Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga has lamented the withdrawal of Royal Dutch Airlines KLM from servicing the Lusaka route.
Mr. Mukanga has told Qfm news in an interview that government would like to see such international airlines continue operating in the country.
He however says the gaps left by the pulling out of the two international airlines will be filled once the country’s new national airline is rolled out.
Mr. Mukanga says this is especially that once the national airline is rolled out it will not only operate within the region but beyond.
He says what is holding back the rolling out of the national airline is Cabinet approval.
KLM has announced that it will stop offering direct flights to and from Zambia from 28th October, 2014 barely 22 months after it started servicing the route.
The airline becomes the second international airline to pull out from Zambia following the withdrawal of British Airways.
It is understandable that KLM withdraws.
It is like fishermen from Lake Bangweulu pull out their nets, that the fish are no longer excited. And the Mukanga says, its ok we will buy new nets once Ba Sata feels better. But Nostradamus says “Sumbu lyandi lala tumone imipaile ya bakaya”.
That direct KLM flight from Amsterdam was the most convenient after BA left. This makes bad readings.Not looking forward to spending 16-20 hours to arrive in Zambia
@ Saulosi
You can always ask for free ride in Challenger.
After all your efforts, that is least that your Boss can do for you!!!
Well, with the likes of Emirates and other Gulf-based airlines very few airlines stand a chance. Even our own national airline will be launched in a cloud of uncertainty especially if we add the behavior that BP perpetuated of lifting local fuel that is usually most expensive in the region. I hope we will launch this airline with lessons learned in hindsight. Otherwise it is an exercise in total futility…
Yes the Middle-Eastern airlines still service us and KLM can not compete with them…they enjoy unrestricted night flying to their base in Dubai and enjoy tax free fuel from their governments. Why our govt would want to waste taxpayers funds to create an airline is beggar’s belief….maybe its easier for them to steal money this way or employ cadres to run the company.
They seem to have money for pointless ventures BUT don’t money for people driven constitution.
kabaleya.. Now we can develop our own that will keep the profits in the country. I mean why cry when the guy who has been fishing your lake decides to go? Find your own net and fish and keep the fish. Kabiyeni
Which profits? Who do you think is going to pay for the aircrafts?You think running an airline is like operating a taxi business.
South African Airways is struggling to stay afloat. There is always a new CEO and a new initiative to pump in extra money by the governement to keep it running. A national airline for a corrupt system like ours, unless ran well, will end up becoming a national liability.
its a great opportunity for Zambia to unleash its own airline! why cry?
What opportunity is that? What opportunity is that ? …where is your critical thinking…you honestly think that KLM would have pulled out if there was business. The only opportunity here is for our regional airlines like PROFLIGHT to fill up the void and assist in connecting to Nairobi KLM base.
Wake up and do not be lazy like the empty tins in cabinet and State House!!
Jay Jay
Most likely you have not been home in a long time.WAKE UP and TRAVEL. The
proflight you are talking about are so unreliable jump on them at your own peril.
Please stick to the subject at hand there is time for everything….Proflight is merely given as an example of a regional airline…this is an opportunity for them to partner with Kenya/KLM to act as a connecting airline to Nairobi.The more business they have the more the are able to attract investment for captial injection and work to correct their flaws.
This is a strategy move by KLM though as they will only be focusing on their connecting major bases like Nairobi as Kenya Airways will fill up the void…remember that Kenya Airways had placed an order for more than a dozen Embraer mid-range aircraft suited for regional travel.
Every airline is struggling ,so do we stop because our neighbours have failed? There is no competition at the moment in Zambia especially after BA left so we need an Airline ASAP.
If KLM pull out ,it does not necessarily mean there is no business,maybe their strategy has changed, maybe they want to take their money elsewhere they have seen an opportunity to make more money .
If KLM and BA pull out then alarm bells should be ringing but everyone knows that the Zambian market is not big enough to sustain direct flights. Remember KLM holds about 26% shares in Kenyan Airlines its better for them to let KA fill that void by connecting passengers to its regional base in Nairobi.
This is simple and straight forward wise strategic decision by KLM there is no point going head to head with the likes of Emirates and reduce their bottom line on a non profit route to KK International Airport.
