Bombardier confirms Air Zim talks

via Bombardier confirms Air Zim talks 5 November 2014

AIR Zimbabwe is set to acquire a new fleet from a Canadian aviation company, NewZimbabwe.com heard this week

If the deal sails through Air Zimbabwe will be home to modern low-cost jets known as Bombardier Q400.

“We have seen that Zimbabwe is a market full of opportunities and we hope that if we manage to strike a deal with Air Zimbabwe we will be able to supply and introduce the latest technology in this market,” said Bombardier sales director for Africa and Middle East, Sameer Adam.

The Bombardier, previously known as the de Havilland Canada Dash 8 or DHC-8, is a series of twin-engined, medium range, turboprop airliners.

Over 1,000 Dash 8s of all models have been built, with Bombardier forecasting a total production run of 1,192 aircraft of all variants by 2016.

Bombardier’s turboprop Q400 has 67 seats and boasts of an active noise cancellation system. The aircraft has significantly lower operating costs compared to other planes.

“With this jet-like performance, the Q400 may be treated as a jet, preventing airport congestion normally attributed to the lack of understanding of a turboprop’s performance by air traffic controllers,” Adam said.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Obert Mpofu said he hoped the negotiations would bear fruit.

“Air Zimbabwe must take advantage of new technology being offered by Bombardier and select the most suitable aircraft for the local environment.

Air Zimbabwe acting chief executive Edmund Makona said the airline is continually looking for opportunities to improve the existing fleet.

“Most airlines in Africa are using aircraft that is not suitable for their routes. We want to avoid such a scenario, that’s why we are negotiating with various aircraft suppliers,” said Makona adding that Air Zimbabwe “is currently looking for two suitable aircraft to service the domestic and thin regional routes”.