AIR SERVICES TO Zambia have been hit again, this time by the withdrawal of Air France, a long-time supporter of services between France and Zambia. The airline made its last weekly Paris-Lusaka flight on 27 March, further damaging the southern African nation's tourist-dominated economy.
Air France's withdrawal leaves just five weekly direct flights from Europe, providing a total capacity of around 1,500 seats. Two are flown by British Airways from London Gatwick, using Boeing 747s, two by KLM from Amsterdam using a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, and one by Aeroflot from Moscow using an Ilyushin Il-62M.
Although two local airlines (Aero Zambia and South African-supported Zambia Express) started operations soon after the liquidation of flag carrier Zambia Airways on 3 December, 1994, with a third, Eastern Air, opening flights on 26 March between Lusaka and Ndola, the Zambian Government appears reticent to issue any intercontinental licences.
Zambia has had the opportunity to join the Alliance partnership of South African Airways, Uganda and Tanzania, but declined to participate, because the Government coffers were empty.
Source: Flight International
