- Air Zimbabwe leases out B767 to DRC start-up
- Mont Gabaon Airlines plans domestic and regional flights
- Air Zimbabwe aim to return ERJ145’s back to service
Zimbabwean national carrier Air Zimbabwe UM appears to have finally secured a suitor for its sole workhorse Boeing 767-200 registered Z-WPF with msn 24867.
Delivered in 1990 the 34 year old aircraft was the spotted departing Harare’s RG Mugabe International Airport on Saturday 4 May 2024 at 14:00 CAT. Flying northbound to past the Zambian airspace Z-WPF commencing a descend series around the Bukavu region before landing in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Flight path of Air Zimbabwe B767-200ER registered Z-WPF from Harare to Goma. Source FlightAware
In January 2024 speaking during the delivery of an Embraer ERJ145 aircraft, Air Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean Ministry of Transport Officials were quoted saying the B767-200 will be initially leased out before commencement of international flights by Air Zimbabwe. At the delivery event it was announced the aircraft had successfully completed a C-Check conducted by Air Zimbabwe highly regarded engineers.
WHO IS MONT GABAON AIRLINES
At the point of publishing this article very little was know about this Goma based start-up airline. According to multiple sources the airline is understood to be the brainchild of a Mr Lambert.
Mont Gabaon Airlines is expected to operate domestic flights within the Democratic Republic of Congo to Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, Mbuji-Mayi and other local destinations capable of handling a B767-200.
LEASED OR SOLD ?
Air Zimbabwe recently invited bids for the disposal of two Boeing 737s and two BAE146s. Several components where included in the disposal call. It is unlikely that Air Zimbabwe sold Z-WPF as it remains instrumental to Zimbabwe’s long haul national needs. Recently the aircraft did two flights to central Asia in government charter business which is believed to be uplifting for the new currency paper.
Mont Gabaon Airlines in turn does not have the flight crew, engineers and technical team to support this aircraft. Images circulating online have shown Air Zimbabwe’s colours on the aircraft’s tail. Chat Ndege together with various African aviation analysts believe that the aircraft has been leased out on an ACMI arrangement. Duration of the lease remains uncertain.
The lease to Mont Gabaon comes at a time the cash strapped Zimbabwean airline is in dire need for capital. Two of the airline’s Embraer ERJ145’s are in storage or under C-check and the leasing fees if well used will see the ERJs back in the air soon.
The leasing out of Z-WPF now means Air Zimbabwe has a single serviceable aircraft, a Boeing 737-200 operating its domestic and sole regional route to Dar es Salaam.
Reached for a comment, Air Zimbabwe’s officials did not respond at the point of publication.