Air Zimbabwe has received its second Embraer ERJ145 aircraft, increasing its operational fleet to three planes. The new aircraft was unveiled at the Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare, with Transport Minister Felix Mhona and other government officials present. In a statement seen by Pindula News, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development said:
Air Zimbabwe@FlyAirZimbabwe has taken delivery of an Embraer ERJ145 aircraft this morning at the Robert Mugabe International Airport and Hon F.T Mhona accompanied by several government officials received and unveiled the new aircraft.
Transport Minister Felix Mhona said the arrival of a new aircraft for the national carrier would unlock value for the hospitality industry. He said:
The coming in of the Embraer ERJ145 will unlock value for the hospitality industry, cause downstream growth in the national aviation sector and reaffirms President Mnangagwa’s vision of an upper middle-income economy by 2030
Air Zimbabwe targets several routes including Bulawayo-Johannesburg, Victoria Falls-Johannesburg, Victoria Falls-Cape Town, Harare-Cape Town, and Harare-Durban. The flag carrier aims to provide services for passengers travelling between these destinations.
The Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft was first manufactured in the mid-1990s. It made its maiden flight in 1995 and entered commercial service in 1996. Therefore, the aircraft acquired by Zimbabwe is around 25-28 years old.
Air Zimbabwe has been criticised in the past for the decline of the airline, with accusations that the government has not adequately supported it. Critics point out that the airline inherited 22 planes from the Rhodesian government in 1980, but its fleet has significantly reduced over the years. At one point, Air Zimbabwe had only one plane in service, which led to other airlines, like Ethiopian, taking advantage of the situation and flying local routes like Harare-Bulawayo.
The new aircraft is expected to support Air Zimbabwe’s plans to expand its routes. The airline has targeted several destinations, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. The addition of the Embraer ERJ145 will enhance the airline’s capacity and potentially improve its services.