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Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cain Mathema (left), Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Obert Mpofu, FlyAfrica chairman Professor Chakanyuka Karase and Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Clr Gift Banda leave the Fly Africa plane after a tour at its commissioning at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo yesterday. — (Picture by Eliah Saushoma)

Prosper Ndlovu Business Editor
ZIMBABWEAN low-cost airline Fly Africa says it has invested about $11 million in setting up its operations in the capital intensive industry and is aiming at becoming the best regional air transport service.

Company chairman Professor Chakanyuka Karase said on the sidelines of the official launch of the airline’s Bulawayo-Johannesburg (South Africa) route at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo (JMN) International Airport that their company was geared to challenge regional players in offering quality service at affordable charges.

“We’re a Zimbabwean registered airline with a vision to become the best regional airline. While the economy is in resurgence we feel this is the time to invest in our country.

“Our investment in terms of asset value stands at between $10 million to $11 million and our business model is effectively low cost,” said Prof Karase.

“We want to demystify the concept that air travel is only for ministers and senior company officials or other high raking individuals. Flying should be an experience for all. Our focus is to have more and more people travelling by air.”

He said the airline had a fleet of five planes, of which only two are operational and a staff complement of about 100 workers.

Recently, a 24-member Zimbabwe cabin crew was recruited and has been trained on quality service particularly on security.

On Monday the airline expanded its network when it touched down at the JMN International Airport as part of its regional expansion strategy.

Return tickets from Bulawayo to Johannesburg start from $187 for early birds.

Several dignitaries and business executives among them Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Obert Mpofu, Provincial Affairs Minister for Matabeleland North Cain Mathema and scores of tour operators witnessed the official launch.

In his address Minister Mpofu said the coming of Fly Africa had increased interest in investment in the country and created competition, which is essential for efficient service delivery.

“We licensed more operators and this has resulted in reduced airfares. The travelling public benefits from competition and this is as it should be,” said Mpofu.

“We’re happy that Fly Africa is a product of a local initiative. They’ve done us proud and this is proof that Zimbabwe is a good investment destination.”

Minister Mpofu urged the travelling public and businesses in Bulawayo to take advantage of the new airline to enhance connectivity and increase business activity in the city.

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) board chair Themba Nyoni said the Bulawayo-Johannesburg route would increase the volume of traffic at the JMN airport and ensure it is fully utilised.

Choppies managing director Siqokoqela Mphoko said the airline would give businesses and travelling public wide choice for those travelling between Zimbabwe and its biggest trading partner, South Africa.

Mathema described the development as “incredible”, adding: “To me this shows we should think outside the box and that means Zimbabwe’s economy is ready for new ideas and new businesses”.

The airline is targeting introducing 11 regional routes this year including Harare-Lusaka, Harare-Dar es Salaam, Harare-Lubumbashi, Johannesburg-Windhoek, Victoria Falls-Kilimanjaro and Victoria Falls-Cape Town, among others.