Zambezi Airlines, Zambia’s leading domestic airline, today (Thursday, 4 June 2009) announced plans to expand operations as a new regional carrier, beginning with South Africa and Tanzania. The airline is marketing a truly African flying experience, going as far as branding its aircraft with giraffe print on the tail and engines.

Speaking from Johannesburg, CEO and Director Cornwell Muleya, says the airline is ready to commence flights to Johannesburg and later to Dar es Salaam. “After assessing market conditions, our shareholders and management took a decision towards the end of last year to upgrade our fleet requirements to two Boeing 737-500 series aircraft. For this purpose we have entered into a lease agreement with GECAS (GE Commercial Aviation Services).”

The first of the two aircraft was delivered to Lusaka on 24 May, and has been christened “Spirit of Kafue”. The second aircraft is scheduled to join the fleet in the course of June.

Muleya says Zambezi Airlines now becomes the first-ever Zambian airline to operate a modern twinjet which boasts a quieter passenger cabin, thanks to the two state-of-the art CFM 56 engines that power it. “It is also much more fuel efficient than the earlier versions of this aircraft type. This is a significant achievement for the airline which is totally privately- owned and has only been operating for 10 months.”

Commenting on future prospects, Muleya says Zambezi Airlines intends to grow its fleet in line with market demand. “We want to grow the airline through frequency and then expand our network through beneficial partnerships with other carriers. Our strategy is to list the airline after 36 months.”

Muleya says his management team consists of accomplished airline professionals with between 20 to 35 years of experience in airline management in such critical areas as engineering and flight operations. “Our people are selected based on key competences and our frontline staff is trained to offer a professional and high standard service the Zambian way.”

“The Chairman of Zambezi Airlines, Maurice Jangulo, conceived the idea of the airline many years ago. He is a highly respected businessman not only in Zambia but the SADC region as a whole where he has been running a successful agribusiness with its head office in Zambia and subsidiaries in Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique”, says Muleya.

Zambezi Airlines launched its operations in July 2008, flying to domestic destinations of Ndola, Livingstone, Kitwe and Chipata. Muleya says the airlines’ regional flight schedule now makes it possible for passengers, businesspeople and tourists alike, to book on Zambezi Airlines for regular flights to and from key destinations in Zambia, South Africa and Dar es Salaam. “We are proud and confident that this, our first expansion into Africa, will contribute significantly to the region’s as well as the continent’s future prosperity.”

Zambezi Airlines has commenced regional flights to Johannesburg out of Lusaka and Ndola and will operate on full schedule from 20 June.

Beginning with the first B737, Zambezi Airlines will have daily flights into Johannesburg from Lusaka and four flights into Johannesburg from Ndola. From the entry into service of the second aircraft, the airline will have double daily flights on the Lusaka-Johannesburg route, four flights per week between Ndola and Johannesburg, three flights per week between Livingstone and Johannesburg, and three flights from Lusaka to Dar-es-Salaam.