THE long-awaited national airline has finally been incorporated and will operate as Zambia Airways 2014 Limited, which will be a successor of the defunct Zambia Airways.
Zambia Airways was liquidated in 1994 and since then, the Zambia has had no national airline.
Ministry of Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary Mbololwa Muyaba confirmed the establishment and incorporation of the new airline in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
“We have established the company dubbed Zambia Airways 2014 Limited and it has been registered with PACRA (Patents and Companies Registration Agency),” Ms Muyaba said.
She could, however, not give further details and indicated that the ministry was still awaiting approval from Cabinet.
According to records at PARCA, the company which has three directors, was incorporated on July 23, 2015 and was registered with PACRA by the Ministry of Finance.
PACRA records confirmed that the company was incorporated in July 2015, with nominal capital of K5,000 and the total number of shares is 5,000.
The names of directors appearing in the firm’s record of incorporation are Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba, Works and Supply, Permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje and Finance Permanent Secretary Pamela Kabamba.
Formation of the national flag carrier is expected to boost the Zambian tourism sector because tourists will find it easier to fly direct to Zambia.
According to Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili, Government is targeting the end of next year for the new airline to become operational.
Mr Kambwili said this in an interview recently.
Government had put up modalities for establishment of the national airline and was currently in talks with suppliers of the planes.
“We are talking to suppliers of the airplanes on the purchase of aeroplanes as reflected in the 2016 budget so that by the end of next year, the company is fully operational,” Mr Kambwili said.
In the 2016 national Budget, Government has allocated K498.4 million for the expansion of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka and the establishment of a national airline.
Recently, National Airline Project lead consultant Weston Mapani said Zambia’s national airline is set to be registered once government appointed a board of directors.
Mr Mapani said all was set for the re-establishment of the Zambia national airline except for the registration of the company and the availability of operational funds amounting to US$300 million.
Mr Mapani said the move would enable the country to increase foreign exchange earnings through Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs).
Good move am coming back to Zambia to work there, hopefully the European blacklisting will be removed and only competent people like me will work there and train others for the betterment of mother Zambia. PF you ve my vote
This move I support as long as we set it up to run as a commercial operation free from political interference and corruption otherwise it will just be another total waste of the very limited resources.
Sounds good on pronouncement, the intentions are good and it will make Zambians proud to board and alight from thier own planes; but as a viable business, expert advice points to another Zambian company that will not make profits but that will be a burden on tax payers. But then, who bothers to listen and take expert advice seriously in the current ruling Party and its Government? God help us.
Just because we can afford to charter a plane, it doesn’t mean we can operate one profitably. I hope they won’t be buying cheap service parts from China… I don’t see come hell how this plane will boost tourism when we have failed to develop a product. Most of our parks are in a bad state due to lack of funding , mismanagement and poaching. To crown it all, you reduce ZAWA to a mere department. Around the Victoria falls, we have failed to capitalize on zimbambwe’s bad leadership. Vic Falls town and Kasane are now expanding their airports to allow for evening flights……which will further reduce the number of tourists passing through Livingstone airport.
When are the prayers for this airline? These ventures are loss making. Ask SAA. God has given you wisdom to not follow into other people’s mistakes but you want to start throwing money at something that will need subsidies and won’t benefit the poor. Your rich based in Lusaka, New York, Toronto, Johannesburg etc will benefit but not the common man who has never even been to the airport let alone got on a plane. Wisdom bane!
Unfortunately the current crop of government leaders are not capable of handling a new airline. It will be a white elephant and safety hazard. I will never use it.
Why add 2014?
Kaundanomics is back with us. All national Airlines are loss making ventures. What a waste of resources once again. I’d rather invest in airports cooperation. Have state of the art airports and make money from airlines operating there.
CONGRATULATIONS PF GOVERNMENT. THIS HAS BEEN LONG OVERDUE. HOWEVER, ONE OR TWO ADVICE. PROFITABLE OVERSEAS ROUTES THAT SHOULD BE OPENED ARE THE NEW YORK, BEIJING OR HONG KONG CHINA, LONDON, DUBAI, SINGAPORE, MELBOURNE THEN OTHERS. AFRICAN ROUTES- CAPE TOWN AND PRETORIA, LAGOS (or whatever the capital now), NAIROBI, WINDHOEK, ANGOLA AND MOZAMBIQUE, THEN OTHERS. ACCORDING TO Mr SCHULTZ THE US AMBASSADOR TO ZAMBIA A LARGE %AGE OF TOURISTS OF ZAMBIA ARE AMERICANS. HOWEVER, THEIR MAJOR CONCERN AND DETERRENT IS THE LACK OF A DIRECT FLIGHT TO ZAMBIA ****
Great move … long overdue. I miss the first airline I ever flew during my formidable years. Nothing beat Zambia Airways in the skies back then. We were flying better all the time, because we were flying Zambia. Zambia Airways, we were getting better every where, we were better all the time.
