Air Zimbabwe leases out one of its long-haul aircraft to DRC airline

HARARE – Air Zimbabwe has leased out one of its two long haul Boeing 767 aircraft to Mont Gabaon Airlines of the Democratic Republic Congo.

The aircraft, which had been parked in Harare for two years, flew to the DRC second city of Goma on May 4 where it was repainted.

A spokesman for the airline told ZimLive on Monday: “The aircraft is on a long lease to Mont Gabaon Airlines.”

Cash strapped Air Zimbabwe was forced to ground its long-haul planes, which are more expensive to maintain, after discontinuing its London and Shanghai flights.

The aircraft sent to the DRC is Z-WPF which made its first flight in September 1990. It’s new DRC owners have left its name, Chimanimani, in place on the right side of the cockpit.

With a historic foreign debt of over US$30 million, Air Zimbabwe has been unsuccessful in trying to court a foreign partner.

The airline’s fleet includes a stored Airbus 320, two stored Boeing 777s, two Boeing 767s, a Boeing 737 and two Embraer ERJ 145s.