top of page

New Zimbabwean Start-up Airline Outlines Routes and Fleet

  • Writer: Chidozie Uzoezie
    Chidozie Uzoezie
  • Apr 14, 2018
  • 3 min read

With the recent changes at the helm of Zimbabwe's government, there is renewed optimism in Zimbabwe. Aviation and tourism have been identified as key pillars to economic growth and one of the airlines that hopes to benefit from the new environment is start-up Emerald Airlines, who will be joining us in Cape Town for AviaDev Africa this June. Ahead of the event, I caught up with the CEO, Mr Munyaradzi Kutama (MK)

JH: Can you explain your personal experience and what led you to start Emerald?

MK: A brief on my background, Initially l was to undertake an Engineering degree in Aerospace Design and Manufacturing at Bristol University,instead of going into my 2nd year, l saw a newspaper advert for pilot training at a flight school in Kent and that was my turning point. I got my Commercial Pilot licence and moved to the US to instruct for a few years before landing a First Officer Position with Air Zimbabwe.

After leaving AirZim l started analysing the industry borrowing from my experience at the national airline and was more keen on reviving the airline initially. When l realised that this was not going to be an easy task, l then mk; shifted to getting a new entity altogether operating out of Zimbabwe. I and my partner/colleague then embarked on a 2-year journey of looking at the statistics and any information we could gather on Air travel movement in Zimbabwe. From this, I realised that Harare was geographically well positioned for a Southern African Hub. Of all the SADC countries, Harare is within 2 hrs of each of the Capital cities.

So the plan began to unfold that we would feed traffic into Harare and then Long Haul them to North America, Europe and the East. Also, the opening of the skies in Zimbabwe helped with making our application process uneventful.

JH: Can you briefly explain where Emerald Airlines is up to currently and your plans and timescales for launch?

MK: Emerald Airlines is at this stage going through the last phase of the AOC process with a plan of completing and having the AOC granted before the end of April. The launch will follow within 30-45 days of having the AOC granted.

JH: What are your fleet plans in the short/medium/long term?

MK: Our Fleet plans for the immediate term are based on possible 50 seater regional jets servicing the domestic and regional routes,. In the Medium to long-term plan is to upgrade to a possible 100-120 seat (with a range that can give us Harare - Lagos) and the Long Haul Aircraft of either the A330 or the B787. The Fleet number initially is projected at 2 short haul and 2 long-haul aircraft, with a heavy emphasis on modern equipment.

JH: In terms of funding, how is the operation to be financed?

MK: Emerald Airlines is wholly Zimbabwean owned and funded for now, though we are on the market looking at strategic partnerships that we can either partner with or they can invest in us.

JH: How about the routes you would like to operate. Where do you see most scope?

Our initial route structure will cover the domestic routes out of R G Mugabe International to Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, in the Region, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, Lusaka, Lilongwe and International, United Kingdom and China. Most scope for us will be servicing the Harare - UK and Harare - China routes.

Aviation Development conference will take place from 12 to 14 June in Cape Town, South Africa.


 
 
 

Comments


Air Peace.jpg
SAA2.jpg
ET business class _compressed_page-0001.jpg
SAT2.jpg
300x300.jpg
WTM_2025_In-ad banner_(400pxX400px)_Nov2024-01.jpg

 Featured Posts 

Comments (165)

Guest
Sep 21, 2022

We just booked our QATAR 🇶🇦 HÔTEL yesterday for 2 différent short stars of 2 nights and 3 nights for the Final… https://www.14sb.com/fifa-world-cup-hotels.html . Not exactly cheap but ok price for 4.5 Stars luxury and in Doha Center City! Thanks and Good Luck everyone! Vamos MEXICO!

Like

Guest
Sep 30, 2022

Wow! Stunning! Hilton seems to be taking Africa by storm. Just a couple of years back, they opened the first ever in Eswatini.

Like

kasarokcaesar
Oct 24, 2022

Wonderful event and topics discussed, hopefully we see the manifestations in our African airline businesses in the nearest future. Kudos to you all.

Like

Guest
Nov 10, 2022

Hi, I'm Lucy. Please how do I embark on my travel/ tour business. I am newbie and help..

Like

Guest
Nov 18, 2022

Prices in the Sol Torremolinos Don Pablo are the same than two weeks ago.

Like

Guest
Dec 04, 2022

Good location astounding but the staffs are rude and they make me wait so long for the service. They charge me more than what is on the website and did not refund me the manager is not helping with the issue


Like

Guest
Dec 15, 2022

WoW. Amazing Review. 👍

Like

Guest
Jan 07, 2023

I spent the holidays here, I don't know why but during the holidays their reception smells like a piss Id rather not spend my special occasions here

Like
Guest
Aug 07, 2023
Replying to

Where is here.

Like

Guest
Jan 27, 2023

Thank you for sharing such a detailed review about ethiopian airlines in your post. I am an avid traveller and keep reading flight reviews to assess the options available. Your review particularly drew my attention because you have shared so many pictures to capture every aspect of the flight experience. It is a very nice effort.


More Info : https://www.cleartrip.ae/flight-booking/ethiopian-air-airlines.html

Like

Guest
Feb 27, 2023

I am really tempted to book the next ethiopian airlines ticket and relive your journey. The pictures shared with the post also reflect that you truly enjoyed the travel. Great post! I also like the fact that you have covered nuances about the food and entertainment service through the pictures. It helps people know what to expect on their travel by this airline.


More Info : https://www.cleartrip.ae/flight-booking/ethiopian-air-airlines.html


Like
WAF 300 x 300xp.png
new 300x300 banner copy.jpg

 Latest 

Join Our Subscribers

Thanks for subscribing!

bottom of page