It has been over 20 years, and I have not flown Zambia Airways, nostalgic as it is, it is indeed. Zambia Airways was the first African airline to fly direct across the Atlantic to the USA via Monrovia. First among the equals on Nkwazi DC10.
It is about time we got the beautiful smart girls of the Zambian Enterprise back in the skies, because the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise more than deserve to have there … thanks a trillion.
why add 2014 another heroes disester something stadium was Kambwili near this project.
Because of rampant corruption,tribalism and mismanagement in the PF regime,the airline is destined to become a loss-making company.
Edgar Lungu’s administration is as incompetent as late dictator Michael Sata’s rule.
Is pf serious?Most airlines are struggling to themselves afloat due to high cost of running them.Is that our priority now or another stunt which will backfire?
@red square, if your neighbours can’t eat meat cos they are economically suffering, does it mean that you can’t eat at well. Learn to ve pride for the country for once.
Why are those airlines still running?Fyonse kutalika
MIMBULU,
Why are those airlines still running? Sounds like a good question. But it is not, fortunately it is the kind of questions that begs intellectual discourse. They are running because “somebody” can afford to keep them afloat. What Zambia is lacking is that “somebody”! Get it? It is called staying power. It is not the same as profitability.
Is pf serious?Most airlines around the world especially in Africa are struggling to keep themselves afloat due to high cost of running them.Is that our priority as a country at the moment now or another stunt which will backfire?
Great concern but allow me to state this: If you have a number of projects to implement as the project manager, I do not think you you are going to abandon all the other just because things do not appear smooth with one or two of them. This was a project announced sometime back, and it’s implementation is not that mutually exclusive to that of others. I feel, this is thus a good move. We’ll make it work …Zambia does not belong to politicians alone. Zambia belongs to every citizen. Let them kick start it …we’ll finish it if they fail!
They added 2014 because the original Zambia Airways was liquidated. HH has my vote because he will run the country and the new airline prudently.
Ba China,
What do you mean HH will run it prudently.This what we call blind optimism and following.He is not anywhere near the news item.
This issue of believing that you are only safe if the president is Tonga if you are Tonga,or Bemba if you are bemba or Lenje if you are Lenje should come to a stop.Ba china what ever you are what has HH demostrated to you on his ability to run the Nation when he has never been a councilor.We all know it funds that brought him that position he occupies.He has ranches yes..which he doesnt run and share in other company he does not run.
smh…..be objective Vote for him but dont tell us its because he can do this or that when he has done nothing.
Good move .
Good! Good good good! Now it means I can fly home in luxury aboard a Zambia Airways airliner jet.
[green-faced winking bastard]
HH first has to win the general elections and currently he has two chances, slim and none!
Actually, HH chances of wining next General Election are higher than PF managing airline.
This is very funny, ZESCO is struggoling and there you go
By the way, US$ 300 million is just the cost of 1 commercial plane like Airbus A330 or Boen 777
and how many Zambian even fly between towns.
Hope you dont end up buying polopela minibus of planes
This is a failed project even before it starts
@betters, in aviation industry businesses don’t buy planes but get them on lease. Example is South African Airways, planes have an engine and fuselage lifespan hence it’s not necessary to buy it cash. More over why acquire an expensive plane like the Boeing 777 when Zambia can acquire small one like the Embraer 190 or Boeing 737-800er. Please guys don’t be too negative in everything . This will stop the government from hiring expensive jets at the expense of taxpayers
@mj banda
Leasing a plane does not always make it cheaper otherwise everyone would be doing it. A boeing 737-800 is a very old version should be from the eighties!! Old planes are very expensive to run that is why serious airlines go for the latest. By the SA and Kenya are all loss making and depending on government subsidies
@Zedman, who’s lying to you that the B737-800er is old version, don’t be fooled , am an aviator and I know what am talking about. Do you still want to be flying in death traps like the J41 owned by an airline in Zambia now? On leasing, it’s cheaper cos you can easily take it back once it done it job. Get your facts straight baba
@Zedman, who lied to u that B737-800er is an old airliner? Post with facts, am an aviator and know what am talking about.
