Zambia Airways chooses Johannesburg as first sub-regional destination
Zambia Airways started commercial operations in December 2021 as a 55/45 joint venture between the Zambian government and Ethiopian Airlines. In parallel with the expansion of its domestic network, the young startup is embarking on its sub-regional adventure.
Zambia Airways has announced the start of its flights to Johannesburg from next month. From 1 July, Zambia's new national airline will offer a route between Lusaka and the South African megalopolis, via Livingstone.
The route will be offered four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) in Dash8-400 aircraft.
Flight ZN403 will depart Lusaka at 9:05am, landing in Livingstone at 10:20am before continuing to Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport where it is expected to arrive at 1:05pm local time. In the opposite direction, flight ZN402 will leave South African soil at 13:45, land in Livingstone at 15:45, depart from there at 16:30 and land in the Zambian capital at 17:35, Aeroroutes reports.
Zambia Airways competes with Proflight Zambia on the Lusaka-Livingstone segment, and will compete with South Africa's Airlink on the Livingstone-Johannesburg leg. Zambia Airways' development plan includes opening a route to Harare in Zimbabwe by the end of the year. Its current operations are limited to the domestic market with services to Lusaka (its base), Livingstone, Ndola and Solwezi. On the fleet side, it also plans to introduce two more aircraft, a second Dash8-400 and a Boeing 737-800 (all leased from Ethiopian Airlines). The company aims to have a fleet of 12 aircraft by 2028.
