Zim carrier plans JNB, UK and China routes

A privately owned Zimbabwean carrier, VicFalls Airways, has been granted a license by the Zimbabwe government to ply international routes to South Africa, the UK and China. But the airline faces many obstacles before it can take to the skies.

Masiwa Table, President of VicFalls Airways, told Tourism Update this is a historic moment for Zimbabwe as no other local airline has ever been granted a license to apply for these international routes before. “Up until now, the government has never wanted to allocate these routes to private airlines; especially the London and Johannesburg routes, which have always been cash cows for Air Zimbabwe. So, the government denied any other carriers to ply these routes.”

Table says the plan is to establish a hub in Harare, from where the airline will operate four flights a week to Johannesburg, three a week to London Gatwick and two flights to Guangzhou. 

The airline is in talks with both EgyptAir and Interair for the lease of aircraft. Table says the airline will lease B777-200ER and B737-800 aircraft and pilots from EgyptAir, but it will appoint its own cabin staff in Zimbabwe.

Table hopes to launch VicFalls Airways’ maiden flight at the end of November this year. 

However, the Department of Transport in South Africa said it had yet to receive an application for flights from VicFalls Airways. Table also admits the airline still needs to obtain its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC),

Most importantly, the airline is still looking for investors. Table told Tourism Update: “We are looking at $60m to $100m to be on the safe side.”

This is not the first time VicFalls Airways has announced its intention to launch flights. The airline, which was first registered in Zimbabwe under the name Tab Mark Enterprises in 2008, delayed its launch as a result of “the world economic downturn and the general high costs of fuel”. In 2009, VicFalls Airways again announced it would take to the skies. However, the airline did not manage to secure the US$29m working capital that was required to launch. In 2010, VicFalls Airways announced it had secured a license from the Zimbabwean Ministry of Transport to commence operations to Dubai, India, South Africa, the DRC, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique. The airline did not take off, after repeat attempts to secure adequate funding failed.

Table is a Zimbabwean businessman who has experience in journalism working for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation television as a producer. In 2008, he obtained his Private Pilot License. He has been the MD of Tabmark Enterprises trading as VicFalls Airways from 2007.