HARARE, Jun. 5 (NewsDay Live) — Air Zimbabwe’s planned return to the London route, widely regarded as the airline’s most lucrative international service and central to its revival strategy, is set to be facilitated by Spanish carrier Plus Ultra under a 13-month Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) lease agreement, according to reports published in Spain.
Under the arrangement, Plus Ultra will reportedly provide an Airbus A330 aircraft and operational support while Air Zimbabwe markets and sells tickets on the Harare–London service. The agreement would allow the national airline to resume direct flights to the United Kingdom after a hiatus of more than a decade.
The Harare–London route has long been viewed as Air Zimbabwe’s flagship international service, generating significant passenger and cargo revenue before its suspension in 2012. Mutapa Investment Fund chief executive John Mangudya has previously described the restoration of the route as a key pillar of efforts to turn around the struggling national carrier.
However, the reported partnership comes as Plus Ultra finds itself at the centre of a high-profile legal and political controversy in Spain.
Last month, former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was placed under criminal investigation over allegations linked to a €53 million Covid-era government bailout granted to Plus Ultra in 2021. Spanish prosecutors and investigators are examining whether influence-peddling, misuse of public funds and money-laundering offences were committed in connection with the rescue package. Zapatero has denied wrongdoing and insists he acted lawfully.
The investigation has drawn significant media attention in Spain because of allegations that the airline’s bailout was politically influenced and because of scrutiny over the carrier’s links to Venezuelan business interests. Plus Ultra has consistently maintained that the bailout was lawful and justified, while those under investigation deny any criminal conduct. No findings of guilt have been made by the courts.
The developments are likely to attract attention in Zimbabwe given the importance of the London route to Air Zimbabwe’s restructuring plans. Aviation industry observers say the success of the service could play a major role in restoring the airline’s international profile and generating badly needed foreign-currency earnings.
Air Zimbabwe has been targeting a return to London since the beginning of the year, with officials indicating that direct services could resume during 2026 using leased long-haul aircraft.
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Efforts by NewsDay Live to obtain comment from Air Zimbabwe and the Mutapa Investment Fund were unsuccessful. Officials contacted by the publication declined to comment on the reported ACMI agreement with Plus Ultra, saying it was premature..
