 8 saying they have not been paid their full salaries.

The airline currently flies two Boeing B767-200s, three B737-200s and three Chinese Xian MA 60 turboprops.

By Staff reporter and agencies