Zambia Airways has taken delivery of its first aircraft ahead of the commencement of commercial operations on December 1.
The 70-seater Bombardier Dash 8 Q-400, the first of six planes the airline is expected to operate, touched down at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 13:30 Hours and was honoured with a traditional water gun salute.
Transport and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali was on hand to receive the aircraft after it was handed over to the Zambia Airways crew by Ethiopian Airlines, which co-owns the airline with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
“My ministry welcomes the relaunch of Zambia Airways… Contrary to anxieties and fears, Zambia Airways should not be looked at as coming to kill the private sector. Instead, it will promote competition and the beneficiaries will be the people of Zambia,” Mr Tayali said.
He said the airline would be critical to the growth of the tourism sector and related industries such as hotels and restaurants.
Zambia Airways Board Chairman Mr Bonaventure Mutale said the relaunch of Zambia Airways after an almost 30-year absence was a major milestone in the Zambian aviation history.
“The arrival of the aircraft is a firm statement by the Board and Management that Zambia Airways is commencing operations on December 1. The re-emergence of a national carrier comes with pride to the Zambian people,” Mr Mutale said.
The airline will commence domestic flights from its hub in Lusaka to Ndola and Livingstone five and six times a week, respectively.
The airline will introduce additional domestic routes to Mfuwe and Solwezi and regional destinations to Johannesburg and Harare in the first quarter of 2022.
That’s a turboprop not a jetliner.Resurrection of Zambia Airways is a bad timing in these Covid times meaning it’ll be bleeding cash.
ZA is doomed to surely fail in this cutthroat airline industry.Even HH has poured cold water on this venture.
Let’s wait and see.
The efforts of PF and one ECL. You left a legacy Mr President. Sadly, UPND has never seen anything good you have done and have never acknowledged your hard work. Only time will tell.
ZAMBINS MUST LEARN TO CRAWL BEFORE THEY CAN WALK
A NATION OF MISGUIDED VENTURES
ALSO KK INTERNATIONAL WILL NEVER RUN AT 50% CAPACITY
TIME WILL CONFIRM THIS
“Boeing President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg testified about the safety of the 737 MAX airplane at a hearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In his opening remarks, Mr. Muilenburg apologized to the families of the victims of the Lion Air Flight 610 and the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accidents. He was accompanied by Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Engineer John Hamilton.”
Government of the people, by the people.
“Boeing has been criticized as prioritizing profit-oriented deadlines and sales over safety in designing the plane, and the Federal Aviation Administration has been criticized for its oversight of the plane maker.”
GRZ going on?
Are these Ethiopians buying kites for us? Turboprop is a kite. I am afraid those aircraft propellers are death traps for flying creatures. If those props crashed with owls will be sending the plane down. Zambians let’s not jump on it until they get jetliners.
“We also are investing in advanced research and development in new safety technologies and are exploring ways to strengthen not just the safety of our company but our industry as a whole. We have a shared bond of safety across the entire aerospace community.”
Our GRZ just want to have an Airline.
How do you go and re-launch a legend like Zambia airways with malabish so? After how many years of planning and this is the best we can do? You wonder why social media has gone viral, it’s because you’ve finally killed off a legend.
The New Dawn Government should have cancelled these plans of bringing back the national airline, especially in these times where travelling is restricted due to covid-19. Unless they are telling us that already there was so much injection of cash in the re-establishment of the airline. Nipano tuli.
I was wondering getting the turboprop planes like the grounded DH- Buffaloes instead of the jetprops. And by the way how old and reliable is that plane? I dont see any big difference between the ZAF m60Chinese made and the Dash8. It would have been better to allow ZAF do some of the commercial flights. I am not very impressive this arrangement has come to stifle the already established the successful private owned airlines like Proflight and Mahogany among others. the best would have been govt to negotiate with local airlines and acquire some shares. make Proflight do the regional business and Mahogany the local. The whole arrangement was not well thought of. We still have got some former QZ employees whose input was not taken into account. By the way why is the Transport and Logistics…
This is an air version of Likili Motors I am afraid. These are death traps.
All thanks to the hard work of his excellency president edgar chagwa lungu and the pf government. What has hh achieved apart from going on rants e everyday and hallucinating about corruption.
