CAAZ positions Zim for more airlines service

CAAZ has signed MoUs that include unrestricted 5th freedom traffic rights with Chad, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire and Mali

Zim Now Writer

THE Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe is targeting to bring more airlines into Zimbabwe through nine MoUs signed with counterparts in four West African states and airlines.

“The four new air services agreements, compliant with the Yamousoukro Decision, member states were negotiated with four Single African Air Transport Market member states namely, Benin, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, and Mali,” announced CAAZ in a statement this week.

“The agreements had the following provisions; multiple airways designations, unregistered frequencies and capacity of both passengers and cargo services, and unrestricted 5th freedom traffic rights on inter-Africa points in accordance with the YD. One new service agreement negotiated with a non-SAATM state, Finland, will also provide multiple airline designations, unrestricted frequencies, and capacity for both passenger and cargo services.”

CAAZ said a review of four existing air service agreements for the Democratic Republic of Congo addresses some restrictions, which affected operations between the two countries and allows the designation of Zimbabwean local airlines to commence services in DRC and Kenya.

Interest by Indian Airlines to include Victoria Falls as an entry point has led to a review of agreements with that nation. There has also been a review to modernise the initial agreement with the United Kingdom.

Officials from CAAZ and the parent Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development joined 62 other member states at the International Civil Aviation Organisation Air Services Negotiation Conference 2022 hosted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority in December 2022.

According to World Data, Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport currently has 16 airlines serving flights to and from 11 destinations. When the ongoing Chinese funded upgrade is completed, the airport will have the capacity to service 6 million passengers annually, up from the current 2,5 million.