The Zambian government is not doing enough to attract tourists to Zambia and a national airline DOES NOT increase tourism if you LAMENTABLY FAILED to attract them with foreign airlines how do you expect to attract them with your own.
Jay jay
I understand you, but tourists are not the only stakeholders , what about you and me, instead of giving pounds/ dollars to a KLM , would rather give it to Sata Airways so to improve my economy, besides government employers are another stakeholder that gives lots of money to other airlines, parastatal bosses all fly first class everyday, so my point is if all that money is put in our airline with proper people in charge like you, its good for us.
Your fear is misuse by politicians , meausures could be put in place to curb that.You need to take risks, most businesses that are making it failed at one time.So lets look at what led to Zambian airways fall and bring Airline , why not?
What is lacking in Zambia is critical & strategic thinking. We make a roadblock before even the road is built. Strategic thinking will tell you that success does not come easily and that opportunities usually hide behind difficulties. thus you have to invest your time in critical business analysis and planning; meaning learning from your past failures and adopting strategies that have made other airlines prosperous. its not easy, but there is where opportunity lies!
What is the progress on the National Carrier kabili? What are the revised time lines for its launch since 30 June 2014 mwatulaile has passed?
@Ligwinya:
Don’t believe what these guys say. Ni bakabepa bwiminine(they tell lies every time), bamulala panaka(they sleep on comfy beds), ba mwenda bwikele(They are always driving, and never ever walk like many of us), bamwenda namitonkolo(move with tooth picks) because they eat meat every time, all at the expense of tax payers.
Katele is behind the new airline with his little “Computer!” Flies at the speed of light & ONLY at night!!
The minister says only cabinet approval is holding back the roll out of a national airline. Since this reason has been given so many times, is he saying or confirming that cabinet has not met in a long time now? Given the current situation the minister must choose his statements carefully lest he be misunderstood ka.
“He however says the gaps left by the pulling out of the two international airlines will be filled once the country’s new national airline is rolled out.”
Skin cringing indeed…This is the blind folly being exhibited here by this empty tin Yamfwa Mukanga, CAN HE NOT read the DANGER SIGNS by this pull out from KLM….how thick can someone be….why are you people hell bent to create an AIRLINE? Why not invest the monies in front-line services like health care, isn’t he embarrassed for one that his sickly frail boss had to fly all the way to RSA to visit his injured son.
Has he even for once wondered why KLM has pulled out…would they have pulled out if there was overwhelming business?
Yamfwa Mukanga WAKE UP AND LEAVE OUR MONEY ALONE!!
Lets have our own.Nabaleya aba bakapala.Hello Zambia airways !!!
Don’t be simple minded like a Zambian Politician who only knows how to throw taxpayer’s funds at everything…is the country not being serviced at the moment? Have you sat down and to evaluated the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in creation of a NATIONAL AIRLINE? If you did this topic would feature in the news.
WAKE UP!!
You are a just a ka negative person kamambala iwe ka Jay Jay.I knew that you will comment here.Basopo iwe.
A cabinet approval is what is holding up the Airline roll out. Seriously is this how little this donkey thinks of us Zambian, we should believe such crap.
Well, you did believe 90 days crap in 2011
This is one of the few good decisions PF has made so far, the establishment of new airline for Zambia. Others were: Taking over of Zambia rails; rebasing of the kwacha, refurbishment of Livingstone and Lusaka air ports and repair of Livingstone roads. THAT IS ALL! Everything is below par
How is it a good decision?
It is better to investigate and find out why they have chosen to withdraw , when I was doing business I learnt that when my prices were cheap I had a lot of customers , but when some one some where was cheaper, I found that I lost all my customers . Zambia needs to learn some thing from this
THERE’S NO WAY ZAMBIA WILL CONTINUE DEPENDING ON OTHER COUNTRIES’ RESOURCES AND SERVICES. ZAMBIA HAS TO COME UP WITH AN AIRLINE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. JUST SAYING WE ARE REVIVING ZAMBIA AIRWAYS WILL NOT CUT AT ALL. ACT NOW, OR ELSE WE WILL ALWAYS GET SABOTAGED BY OTHER COUNTRIES. THESE ARE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND THEY LISTEN TO EACH OTHER. HAVING OUR OWN AIRLINE CAN MAKE US OPERATE DIRECT FLIGHTS TO CHINA, USA, SOUTH KOREA, SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHER DESTINATIONS WITH POTENTIAL TO EXPEDITE OUR TOURISM AND OTHER BUSINESSES.