It is a shame that the Minister and the Board Chairman are on hand to receive the first aircraft, commencing operating on 1 December when customers can not even find the website for the new airline to support e-commerce and bookings?
PF worked disappointment of behaviour of PF affiliates tarnished PF imagine…but we cant take away what they have donehonestly speaking in all fairness
Chi colour KZ, u call this kite hard work, where is Chi colour Lungu, probably drunk with his finger in the @ss, what a loser
Good luck with it all. I do hope everything
goes well. I expect the uniform colour has to do with the Zambian flag..but you could make the jackets and ladies dresses a shade of ‘terracotta’ to match the orange in the flag. The ‘forest’ green jacket is too dark and looks rather like a ranger’s uniform – not a smiling colour at all.
#plant a tree now please!
1. In Zambia we are addicted to Doomsday Negativity. We spend so much time looking at ways and reasons why things cannot work, instead of sighting possibilities that can work. Humans are here to be problem solvers and solution finders. And we have been solving problems and finding solutions from the dawn of life. So here we are – not evening giving Zambia Airways a chance to survive, but just pull and tear it down.
2. If you look at the history of global successful companies that have existed in the last 150 years, they all have something in common. And that is:
They started against all odds or faced strong misfortunes / calamities/ adversities at the starting points or along the way.. But it was the belief of the founders and the emphasis to stay on course to the ideas – that made these companies overcome challenges.
3. Making a car after centuries of using horses sounded senseless & impossible. Making a telephone was so spooky. A plane was up against the Force-of-Gravity, but someone thought of euro-dynamics, and it worked.
Bill Gates was told by IBM that his first Operating System (Ms DOS) and his vision to making Personal Computers was a stup1d idea. He kept making his case and vision about the future of the world. Years letter, IBM tried (Ms DOS) to make Personal Computers. And that same (Ms Dos) is what enabled IBM to become the first $ Billion Dollar Company in the world as they ventured into making Personal Computers (PC’s). This was against all odds. And today we all interconnected via personal computers. Bill Gates focused on the possibilities and not the many reason that could make…
@ Independent Observer…..well said we dont apppreciate anything good…same in our marriages…wife buys we question why we were not consulted or why alternative was not bought stepping own initiative done and forgetting all was done for you…..we need progressive minds…criticise with information
cont… Bill Gates focused on the possibilities and not the many reason that could make it fail.
You could be right but let’s wait and see, the closing of borders doesn’t help matters
5. There will be always be Natural & Economical disasters that will challenge human beings. But that does not mean that we cannot challenge ourselves into finding solutions and new possibilities. Human beings have solved problems and found solutions from the dawn of time.
Zambia doesn’t need an airline. It needs a dual carriage way between Lusaka and Ndola, another dual carriageway between Chingola and Solwezi, Electricity and tap water in Kawambwa, Kalabo, Kabompo, Mambwe, and our valleys
That plane the PF are boasting about looks like a bus………
How much was this thing ????
I know Rome was not built in a day , But grass was not used to build Rome……
Those uniforms are appalling. Another backyard tender?
INDEPENDENT OBSERVER
President HH built his first house in Kalingalinga compound. Today he owns a multimillion house in New Kasama.
Brother Independent Observer that’s what separates you from many bloggers on Lusakatimes who don’t like to see progress but indulge
in constant negative vibes. I have followed your comments on Lusakatimes going back to 2007 when
you often in the past challenged, disagreed with MMD, PF without fear or favour.
That is a lie
INDEPENDENT OBSERVER
I think HH would benefit from a person like you to be on his sailing ship.
I honestly ask you to consider joining the ship. Not that you would be coming on board to earn or make money, but just to add value to the many gaps that needs a person who reasons like you. My brother I am offering an olive branch to you. Let’s connect and talk.
UTH Grad @ 25 ——-
Go and start building those roads and water solutions projects. What is stopping you? …..
Zambia needs an airline to cop with demand which is there.
You sound like a person who goes flying once every decade, or has never been on a plane….. We have hundreds of Zambian who travel every day to do business within Zambia, our neighbouring countries and especially South Africa. We also have thousands of Zambians who make inter-continental travels and around the world every week, not forgetting foreigners who come to visit our nation…….
