British Airways, operated by Comair has resumed flights into Zimbabwe, touching down in Harare on Sunday afternoon, March 28.
The airline, which suspended regional flights last year, will initially fly into Harare from Johannesburg daily at 11h30, with a return flight at 13h45. After May 12 the times change to 07h00, with the return flight scheduled for 09h15.
The arrival of the 737 at 13h00 marked the beginning of the airline’s staggered reopening of its larger regional network. The lucrative Victoria Falls routing is next; a skeleton Johannesburg-Victoria Falls service will be operational from May 13 (Thursdays and Sundays), before moving to daily flights from June 1.
The introduction of Harare and then Victoria Fall as a strategy hopes to attract regional visitors ahead of global guests. The airline is offering special fares, including discounted add-on fares, to stimulate travel. The add-ons apply to all British Airways operated by Comair domestic cities including Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha.
Relatively straightforward Zimbabwean Covid test regulations may help stimulate travel; South Africans need only produce a negative test, obtained 48 hours before travel. The town of Victoria Falls has also been a vaccination hotspot, with the Zimbabwean government announcing last week it was in the process of inoculating the entire community.
Further regional Comair route openings will be announced in due course.
For bookings, visit their website here.
By Peter Frost
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Picture: Supplied
