BUDGET airline Fastjet Zimbabwe officially launched its highly anticipated Harare-Lusaka route with its inaugural flight landing in the Zambian capital on Wednesday, adding momentum to the regional integration and economic cooperation thrust.
A 50-seater Embraer ERJ145 aircraft, renowned for its adaptability and ample legroom, will operate the new route, which will have three weekly flights.
The launch event was graced by Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali, who was optimistic that the development would bolster bilateral ties between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Tayali said there is a need for collaborative effort between the two countries to grow their economies.
“So, this goes to show that we need to bring the two peoples together and that we can grow our economies. This does ultimately add to our GDP because Fastjet will be giving us something for the landing fees and whatever other attendant fees that the Zambia Airports Corporation and the Civil Aviation Authority are able to get out of such an operation.”
“The economies of the region are quite symbiotically intertwined and there is no need to compete, but rather to collaborate, so as Africans, we do have a role to play in terms of seizing the opportunities that the aviation sector has to offer,” he said.
Tayali highlighted the symbolic importance of the new route for Zambia’s economy, emphasising the benefits of the country’s economic diplomacy efforts in fostering good neighbourliness, particularly with Zimbabwe.
Joshua Sacco, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, said the move will facilitate trade and commerce between the two countries.
- Experts downbeat as Ncube cuts GDP forecasts
- New perspectives: De-link politics from Zim’s education policies
- Airports Company strikes mega hotel deal
- Experts downbeat as Ncube cuts GDP forecasts
Keep Reading
“We are very excited about this new flight system, which will bring our people together, facilitate trade and commerce, and the collaboration between our countries, and the collaboration within the region,” he noted.
“As you know that in Africa, we have a very high population, but very few people use air travel, and we need to move towards promoting more air travel that is convenient and affordable, so that we can move our countries forward.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Zambia Charity Charamba hailed the new route, which she believes will increase investment and trade between the two countries. “Now people have a choice, if you want to come to Zambia in the morning, you can come in the morning, do your business, and you can go back,” she said.
“We have a lot of Zimbabwean students studying here. We have seen many students flying to Zimbabwe and Zambia. This flight is convenient.”
The launch of the Fastjet Harare-Lusaka route is expected to foster stronger economic ties, facilitate easier travel for business and leisure, and further solidify the relationship between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Airports Company of Zimbabwe public relations and communications manager Tonderai Mangombe noted that the development comes into the convenience of travellers who can now travel to and from Zambia the same day.
“This development is excellent news for business travellers, allowing them to fly to Lusaka in the morning and conduct their business with the flexibility to return the same day,” he said.