UTH Grad // 25
SPAKA // 26
Imwee Bantu! you have no ambitions. I am a business man who travels from Lusaka and Copperbelt twice a week.
I would rather travel by air and return the same day, than end up in a hotel and return the next day.
Time is money and you have to maximise it fully if you want to succeed in life.
Some of you people are very dull and its scary. Market competition will bring the price down to travel.
What is “Market competition will bring the price down to travel?” and what does it have to do with Zambia Airways’ return? You seem to be desperate to show that you are not dumb thus you want to vomit out vague economic theories that you have heard the clever ones say.
Spaka @ 26
When Rome had wooden and grass roof houses, it was still called Rome. It had to start somewhere. I actually like the example GEOFFREY KHUMBULA@28 your fellow UPND member has given….. that HH first built his house in Kalingalinga Compound, he had to start small. The plane does not look like a bus. I think you need your eyes checked out before its too late. Now I know why you are such a miserable and bitter person.
Get a job man!! Have you ever had a day when you are happy ……………………………………………………………………??
#30 Gemstones Miner November 30, 2021 At 5:53 pm
#31 KingKong
It’s the way PF are boasting about launching ZA ………..
Which GRZ can fail to launch a national airline with a plane that looks like a bus ???
For all their brigado , the PF must know anyone could have done that , and much more……
I hope Zambia will reclaim at least one direct intercontinental route!
We need to support our airline. even Zimbabwe which has economic challenges has an airline. Lets embrace change as Zambians by buying tickets in this airline. we should be suggesting to government how best they can boost air travel such as reducing tax on the Jet A 1 fuel for planes so that fares can also reduce and migrate many Zambians tp air travel. We have built airports we should enjoy these facilities and not leave to foreigners to enjoy them. come on we can do it.. Zambia
What a poor example! Zimbabwe’s economy is on its knees precisely because ZANU-PF has its priorities wrong. It subidises a loss making airline and makes poor efforts at creating jobs for its citizens, If Zambia wants to follow Zimbabwe into the sewer then indeed HH must support Zambia Airways as it follows Harare’s flightpath to hyper inflation
Spaka //30
OK! Why should it eat and bother you if someone in PF is boasting about this. I don’t see anyone boasting apart from just utter talk. It’s an airline that belongs to Zambia and partly owned by Ethiopian. If you say anyone could have done much better, why did you not launch an airline instead of just being critic. You are Zambian and you can do it.
I do fly very often and meet the same people going on business trips between LSK & CB.
SPAKA // 32
If you ask anyone who is a frequent air traveller from LSK to CB, they will tell you that – we do actually need more planes or another airline as tickets tend to sell faster, especially on Monday, Wednesday & Fridays of the week between LSK & CB.
My friend don’t take things heavy hearted, you will not break even in life. It does not matter if this airline was launched by MMD, PF or UPND. Its done to save the nation. It’s a start and the only thing left is for it to grow. The airline has to prove itself before it can think of borrowing money from banks
to buy bigger planes for international travel such to the UK. Zambia stands a very good chance to start
landing on London / Heathrow sooner
Three years ago in Lusaka Times
January 18, 2018
Zambia Airways project not viable-HH
Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has criticized government’s move to relaunch Zambia Airways describing the decision as a waste of tax payers money.
And Mr Hichilema has accused those pushing for the relaunch of Zambia Airways of planning to use the airline to bring in drugs, money laundering activities and corruption.
Mr Hichilema said the project to relaunch Zambia Airways which was defunct in 1994 is a waste of public resources as the project is not economically viable.
He was speaking on Thursday when he featured on a live Hot Seat radio programme on Hot FM.
Gemstone Miner @ 30 & Kingkong @31
SPAKA @32 — is a bitter and disgruntled soul. If this was done by UPND he would not be comparing these planes to buses. He seats on the laptop just waiting all the time to be the first one to make comments on article that comes out.
HE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB BRINGING DOWN UPND FROM THE MINUTE HH WON ELECTIONS WITH NEGATIVE RANTS, NAME CALLING AND WE HOPE HE CONTINUES. I HAVE UPND FRIENDS WHO I TALK TO, THAT CANNOT STAND HIS VIBES
INDEPENDENT OBSERVER – Please spare us your lectures …save it for the kids at Sunday school next week!!
