Air Zimbabwe, which grounded its planes due to mantainance challenges has signed an agreement with a Botswana company, Mack Air for the launch of the Flame Lily Hoppa that outlines an integral and synergistic operational and commercial partnership between the two airlines.
The agreement includes the launch of daily regional scheduled air services between Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique, according to a press release by the two organisations.
“This agreement includes the imminent launch of daily domestic scheduled air services between Victoria Falls, Harare and the major tourist destinations including Hwange, Kariba and Chiredzi,” the press release says.
“Flights will be operated using a blend of brand new Cessna Grand Caravan EX operated by Mack Air and Embraer 145 jet aircraft from Air Zimbabwe.”
The Flame Lily Hoppa agreement includes camps and lodges services within tourism hubs environment to drive additional hospitality industry growth.
“These flights will initially focus on leveraging the historic tourism links between Zimbabwe and Botswana, obvious geographic positioning and thereby ensuring the inauguration of additional tourism circuit products, by operators and using a platform of integrated flights, services and links provided on the Flame Lily Hoppa,” the airlines say.
“Mack Air and Air Zimbabwe have also committed to supporting and spearheading the upgrade of both Kariba and Hwange Airports, alongside and in co-operation with the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and additional key stakeholders; in order to ensure the complete suitability of facilities for the region becoming a world class safari and recreational destination,”
“Engagement has been initiated with the International, Regional and Domestic Tourism Industry in order to ensure that all stakeholder interests are efficiently and effectively serviced.”
The struggling Air Zimbabwe bought the Embraer ERJ-145 after grounding its sole plane which had developed a challenge in mid air on the way to Harare from South Africa.
Zimbabwe’s indebted airlines suspended all flights after the grounding of its planes.
