Air Zim introduces 2nd flight to China

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s national carrier, Air Zimbabwe, is to launch a second regular flight to China as it hopes to cash in on Harare’s policy of strengthening relations with Beijing, an official said.

“The flight will come as a second frequency in our China operation,” Chris Kwenda, Air Zimbabwe’s regional manager for China was quoted as saying in the state-controlled Herald newspaper yesterday. “We will launch it mid-January.The plane will be flying to Guangzhou which is of high economic importance to China.The southern city of Guangzhou, once known as Canton, lies next to the former British colony of Hong Kong and is regarded as the gateway to China by virtue of its location at the mouth of the Pearl river.China is becoming an increasingly important destination for Zimbabwe as a result of burgeoning economic ties between Harare and Beijing.Air Zimbabwe launched its maiden flight to Beijing nearly two years ago.”So far we have witnessed an increase in both passenger and cargo volumes,” Kwenda was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the China International Travel Mart in Shanghai.Isolated by Western governments over the political crisis in Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe has looked to foster new relations with Asian countries such as China and Malaysia as part of a so-called “Look East” policy.The government said in September that it had acquired six more jet fighters from China while Zimbabwe’s national airliner took delivery last year of three MA60 passenger planes from the Chinese state-owned AVIC aircraft manufacturer.Nampa-AFP”We will launch it mid-January.The plane will be flying to Guangzhou which is of high economic importance to China.The southern city of Guangzhou, once known as Canton, lies next to the former British colony of Hong Kong and is regarded as the gateway to China by virtue of its location at the mouth of the Pearl river.China is becoming an increasingly important destination for Zimbabwe as a result of burgeoning economic ties between Harare and Beijing.Air Zimbabwe launched its maiden flight to Beijing nearly two years ago.”So far we have witnessed an increase in both passenger and cargo volumes,” Kwenda was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the China International Travel Mart in Shanghai.Isolated by Western governments over the political crisis in Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe has looked to foster new relations with Asian countries such as China and Malaysia as part of a so-called “Look East” policy.The government said in September that it had acquired six more jet fighters from China while Zimbabwe’s national airliner took delivery last year of three MA60 passenger planes from the Chinese state-owned AVIC aircraft manufacturer.Nampa-AFP