Zambian Airways

/Home/W-X-Y-Z Countries/Zambia (Country Code + 260)/Zambia Transportation/Zambia Airlines

As a scheduled airline, Zambian AirwaysÌ main line of business is the transportation of passengers and cargo by air. The company is the largest scheduled airline operating in the domestic market in Zambia. Zambian Airways operates 92 flights a week to 5 domestic destinations in Zambia and a further 45 flights a week to 3 international destinations in Tanzania, South Africa and the DRC. Zambian Airways caters to both the leisure market, where it is a major contributor to inbound tourism to Zambia, as well as the business market, where it provides vital trade links to neighbouring countries. In 2008 Zambian Airways will carry 250,000 passengers across it network

History and growth

Mines Air Services Limited (MAS) was incorporated in 1948 as a subsidiary of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM). As part of the process of privatisation of the mines MAS was disposed of by the Government of Zambia on 28 April 1998.

MAS purchased two new Beechcraft 1900D aircraft from Raytheon Credit Corporation (RCC) in July and August 1998 respectively. The company has been operating these two aircraft since then, under the trading name of Zambian Airways.

In 2003, when the current management was put in place the company had:
Ô 2 Aircraft
Ô 34 seats
Ô 5 routes
Ô 3000 passengers per month

Presently the company has added 2 Embraer 120, a Beechcraft 1900C and a Cessna Grand Caravan to its fleet, and makes use of an MD-82 and two Boeing 737-200 on a lease basis to service its Lusaka to Johannesburg route, resulting in:
Ô 7 Aircraft
Ô 242 seats
Ô 8 routes
Ô 8000 passengers per month



Nature of products

The company's main line of business is the transportation of passengers by air. The company is the main scheduled airline operating on the domestic market in Zambia. Amongst the local routes some are predominantly seasonal tourist routes such as Lower Zambezi, Livingstone and Mfuwe, while others are year round business routes such as Ndola, Chipata and Harare. The company has also recently launched a low fare no frills brand on the route between Lusaka and Johannesburg, and this has been enthusiastically received by the market.



Customer markets

The company's main customer base is in Zambia and the surrounding region, and comprises local businessmen, government, leisure travellers and most recently, traders travelling between Lusaka and Johannesburg. The overseas tourist market is a significant seasonal market which delivers high yields per seat.



Current position

Zambian Airways has over the past 3 years moved to implement Step 1, and has established itself as the major domestic carrier in the country, with over 90% of the scheduled air service market. It has also consolidated its position regionally as the carrier of choice between Harare and Lusaka.

More recently, the company has established a low cost service into Johannesburg which has proved overwhelmingly popular with the Zambian travelling public. This route is the first, and fundamental development in establishing Step 2.