Air Zimbabwe seeks to mend relations with IATA

Source: Pexels

Struggling Air Zimbabwe is planning to return to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which enforces global standards for airline safety, security, efficiency and sustainability

The state-owned airline was suspended from IATA several times due to unpaid fees and safety concerns.

Air Zimbabwe owed IATA $140 million due to operational challenges, but local media reports suggest that 90% of its dues had been paid.

The airline was placed under reconstruction in 2018, a move that stopped creditors from taking legal action against the entity.

“The administration put a strategic turnaround plan which was approved by the Cabinet. In that strategic plan, one of the major issues was the debt being taken over by the Government,” Air Zimbabwe chief executive Tafadzwa Zaza was quoted as saying by Bulawayo24. 

He said Air Zimbabwe had hoped to rejoin the IATA by June this year.

Zaza also said that the airline had been struggling to access the global distribution system (GDS) without being part of IATA.

GDS is the billing and settlement service for the airline industry.