Please stop talking gibberish…would you yourself pay $600 dollars more to fly your selfsame national fly carrier over say Emirates or Turkish flight connecting? Nope.. you wouldn’t because its your hard-earned money BUT Yamfwa Mukanga, Old man Sata, his Cabinet colleagues and his family members will not have a problem with that in fact they will travel business class as YOU the taxpayer will be paying for that and even subsidising their cargo as well.
Zambia does not need an airline its NOT A PRIORITY.
This hasn’t taken long before on this blog some one said we don’t need our own airline , I said you cant depend on your neighbour to be taking your children to school by his car when you chose not to buy yours , prove me wrong now it has happened to us
Your point being what? Its still a wrong and utterly a wasteful idea which neighbour is it you are comparing to….South African Airlines is struggling, Air Zimbabwe is finished. Are we not serviced at the moment? Let’s be serious its no wonder you are building football stadia all over the country when you don’t have basic ICU facilities in major hospitals.
Give us five valid reasons why we need a National Airline…no hallucinations or nostalgia.
@Jay Jay guy is well informed and logical in his assessment of this cutthroat airline business.Lusaka is hardly an airline hub like Nairobi or Jo’burg and Mukanga is self delusional about starting a airline.
Improve your tourism sector and airlines will be fighting to fly to Zambia. The country is not projecting stability. When you hide a key decision maker in the country for an extended period of time, the situation causes uncertainty which in turn can lead to major businesses to pull out of a country. There is too much tension in the country and visitors are simply looking elsewhere.
@ JAY JAY ,
If SA is struggling, it does not mean that every airline will struggle. Tanzania, Malawi, Angola , Namibia , Botswana, are still flying to zed. KQ are flying to Lusaka twice in a day, to Ndola & Livingstone once in day. So why cant zambia operate it’s own airport ? Why are so negative about everything ?
SAA is not a private airline its a government state run airline and I tell you what if there was ever a buyer for it the RSA government wouldn’t hesitate one minute to get rid of it as its a liability.
Next is Air Tanzania which was privatized in 2002 with 51% govt shareholding co-partnered with your SAA, this marriage only lasted 4 years with losses of $19m prompting the gov’t to repossess the Tz airline over the years things have deteriorated so badly that market share has reduced from modest figures of 19% (2009) to a pantry shameful 0.4%…they can not even service their aircraft…last I heard gov’t was trying to shut it down and to cut their losses.
Next is Botswana Airlines is another loss making state entity although its rich government continues to pump in money to acquire new aircraft this airline has never recorded a profit its a liability.
Next on your list is Air Malawi, this was a state owned company which was liquidated in 2012 as a result of not paying its debts and now operates under a new company on a management contract with Ethiopian Airline which commenced operations this year and only operates as a small regional airline.
Next is Air Namibia fully owned by the government has retired most of its old fleet and only has new 10 aircrafts which the gov’t has had to take out huge loans to acquire them and operates under a codeshare agreement with Kenyan Airlines where two airlines share the same flight.
Now DO YOU NOT see a pattern emerging here…why on earth would someone risk poor taxpayer’s money a people who lack essential facilities in such a cut-throat sector…use your brains for once for critical analysis instead of looking for someone to praise you for nothing.
That Kenyan Airlines operates under a public-private partnership its investors will not seat back and watch gov’t (with about 29% holding) make reckless decisions or policies…moreover they have a management in place not cadres to make prudent decisions…even itself was last year contemplating where it was going to get funding for fuel for its ever expanding fleet.
WAKE UP!!
What a 50th anniversary of independence gift from KLM?
Actually these foreign airlines to Zambia are to a great extent sustained by the hated Zambians in the Diaspora.
Indeed and when we decide to say put as a result of political tension in the country, the Airlines pull out.
