Air Zimbabwe is set to restore direct scheduled services between Harare and London Gatwick from July 22, 2026, marking a significant step in the airline’s rehabilitation and ending a nearly 15-year absence from the route. This strategic move is part of a broader restructuring under the state-owned Mutapa Investment Fund, aiming to rebuild Air Zimbabwe’s international network and restore its value. The airline will operate three weekly rotations, departing Harare’s Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with return legs from Gatwick on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The service will utilize an Airbus A330-300 widebody under an Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) arrangement with Spanish carrier Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas, brokered by Chapman Freeborn. This partnership provides a compliant pathway back into the European market, as Air Zimbabwe is currently banned from operating its own aircraft into EU airspace due to safety restrictions.
Key Players Involved
- Air Zimbabwe: National airline resuming direct flights.
- Mutapa Investment Fund: State-controlled holding vehicle overseeing Air Zimbabwe’s restructuring.
- Dr. John Mangudya: Chief Executive of Mutapa Investment Fund, publicly discussed rebuilding the international network.
- Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas: Spanish carrier providing aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance under an ACMI arrangement.
- Chapman Freeborn: Aviation charter specialist brokering the ACMI partnership.
Event Timeline
- July 13, 2026: News reports confirm Air Zimbabwe’s resumption of Harare-London flights.
- July 22, 2026: Scheduled date for the relaunch of direct services between Harare and London Gatwick.
