Air Zimbabwe Set for London Return After 15-Year Absence Through Airbus A330 Lease Deal

HARARE — Air Zimbabwe is set to resume direct flights between Harare and London Gatwick from 1 July 2026, marking its return to the United Kingdom market after nearly 15 years. The national airline will operate the route through a 13-month Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) lease agreement with Spanish carrier Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas, which will provide an Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft and operating crew for the service.

According to a statement from Plus Ultra distributed by Spanish news agency Europa Press, the agreement was arranged by aviation specialist Chapman Freeborn Aviation Services and will see flights operate under the Air Zimbabwe flight code. The development is being viewed as a major milestone in the airline’s turnaround strategy and a significant boost for Zimbabwe-UK travel, cargo exports and tourism.

The ACMI arrangement enables Air Zimbabwe to re-enter the London market despite remaining on the European Union Air Safety List, which prohibits the airline from operating its own aircraft within EU airspace because of safety compliance concerns. However, European Commission regulations permit banned airlines to operate services using wet-leased aircraft from approved carriers that meet international safety standards. Plus Ultra currently operates a fleet of Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft on long-haul international routes. The airline has not yet disclosed which aircraft variant will be assigned to the Harare-London service.

Air Zimbabwe last operated scheduled flights to London in December 2011 using Boeing 767-200 aircraft before mounting financial difficulties, creditor claims and operational challenges forced the route's suspension. Since then, several attempts to revive direct flights between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom have failed despite strong demand from the Zimbabwean diaspora community, business travellers and exporters of fresh horticultural products.

Aviation analyst and transport consultant Mark Martin told international aviation media that direct long-haul routes connecting diaspora markets often provide strong commercial opportunities when supported by consistent passenger demand and cargo traffic.

"The Harare-London route has historically been one of Zimbabwe's most strategic international connections because it serves both passenger and freight markets," Martin said.

Many Zimbabweans living in the UK have welcomed the announcement.

"It will save us the hassle of connecting through Johannesburg, Addis Ababa or Dubai," said Tendai Moyo, a Zimbabwean professional based in London. "A direct flight between Harare and London has been long overdue."

Another traveller, Nyasha Chigumba, said the route could reduce travel times and create more options for families visiting relatives in Zimbabwe.

"Competition usually helps bring fares down. We hope the service will be reliable and affordable," she said.

The relaunch forms part of Air Zimbabwe's broader restructuring programme under the state-owned Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF). MIF chief executive officer John Mangudya has repeatedly identified the London route as a key component of efforts to restore Air Zimbabwe's international network and improve revenue generation. Industry observers say the success of the Harare-London Gatwick route will depend on competitive pricing, operational reliability and sustained demand from passengers and cargo customers. If successful, the route could become one of the most significant developments in Zimbabwe's aviation sector in more than a decade.

Air Zimbabwe London flights