Air Zimbabwe cancels regional flights

Harare - Embattled flag carrier Air Zimbabwe has cancelled all of its regional flights after a creditor took back a leased plane over a $460 000 unpaid debt, the airline's boss said Wednesday.

The move leaves the airline flying only one route between Harare and London, in addition to its two domestic routes, chief executive Innocent Mavhunga told AFP.

The national carrier was leasing a Boeing 737-500 from Zambia-based Zambezi Airlines, but the lessor has withdrawn its plane, resulting in the cancellation of all of Air Zimbabwe's regional flights.

"Yes, there have been problems with Zambezi Airlines, but we are negotiating with our partners," Mavhunga told AFP. "Only regional regional flights have been affected."

Last month, Air Zimbabwe retired three obsolete Boeing 737-300 planes after entering a deal with Zambezi Airlines to ply the regional routes.

The latest crisis to affect the national carrier comes days after it was suspended by International Air Transport Association (Iata) over a $280 000 debt.

Iata spokesperson Chris Goater said Air Zimbabwe would not be able to sell tickets through local or foreign travel agents until the debt is settled.

"We hope that it will clear its financial obligations to return to participation in Iata's financial systems in short order," he said.

Air Zimbabwe, which once flew 25 routes, is saddled with a $100m debt, an ageing fleet and high staff turnover.

The airline's problems have opened way for others such as South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways to take over routes that Air Zimbabwe used to ply.