South African Airways takes advantage of Air Zimbabwe chaos

South African Airways (SAA) are taking advantage of the chaos at Air Zimbabwe by adding an Airbus to the busy Harare-Johannesburg route.

The new aircraft has already made its maiden trip to Harare for reporters.

Other airlines are muscling in on what used to be Air Zimbabwe’s most profitable routes.

Emirates Airlines are advertising for staff for the Harare-Dubai route, which it would start flying in February 2012.

And now SAA has added an Airbus for more than 250 passengers on the Johannesburg to Harare route.

The 90 minute flight is one of the busiest and most expensive flights in sub-Saharan Africa.

Air Zimbabwe has been grounded in 2011 by strikes and maintenance problems, and reports on Tuesday said it has not yet managed to clear its $100 million debt.

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za