Emirates airlines said Wednesday it would introduce daily flights to Zimbabwe and Zambia in October in response to rising demand on the route.
The airline started flying the Dubai-Harare-Lusaka route in February this year, and currently operates flights five days a week.
Emirates Africa chief Jean Luc Grillet said market response on the route had been strong, prompting the planned introduction of daily flights from October.
Since February, the airline has carried more than 43,000 passengers on the route. Cargo volumes had also been strong.
“This latest boost to Emirates’ African network is testament to the continuous upward growth in demand for our flights to and from the continent.
“A daily service to Lusaka and Harare will mean greater choice for customers, while an increased cargo capacity of 40 percent will facilitate more export business opportunities for both countries, forcing greater trade links and increasing access to key trading partners in Asia and the Middle East,” he said.
Both Zambia and Zimbabwe have weak national airlines which only fly regional routes, leaving a vacum on international routes which big airlines such as Emirates have stepped in to service.