@ mj banda
And as you are “…an aviator…”, can you please enlighten me (an CFO of a PROFITABLE airline) about seat per mile cost of B738 and the % of utilization in order to break even on average hourly “dry” lease term of 12 month with “block” utilization of 6 hours per day? Please don’t forget to include navigational and landing fees, never mind insurance cost.
Please, stick to your “aviator” job and stop making “galley” comments on matters way above your understanding.
You cannot properly run UNZA, CBU, UTH, Zamtel, Zesco and then you experiment with Aviation? Jokers!
Don’t worry Chagwa: In the event of failure to sustain & properly run this “Airline company”, Mr Disaster Stadium – Kambwili, will call for National Prayers, & all will be sorted.
I DESPAIR!!!
I once worked for a company which frequently bought cars for Directors and Managers, but had very old delivery trucks and outdated plant machinery. I guess that is success story PR, Zambian style. Misplaced priorities!
These UpDn chaps will never appreciate anything that this government does, they’re so occupied with hate and jealousy. You will never rule with such evil being, NEVER. PF you have my vote and BRAVO.
I agree they will never appreciate unless its done by their HH.B737-800 seris is not an old plane,it is one of the newer models.
Problem is ignorant chaps want to be know it al and they end up exposing their ignorance.kkki
Not a good idea to re-establish Zambia Airways. National airlines drain national resources as they are hardly profitable entities but only operate as a national pride. Right now Zambia needs every cent for crucial developmental programmes cannot afford to pour money into pride projects. If this will be a 100% privately run entity without any expected government bail out when it hit’s the ground then it’s good idea.
Directors for this company are in the employ of government,we are told it is private company that will runit …AND in the national budget there is money set aside to expand KK airport and establish the national airline.To me the story thosen’t add up.
This is not a good idea at all. Especially considering where we are as a country economically. Is this really a high priority for Zambia? It is well known that airlines are very expensive to setup and maintain. Most African airlines are loss making with the exception of ET. Ask yourselves how SAA and KQ are doing? They’re loss making.
Look at this extract from the IATA website published in June 2015.
“Last year, traffic growth for African airlines was weak because of various problems that disrupted tourism, but market share also continues to be lost. Currencies have been weak, particularly for oil exporters, so the benefits of lower fuel prices will be limited in this region. African airlines are also expected to see the slowest growth among developing markets with capacity and…
investors do not not look at who making profit or not, it time to get there …..
The government is better spending that money on expanding KK & Livingstone airport, this way they can try to capitalise on having more air traffic into Zambia. Zambia would be a good connecting hub for all 4 corners of Africa due to its central position instead of currently how the tip of Africa (Johannesburg & Cape Town) & East Africa (Nairobi & Addis) are connecting hubs for Africa to the rest of the world.
Isn’t it cheaper and a better idea to lease than buy planes?
@one Zambia, it’s far cheaper to get a dry lease cos once the lifespan is gone, you just take it back. More over it will remove some death traps aircrafts being operated in Zambia like the J32/41 operated by some airline out of business .Currently Zambia is a junk yard for old aircrafts.
@ mj banda
And as you are “…an aviator…”, can you please enlighten me (an CFO of a PROFITABLE airline) about seat per mile cost of B738 and the % of utilization in order to break even on average hourly “dry” lease term of 12 month with “block” utilization of 6 hours per day? Please don’t forget to include navigational and landing fees, never mind insurance cost.
Please, stick to your “aviator” job and stop making “galley” comments on matters way above your understanding.
@one Zambian, it far cheaper from technical point of view than buying cos I stated earlier , once the lifespan is finished, you take back. Remember these are not cars. For IQ, I said am an aviator not economist, remember to argue with intelligence.
Just one of those PF money making ventures. 10% ($30m) goes to the buyers who are in government. What a waste. Wrong timing. Maybe when the economy is better and airlines around the world are making profits. RSA government has to fork out hundreds of millions of rands to keep SAA afloat. It the continuation of chimbwi no plan zoona iyi .
