The restoration of Air Zimbabwe's direct Harare-London Gatwick service after a 14-year absence is expected to unlock new opportunities for trade, tourism and investment while strengthening ties between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona has said.
Speaking during a welcome dinner in London on Thursday following the airline's inaugural flight, Mhona described the return of the route as a major milestone in Zimbabwe's re-engagement agenda and a strategic asset for the country's economic development.
"We gather here tonight to welcome the Air Zimbabwe flight which touched down at London Gatwick Airport, marking the official restoration of direct flights between Harare and London after an absence of 14 years," said Mhona.
He said the return of the route was the result of the Second Republic's re-engagement policy under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, adding that the arrival of the flight was "the most visible expression of that re-engagement, manifested in the skies."
Mhona said the direct connection would benefit Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom while making it easier for British tourists and investors to visit Zimbabwe.
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"The Harare-Gatwick corridor opens fresh channels for British investment into Zimbabwe's transport, energy, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and ICT sectors," he said.
"It enables Zimbabwean exports, fresh produce, horticulture and manufactured goods to reach the United Kingdom market with the freshness and reliability that premium buyers demand."
The minister also commended the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority for granting Air Zimbabwe a Foreign Operator Permit after what he described as a rigorous assessment of the airline's compliance with international safety, operational and technical standards.
"Air Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe at large sought this permit on merit, and we intend to keep it on merit," he said.
Mhona said the restored route would also provide a major boost to Zimbabwe's tourism sector, noting that the United Kingdom has traditionally been the country's largest overseas tourism source market.
"A direct service means higher arrivals, longer stays, deeper spend and a more authentic encounter between visitor and host," he said, adding that the service would give British tour operators greater confidence in marketing Zimbabwe as a destination.
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