Air Zimbabwe Invests $1M to Regain Global Booking Access

Air Zimbabwe has paid over USD 1 million to key international service providers to regain access to global distribution systems (GDSs), a major step in its turnaround strategy, according to CEO Edmund Makona. The move will enable the airline to resume global ticketing and code-share partnerships, significantly improving its international visibility and boosting passenger volumes.

Speaking in Victoria Falls on July 1, Makona said restoring access to GDSs was critical for the airline’s recovery. “Visibility on global selling platforms was top priority. Without it, we couldn’t do code-sharing or interlining. With shareholder support, we’ve cleared most of the debt,” he said.

Integration with GDSs is underway and expected to be finalized within three months, allowing travel agents and partner airlines to once again book Air Zimbabwe flights. The development supports year four of the airline’s six-year turnaround plan, which focuses on better asset utilization, fleet modernization, route expansion, and revenue growth from both passengers and cargo.

In 2022, Air Zimbabwe received USD 1.4 million to repay debts to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), aiming to rejoin the global body. However, the airline remains neither a member of IATA nor listed under the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) program, having lost its IOSA registration in 2016 and allowing its renewal to lapse in 2019.

Air Zimbabwe also continues to face a European Union ban, barring its operations within EU airspace. Despite these challenges, the airline is pushing ahead with recovery efforts and infrastructure upgrades.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com