Despite Zimbabwe’s air traffic and communications systems having become obsolete, according to media reports, SAA confirms it is not concerned about its services to the country.
A recent Sunday Times report cited Zimbabwe Civil Aviation Authority (CAAZ) CEO, David Chawota, as saying the air traffic surveillance system at Harare International Airport had become obsolete at least six years ago and that the drop in incoming flights had left the airport dangerously short of cash.
Chawota also confirmed that Zimbabwe’s aviation infrastructure had crumbled to the point where aircraft from Air Zimbabwe and South African Airways had hit warthogs that had entered the airfield through broken fences. Aircraft had been damaged but no passengers were hurt.
Mohsin Jassat, SAA Corporate Sales Channel Manager, told Tourism Update that the airline had not reported serious concerns or damage to aircraft while operating to and from Harare International Airport.
“As a network carrier, SAA’s demand from and to Southern Africa continues to grow as is evident in the increase in demand by travellers into non-traditional African routes. There are challenges when travelling on this route as is the case with many other destinations but none are insurmountable. In fact, when travelling into Africa, the common thread is inconsistency. An airline needs to adapt or find an alternative option if it wants to participate in the exponential growth opportunities that present themselves in Africa.”
International airlines like British Airways and Lufthansa have already chosen to divert flights over Angola, Mozambique or Botswana while flying between South Africa and Europe.
The CAAZ told a Zimbabwe Parliamentary Committee that the country’s airports were operating at a deficit. “Our capacity utilisation is at 20% and most of our properties are lying idle. The authority is just managing. We are living from hand to mouth.”
Says Chawota: “Ground-to-air communication systems need to be upgraded. In fact, they need to be replaced. The surveillance system at Harare International Airport is outdated. It was bought in 1992 and this type of equipment normally has a life expectancy of between 10 and 12 years. In other words, it is long overdue for replacement.”
Traffic, he adds, has declined from 82 000 flights per annum in 1997 to 30 000 flights per annum in 2009.
Air Zimbabwe declined to comment on the reports.
