The Zambian government has set in motion plans to establish a new national carrier with the creation of Zambia Airways 2014 Ltd. According to the Times of Zambia, the holding company was incorporated in July of this year with Zambia's Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba, Works and Supply Permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje and Finance Permanent Secretary Pamela Kabamba appointed its directors.
"We are talking to suppliers of the airplanes on the purchase of aeroplanes as reflected in the 2016 budget so that by the end of next year, the company is fully operational," Zambia's Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said.
Founded in 1964, Zambia Airways (1964) (Lusaka) was government's last foray into the aviation sector. In 1992, as part of IMF-backed privatization reforms, the airline was cut loose from the national fiscus and was forced to assume responsibility for its own costs and overheads. Given the country's difficult economic outlook at the time, Zambia Airways was forced to dramatically cut back its loss-making domestic and international route network. However, the strain eventually proved too much resulting in the airline's liquidation in 1995.
Prior to its collapse, Zambia Airways operated B737-200Advs, ATR42-300s, DC-10-30s, and B757-200(PF)s on scheduled passenger and cargo services throughout Zambia as well as to Harare International, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, Windhoek International, Manzini Matsapha, Gaborone, Mauritius, Lilongwe International, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, Dar es Salaam, Lubumbashi and Entebbe regionally. Internationally, it served Jeddah International, Mumbai International, Rome Fiumicino, Larnaca, London Heathrow, Frankfurt International as well as New York JFK via Monrovia Roberts.
At present, Proflight Zambia (P0, Lusaka) dominates the Zambian domestic market though this is expected to change with the launch of Fastjet Zambia (Lusaka) later this year. The Fastjet (Dar es Salaam) affiliate is in the process of completing its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) with the Zambian Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA).
