Zimbabwe's aviation industry is flying high. But the national airline, Air Zimbabwe, which is reportedly bleeding about $3-million (about R42-million) a month in losses, is yet to take off and enjoy the boom. Instead, foreign airlines such as SAA, its SA Airlink unit, British Airways, Fastjet, Emirates, Kenyan Airways, Ethiopian Airways and Air Namibia have cashed in on the growth opportunities offered by Harare's open-skies policy. The policy is a push by the government of President Robert Mugabe to allow new players into the aviation market. Economic observers have, however, warned that while the policy would boost foreign airlines' presence, it would ultimately sink the ailing national carrier. Air Zimbabwe enjoys a monopoly on all domestic routes: Harare-Bulawayo, Harare-Victoria Falls, Harare-Kariba, Bulawayo-Victoria Falls. But on regional routes - Harare-Johannesburg, Johannesburg-Victoria Falls, Bulawayo-Johannesburg, Air Zimbabwe is getting a run for its money. Now the dist...
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