Government receives Airbus A330-300 as national carrier reconnects with UK market

Harare – Zimbabwe’s national airline, Air Zimbabwe, officially resumed direct flights between Harare and London on Monday, marking the end of a 16-year absence from the route with the reception of a new Airbus A330-300 aircraft at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

The aircraft, configured with 302 seats including 30 business class and 272 economy class seats, was acquired through a partnership with Spain’s Plus Ultra airline.

Operations on the Harare-London route are scheduled to commence on 22 July 2026.

Speaking at the aircraft reception and route launch ceremony, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Advocate Felix T Mhona described the development as a “watershed moment” for the nation, highlighting that the route restoration forms part of the government’s broader economic transformation agenda under the National Development Strategy II (2026-2030).

“The moment which our nation has been waiting for is here,” Mhona said. “For fourteen years, a generation of missed opportunities, deferred dreams, and untapped potential. Zimbabweans longed for direct air services connecting our capital to London. That longing has today become reality.”

The Minister reported that market response has been “exceptionally encouraging,” with 1,479 confirmed passenger bookings recorded within a remarkably short period following the route announcement.

Cargo bookings have also shown strong demand, with more than 30 tonnes already confirmed for the route.

Mhona attributed the revival of the national carrier to the strategic leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the government’s “Second Republic” vision of achieving an Upper Middle-Income Economy by 2030.

The airline is now one of the investee companies of the Mutapa Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth fund designated as the immediate shareholder of Air Zimbabwe.

The route restoration is expected to boost tourism, trade, and business exchanges between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom, with particular benefits for exporters of fresh horticultural produce, pharmaceuticals, and other high-value goods seeking access to European markets.

Air Zimbabwe Board Chairperson Dr Silvanos Gwarinda and CEO Mr Edmund Makona were acknowledged for their role in facilitating the airline’s comeback.

The Minister also extended gratitude to stakeholders including the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, the Tourism Business Council, and the broader aviation industry for their contributions to the milestone.

The Harare- London route will see Air Zimbabwe’s first flight arrive in London on 23 July 2026.