By Agencies

A direct scheduled service between Gatwick and Harare is being re-established after a gap of 14 years.

Air Zimbabwe is restarting the route later this month with an initial three flights a week.

The service will be operated by Spanish carrier Plus Ultra using an Airbus A330 under a long-term lease agreement organised by sector specialist Chapman Freeborn.

Plus Ultra will provide the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, while the flights will operate under Air Zimbabwe’s flight code.

Plus Ultra said, “This operation reinforces our growth strategy and the consolidation of the ACMI division as one of the company’s key areas.”

The statement ties the Zimbabwe service to a wider aircraft-substitution model: one airline sells the route while another supplies the plane and crew.

Chapman Freeborn IMEA president Linas Dovydenas said: “This is an important milestone for Air Zimbabwe and a significant step in restoring direct connectivity between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom.

“We are proud to have played an important role in supporting this project, working closely with Air Zimbabwe and Plus Ultra to help deliver the right structure for the route.

“Across Africa, we continue to see growing demand for flexible capacity solutions as airlines look to rebuild networks, respond to passenger demand and manage fleet requirements more efficiently.

“ACMI [Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance] can play an important role in supporting that growth, particularly on strategic routes where speed, flexibility and operational reliability are essential.”

The return of direct flights between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom represents a major milestone for the country’s aviation sector.

Beyond restoring a convenient travel option, the service reconnects two countries with strong historical, commercial, and cultural ties and provides a direct link for Zimbabwe’s sizeable diaspora in the UK.

The route is also expected to strengthen business and tourism flows. Direct connectivity reduces travel times and eliminates the need for passengers to transit through regional hubs, making Zimbabwe more accessible to leisure and corporate travelers.

In addition, the service is expected to provide valuable cargo capacity for high-value exports such as fresh horticultural produce, flowers and other perishables destined for the UK market.