Air Zimbabwe (AirZim), which once enjoyed a monopoly in its domestic market, is coming under intense pressure from new competition from operators, including SAA and BA but more so from low-cost fastjet.
"The discernible impact for us has been on the passenger numbers, as Air Zimbabwe was operating as a monopoly for years. What it means is that the low-cost operators are also getting a share of the market and are competing with the traditional operators such as SAA, BA and ourselves who have been on these routes," AirZim acting chief executive, Edmund Makona, told local media. "So we now have many other players eating into the same market. The Harare to Johannesburg route is the cash cow for most airlines and that is why the competitors are always trying to increase flight frequencies on that route," he added.
AirZim is offering a return flight from Harare to Johannesburg for US$240 from the standard fare of US$449 in a bid to recover market share. Meanwhile, the airline remains saddled with debt of nearly US$300m.
