Africa
Zambezi Airlines grounded
- Zambezi Airlines has grounded its aircraft following a sudden suspention of its air operating certificate, which was withdrawn over the weekend due to safety concerns.
Dozens of passengers were stranded last week as flights were cancelled and Zambezi Airlines could not get alternative aircraft. Among the passengers stranded were those destined for Tanzania, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, after being stranded in Lusaka for three days, the airline was able to fly the passengers to various destinations after chartering an aircraft.
Dominic Sichinga, Permanent Secretary of Zambia’s Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication said the government will soon institute a tribunal to look into Zambezi Airline’s operations.
Zambezi Airlines Chairman Maurice Jangulo said his airline meets safety and maintenance regulations and that its aircraft are maintained and certified by South African company Jetworx. He told ZNBC News on Sunday that the airline is working around the clock to get its license back.
Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) president Geoffrey Sakulanda has instructed the airline to do what is necessary to restore its license as the suspension was depriving Zambians from travelling and hurting tourism.
Sakulanda said the airline has contributed tax revenue to the government and provided jobs despite that fact that it owes K10 billion (US$1.985 million) to the National Airport Corporation Limited (NACL).
“Clearly, running a business is very expensive, it is unfortunate that this has happened to Zambezi Airlines. The challenge must have been accessing funds in Zambia and borrowing externally is difficult,” he said.
Zambia’s Daily Mail reports Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) managing director Felix Chaila saying that Zambezi Airlines’ suspension will affect tourism, an important industry in the country, which received 850 000 tourists last year.
“The closure of the Zambezi Airlines is sad. We hope the issues will be resolved soon. The airline helped improve the connectivity for the tourists who are coming from different countries to sample the local tourism sites dotted across the country,” he said.
In May the European Commission announced that airlines from 15 African countries, including Zambia, were banned from flying to the European Union (EU) due to safety concerns. Africa’s aviation safety record is one of the worst in the world. At the moment all carriers from Zambia are on the EU blacklist.
The Nairobi-based African Airlines Association (AFRAA) said Africa needs to improve its air safety record, but that the EU list’s main outcome is to "undermine international confidence in the African airline industry."
