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Zambia Airways (ZN, Lusaka) has taken delivery of its first aircraft, a Dash 8-400 on damp lease from equity partner Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa).

ET-ANK (msn 4304) arrived in Lusaka on Monday, November 29, ahead of its deployment into service on December 1 with flights to Ndola and Livingstone. Though painted in the nascent Zambian flag carrier's livery and manned by a Zambian crew, the aircraft will remain on the Ethiopian register for now.

Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali said in a speech that Zambia Airways expects to operate six aircraft (four Dash 8-400s and two B737-800s) and carry over 700,000 passengers by 2027. He had earlier indicated that the bulk of Zambia's USD16.5 million investment in the carrier would go to paying Ethiopian for aircraft leases. This arrangement is expected to last four years, after which time Zambia Airways is expected to be self-sustaining.

"This investment represents the government’s commitment to deepening and strengthening Zambia's value-chain development agenda," he said. "The establishment of...