Zambia’s Airports Need a National Airline.

by Harrison M. Musonda

Watching the last of the former Zambia Airways Corporation planes take off and soar into the Zambian airspace for the last time over the eastern skies after it took off from Lusaka International Airport was the most painful experience that those who has watched the same aircraft take off and land many a time at the same airport. The aircraft was the B737-200, formerly registered as 9J-AEG famously known among the airline staff Echo Golf. Aircraft Engineer Mr Jacob Chisela had been temporarily retained by the liquidators to prepare the aircraft for hand over to the purchasers from Brazil.

At exactly 10:45 hrs Zambia time, the aircraft 9J-AEG was choked off and began taxing for takeoff. All former Zambia Airways staff present at the airport that day came out and stood on the ramp and others on the balcony of the airport as the Brazilian cockpit crew slowly taxied the former 9J-AEG in a VVIP send off format. As the Captain ran the engines to prepare for the last time to taxi on the Zambian soil, some engineers who had spent years working on this bird assembled at line maintenance office, some with their hands on their heads in total shock. Turning to Mr Chisela, it was not only shocking to see tears rolling down his cheeks, but everyone present was grief stricken as though awaiting to see off a dear relative. Funny as it may sound, that was the last time that an aircraft painted in Zambian colours flew out of Lusaka International Airports and since then the aviation industry has never been the same.

Although a number of airlines have since been registered and operated in Zambia with the hope of filling the void left by Zambia Airways, none have grown to the magnitude of Zambia Airways. Among the airlines that have tried to fill the void left by Zambia Airways are Zambian Express, Aero Zambia, Zambia Airlines, Zambezi Airways, Zambia Skyways, Africa One Zambia, Stabo Air, and Pro Flight the only airline that seem to have survived the ten-year benchmark of formidable operations.

According to the 2014 Progetti S.P.A report largely sponsored by the European Union to study Mid-term Review of Aviation Sector Support Programme in Zambia, there were 17 domestic aviation companies operating in Zambia at the report was published. The researchers studied among other things the potential for aviation growth in Zambia. However, this report does not recommend for the formation of a national airline. Rather, it specifically points to areas where European carriers who operate into Kenneth Kaunda International Airport would benefit such as aviation safety, aircraft maintenance, and workforce training, and not for any physical infrastructure development. The report further indicated that an amount 519 million Euro was earmarked for this project over a five year period starting in 2015. At the time of this study, the European Union had banned all Zambian registered planes from flying into the European Union, a ban that they only lifted in June 2016.

Zambia is ripe for the formation of an airline as it is part of national identity and pride. A flag carrier instils a sense of pride when its tail is spotted on the runway of a far-off land; when it brings home the winning team or when it flies out to evacuate citizens stranded in a conflict or disaster zones. Surrounded by eight countries with good proximity to one of Africa’s busiest airport the, Oliver Tambo Internationa Airport in South Africa, the country has the potential of becoming a feeder hub to other countries. During President Lungu’s three-day visit to France in February 2016, French President Francois Hollande promised to help with the formation of the national airline. Presidential Press Secretary Amos Chanda speaking on behalf of President Lungu quoted French President having said that, the French aircraft manufacturer Airbus, will help train Zambian pilots, provide technical support and supply aircraft for the new airline.”

The pronouncement of forming a national airline by the government is not a new one. There have been several ministerial statements made by Ministers as the country awaits the Zambian eagle to soar the Zambian skies again. In January 2014 the then Minister of Transport Mukanga Yamfwa said there would be a national airline by the end of the year. In June 2015, Mukanga Yamfwa was again quoted saying Zambia will have a national airline by 2018. In October 2016 the Times of Zambia quoted government spokesman Dr Chishimba Kambwili as having said, “we are talking to suppliers of the aeroplanes on the purchase of aeroplanes as reflected in the 2016 budget so that by the end of next year, the company is fully operational.” It is the hope of aviation enthusiasts and the flying public in Zambia that the government will give the formation of Zambia Airways priority as it formulates policies on the growth of tourism and air transport in the country. With elections gone past, the country awaits this to come to fruition, but all this will on whether an airline is more of a need to the nation.

So far the government has invested millions of dollars in building modern airports and modernization the old ones. It will be a disservice to the aviation industry if the government can invest in multi-million dollar infrastructures but fail to support these airports with a national airline. The pride of any modern airport of a country is to have a flag carrier of the country use the home airport as its base. The modern terminals at Kenneth Kaunda, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe airports will have to generate revenue to offset money invested in building refurbishing them. Return on Investment at these airports and all others that have had a facelift will only be realised with increased traffic, both cargo and passenger. The increase of traffic will require extra effort of marketing Zambia as the ultimate tourist destination in Southern Africa. It will require a concerted effort to increase cargo exports of non-traditional products that will generate high revenue for the aviation industry. The generation of revenue will not only be good for Zambia but for the airports’ holding company National Airports.

If National Airports Corporation, won’t realise the projected revenue from these airports within the first ten years of operations once completed, there is a danger of the multimillion dollar projects becoming white elephants and financial burdens to the tax payers. Now is the time to put up a survival plan of how these infrastructures will be put to good use with less financial burden on the taxpayers. Lack of traffic may lead to severe consequences as witnessed in other countries. For example, in April 2012 Cuidad Real International Airport built at the cost of 1,1 billion Euros closed after just three of operating. It opened to international flights in 2010 but went bankrupt and closed in 2012 after it failed to attract interest from airlines. Lodz Airport in Poland was given a facelift but has failed to attract passengers as it’s located just a 50-minute drive away from Warsaw, the country’s largest airport Lodz opened in 2012. In March 2014 Reuters reported that of the 22 airports that offer international flights to Germany, only six are profitable, according to information from German airports association ADV. Kassel-Calden Airport, built about 200 kilometres (124 miles) north of Frankfurt at a cost of 270 million euros ($371 million), made headlines when it had to cancel its first flight due to a lack of bookings and served fewer than 50,000 passengers in 2013, less than half its goal. These are just a few examples of how airports can be unprofitable and a national burden if under utilised. These examples of underutilised airports are the reasons why the modern airports being built in Zambia need to be supported by marketing Zambia as a future hub and the home base for a Zambian national airline.

Zambia still has technocrats in the aviation industry waiting to work towards the formation of another national airline that will soar the Zambian skies. The question every aviation enthusiast is asking is, when will the government have the willpower to see the green, red, orange and black painted planes take off from our modern airports? The answer is, now is the time for a new Zambia Airways.

~~The author is a former airline employee who worked for Zambia Airways and Aero Zambia Ltd