With a capital contribution of $30 million Ethiopian Airlines has finalised preparations with Industrial Development Corporation Limited (IDC), a national development finance institution based in South Africa, to launch Zambia’s National Carrier, and this appears to be a case of together we can achieve more.
As reported by Routes, Zambia Airways will commence flying on 1st December 2021 and will operate the Lusaka to Ndola (LUN-NLA) route six times per week and will also serve Livingstone (LVI) five times per week from the Zambian capital. Other domestic routes to Mfuwe and Solwezi will follow before introducing regional destinations, to Johannesburg and Harare, to its network within the first quarter of 2022.
Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s largest airline and is not a stranger to strategic partnerships. Aside from serving 62 destinations in Africa, catering to more than 130 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents, Ethiopian Airways also operates a multi-hub strategy in Africa. Its strategic partnerships include ASKY Airlines in Western Africa, Malawian Airlines in Southern Africa, and Chad-based Tchadia Airlines in North-Central Africa. Ethiopian also has a management contract with Ceiba Intercontinental in Equatorial Guinea. The next project is to start a new carrier in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), beginning with a fleet of 10 aircraft. The DRC government will own 51% of the airline and Ethiopian Airlines 49%. The Congolese carrier’s fleet will comprise Dash 8-400s, Boeing 737s, and two 787s.
More Hints About the Deal
Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam remarked: “The strategic equity partnership in the launching of Zambia’s national carrier is part of our Vision 2025 multiple hub strategy in Africa. “Ethiopian is committed to its growth plan in collaboration with African carriers and the new Zambia Airways will serve as a strong hub in Central and Southern Africa availing domestic, regional and eventually international air connectivity for passengers and cargo to the major destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, which will enhance the socio-economic integration and tourism industry in Zambia and the region”
According to a statement by Frank Tayali, M.P., minister of transport and logistics, it is expected that the new Zambia airways will operate 12 aircrafts and carry over 1.9 million passengers by 2028; therefore, what we are witnessing here today is proof of the commitment towards to making the Zambian economy work efficiently and competitively to sustainably lift the living standards of the people.
Flights can be booked online via https://www.zambia-airways.com/zm-en. This is indeed a significant milestone for the Zambia economy as it speaks to the nation not accepting to be sky-locked even as a land-locked State.