MAHOGANY TAKES TO THE SKIES

Mon, 21 Aug 2017 14:03:31 +0000

By Buumba Chimbulu

MAHOGANY Air has officially commenced operations following an Air Operations Certificate (AOC) granted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which allows the airline to operate on both domestic and international routes.

Mahogany Air becomes the second local airline other than Proflight Zambia to be operating in the country.

Commenting on the development, Mahogany Air chief executive officer, Jim Belemu, explained that the company was targeting all major towns for the domestic flights and Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and probably Northern Africa for the international routes.

Dr. Belemu said the Airline already had two aircrafts in Zambia and that it was expecting two more very soon.

“As Mahogany, we want the Zambians to experience the service. We need to remove the stigma of flying as being only for the rich. It should become part of travelling in Zambia.

“Of course, we know that comes with affordability which we believe we can offer, so we really implore Zambians that it is time for businesses purposes to use air travel,” he said.

He was speaking in Lusaka at the weekend when witnessing the landing of its first ever airline at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from Ndola.

Dr. Belemu also said Zambia was poised to become the hub of aviation and that had encouraged the company to commence its operations.

He has since thanked CAA and Government for their support which he said would attract more players in the aviation industry.

“Government has prioritised the infrastructure development in the industry and as a result it becomes attractive for the private sector to invest in the sector. It is very normal and healthy to have competition on the market but most importantly we want accessibility,” he said.

And CAA director general, Gabriel Lesa, said the authority was committed to ensuring that it created an enabling environment which would attract more investment in the industry.

He said CAA recognised the responsibility of commercial air transport operators to provide air transport with the highest degree of safety.

Mr. Lesa said CAA would carry out strict due diligence on all players in the industry to ensure Zambia maintained high standards of safety.

“CAA will facilitate the entry of new players such as Mahogany Air to follow through the complete five phase process of AOC in line with the acceptable international standards and recommended practices,” he said.