By Sharon Tawuya
Harare, (New Ziana)- After a 16-year hiatus, the national airline, Air Zimbabwe, on Monday announced the resumption of the Harare to London direct flight with the first trip scheduled to start on Wednesday.
Air Zimbabwe last flew to London’s Gatwick International Airport in 2010, and for the resumed route , the airline will deploy a leased 302- seater 3030 Airbus aircraft.
Speaking at a function to receive the aircraft and launch of the Harare- London route, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona said about 1 500 bookings had been confirmed.
“Within a remarkably short period following the announcement of this route, I am told Air Zimbabwe has already recorded 1 489 confirmed passenger bookings and extra oil and gas freight. The cargo market has responded extremely positively. I am told that already more than 30 tons of cargo have been confirmed for this route demonstrating the enormous commercial opportunities presented by direct connectivity. Zimbabwe’s exporters will now enjoy improved access to one of Europe’s largest consumer,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the government for facilitating the resumption of direct flights to the United Kingdom.
“Indeed, we welcome the return of Air Zimbabwe with pomp and fanfare after a 16-year hiatus. Occasions of this nature provide us with the wonderful opportunity to brush shoulders with colleagues from every walk of the high-vision tourism and hospitality sectors. Allow me from the outset to express my profound gratitude to those who have worked so hard to make this historic moment a reality. We appreciate you, the Boat and Management, for your remarkable leadership, which has enabled our flight carrier to demonstrate once again its renowned hospitality in the airspace between Harare and London,” he said.
Mhona also appreciated the investor , Mutapa Investment Fund, for bankrolling the resumption of the flight.
“As you may all know, Air Zimbabwe is now one of the companies under Mutapa Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth fund which was designated as the immediate shareholder of our beloved airline. By virtue of that, I want to appreciate the magnified role of the Mutapa Investment Fund, ably led by the former RBZ Governor, Dr John Mangudya for applying unique financial models which are appropriate for the realisation of this deal,” he said.
Mhona expressed confidence that the direct link to Europe would also enhance trade.
“It is our hope, therefore, that this connectivity will facilitate tourism, hospitality, cultural and business exchanges, economic opportunities will boom, and people-to-people relations between Zimbabwe and our global citizens will improve,” he said.
He said under President Mnangagwa, the Second Republic had started a deliberate course towards institutional restoration, economic transformation, and strategic reposition of Zimbabwe.
“The National Development Strategy 2 places transport and logistics at the strategic centre of our economic transformation agenda, and it does so with clarity and purpose. A modern, integrated, and efficient transport system is not a luxury, it is a necessity, it is the stimulatory system through which investment, exports, trade moves, tourists arrive, and our young people gain access to global opportunities,” he said.
For Zimbabweans living and working in the United Kingdom and Europe, the route restores access to hope, he said.
“For investors, entrepreneurs, and government officials, it opens direct pathways to capital, partnerships, international engagement. For tourists, it places Zimbabwe with our natural awareness. And we ask for my sister that we continue to remember that this is a destination to visit, a must destination to visit,” he said.
Mhona said the direct flight also facilitates the movement of more local exports to Europe.
“Zimbabwe’s exporters will now enjoy improved access to one of Europe’s largest consumer markets. I therefore wish to make a sincere commitment to support Air Zimbabwe whenever possible to our business community, to government institutions, and tourism sector, to our exporters, and to our brothers and sisters in the diaspora. This is your airline. This success depends on our collective support,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbra Rwodzi said the direct link will balloon the number of visitors to Zimbabwe from Europe and the United States of America.
“Just in the first quarter of 2026, the numbers have swollen by 11 percent. We want to continue on this trajectory,” she said.
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