With PF in the driver’s seat, I will wait till I see those planes to be purchased from $300m. It seems the price of planes have drastically reduce.
I’m a UPND supporter ,I think on this one it is a good thing as long as it can be run by non PF cadres but competent staff especially expatriates. A mixture of qualified Zambians with proven records NOT of being a PF cadre for 10 years. PF you have my support on this one, but NOT my vote because you have not repented on the following:
(1) Load shedding
(2) High cost of living
(3) Poor health care
(4) Un employment
Do you honestly think that is possible with these empty tins give us an example..this sector is not for jokers; its brutual!
@piece maker, remember opening an airline means job opportunities
@ mj banda
I wish you “open” your skull and learn to express yourself in English. Jack-ass, you open the door not the Airline
Most investors in the airline industry would do anything to get their out shares and invest in anything else….here you have these reckless imbeciles trying to pour people’s borrowed money at high interest rates in a cut-throat sector. The agriculture industry is there for the taking but the utterly lazy BUM Edgar would rather waste and steal borrowed money on this pointless venture just to create employment for cadres. If BIG Air France, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian airlines are struggling what are you going to do differently? Are you going to blame Global problems on your failures. You can not run a telecoms company like Zamtel at a profit and you expect to run a national airline in a very competitive sector at a profit…really laughable and then you will ask for prayers when the…
LIAR why do we have SAA,AIR MALAWI,RWANDA AIR ,AIR TANZANIA,AIR BOTSWANA etc still running?
@ MIMBULU
Firstly, WE DO NOT HAVE………. Only thing YOU have is a vacuum between ears
Air Malawi has become feeder for ET, Rwanda Air is PLC, Air Tanzania operates only in your sick mind, SAA is always begging for bailouts and Air Botswana is smaller than Pro Flights.
Why are you commenting on matters which you do not have slightest knowledge?
@Mimbulu
Do some research before you submit…most of those airline are bankrolled by taxpayers and on their knees …They don’t even produce financial statements because they have never recorded a profit!
True stupidity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result!
Before BORROWING huge amounts of money just to set up another loss making parastatal can these PFools do something to fix the serious problems we already have? They really have their heads in the clouds!
This is like watering the grass in front of your house while the house is burning down behind you. Can these people be serious about the Nations priorities for a change?
This is a great opportunity to prove critics that the country can do it. Through application of sound business principles and practices, Zambia Airways 2014 Ltd will run profitably, create revenue and employment and promote tourism to new levels of arrivals.
Same like ZESCO, ZAMTEL…………………..?
Doc, please take your medication on time
I agree with you Dr Kasonde, unfortunately there are so many former Zambians (sic) who lack self confidence and are full of negative energy. After getting free education they ran away without contributing anything. Zambia is better off without you scroungers.
Good luck guys. I trust that incorporating the lessons learnt from the previous liquidated entity will give us a viable way of running this one. Please, please, please, please: Keep political interference COMPLETELY away from the running of the airline or else we are back to where we were when QZ started floundering. By the way, what code are we going to get? Air Asia has the QZ code now…
I DO NOT remember every seeing a B747 with Zambia Airways livery. I vividly remember the Nkwazi, DC-10. I suspect this could have been a failed delivery like the MD-11
The voting is sometimes baffling. If you voted me down because you do not know shame on you. If you know whether or not we had B747 JUST ANSWER THE DAMN DOUBT!!! MD-11 was ORDERED and NOT DELIVERED but PAID FOR!!!!!! Now vote me down…
And DC-10 frame was owned by American Bank and engines wet lease from Alitalia
My observation as a well traveled and informed Zambian citizen is that(1) the timing to establish this airline is wrong the economy is on its knees we could have done it when our economy is sound.( 2)Most airlines in Africa are struggling in short they are operating at a loss e.g Kenya ways and south African airways,what guarantee does Zambia have that Zambian airways will operate profitably?(3)While the idea is good but the question that we should ask our selves is a National airline a priority for now.no normal person can buy a vehicle when he has no bed and food to eat.(4.)It would have been wise for government to allow private business intities to operate the national airline as opposed to Nationalising it as it will compromise government to use tax payers money to bail out the air…
@ Sido Mark
“Most airlines in Africa are struggling in short they are operating at a loss e.g Kenya ways and south African airways,what guarantee does Zambia have that Zambian airways will operate profitably?”
