Emirates Boosts Capacity with Boeing 777-300ER February/March 2013

Emirates Airlines will increase capacity on the DXB-LUN-HRE route from 01 February 2013 by replacing 3-class A330-200 with the 3-class Boeing 777-300ER. This is a further capacity boost to Zambia and Zimbabwe, as the airline is increasing this route from 5 weekly to daily from 01 October 2012. The aircraft has a passenger capacity of 364 and features first class private suites. So far the Boeing 777-300ER only reflects for the months of February and March then reverts back to the A330-200.

Schedule:

EK713 DXB0925 – 1450LUN1620 – 1720HRE 77W D
EK714 HRE1850 – 1950LUN2120 – 0640+1DXB 77W D

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner arriving at Harare International Airport (HRE)

Apologies for the poor quality.

Pics: Ethiopian Airlines 787-800 Dreamliner at Harare International Airport

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner in Harare

Ethiopian Airlines first Boeing 787-860 Dreamliner named "Africa First" touched down at Harare International Airport at approximately 1.42pm. ET becomes the first airline outside Japan and only the third carrier behind JAL and ANA to operate this ultra modern aircraft. The plane is one of 10 Dreamliners ordered by Ethiopian Airlines. The Dreamliner is a long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.It seats 265 passengers in economy class and 24 in business class. It is Boeing’s most fuel-efficient airliner and the world’s first major airliner to use composite materials for most of its construction. According to Boeing, the 787 consumes 20 percent less fuel than the similarly-sized 767. Its distinguishing features include a four-panel windshield, noise-reducing chevrons on its engine nacelles, and a smoother nose contour.It is the most technologically advanced commercial aircraft in the world and offers passengers enhanced on-board comfort, significantly reduced noise, higher level of humidity and boasts the biggest windows ever and a unique lighting system. An additional four Dreamliners are expected to be delivered to the airline before the end of the year.  

British Airways/Comair About to Land in Harare

Great shot by William Whaley posted on Airliners.net. BA/Comair about to land at Harare International Airport passing the Harare-Chitungwiza highway.

Update: Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 to Harare/Lusaka August 20th and 23rd

Ethiopian Airlines as of 08AUG12 has revealed latest revision of planned Boeing 787 operation, which is in effect from 16AUG12 to 04SEP12. During this period, the 787 will operate several one-time service to 18 countries in Africa, Middle East and South Asia.
Planned routes and operational dates for Harare and Lusaka are as follows:

Addis Ababa – Harare – Lusaka – Addis Ababa ET873 on 20AUG12, 23AUG12

Note as ET is only operating 1 Boeing 787 aircraft in August 2012 and early-September 2012, possibility of last minute changes to other aircraft type such as Boeing 767-300ER and 777-200LR remains high.

SA Express Awarded Harare Traffic Rights

SA Express has recently been awarded traffic rights for the Durban-Harare route. This follows the launch of services between Durban and Lusaka, Zambia on 12 July 2012. According to Lulu Bam, SAX communications manager, SAX is still working out the details for when the Durban-Harare service will launch and how many flights will be operated between the 2 destinations per week. The airline already operates 3 flights a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays) from Durban to Lusaka. On 3 August 2012 it will launch a 4th weekly flight on Fridays between Durban’s King Shaka International Airport and Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. The flights use a 50-seater CRJ200 aircraft.
SAX also plans to launch flights between Durban and several other regional destinations in 2012. These are Vilanculos and Maputo in Mozambique, Windhoek in Namibia, Gaborone in Botswana, and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Click the link below for full details:
http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/za/trade-news-detail?oid=538379&sn=Detail&pid=309007&First-Lusaka--now-Harare-for-SA-Express

1time launches Zimbabwe low cost airline

 1time Airlines has concluded a joint venture agreement with Nu-Aero, trading as Fresh Air, a registered Zimbabwean company. Fresh Air is jointly owned by Nu.Com of Zimbabwe and 1time holdings. This strategic partnership has resulted in the launch of Zimbabwe's first low-cost air services provider, which will begin offering flights initially in September 2012. As part of the agreement, 1time will cease its current Livingstone route in favour of flights between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls, which will subsequently become a Fresh Air operation.
Fresh Air and 1time completed the Civil Aviation Authority regulatory demonstration flight from OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg to Harare International Airport, before flying to Victoria Falls and then back to Johannesburg. Blacky Komani, CEO of 1time Airline says that this newly found agreement with Fresh Air provides an opportunity for both companies to take advantage of the fact that Africa is the only continent where the low-cost carrier model is yet to take flight with regional destinations. 1time will have a short term dispensation to operate aircraft on the ZS register, while executing a migration to Zimbabwean registered and crewed operation. This process will be carried out within a year. Feel free to leave your views on this new development.

Emirates Opening New Office in Harare Soon

Emirates Airlines seem to have some ambitious plans for the Zimbabwe market. They recently announced daily flights to Harare starting October 1st, 2012 as well as a dedicated freighter service that operates every Friday. They are currently in the process of setting up a bigger and more impressive office in the Avondale area. Once the DXB-LUN-HRE route has matured it will eventually be split with dedicated flights to both cities.

http://zimbojam.com/articles/lifestyle/how-we-live/item/293-emirates-consolidates-in-zimbabwe

DELTA-KLM to Expand Codeshare Operation to Mexico and Zimbabwe

DELTA-KLM has issued notification to the US Department of Transportation, revealing its intention to expand codeshare agreement, which covers US – Mexico, as well as Zimbabwe.
Planned codeshare routes:

KLM operated by DELTA
Atlanta – Cancun
Atlanta – Cozumel
Atlanta – Guadalajara
Atlanta – Mexico City
Atlanta – Monterrey
Atlanta – Puerto Vallarta
Atlanta – San Jose del Cabo
Boston – Cancun
Detroit – Cancun
Detroit – Cozumel
Detroit – Mexico City
Detroit – Monterrey
Detroit – Puerto Vallarta
Los Angeles – Guadalajara
Los Angeles – Puerto Vallarta
Minneapolis – Cancun
Minneapolis – Cozumel
New York JFK – Mexico City
Washington Dulles – Cancun

DELTA operated by KLM
Amsterdam – Harare – Lusaka – Amsterdam