Air Zimbabwe (UM, Harare International) has confirmed severe operational disruptions given its entire network is being serviced by only a single aircraft - B767-200(ER) Z-WPF (msn 24867).
Air Zimbabwe's other B767-200(ER) is currently undergoing a C-check while its A320-200s and two B737-200Adv.s are all stored at Harare International.
The state-owned carrier said in a statement it would shortly take delivery of "additional equipment" to solve its constraints which has seen multiple flights cancelled and hundreds of passengers stranded.
Air Zimbabwe has previously confirmed to ch-aviation it would add two B777-200(ER)s - Z-RGM (msn 28421) and Z-NBE (msn 28422) - to its fleet in March. The two ex-Malaysia Airlines jets, which were destined for the still-born Zimbabwe Airways, are to be proffered to the dry-lease market.
In addition, Air Zimbabwe has also been linked to the acquisition of four E145s which would be used to resume thinner domestic and regional routes while launching new ones.
In an effort to help revive the airline, Zimbabwean Minister of Transport, Joel Biggie Matiza, confirmed last week that talks with Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa International) over a proposed partnership agreement will take place next month.
Under the proposed deal, Ethiopian would help revive Air Zimbabwe with equipment and training while developing Harare into an aircraft MRO hub for the southern African region.
"There is movement on that front and we are expecting a team from Ethiopian Airlines next month where we are going to have meetings with regards to how the deal can be undertaken. We invited them so that we can talk and chart a way forward," he told the Business Times.
Zimbabwe's economy has been badly affected by a protracted shortage of foreign currency with both the public and private sectors struggling to procure spares and pay for services abroad.
