A HUNDRED Air Zimbabwe passengers were stranded in London after the airline cancelled its scheduled Thursday flight and a rescheduled Friday flight to Zimbabwe due to a strike by pilots and cabin crew over pay.
In Zimbabwe, 190 more passengers who should have flown to London on a morning flight Wednesday were also desperately awaiting news on negotiations between the state-owned airline’s bosses and workers’ representatives to end the strike.
Air Zimbabwe CEO Peter Chikumba said Thursday night that talks were ongoing.
“We are still in negotiations and nothing has been resolved as yet and as soon as the discussions are complete the nation will be advised accordingly,” he said.
Chikumba said the dispute had been escalated to include the government, the main shareholder in Air Zimbabwe.
The airline operates a Boeing 767 to Harare from London every Thursday and Monday night, and from Harare to London every Wednesday and Sunday morning.
It also operates flights on regional routes, mainly between Johannesburg and Harare and between Bulawayo and Johannesburg. It also operates domestic flights between the two major cities and the Victoria Falls.
Air Zimbabwe says it needs US$750 million to renew its fleet and match regional competitors, but the government is reluctant to give up shareholding to private investors who can mobilise the needed finance.