Air Zimbabwe now flies directly to London for the first time in 14 years. The service reconnects the UK-based Zimbabwean diaspora and offers new opportunities for tourism. The Harare-London Gatwick service began on 22 July and runs three times a week. This marks the first direct link between Zimbabwe and the UK since 2012.
For over a decade, travelers relied on connecting flights through regional and international hubs. The new direct service shortens trips and removes long layovers.
Zimbabwe hopes the relaunch will bring more international visitors and strengthen aviation links for tourism and investment. Air Zimbabwe partnered with Spain’s Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas for a wet-lease (ACMI) agreement. Plus Ultra provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance.
The arrangement lets Air Zimbabwe bypass fleet and regulatory hurdles that blocked UK operations. The airline uses a Plus Ultra Airbus A330-300 under a 13-month lease.
Plus Ultra handles the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance. Air Zimbabwe keeps its route, flight code, and ticketing. Airlines often use wet leasing to add capacity, cover shortages, or enter new markets.
The partnership gives Air Zimbabwe immediate access to long-haul capacity. It also solves a regulatory problem, since Air Zimbabwe cannot fly its own planes into the UK but can use Plus Ultra as an approved operator.
The deal restores Air Zimbabwe’s presence in London, but Plus Ultra supplies most of the operational capacity. Three weekly flights now link Harare and Gatwick, marking a milestone for the carrier, which once operated its own Boeing 767s to the UK.
Financial and operational challenges ended the previous London service in 2012, forcing passengers travelling between Britain and Zimbabwe to rely on connecting services.
Connections have typically been routed through Addis Ababa, Doha, Dubai, Johannesburg or Nairobi. For the sizeable UK-based Zimbabwean diaspora, this long-awaited direct flight is expected to see especially high demand during holidays and festive seasons.
Business travellers also gain a simplified connection, while tourism officials hope improved connectivity will drive visitor numbers to sites such as Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and Great Zimbabwe.
Beyond these, Zimbabwe’s tourism offering includes major wildlife destinations such as Hwange National Park and Mana Pools, and historical sites like Great Zimbabwe.
Other destinations, including the Eastern Highlands and Matobo National Park, also broaden the country’s international tourism appeal.
Better air connectivity could bring more visitors and boost tourism revenue. Direct flights make Zimbabwe more attractive for British tourists and give tour operators new options. Visitors landing in Harare can explore Zimbabwe or visit neighboring countries. If the new service succeeds, local communities and the tourism sector could see more economic benefits.
Air Zimbabwe still lacks the fleet and regulatory approvals for independent long-haul flights. The airline depends on Plus Ultra for planes and operations.
Rebuilding Air Zimbabwe will take more than leasing aircraft. The airline needs a sustainable fleet, skilled staff, and reliable operations for long-term recovery. The airline has looked at fleet renewal but has not replaced its old long-haul planes. Wet leasing lets Air Zimbabwe test the route’s commercial potential right away.
If successful, the route could shape future fleet and network decisions. Keeping the route profitable will be difficult because long-haul flights cost more and need steady demand.
Air Zimbabwe needs demand from both the diaspora and tourists outside peak periods. The airline must also rebuild passenger confidence after years of financial trouble.
Price will play a big role, since one-stop rivals compete on fares, frequency, and network reach. The return does not solve all of Air Zimbabwe’s problems, but wet leasing is common in the airline industry.
The deal brings Air Zimbabwe back to London after 14 years. Passengers now have a simpler connection, and international visitors have a new gateway to Zimbabwe. Air Zimbabwe’s true test will be running a reliable and profitable London route. The airline must eventually operate with more independence.
