Germany flag carrier and Europe’s largest airliner, Lufthansa, is this August expected to start flying into Zambia through a code-sharing agreement with Ethopian Airlines.
The Deutsche carrier, which once serviced the southern African country before the liquidation of Zambia Airways in 1995, is expected to re-start flights into Zambia through a code–sharing partnership with other African carriers.
Christoph Meier, head of corporate communications Southeast Europe, Africa, Middle East & Pakistan, disclosed in an exclusive interview.
“We will in fact launch a code-share service from Frankfurt to Lusaka, via Addis Ababa as early as August. The Addis to Lusaka segment will be operated by our partner Ethiopian Airlines. Furthermore, Lusaka and Livingstone will be linked to Germany through code-share flights via Johannesburg in co-operation with South African Airlines,” he said.
Deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Transport Florence Chawelua confirmed that Government is reviewing an application from Ethopian Airlines to start operating the Lufthansa flights.
Zambia has not had a national airliner since the liquidation of loss-making Zambia Airways in 1995 and the subsequent failure by private-operated Zambian Airways to assume the role of a national flag carrier.
Zambian Airways had expressed intentions to operate as the nation’s flag carrier but the 2008 global economic crisis could not spare the airliner’s accounts and it too collapsed on January 10, 2009.
Mr Meier said Lufthansa was able to fly into a new market like Zambia based on the vast experience of its regional partners like Ethiopian Airlines or South African Airlines.
“These are examples illustrating the benefits of code-share co-operation. In turn, Zambia will be connected to Lufthansa’s 211 destinations worldwide, among them 127 in Europe. And last but not least, travel options and service quality for customers aiming at destinations Lusaka and Livingstone will be enhanced significantly. It’s a win-win-win solution,” he said.
The intention by Lufthansa to fly into Zambia has been granted a nod by line authorities in Lusaka with aggressive efforts from the Zambian High Commission in Berlin.
Mr Meier explained, “The Zambian Ministry of Communications and Transport has been very supportive of Lufthansa’s plans to serve Lusaka and Livingstone on a code-share basis. The competent authorities have a clear strategy for the further economic development of the country and they see international air services as a key driver of economic growth.”
He said Lufthansa will be able to start the sale of tickets from Zambia to any of its worldwide destinations in mid-August 2011 which will facilitate business travel to Lusaka, and provide an attractive travel option for European tourists.
Lack of a national airliner has adversely affected Zambia’s tourism inflows over the years. Despite boasting a number of natural tourists’ sites like the Victoria Falls in Livingstone, tourism growth in Zambia has been very slow and market analysts have attributed the erratic in-roads of visitors into Zambia to a poorly developed airline system.
The commencement of Lufthansa flights into Lusaka and Livingstone, the country’s tourist capital, is likely to enhance tourist visits into Zambia and also raise the country’s profile in Europe and elsewhere abroad.
Lufthansa’s flights into Zambia in mid-August will be closely followed by yet another airliner which intends to start operating into Zambia in September.
Fly Zambia Airline, which will be launched in September this year, is currently in consultation with Zambian authorities on the possibility of adopting the logo which was previously used by the defunct Zambia Airways.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
oh how great, an addition to british aiways which comes 3 times per week to zambia…this makes sense…mo flights frm europe more business
I prefer to travel by ship….
lol..
..Sometimes also by my grandmother’s special night airplane. In the morning I am in New York, in the evening I am in Kabwata
We need a flight from US to LSk. We are tired of the connections
From Sydney to Amsterdam to Nigeria to Lusaka. NICE FOR THE CARGO!
I’ll stick to Qantas via Joburg and then Lusaka.
Good move! Cant wait. Although I must say they have horrible breakfast!
Not Ethiopian. They so terrible. Zambezi beats them by far
Nubian Princess. Ha ha ha!! I like your grandma’s aircraft. Just like mine… And Katelas’
Good development,but please clean up the air ports which look like ram shackles before we get embarrassed even further.If the airport in the capital city looks like it has been hit by an earthquake,then i wonder how the livingstone airport looks like.
fix the airport in fact it needs any overhall so some of these flights can come directly 2 zambia , to fly to botswana i have to go through joburg then go back to botswana even though the country is right next to zambia how backward is that ……
This airline almost collapsed recently. They are just looking to steal money so that they can stay afloat. Can’t you see you S.tupid Zambians. You need to have your own National Carrier. Why are you keeping others in business while our own country remains backwards.
#9, Copper bullet, cleaning up the airport for what@ For other to come and make money? I would rather have our own National/privately owned airline, by Zambians and use the same old Lusaka Intl. airport or just let the planes land one Great East Road in some kind of sharing scheme with cars. Traffic light can be arranged, UNZA professor can work out a way, Zambia’s own invention and I don’t a stupi.d thing like in India where goat donkeys, scooter, and all sorts of nonsense moves one the roads.
