Air Zimbabwe has restored direct air connectivity between Harare and London Gatwick after a 14-year suspension, with the inaugural service UM724 departing Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on 24 July 2026 at 11:36 PM local time. The flight was operated by an Airbus A330-300 (A333) registered EC-ONX, wet-leased from SPANISH carrier Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas under a 13-month ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) agreement arranged by aviation leasing specialist Chapman Freeborn. The route, which had been discontinued in December 2011 after an Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767 was impounded at Gatwick over unpaid debts, resumes with a frequency of three weekly flights and marks a significant step in reconnecting ZIMBABWE with the UNITED KINGDOM. Under the arrangement, Air Zimbabwe retains commercial control, ticket sales and branding, while Plus Ultra operates the aircraft with its own crew and regulatory oversight, allowing the airline to serve the UK market despite remaining on the EU Air Safety List since 2017. The relaunch provides a direct link for ZIMBABWE’s large diaspora community, while supporting tourism, trade and business travel by eliminating the need for…
Go Premium
Unlock this trail with a 24-hour Routes & Connectivity pass, or subscribe for full access.
Subscribe to unlock full access to all premium content, including in-depth articles and weekly aviation industry insights.
- ✓Full access to all articles and weekly trails
- ✓Exclusive data analytics dashboards
- ✓Early access to new content
- ✓Priority support