Harare-London Direct Flights to Resume By End of July After UK Licensing Delay - Government

Air Zimbabwe will relaunch direct flights connecting Harare and London by the end of July, the government has confirmed. The service, which marks the national airline's return to the route after a 14-year absence, was initially scheduled for July 1 but faced delays due to regulatory processes in the United Kingdom.

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The nation is advised that the airline will resume operations by end of July 2026 and will utilise a leased Airbus A330-300 aircraft from Plus Ultra in Spain with combined 302 seats, having a configuration of 30 business class and 272 economy seats.

Information Minister Soda Zhemu announced that the airline will operate the route under a 13-month wet-lease agreement with Spanish carrier Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas. The leased aircraft is an Airbus A330-300, configured with 30 business class and 272 economy seats, totaling 302 seats. Initially, Air Zimbabwe plans to operate three return flights per week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Transport Minister Felix Tapiwa Mhona explained that the delay stemmed from the time required to secure a foreign operator permit from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. He confirmed that the permit has now been obtained, allowing direct flights into London. The route is considered lucrative, with a journey time of approximately 10 hours making it cost-effective. The airline aims to increase flight frequency to daily services in the future.

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There is a regulator in each jurisdiction and in this case we were seized with the matter of getting a licence that we know as a foreign operator permit from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which we finally got. That will allow us to fly directly into London.

Data from Sabre Market Intelligence indicates that approximately 190,000 passengers traveled between Zimbabwe and the UK in 2025, with the Harare-London route accounting for about 108,000 of these journeys. Currently, most travelers use connecting flights through hubs like Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, and Kigali. Air Zimbabwe last served the London route in early 2012 before suspending it due to financial difficulties.

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The route is very lucrative given the 10-hour journey, which makes it cost effective. We are happy that we will eventually increase the frequency to daily flights.