Airports Company of Zimbabwe profile
THE Airports Company of Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd (ACZ) was established in 2018 through an Act of Parliament — The Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2018 (No. 10 of 2018). It came as a product of the unbundling of Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe to improve operational efficiency and comply with international best practice of separating the regulatory functions and operations.
ACZ is mandated to:
● To acquire, establish, develop, maintain, manage, control and operate airports in Zimbabwe,
● To operate as a full commercial entity putting more focus on business development and commercial activities,
● To manage all airport concessions and contracts thereof (real estate, car park, security, cleaning and handling of passengers, baggage, cargo and freighting at international and domestic terminals).
● Develop route networks that utilize national airports through various route development initiatives and collaboratively participate in destination marketing initiatives by the trade and tourism industry.
● To develop identified airport infrastructure to become a regional air transportation, cargo and passenger hubs, and support airline hub operations,
● To provide safety and security measures for the handling of passengers, baggage, cargo and aircraft together with the personnel requisite thereto, in accordance with local and international standards and recommended best practices and procedures.
● Infrastructural development — there is continuous upgrading of airports and equipment thereof.
● Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport terminal building upgrade project; ACZ embarked on a RG Mugabe Airport rehabilitation and expansion project.
The project is now more than 70% complete and is expected to be complete by mid-2023. The state of the art facility will compete regionally.
● Buffalo Range international airport runway rehabilitation project was completed in 2021 after Buffalo Range Airport’s terminal building was rehabilitated in 2016 through a private public partnership arrangement.
● Charles Prince Airport work is in progress for the construction ICT recovery room and offices.
● Business development — As a result of
improved international relations and all-inclusive participation in the attainment of the mantra Zimbabwe is open for business. Airports Company of Zimbabwe embarked on a business development drive by luring new airlines.
● Qatar Airways launched its services from Doha into Harare August 6, 2021
● Eurowings Discover launched its Frankfurt-Vic Falls service from March 30, 2022
● MackAir launched Kasane-Vic Falls effective May 1, 2021
● LAM resumed Maputo-Harare December 20, 2021
● Kuva a Zimbabwean airline from April 30, 2022, launched domestic services to Bulawayo and Victoria Falls from Harare as evident of the open skies policy and ease of doing business.
● More existing airlines are increasing their frequencies as well as opening up new routes, Airlink recently introduced DurbanHarare, simultaneously Fastjet introduced Kruger Mpumalanga-Victoria Falls.
● Ethiopian Airlines launched services to Bulawayo effective October 30, 2022.