HH7 should have pull the plug on this airline…the fact that your minister is there it means you are giving it your full blessing ..please dont come to tell us it was a rotten deal when everyone can see it is. Dont come and say Lazy Lungu and his goons were corrupt in this one..because it is now your baby. You are killing KKIA which is a 24/7 airport meaning people should be in transit for more than 12 hours maximum waiting for their next flight whilst spending their forex in there….now you are feeding Addis International Airport and killing off local airlines like Mahogany and Proflight. These airlines would have been propped up to do this job a wholly owned Zambian company.
INDEPENNDENT OBSERVER….
TARINO ORANGE # 41……….. must be ignored. You don’t force him to read your comments. Lusakatimes is a free platform for everyone to express their opinion. No one should come here to be a bully like TARINO ORANGE he doing to many other bloggers. I don’t understand what his problem with him about. From what I can see a lot of people do agree with your objective comments. Maybe he just jealousy about you. Who is TARINO ORANGE to ask you to take your comments to Sunday School?
Tarino Orange @ 41
What is your beef about INDEPENDENT OBSERVER ?? You are wrong !!
He has not done anything to you. I am 100% UPND and I do get encouraged to reading his comments
There is nothing wrong in his comments that would warrantee you to say take your comments to Sunday School. Its objective material to read that he often comments about. I think you need to stop coming here telling people to get off from Lusakatimes. You don’t have the mandate to shut down people. I am sorry, this needs to be said to you.
41## Tarino Orange
What F**king D**head have you sucked tonight. I don’t F**kin Agree with INDEPENDENT OBSERVER but I cannot ask him to get out of Lusakatimes. Everyone is free to express themselves and keep posting comments.
If you cannot handle it, or you are looking for special people who will agree with you all the time, maybe it should be you that needs to go post your comments elsewhere. You F**king P****
Ba Tarino Orange @ 41
OLD MAN……. spare us your childish sunday school rubbish. You are embarrassing yourself. Mudala here is my advise to you. If you don’t like some bloggers skip and don’t read their comments. I don’t read Kaizer Zulu and I skip his comments. There is no harm that INDEPENDENT OBSERVER has caused in his comments on this thread. He is just asking us to look things from the brighter side and not to be negative, which even UPND bloggers have agreed. So what is your problem. Oh I forgot …. Its JEALOUSY, JEALOUSY, JEALOUSY,…. but you wont admit it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tarino Orange “42
NO ONE IS KILLING ANY BUSINESS. ITS CALLED MARKET COMPETITION IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. WHEN BUSINESS COMPETE PRICES GO DOWN AND SERVICES GET BETTER AND BETTER BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO OFFER THE BEST SERVICES TO A CUSTOMERS. IN THE END THE CUSTOMER GETS BETTER VALUE. I AM EXTREMELY SURPRISED THAT A PERSON LIKE YOU DOES NOT KNOW THIS. LIKE OTHERS I AM ALSO TAKEN BACK THAT YOU HAVE ATTACKED INDEPENDENT OBSERVER AS I DONT SEE WHAT HE HAS DONE WRONG. HE WAS MOTIVATING. THE BEST YOU COULD HAVE DONE IS TO ADD VALUE, BUT YOU DECIDED TO PUNCH UNDER THE BELT AND DISQUALIFED YOUSELF SHAMEFULLY.
ORANGE TARINO #
Go to bed. The majority rule or democracy has spoken loud and clear defending @ Independent Observer.
Its really laughable…… KiKikikiki !!!
Some of the arguments here come straight from the pit latrine. If it was neccessary for states to own airlines how come we dont see 200 national airlines? Some countries dont bother to start national airlines because the private sector can take care of that need. An airline is not a neccessity for a developing country even the UK doesnt have one
@Moonga I didnt know that boarding a plane makes people cleverer. I have never been on a plane and I dont want to be on Zambia Airways but I know that in Africa no national airline except Ethiopia makes a profit so why go into a ditch when you can see it from far away. Its not a neccessity so the State should not waste taxpayers’ money on an obviously lossmaking business. The state subsidises only neccessary services like education and health not upperclass needs. IMF wont give Zambia money to waste on an airline.