We have these VERY CLEVER PEOPLE called PF that can now show these dull people from Kenya Airways and SAA that have been in the business for many, many years (making losses!) just how very clever they are and IMMEDIATELY start making “super profits” where the rest have failed.
That is why they have BORROWED and spent MILLIONS fixing roads, while businesses close down because of no ZESCO. You see, VERY CLEVER PEOPLE, this Lungu and his PF. Good business sense! Good VISION!
Jut look at all the WONDERFUL things they have done for the KWACHA!
PF = Chimbwi No Plan
One would think that after prayers some people at state house got some divine wisdom, but nope, the idiocy continues. The airline market has changed, and there is no way a government run operation will compete profitably in the region. There is no way they will exist internationally.
Our health system is a joke, our education sector needs an upgrade, and the baboons in the PF are thinking of an airline, which age or world are they living in????
PF has to go, before they bury this country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PF ARE REALLY A BUNCH OF *****S
THIS IS INDICATIVE OF HOW BAD RUPIAH BANDA WAS, WE ENDED UP WITH A PF GOVERNMENT
THIS TIME PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE WITH THEIR EYES OPEN
Although I don’t PF or any party, on this one I am always with PF and I don’t mind the use of some of the Eurobond to purchase our own planes instead of using it to support the weak Kwacha. You arm chair critics, let us for once give this useless PF govt chance to establish this airline. Maybe after the 18th prayers we have a chance of success as we see the resurrection of the modern Lazarus QZ which we need with some of its original colours. We can’t depend on other nation’s carriers. We had BA and they pulled out. Viva PF on this one and speed it up..
I still stand what I said, They have failed to manage ZESCO and ZNBC and now what to try something else.
Will it that when they fail this project they will go like , Even British Airways is making loses.
This whole project does not make sense. I would rather they make Lusaka Airport very big to attract Zambia becoming an Air hub for southern Africa. No this failed project.already
@betters, why make it big and then becomes a white elephant. Be positive for once
@ Betters..You’re very correct! They will soon start singing…” There are many countires whose arilines are making losses, we’re not the only ones….useless, directionless batch of people! Wasting our time every day explaining their failures!
good move but let it run as a low cost air line otherwise it will face stiff competition if it is differentiated from emirates, SA, BA etc. These guys have caused problems for Air France.
as a low cost airline it will be affordable to many Zambians (hoping it will also run local routes) to promote local tourism.
another thing that should be taken into consideration is the well being of pro flight don’t push it out of business.
This sounds like a PF 2016 Campaign hit single. I doubt this airline will take off any time soon. Airlines are bad businesses for Governments world over!. This should be left for the private sector or Government partnerships with the private sector. All the government should do is provided a favourable operational atmosphere for local Aviation players such as tax holidays for a number of years( as airlines only begin to reap profits between 3 to 5 years after commencement), reduced taxes on aviation fuel, reduced aerodom and navigation fees etc… This will inturn create a dominal effect resulting in cheaper flight fares, icreased passenger numbers (Local & foreign), increased local tourism, increased Tourist VISA revenue as zambial will become the prefered regional Hub etc…. This…
i don’t support PF or any other party but on this one i am always with the PF even though it has many useless ministers. you arm chair critics let us for once give PF support on this one. after the 18th prayers, even the useless MPs might work work and see the resurrection of the modern day QZ with some of it’s original colours. i don’t mind PF using some of the Eurobond to buy our own planes than using it to support the weak Kwacha. guys why do you always want us to depend on other nation’s airline to save us? we had the likes of BA and they’re gone. We had the private sector run Zambia railways and they destroyed it. viva PF on this one and bring it on before mid of next year instead of end of next as you might be out of power by then.
MJ Banda….Positive for a failed Project?? everything these guys do is a failed projected including rehabilitation at kariba. and Mulungushi textiles in Kabwe , Even the Grabbing of Zamtel from Lapgreen, UNZA CBU, Kwacha Mines you can add the list. failed projects through and through then they go like, its Global! .
They will just feed us with stories like , Even in USA airlines are making losses …. Malabish
Unless it will operates like a regional carrier like pro flights maybe . by the way I am told Zambian Planes can land in EU and USA???
