Wed, 20 Dec 2017 10:58:11 +0000
By Buumba Chimbulu
CABINET has approved the re-establishment of a national airline which is expected to cost US$30 million and the works for the process are therefore set to commence early next year.
Government, the majority owner of operations, will work with Ethiopian Airlines as a strategic partner in the re-establishment of the national airline, Zambia Airways.
Minister of Transport and Communications, Brian Mushimba, disclosed in Lusaka on Monday evening that Cabinet approved the re-establishment of Zambia Airways which would be Zambian owned and Zambian operated.
Mr Mushimba explained that the objective of having a national airline was to accelerate and support economic activities as it was one way of diversifying the economy. “It is a happy moment for the aviation sector, we have been given the approval by Cabinet. The estimated budget in the first year, we are going to invest a total of US$30 million in the reestablishment of the national airline, the cost is going to be shared between Government and the strategic partner,” Mr Mushimba said.
He said the national flag would start flying next year and it would focus on domestic routes before the airline could grow to other international routes.
Mr. Mushimba said in the first six months of 2018, all the arrangements, including the appointment of the board of directors, the inaugural flight, finishing of the agreements, the recruitment processes and the purchasing of equipment would be done.
“We are re-establishing the national airline with a strategic partner Ethiopian Airlines and Zambian government will be the majority owner of the operations and it will be Zambian owned and it will be Zambian operated,” Mr Mushimba said.
