AirZim, France KLM sign deal

Published: 05 August 2013

AIR France KLM Group says it has signed an agreement with Air Zimbabwe to ensure the national airline's recently acquired two aircraft receive necessary support.The Government recently leased two 150-seater airbus A320 planes for Air Zimbabwe to help boost the national airline's fleet that resumed operations in July last year.

"After the resumption of its operations and the acquisition of two Airbus A320, Air Zimbabwe has signed a contract with Air France KLM Group to ensure the aircraft have the necessary support," said the Air France group in a statement.

Part of the agreement includes access to the Air France KLM pool with repairs at the time of the flight and provision of a Main Base Kit in Harare.

"Along with this agreement, Air Zimbabwe has decided to entrust AFI-KLM with the maintenance and repair of the aircraft engines," it said.

Contacted for comment, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Mr Munesu Munodawafa confirmed Air Zimbabwe having recently entered into an agreement with a European-based organisation.

However, he referred this paper to Air Zimbabwe acting chief executive officer Mr Innocent Mavhunga for further details because the matter was an operational issue.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Mavhunga were unsuccessful.

The flag carrier was this year readmitted to the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) international operational safety audit registry after complying with the body's minimum standards.

Air Zimbabwe was de-registered from the registry of the international aviation's body in September 2012 when the airline embarked on an industrial strike that saw it technically failing to meet IATA's operational and safety standards audit.

Re-admission into IATA means Air Zimbabwe now meets IATA's operational safety, efficiency and quality benchmarks observed by operators worldwide.

Economic analysts have said the flag carrier's readmission into IATA would go a long way in facilitating efforts by the cash-strapped airline to secure a strategic partner needed to revamp operations.

Air Zimbabwe requires more than $300 million to turn around its operations and Government has prioritised it as one of public entities set for privatisation and commercialisation.
- herald