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

Zimbabwe will resume direct flights between Harare and London by the end of July after UK licensing delays, the government confirmed. Information Minister Soda Zhemu said Air Zimbabwe missed an initial July 1 target because UK regulatory approval took longer than expected, with Transport Minister Felix Tapiwa Mhona attributing the delay to the time required to secure a foreign operator permit from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The relaunch will mark Air Zimbabwe’s return to the route for the first time in 14 years and will use a leased Airbus A330-300 from Spanish carrier Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas. Under a 13-month wet-lease arrangement, the aircraft will offer 302 seats configured with 30 business and 272 economy. Initially, the airline will operate three return flights per week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with three weekly frequencies also described as the early schedule. The Mutapa Investment Fund oversees Air Zimbabwe and previously targeted July 1. About 190,000 passengers traveled between Zimbabwe and the UK in 2025, with Harare-London accounting for roughly 108,000 trips. Air Zimbabwe last ran direct services to London Gatwick in early 2012 before suspending them due to financial difficulties.