AIR Zimbabwe on Monday has failed to resume domestic flights due to staff strikes and mounting debts, company officials admitted.
Last Monday, the airline announced that it would resume flights between the capital Harare and the second city Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
The airline suspended all flights to South Africa and the United Kingdom in early January to avoid its planes from being impounded by increasingly frustrated creditors owed about US$140 million by the airline.
It suspended domestic flights in mid-January following a strike by employees who were demanding their salaries and allowances that have been outstanding since 2009.
Air Zimbabwe acting chief executive officer Innocent Mavhunga told NewZiana: "The company is addressing the issue as a matter of urgency.
“It is unfortunate for us as we could not manage to resume domestic flights Monday. We are in the process of discussions."
Despite the government and other organizations pumping in over US$31 million into its coffers in the past few years to revive its operations, the airline continues to face numerous challenges including an ageing fleet.
Mid last year the entire Air Zimbabwe fleet was grounded for 50 days following a pay dispute.
The country has over the years lost a significant number of tourists and business as a result of the airline's incompetence.
The airline has since 2010 been hit by strikes by pilots over outstanding salaries and allowances and has on several occasions failed to raise money for fuel and spares, leading to the suspension of flights.
Transport Minister Nicholas Goche recently said the government would take-over Air Zimbabwe’s debt but demanded that the airline cut staffing levels to reduce costs and return to viability.
“Air Zimbabwe has a bloated workforce of about 1,400 employees against an ageing equipment and operational assets,” Goche said in an interview with a privately-owned weekly newspaper.
The equipment is old and faces breakdown, revenue earned through this equipment does not match the expenditure levels of Air Zimbabwe.
“Therefore, there is a compelling need for retrenchment since Air Zimbabwe is always having a huge deficit.
“There is need for a retrenchment exercise, starting with those that have agreed to be retrenched.”