China route not working for Air Zim

MONTHS after beginning its service to China, Air Zimbabwe is reportedly sustaining financial losses on that route. A report in the Zimbabwe Independent states that the national carrier is struggling to make a profit on its Harare-China route because of strong competition from other regional airlines flying into Asia and the low load capacity of its two weekly flights. The newspaper states that the B767 used on the route is carrying only half its capacity of 197 passengers. Peter Mukarate, Air Zimbabwe’s manager for South Africa told TNN however that the airline was not facing any relevant competition on the Asia route. He also said capacity on the Asia route varied as with any newly launched route. Currently Air Zimbabwe flies to China via Singapore on Mondays and Fridays, but from May 16 the airline will be flying via Bangkok on Fridays. According to Mukarate, the airline had decided to fly via Bangkok instead of Singapore as part of the new winter schedule, because Bangkok offered valuable business opportunities. The airline will, from May 16, fly to Dubai on Mondays and Wednesdays and start a service to Entebbe in Uganda. (Dorine Berger and Darren Sandras)