Peter well done, you noted correctly, how Europeans will always act together; and the effect of 2 airlines pulling out is causing some negative currents in our growing economy. If Zambia is one of the fastest growing economy and centrally placed geographically in the region why would KLM and BA pull out? Kenya is too volatile politically because of religious factions. We are the real deal, these euros want a better deal in comparison to Gulf and Emirates. I think most Zambians love the idea of Europeans sticking around for gravitas, but we can find our own way. A national airline is a matter of pride, as long as the gov’t don’t make the same mistakes that lead to Zambia airways folding.
A matter for national pride more like misplaced pride and nostalgia…how dare you talk of pride when you have uncollected stinking filth and garbage on every street corner in the city center? How can you talk of pride when our country has the highest number of medical tourist travelling to RSA? How dare you talk of pride when our women are giving birth on hospital floors due to limited number of beds.
Like it or not the behaviour of our government is actually helping the countries competitors on all fronts. The situation in Zambia is just as volotile as Kenya, Zimbabwe or Nigeria. We don’t have a clear roadmap and therefore predicting what will come next is almost impossible for the neutrals. What is being missed out here is that the government is trying to enter a partnership with an experienced carrier to partner with government. This will ensure that government interferance is kept at a minimum. A bit like the mines. This is a good thing but we also need to look at the overall health of our economy. Solid structures attract long term investments. If an airline deal was done today and tomorrow you anounce a presidential bye election, How does this impact the investor?
i totally agree with
@ JAY JAY
on this one he has talked sense for once he knows wat he is talking about
not u fake (INGINEER AUSTRALIA)since wen did u last visited home?
Jay Jay, please take your o?n advice and stick to the subject matter in the article. If everyone just agreed with you that would make you the dictator you accuse Sata of being. People should have national pride in the decisions taken to improve the. Country. We understand your very erudite argument, but being the biggest bully in the playground does not mean you are looking at other possibilities. Just to point out, even in the UK people suffer a poor hospital service. People wait on Trolleys in corridors for hours because of. Bed shortages. Doctors and nurses lose jobs. Rubbish is not collected and can be as bad. HOWEVER, ask a Briton if they are ashamed of their country and they will tell you point blank…best country in the world. They are proud of their institutions.
So where do you think the funding for this selfsame pointless “loss making” national airline is going to come from… …its from the taxpayers, the selfsame money that should have gone to the facilities and services I just mentioned.
Utter rubbish where in the UK do people suffer poor service let’s be serious here, you can not compare an NHS trust hospital to UTH….Why is it that you do not want to hear the truth..the TRUTH IS THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR A NATIONAL AIRLINE.
There is no statistical fact anywhere that states that having a national airline increases a country’s traffic numbers unless TICKETS ARE HEAVILYSUBSIDIZED.
@ Patriot Abroad
Firstly, you are not a Patriot but a Jerk Abroad. Do you know why? Because you are talking absolute crap. What you know about airline business? Nothing, 0%!!!
Secondly, if is so bad in Britain, come to “paradise” in Zambia and enjoy (if you can) benefits of Zambian workers social security, unemployment benefits, universal medical care, pension, freedom to demonstrate and hundreds more legal entitlements.
Jay Jay Relativity. NHS is not able to provide the fabled service you allude to. In fact there is a crisis currently in NHS and there is nothing to dispute here. It’s a fact, period. New changes to hospital referral systems has left millions struggling to get proper care. Ask the average UK resident and they will tell you so. Why compare Zambia to UK. Daft. I had a suspected stroke April 2013, (which turned out to be eardrum damage) to this day I am still waiting for a referral to a Dizziness clinic. WHERE is the money coming from expect the gov’t knows! In any case your argument is that a private run or combination stat and private HAS been proven to be a successful mix in the airlines you researched. So perhaps we can stop being so belligerent and be more problem solving.
@ Jerk Abroad
When did last time woman delivered baby in the corridor of any HNS hospital?
Stop crapping. You sound *****ic.
Just to add, that Sata’s gov’t has openly and widely encouraged foreign investment, but we have noted failure in proper control of these investors, such as Vedanta. We can’t depend on foreign business to run our economy, because they will and can pull out if business environment not conducive to profits. You don’t sound like you like Zambia much? Just banging on about how daft our gov’t is does not resolve those issues. It’s not just hospitals that need funding. There has to be a balance.
