Unconfirmed reports from Zimbabwe claim that troubled Zimbabwean flag carrier, Air Zimbabwe (UM), will "soon" lease a second Airbus A320 from
China Sonangol International, in an attempt to revive the ailing airline's flagging fortunes.
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Airbus A320 "F-WTBL" in Harare. |
"Radio VOP was briefed this week that some representatives of the airline
from the quality assurance department and some engineers on Saturday
flew to France to carry out an aircraft acceptance inspection and
finalise the paperwork processes before the delivery of the aircraft
expected before next Tuesday."
It is therefore likely, that as part of its rejuvenation programme, Air Zimbabwe has chosen to use leased aircraft as opposed to buying them, as this theoretically will still allow Air Zimbabwe to operate foreign routes, albeit without the threat of repossession looming over their heads.
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Airbus A320 "F-WTBL" in Harare. |
It should be noted however, that in the past, Air Zimbabwe has laid some wild claims to aircraft acquisition, most notably:
Both of which have turned out to be unfounded Big Talk.
In a spin off effect, Zimbabwe's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAZ) has lamented the lost Passenger Tax revenues it has suffered as a consequence of Air Zimbabwe's demise.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Board Chairperson, Advocate Jacob
Mudenda said although the exact figures on the actual amount lost have
not been put together the Ministry of Transport, Communication and
Infrastructural Development is looking into the issue and restructured
Air Zimbabwe in an effort to bring efficiency that would see in
improvement in revenue inflows for organisations that have been
affected.
Read More Here [ZBC News]