Global air charter and leasing specialist Chapman Freeborn has supported Air Zimbabwe with a tailored ACMI capacity solution for the planned resumption of direct scheduled passenger services between Harare and London Gatwick that will offer belly capacity for time-sensitive exports.
The route is expected to restart by the end of July, reconnecting Zimbabwe and the UK after more than 14 years.
The service will be operated by Spanish carrier Plus Ultra using an Airbus A330 aircraft under a long-term ACMI agreement, with initial operations expected to include three weekly frequencies between Harare and London Gatwick.
Under the ACMI structure, Plus Ultra will provide the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, while the flights will operate under Air Zimbabwe’s flight code.
Chapman Freeborn provided the ACMI and contract management support needed to help shape the long-haul operating structure for the route, working closely with the teams involved throughout the process.
The route is expected to provide belly capacity for time-sensitive exports, including horticultural and perishable products destined for the UK market.
“This is an important milestone for Air Zimbabwe and a significant step in restoring direct connectivity between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom,” said Linas Dovydenas, president – IMEA at Chapman Freeborn.
“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 can play an important role in supporting that growth, particularly on strategic routes where speed, flexibility and operational reliability are essential.”
Chapman Freeborn’s director – ACMI & Leasing, Daniel Huggins, added: “Long-haul ACMI programmes require close coordination between airlines, operators, aviation authorities and commercial partners, from aircraft suitability and planning to regulatory requirements and operational readiness.
“In this case, our team supported the project from a capacity and contract management perspective, helping to bring together the right structure for a strategically important route. This project demonstrates how collaborative capacity solutions can help airlines restore important routes and bring strategic services back to market.”
In May, Chapman Freeborn expanded its critical freight offering with the addition of a next flight out (NFO) service targeting time-sensitive industries.
