Air Zimbabwe to convert Boeing 777s into freighters

Air Zimbabwe (UM, Harare Int’l) is looking to wet-lease or dry-lease its two in-house B777-200(ER)s in the short-term and later convert them into freighters, says Acting Chief Executive Officer Tafadzwa Zaza.

“We are not in a position to operate them now before we consolidate on the domestic or regional [front]. So, as a short-term plan, we want to lease those aircraft either as wet-lease or dry-lease and we invite investors interested in those. The long-term plan is to convert either one or all of them, into cargo aircraft,” he told the state-run Sunday News.

The B777-200(ER)s, Z-NBE (msn 28422) and Z-RGM (msn 28421), are currently stored at Harare Int’l, according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module. They are the 17-year-old former 9M-MRQ and 9M-MRP with Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur Int’l) and are configured in a two-class layout with 247 seats in economy class and 35 in business class.

The airline is also looking for investors to help it upgrade its short-haul fleet, infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and training facilities, Zaza said.

Domestically, it is looking for strategic partnerships to operate smaller aircraft to remote areas. “Anyone who feels they can be part of this is very welcome. There are also opportunities for travel and accommodation and other packages,” he said.

Zaza said the flag carrier is keen to improve its fleet and upgrade its key infrastructure to improve its customer service. “With the Government’s support we are going to expand and increase our frequencies and we are open to engaging investors that will come and assist either with equipment or financially,” he said.

On the maintenance side, he said: “We have got the capabilities to do maintenance works on aircraft for regional clients and we have a well-trained team and infrastructure and will be happy to have investors to modernise this.”

Meanwhile, Air Zimbabwe is hoping to rejoin the International Air Transport Association (IATA) by June after making progress in clearing arrears estimated at more than USD140 million.

“The process is underway to rejoin IATA, which I think in the next three months we should be a member of the IATA Clearing House,” Zaza said. IATA Clearing House clears billings between airlines and/or airline-associated companies and travel agents. Access to the facility would provide Air Zimbabwe with better global partnership opportunities to expand is international route network, he added.