Air Zimbabwe logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 1996, I spent a glorious ten days in Zimbabwe. Many say that was the last good year for the country. Since then sanctions, corruption, seizure of farms, mines and businesses have made Zimbabwe a no go zone for tourism and business. These same conditions have reduced Air Zimbabwe passenger numbers from 1 million in 1999 to 23,000 in 2005 due to suspension of many of its flights and suspension from  the international financial and booking system by IATA over unpaid fees.

The airline kept flying from 2005 to 2011 and even launched a new service from Harare to Kuala Lumpur.  Last year, however, was a horror year for the carrier with something going wrong almost every month:

• Feb 2011: South African fights suspended over unpaid landing fees
• May 2011:  suspended by IATA over unpaid fees
• May 2011: domestic fights suspended by Civil Aviation Authority Zimbabwe CAAZ over safety concerns – with some resuming in July
• Mid-June 2011: Flights to London and South Africa  suspended because of a debts to  fuel suppliers.
• August – September 2011: Pilots go on strike for 50 days over unpaid wages
• Nov 2011: flights suspended over unpaid fuel bills
• Nov 2011: Airline debt reaches $US140million
• Dec 2011: one of the struggling airline’s 767s is seized at Gatwick airport on behalf of American General Supplies over a $1.5 million outstanding debt. The debt is paid with passengers stranded for a week

• Jan 2012: Air Zimbabwe’s last remaining plane was grounded
• Jan 2012: the airline suspended all services to London and South Africa fearing any planes may be seized
• Jan 2012: the airline comes under Judicial management
• Feb 2012: Pilots refuse to resume domestic services because of unpaid salaries and allowance
• 24 Feb 2012: Air Zimbabwe was grounded until March
• 1 Mar 2012: The airline is grounded indefinitely

Will Air Zimbabwe fly again? 

Stranded Passengers in London