Patriotism isn’t about blind devoted love, misguided support, and defense of one’s country; national loyalty…its also about pointing out the flaws. Have you not seen the Auditors General report? Who has been arrested after that report was published?
Wake up!!
@ Jay Jay
How you have patience to explain to Jerk Abroad difference between left and right?
Men en women b serious here. emirates makes more money from China 2 dubai. From dubai to lusaka a plane is almost empty. will it b political if they pull out?. even u people commenting here u have never flown or u do that once a while. Think twice b4 u open your mouth other wise if stammering is not yo natural problem u wanna find that u wanna b opening yo mouth en start lying
Correct observation Dobo man. What if emirates/Gulf Airlines pull out of Zambia route, where are we going to be? By your observation, even those still flying to zed face profit issues. Is it better to ‘Collaborate’ with SA or other regional countries? We still need to finance our end, which will be criticised whichever way. This probably, explains why gov’t are still considering this.
@Patriot Abroad
KK International Airport is a very SMALL airport even to African standards it does not feature among the TOP 20 busiest International Airports in Africa…when we talk of Oliver Tambo International Airport in RSA and Cairo International Airport these are huge airports handling close to 19 million passengers a year, our Airport can barely handle quarter that a year.
It is not just feasible to create a national airline its outdated idea and the climate is not right…if you are unable to understand this simple fact then you are just as good as being among those empty tins in Zambian cabinet.
OK, LETS NOT HAVE AN AIRLINE. But please don’t tell us you understand what patriotism is. Instead tell us how Zambians will travel when all airlines stop coming to Zambia, because of small airports, empty tins etc. your argument is perfectly illogical. The article reveals that 2 major airlines have closed their route to Zambia, not profitable route. SA airline….blah blah, Kenya airline. Doh…er is there any airline you’re not down on? You are just arguing for the sake of it. Being a patriot is not about being critical of your gov’t for the sake of it! loud, abusive and an empty argument without any solutions, all tied up with completely irrelevant pompous information, which has no solutions! Gov’t are STILL thinking about it, not decided yet! CHILL.
Airlines will always connect to Lusaka…Lusaka is like saythe town of Katete on the Great East Rd in Eastern Province, though small, bus drivers will always stop to pick up 3-4 passengers en-route to Chipata or Lusaka.
One of the publicized reasons for shutting down Zambia Airways was that it was being used by employees and their relatives. Another reason given was that the money saved would be used to improve other sectors of the economy such as healthcare and education. My question to the proponents of an airline is, have these sectors improved since December 1994 when Zambia Airways was liquidated? Airline business is not as simple as gossip mills and suspected “relatives” which most of you use in your cheap arguments whenever you decide not to analyze matters. We warned the ’94 govt that they would regret their move if they did not think it through. Jay Jay is right in his analysis that we do not need an airline. Certainly not with such feeble managers at the political helm.
consult honorable Katele Kalumba en Chiwe Mpala engineers for they have tried before.
Private partnership in the aviation industry is the future. Most major airlines do this to save costs and access markets with a shared cost. When the now defunct Zambia Airways was in trouble, this option would have save the airline from collapsing. I recall, Kenya airways was having similar problems but quickly restructured and partnered with KLM. Zambia Airways was in a much better position at the time but unfortunately the government at that time had other ideas. In my opinion, only Levy and RB understood the concerpt of mixed economies. I wasn’t a fan of RB’s extravagant ways but small businesses flourished under him and the country attracted huge investment in most sectors. The sad thing is that all these things have turned into political gimmicks and slowing down real development.
Have faith, this is a working govt, something will be worked out between these major airlines, I’m certain in quite soon a time British Airways will indeed resume flights here, problem I believe is the high cost for them to use our KK airport compared to our neighbouring countries and this is where we need to put things in place, people (the same ones who were in the previous Rupiah Govt) in certain positions continue to personally benefit from the high costs with regard to fuel costs in Zambia. This is now the cost we are all having to suffer from but those geniune people in govt I’m sure will act accordingly to arrest this situation.