Good news! i don’t support PF or any other party but on this one i am always with the PF. you arm chair critics let us for once give PF support on this one. after the 18th prayers, even the MPs might work work and see the resurrection of the modern day QZ with some of it’s original colours. i don’t mind PF using some of the Eurobond to buy our own planes than using it to support the weak Kwacha. guys why do you always want us to depend on other nation’s airline to save us? we had the likes of BA and they’re gone. We had the private sector run Zambia railways and they destroyed it. viva PF on this one and bring it on before mid of next year instead of end of next as you might be out of power by then.
This sounds like a PF 2016 Campaign hit single. I doubt this airline will take off any time soon. Airlines generally are bad businesses for Governments world over!. This should be left for the private sector or Government partnerships with the private sector. All the government should do is provided a favourable operational atmosphere for local Aviation players such as tax holidays for a number of years( as airlines only begin to reap profits between 3 to 5 years after commencement), reduced taxes on aviation fuel, reduced aerodom and navigation fees etc… This will inturn create a dominal effect resulting in cheaper flight fares, icreased passenger numbers (Local & foreign), increased local tourism, increased Tourist VISA revenue as zambial will become the prefered regional Hub etc…
this is just a trick for PF to steal allocated funds. They have failed to run everything else and they think they can run an airline, they cant even run a railway system. For starters the tickets on that airline will be to expensive, with PF middle men taking a cut on every thing concerned with that airline, that is guaranteed.
Most of the airlines world-wide, especially national airlines, are making losses. How will the Zambian case be different? Why embark on such a project now in the midst of an economic crisis? In the 80’s most of the boutiques in Lusaka were owned by Zambia Airways employees because they used to get free tickets. I am told almost all employees were entitled to free rides. I don’t see any difference in this regard now. We will see employees and PF cadres getting free rides on a daily basis. Not a good move!
National pride versus harsh reality. A loss making national airline is a burden to the the general citizenry. Keeping such an airline afloat might satisfy national ego and benefits a select few. Lusaka with a population of over 2 million cannot boast of even a 1% of it population flying in the last 12 months.
If lusaka can post such low flyers, where do you place ngabwe district?
Bad timing! It’ll crash before it even takes off! Who will afford the tickets with the poor performing Kwacha. People have stopped travelling due to cost of tickets! Useless PF!
Show me an airline in Africa that is profit-making and i will show you a liar. Can we already declare another day of prayer for this airline
@peter Njobvu, Ethiopian Airlines declared a $175 million for the 2014/15 fiscal year. Collectively, however, the rest of the African airlines combined were expected to post just about $100 million. Ok. Now go after the liars if you like – this is from the horse’s mouth, the Annual reports and the website of Ethiopian airlines. The fact that you are unable to run things profitably does not meet others cannot do so.
@peter Njobvu, those millions are PROFIT.
Oh dear, autocorrect is killing me. I meant: The fact that you are unable to run things profitably does not MEAN others cannot do so.
@ Kalok
You are absolutely right about Ethiopian.
However, there is no way in making comparison between ET (established way back in late 1940’s) and “shoe-string” start-up. For a start, ET airplanes spend on average 16 hours in the air, ET has its own “Aviation Academy”, multiple hangars, fully certified maintenance facilities for paint jobs; airframe inspection, repair and certification; landing gear inspection, repair and certification; avionics inspection, repair and certification; and engines maintenance, repair and certification.
Then there is geographic and political positioning.
The “right” comparison should be versus Air Zimbabwe and not ET.
Setting up an airline is not such a problem but like others have observed,managing it is a matter of serious concern going by the way other parastatals have been handled not only under PF but from UNIP and MMD days too. What matters is the strategy to underline the existence of such an airline. We need strategic partnerships or alliances. The DRC has created an airline with the help of France most likely to mop up customers from all corners of the vast DRC to Kinshasa for onward flights on Air France to other parts of the world. The same strategy has been applied by Cote d’Ivoire. Ethiopian Airlines is operating Precision Airline on similar principles. We could do that with a bigger airline like Emirates,Turkish Airlines by using Lusaka as a hub and our Zambia Airways as a feeder! So let…
A National Airline is a must for the steady economy growth and this is very good move by our able PF Government. Again, ba UPND you got it wrong. Airlines are not profit making ventures but rather business and investments enablers. That’s countries continue to operate their national airlines not because they are profitable but what they bring to their countries.
Another free information for you chaps in UPND, airports in themselves don’t make money from landing and takeoff fees but rather the modern Duty Free shops that are intelligently crafted to ensure passengers spend and leave the needed dollars in those countries.