@Analysis which ‘stu.pid zambians’ are you refering to? You cearly are a ‘smart Zambian’ So tell me what’s the name of your Airline? Why are do you have to insult your nationals because the Government has not given them an Airline? How long have we cried for an Airline? Naunaka luchelochelo ai? Kalale.
Number 4 Fying like Rupiah, You just have to avoid cheap tickets. I always leave Brisbane and get to Lusaka on the same day. Never been on Ethiopian Airlines. Itenary Dep BNE 16/09/11 06:00EST ARV SYD 07:10 EST(QANTAS) Dep SYD 10:00EST ARV JHB 16/09/11 15:00 +2GMT(QANTAS) DEP JHB 19:00 ARV LUN 21:00(SAA). So same day two stops and home drinking all the time I travel. only AUD$ 3,150 return. One weeks salary.
Osa chita Kaso
Ba Chang Ziegn mwashaina ka? One week salary. Good for you. Bufibwenu.
Guys do you honestly think LSK “International” can handle the A380 air bus??? lord forgive us.!!
Oh wow, we are getting a new airline. Fly Zambia Airline. This is good news. More competition for Zambezi Airlines. Anyway it is good Lufthansa has shown interest in the Zambian market. This also provides more options for travelers and tourists. This is good news.
Bana 12 Ba Chang Zein
Ok your advice is good but this is not a platform to start publicising your salary or wage. Unless you are a Dr I doubt you earn that kind of money per week…besides wages are lower in Queensland compared to NSW. Maybe you meant per month
All this shows that the Zambian economy is growing period.
CODE SHARING what benefit does it bring as it will still be Ethiopian Airlines? Makes me wonder how these Zambian leaders make decisions, they have failed to give Emirates the slot, a true carrier that can bring real developments, reduce fares and create jobs for Zambians, to the nonsense of Old Lufthansa?? How many Zambians fly to Frankfurt compared to Dubai?
Zambians should change the way we think? very dissapointing to think, a code sharing as Economic Development.
# 18 I like your line of thought… bebe mudala bebe.
Lusaka International Airport certainly needs a facelift for Zambia to accommodate major carriers like Lufthansa. The entry of top class carriers into the Zambian market is a clear indicator of the opportunities obtaining, thus need for us Zambians to do our part to ensure sustainability of their operations and associated benefits on our side.
When is Air China going to start flying directly into Lusaka and Livingstone? Can the Zambian Embassy in Bejing respond!
don’t forgot the more airlines come directly to lusaka the more we get for air taxes ,plus the airport is one of the main points of entry into the country i’m sure the gov. is ashamed when there foreign counterparts come to visit ….lusaka international can become a region hub given its location .
It would be news to me if the said lufthansa is coming to lusaka international ,we can use our local airlines 4 local and regional flights.
@statesman Air china will fly to johannesburg/ethopia then u jump onto saa hahaha it’s exactly like this article
ladies and gentlement we welcom the news of another airliner.but there is much to be done on lusaka airport.honestly its not suitable and its capcity is very small.its needs serious rebuiding just like the stadiums arround the country.it must be world classy honestly.look at our neighbours zimbabwe,south africa,nairobi.and yet our leaders have been to heathrow in london and pretend they saw nothing.. shame on you.! the air port is an embarashment to visitors and our selves….shocking stuff!!!
nubian princess you are idoshi uli fwiti you must be a bemba.a bemba ni afwiti
Thats good, but we want the zambian government to reabilitate some air ports like chingola,luanshya and else-where where they are not working but exist.
Fyalafula nga amabusi, twakulapita mumulu tokamone ba TRAFFIC and too much congension on road.
Zed ought to be the distribution hub for air traffic in southern Africa tefyo bane?
travelers with Zambian passports should be careful, our flight London -Frankfort- Johannesburg was delayed from London to Frankfurt-Johannesburg arriving Frankfurt late missing the flight to Johannesburg, resulting in 24hrs spent at Frankfurt airport, on steel seats . As Zambians can not enter Germany without visas. Lufthansa was no help luckily German border control helped with blankets etc, Lufthansa will not assist stranded passengers. would like any comments from Lufthansa
Well, I live in South america. I will continue with South African airlines which does a daily and direct flight from Sao Paolo to jburg. I share the same views as @#20 Sheik. KLM is in the same code sharing business with Kenya airways and we haven’t seen much of a contribution to the airline industry by these two carriers. Have we?
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That was just a dream, there are no Lufthansa flights from Frankfurt to Lsk.