Flights between South Africa and Zimbabwe should become much more affordable as of 2 November 2012. You can thank the joint agreement between South African low-cost airline, 1time Airline, and Zimbabwean registered airline, Fresh Air.
Fresh Air’s first flight will depart from OR Tambo International Airport and make its way directly to Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe. The joint venture entitles the Fresh Air route to utilise 1time’s fleet of aircraft and the new route between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls will replace 1time’s current flight between Johannesburg and Livingstone. These flights will be scheduled for Mondays and Fridays at 10:40 as well as Sundays at 10:20.
Blacky Komani, CEO of 1time Airline says that the route introduction comes at an opportune time for Fresh Air due to the upcoming holiday peak season.
“As South Africa’s busiest holiday season dawns upon us, we have no doubt that our joint venture with Fresh Air will be anything other than successful. We also believe that Zimbabwe will benefit by the introduction of a low cost carrier to help stimulate tourism as well as business trade between the two countries,” says Komani.
You might be wondering how this fits in with the file for Business Rescue from 1time, but Komani says that the joint venture began before the airline made this decision and that no additional costs will be incurred as ‘Fresh Air’s schedule to Victoria Falls is not an additional route, but rather a route swop between partners as it is replacing 1time’s Livingstone flights.’
According to a report on News24, Chakanyuka Karase, CEO of Fresh Air said that Fresh Air’s entry into the market and their partnership with 1time will stimulate domestic and regional air travel ahead of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) general assembly for Zimbabwe and Zambia in 2013.
‘The entry of a low-cost carrier in Zimbabwe has great potential, and we are proud to have launched into this partnership with 1time, who already has palpable successes in the no-frills market. We have absolutely no doubt that this business model will succeed as it is exactly what our emerging economy needs to maintain sustainability, and is an efficient way to connect families, businesses and tourist destinations.”
Check out Getaway Adventures for a range of great Victoria Falls packages and tours.
Before you book, check out this cool time lapse of a sunrise over the Victoria Falls.
