Transvaal Africa Airlines is gearing up to launch cargo operations with a chartered B767-300ER freighter in the coming weeks, its first major step towards becoming Zimbabwe’s next dedicated air freight carrier.
The charter operations will run in parallel with its own air operator's certificate (AOC) process, scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2026, the company told ch-aviation.
The new service will be based at a soon-to-be-commissioned cargo village at Harare International, which is being positioned as a gateway for regional and intercontinental trade.
Transvaal Africa Airlines said its B767 operations will focus initially on horticultural exports, linking Harare with Liège, one of Europe’s busiest cargo hubs, under a charter deal currently being finalised with a European freighter operator. The initial plan is to charter one aircraft with the option for a second as demand grows. The company declined to name the supplier or provide the aircraft details until the deal is finalised.
"This is a strategic step toward building a robust cargo airline for Zimbabwe and the wider SADC [Southern African Development Community] region," the company said in a statement shared with ch-aviation, adding that using chartered B767 freighters allows it to "enter the market swiftly and reliably" while its certification process continues.
Transvaal Africa Airlines also confirmed it had dropped plans to acquire Air Zimbabwe's grounded B777-200ERs "as the model is not readily convertible to freighter operations and requires a Boeing-supported passenger-to-freighter programme that is not currently available." The Air Zimbabwe B777s are currently up for sale.
Zimbabwe's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure granted Transvaal Africa Airlines a three-year air service permit (ASP) on December 5, 2024. Contingent on the completion of an AOC from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, the permit, valid until December 3, 2027, covers commercial passenger and cargo flights, plus scheduled and non-scheduled charter services.
Founded in 2022, the nascent carrier is a subsidiary of Transvaal Africa, a diversified Zimbabwe- and South Africa-registered group active in agriculture, logistics, and construction. The cargo village at Harare International Airport will include a cargo terminal with hangars and cold storage facilities, airport hotel, shopping mall, and residential housing in the Arlington area near the airport.