You see, we keep telling you that you and your Under 5 kachema like boasting a lot when infact you don’t know anything.
Well done president Lungu and the PF to re…
This company is operating below the required minimum capital share of K10,000.00 by PACRA
What can you buy with $ 400?
Toilet roll for crew”
Zambians we are ungrateful people….No air line people speak rubbish, government wants to bring our own national air line people are still speaking rubbish, this is witchcraft. A bemba saying (if you can’t appreciate the little that is given, you will never appreciate even in plenty) This spirit of appreciating a person when they die must come to an end. As for me its a positive move,if you are sad its your own bubblegum to chew. For once can we be progressive and stop acting like villagers.
@ peter njobvu
Please please mwebantu, ba peter, National Airlines worldwide are not meant to be profit making ventures but rather a mechanism that connects that country to the rest of the world. That why you all International and long haul airlines market their countries immediately you step foot in them! If you are just an arm chair critic and for nothing, please stop showing your ignorance on this forum.
For example, if you have been on Emirates Airbus A380, have you ever heard or seen them advertising those beautiful aircrafts despite Emirates operating the largest fleet in the world? What do you see them promote? Its Dubai and what you can do and shop whilst in Dubai! That’s the essence of these Airlines. Why do the bring duty free shops on board? Its because they want you to…
It is about time we had our own Airline, better with strategic partner owning majority shares and some shares to the public. Kenya Airways started very well when they went part private, but current problems are as result of an ambitious route-network expansion programme, high staffing levels and financial obligations relating to plane leases, equipment etc. In airline business it important to stick to profitable routes even if they are just few. Contrary to what most people the late Zambia Airways (QZ) made regular operational profits on such routes as Lusaka-London-Lusaka, Lusaka-Johannesburg-Lusaka and Lusaka-Bombay-Lusaka, some routes were unprofitable and down away with during restructuring.
Good news amongst our economic woes! Let’s hope there has been enough money to get an engine in these things!
With $400 of paid-up share capital you can get only decent toy drone.
following from above meant, “some unprofitable routes were done away with”. The late QZ had a solid asset base; numerous houses, hotels in Zambia and high costs properties abroad, 1 or 2 Boeing 737s’ fully paid off, more than half of the loan on DC10 paid and around $6 million left on the ATRs’ loan. It therefore had a bankable survival plan considering the assets were above the obligations in real terms, that is now history, but there are lessons to be leant. This year marks 21 years since Brig. Gen Miyanda announced the closure of QZ as Vice President under FTJ. The dismantling of QZ meant that even sales outlets and general sales agents engaged to sale passenger tickets and cargo were lost in the process. Airline business requires and depends on good inflows of foreign exchange…
I am not really for tnis move.Zambia has no capability and capacity to run a parastatal.The best move was for us to own 25% and have some other partners run it commercially.
I applaud the idea of a national airline but it is a non starter. What caused the original Zambia Airways to fail? Kaunda would take a commercial aerplane and go on a trip which meant the airline was not earning. Zambia Airways management was weak. Full paying passengers would be off loaded to make space for employees. Show me a successful state owned venture. Look at ZESCO. A money earner but it has failed! Too much interference! Please don’t start the airline, it would be a waste of tax payers money.
its possible baane. look at Ethiopian airlines. Run managed and maintained by Ethiopians. Kenyan airways has partnered with KLM. it seems to be doing fine. An airline has roll on benefits. the airline industry will develop. Even our ZASTI will have somewhere to do industrial practical’s. Our universities can teach aeronautical engineering again, with a little fiscal discipline. we can do it.
Argue with a goal to find a lasting solution than showing yourselves whose done calculus ,medicines or who has worked for NASA.Then you base your knowledge on Google and ask.com.come on country men,PF or not its our country we should fight for.
If you don’t PF to format an airline, then let’s use the money bye elections
Zambia Airways? Yabaa!
PF has just put another burden on taxpayer.
Transport infrastructure in tourism is very much needed – main roads, rail, sea and air links. Even if the destination has quality attractions and accommodation, visitors will be deterred from visiting if good transport links do not exist. Other resources – conference facilities which will be important in attracting business visitors and what the ministry of tourism should focus on. In terms of human resource , we need skills, qualifications, experience, good work ethics and training systems and schemes. The people managing this sectors are all failures.