I found this article on ZW news, I personally would think very hard about flying them.

http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=20443

Who has flown Air Zim? Can you offer any experiences on them?

I have flown Air Zim several times in-country and have not had any problems. However, with the state the country is currently in I think I'll walk. I imagine thier maintenance schedules are not the best in regards to spare parts etc.

the other concern is if you're even going to fly. we've been left at the airport more than once because uncle bob or one of his cohorts decided they needed the plane, so they just took it. that leaves a good story about when they did it at kariba. we were put up in a hotel & given supper. BUT the hotel had a bar. several of the passengers took advantage of this and ran up a hell of a bar bill. we were bused to harare the next day, but before leaving the hotel manager ran unto the buss rather breathless. He was looking for those people who ran up the bar bill because that wasn't to be on air zim. needless to say there were no volunteers

My family ( 5 pax ) and I flew Air Zim last October, Bulawayo to Jo'Burg. No problems at all.

The only difference with SAA was the colour of the crew, the chinese lettering on the plane and the fact it was a turbo prop and took longer than the SAA jet we caught on the way up.

It was also half the price of SAA. Our friends in Zim use Air Zim without problems on a regular basis.

They grounded all those Chinese turbo props a couple of years ago after a bunch of people got hurt in a hard landing. Guess they fixed the problem.

The 737 I flew in had a damaged flap (the right side didn't retract properly) and a small hole in the wing.

They call it ScareZim for a reason. Won't fly them again, try private charter next time.

John

I flew with Air Zim last October Jburg-Harare, and that was the only flight that was on schedule on my entire trip from Sweden , but i must say it was a VERY old plane, and warm drinks =). The price was ok - 900 rand to Harare.

Many years ago, I flew Air Zim from Joburg to Harare. In 39 years of traveling the world on at least two dozen air carriers, I have to say that the First Class food was the best food I ever had on an airline.

That was then and this is now. You couldn't pay me to get on Air Zim these days.

I would not walk under the wing of any of their air planes, too great of a chance for it to fall off!

In the mid 1990's they were ok, but I would not take a chance with them today.

I flew on them 3 years ago and the food was better than any american airline.

I am currently running a poll not far from this thread.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...01/showpollresults/Y

From 139 views there are 13 who have flown SAA and only 1 (me) who has flown Air Zimbabwe.

It would seem that not many people have flown internally on a public airline and I am the only one on the poll who has flown Air Zim.

I had no problems (last year with my family) at all. Form your own conclusions.

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
I am currently running a poll not far from this thread.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...01/showpollresults/Y

From 139 views there are 13 who have flown SAA and only 1 (me) who has flown Air Zimbabwe.

It would seem that not many people have flown internally on a public airline and I am the only one on the poll who has flown Air Zim.

I had no problems (last year with my family) at all. Form your own conclusions.

That poll seems to be closed.

Nope, still open. Two readers have voted for Egypt Air.

Know a couple of the first officers on the 767's - Ian Dudman and Gerald Chiweshe - both are happy with the general maintainance and safety of what they fly!

The 737's were the very last 737 300 ever made. they actually had to re-open the assembly line for the air Zimbabwe order (I think Gerald said it was 1987 but might have been '84) so they are not new planes!

However, having flown to the states twice on Delta using old 767's (same late 80's vintage as air Zim's 767's) and suffered 3 break downs in 4 flights in Dakar....

I guess on old planes there is always going to be some little glitch.

On a different note, the food on SAA to the states this year was worse than what they fed us at boarding school. Either I am getting old and forgetting just how appauling the food at plumbtree was, or the BE company now catering for SAA has reached new depths!

Heard that they are getting a new fleet of aircraft - they will be acquiring 42 of these aircraft.



Seriously never flown with them, but Ditto Ganyana, i went to boarding school in Bloemfontein and the food was better on a monday morning after the maitre'd had a heavy weekend

If you want some information about traveling in Zimbabwe, check out this link : http://www.africahunting.com/m...e=viewarticle&id=109

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Know a couple of the first officers on the 767's - Ian Dudman and Gerald Chiweshe - both are happy with the general maintainance and safety of what they fly!

The 737's were the very last 737 300 ever made. they actually had to re-open the assembly line for the air Zimbabwe order (I think Gerald said it was 1987 but might have been '84) so they are not new planes!

However, having flown to the states twice on Delta using old 767's (same late 80's vintage as air Zim's 767's) and suffered 3 break downs in 4 flights in Dakar....

I guess on old planes there is always going to be some little glitch.

On a different note, the food on SAA to the states this year was worse than what they fed us at boarding school. Either I am getting old and forgetting just how appauling the food at plumbtree was, or the BE company now catering for SAA has reached new depths!

From what several pilots have told me, Jetdriver chime in at any time, a boeing thats 25 years old is still fine as long as the maintenance is kept current, they still are safe and sound. I think Air Zim's problem may be maintenance. I truly hope they are current and fine. I would imagine that since the 67's are flown into the uk, they have to be tip top to be allowed to fly in whereas the 37's flown within the continent of africa re under differnt considerations. regardless, I truly hope air zim has the resources to keep their aircraft up to standard. it is my understanding that it was and still could be a fine airline.

Yeah,Rob, maintenance is the thing that worries me. Old airplanes well maintained can fly for almost indefinite periods, until their technology becomes obsolete. A good example are the DC-3's found around Africa with the South African turbine engine conversions. Many "3's" were built during the late 30's. They're still going strong.

Airplanes are obviously highly complex machines. Airlines operate aircraft under a Minimum Equipment List, which specifies what action the crew is to take should a component or multiple components fail. A "Go-No Go" list, if you will.

SAA's maintenance has deteriorated noticibly, to the extent that it took intense measures to bring themselves up to FAA certification standards, as has been previously discussed. Since around 50% of the world's airline fatalities occur in Africa, I am very reluctant to climb onto an African carrier, with the single exception of Ethiopian. Given the state of Zimbawe's current problems, it is naive to assume that their airplanes are being maintained to high standards. That's why I would forego flying them.

quote:

I flew on them 3 years ago and the food was better than any american airline.

This is really not difficult to provide better Foot IMO


Seloushunter

Something I found on another post about Zim...

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Zimbabwe's Civil Aviation Authority as not being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Zimbabwe's air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA's website.

Financially insolvent countries and governments are poor choices for air travel. Maintenance of an airplane requires a stable and financially strong company and government oversight.

Do you really want some unqualified person who was placed in a position of power because of skin color, not qualifications, to ensure the safe operation of your flight? Air fatalities in Africa are higher there for a good reason.

Everyone wants a cheaper flight but, at what price? My life is worth a few hundred extra dollars (or other hard currency of choice).