KLM discontinued flights in 1999 citing a hostile operating environment.
The Managing Director and Executive Vice President of Air France KLM International and the Netherlands, Erik Varwijk, said the resumption of flights to Zimbabwe was part of the airline's efforts to strengthen its business in Africa.
KLM will be flying to Harare three times a week.
“KLM sees great growth opportunities in Africa and this year, we launched services to Luanda in Angola and Lusaka in Zambia. This new addition to our network strengthens our position in Africa,” he said.
Last year the airline launched its route to Kigali in Rwanda.
The airline joins a growing list of regional and global carriers returning to Zimbabwe after leaving the country in the last decade as political and economic conditions continued to deteriorate.
The resumption of services by KLM comes as Emirates, another international airline that started flights into the country in February, has increased its frequency from five times a week to daily, driven by the strong performance of the route.
Qatar Airways, a Middle East-based airline is also to spread its wings to the Zimbabwean skies soon.
Airlines are slowly moving in to fill the void left by Air Zimbabwe which has continued to be dogged by operational challenges due to mounting debts and poor governance, among various other factors.
Meanwhile, inconsistency in policy formulation and implementation has been cited as a major constraint to business growth in Zimbabwe.
The President of Business Council, George Guvamatanga, speaking at the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines launch said: “Policy inconsistency is an area that requires urgent attention. At the moment, we have conflicting pronouncements from different sectors of the government.
“Government needs to speak with one voice so that investors and entrepreneurs can make informed decisions. A concrete business policy is fundamental as it enables a health business environment,” he said.
He was alluding to the discord in the coalition government regarding policy matters.
For instance, the MDC side of government is opposed to the Zanu (PF)-initiated indigenisation drive that it says is driving away investors.
Among those that witnessed the launch were Tourism Minister, Walter Mzembi, Economic Planning Minister, Tapiwa Mashakada and the Dutch Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Barbra Joziasse.
Post published in: News