Published: 13 July 2026
Last Updated: 13 July 2026
Air Zimbabwe Returns to London After More Than a Decade
Air Zimbabwe has officially confirmed the return of direct flights between London Gatwick (LGW) and Harare (HRE), with the inaugural service scheduled for 22 July 2026. The route marks the airline’s long-awaited return to the United Kingdom after more than a decade and restores a direct air link between London and Zimbabwe for the first time since the airline suspended its UK operations. According to our own booking checks on the Air Zimbabwe website, tickets are now available for purchase, confirming that the route is no longer just a proposal but a scheduled commercial service.
A Milestone for Zimbabwean Travellers
For thousands of Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom and Ireland, this is one of the biggest aviation announcements in years.
Until now, travelling to Zimbabwe has almost always involved a connection through cities such as:
- Dubai
- Doha
- Addis Ababa
- Nairobi
- Kigali
- Istanbul
A direct flight removes the inconvenience of long layovers, additional security checks, missed connections and extended journey times. Families travelling with children, elderly relatives and passengers carrying large amounts of luggage are likely to benefit the most.
Flight Schedule
Air Zimbabwe has confirmed that the service will initially operate three times per week.
| Route | Frequency |
|---|---|
| London Gatwick to Harare | 3 weekly (Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays) |
| Harare to London Gatwick | 3 weekly (Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays) |
As demand grows, the airline may consider increasing frequencies in the future.
Tickets Are Now On Sale
During our own checks, we successfully reached the booking stage on the Air Zimbabwe website, confirming that flights are now available for purchase. At the time of writing, Air Zimbabwe flights are not yet available through most major Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), meaning passengers may need to book directly with the airline or through selected travel agents until wider distribution becomes available.
Why London Gatwick?
Some travellers may wonder why Air Zimbabwe chose London Gatwick instead of Heathrow.
For many airlines, Gatwick offers:
- Lower airport operating costs
- Better slot availability
- Opportunities for future expansion
- Excellent rail connections into central London
For travellers living throughout southern England, Gatwick remains one of the UK’s easiest airports to access.
The Aircraft Operating the Route
One of the most interesting aspects of the new London service is the aircraft itself. Rather than operating its own long-haul aircraft, Air Zimbabwe is using an Airbus A330-300 supplied through Spanish carrier Plus Ultra under an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) arrangement. This allows Air Zimbabwe to restart long-haul services while benefiting from an established wide-body operation.
Which Plus Ultra Airbus A330-300 Could Operate Air Zimbabwe’s London Flights?
Plus Ultra has two Airbus A330-300 aircraft associated with its long-haul operations: EC-ONX and EC-OOI. Either aircraft could potentially be assigned to Air Zimbabwe’s London Gatwick-Harare service, although aircraft assignments may change for operational reasons.
Both aircraft have previously operated for other airlines and retain different cabin configurations, engine types and operating histories.
| Aircraft | MSN | Approximate age | Configuration | Engines | Reported status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EC-ONX | 769 | Approximately 20 years | C30Y272 | 2 x General Electric | Active |
| EC-OOI | 1289 | Approximately 14 years | C36Y263 | 2 x Rolls-Royce | Parked |
EC-ONX Aircraft History and Specifications
EC-ONX is an Airbus A330-300 currently operated by Plus Ultra. The aircraft has previously flown for China Airlines, GetJet Airlines, Airhub Airlines, Corendon Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Galistair Malta and LASER Airlines.
EC-ONX Aircraft Details
| Current registration | EC-ONX |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 769 |
| Aircraft type | Airbus A330-300 |
| Aircraft age | Approximately 20 years |
| Test registration | F-WWYS |
| Production site | Toulouse, France |
| Airframe status | Active |
| Current configuration | 30 Business Class seats and 272 Economy Class seats |
| Engines | Two General Electric engines |
| Hex code | 3483CB |
EC-ONX Operator History
| Registration | Airline or operator | Delivered | Configuration | Engines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-18312 | China Airlines | July 2006 | C30Y277 | 2 x GE | Entered service with China Airlines in 2006. It carried a 50th-anniversary sticker between July 2009 and October 2012 and was withdrawn from use in November 2018. |
| LY-LEO | GetJet Airlines | January 2019 | C30Y277, later converted to a preighter | 2 x GE | Delivered via Taipei, Seoul and Kaunas between 31 January and 1 February 2019. It was converted into a temporary passenger-freighter configuration in 2021 and withdrawn from use in February 2022. |
| 9H-LEON | Airhub Airlines | May 2022 | C30Y277 | 2 x GE | Joined Airhub Airlines after its period with GetJet. |
| 9H-LEON | Corendon Airlines | May 2022 | C30Y277 | 2 x GE | Operated for Corendon Airlines while leased from Airhub Airlines. |
| 9H-LEON | Airhub Airlines | September 2022 | C30Y277 | 2 x GE | Returned to Airhub Airlines following its Corendon operation. |
| 9H-LEON | Garuda Indonesia | May 2023 | C30Y277 | 2 x GE | Operated for Garuda Indonesia while leased from Airhub Airlines. |
| 9H-LEON | Airhub Airlines | August 2023 | C30Y277 | 2 x GE | Returned to Airhub Airlines after operating for Garuda Indonesia. |
| 9H-LEON | Galistair Malta | April 2024 | C30Y277 | 2 x GE | The aircraft was later stored at Madrid between 7 December 2024 and 11 July 2025. |
| EC-ONX | Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas | June 2025 | C30Y272 | 2 x GE | Joined Plus Ultra in 2025 and entered commercial service on 11 July 2025. |
| EC-ONX | LASER Airlines | August 2025 | C30Y272 | 2 x GE | Operated for LASER Airlines under a lease arrangement with Plus Ultra. |
| EC-ONX | Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas | November 2025 | C30Y272 | 2 x GE | Returned to Plus Ultra following its operation for LASER Airlines. |
What EC-ONX’s Cabin Configuration Means
The C30Y272 configuration indicates that EC-ONX has 30 Business Class seats and 272 Economy Class seats, giving it a total capacity of approximately 302 passengers.
EC-OOI Aircraft History and Specifications
EC-OOI is the newer of the two Airbus A330-300 aircraft. It was originally delivered to Thai Airways and later passed through ORIX Aviation before entering service with Iberojet and subsequently Plus Ultra.
EC-OOI Aircraft Details
| Current registration | EC-OOI |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 1289 |
| Aircraft type | Airbus A330-300 |
| Aircraft age | Approximately 14 years |
| Test registration | F-WWKP |
| Production site | Toulouse, France |
| Airframe status | Parked at the time of the latest recorded update |
| Current configuration | 36 Business Class seats and 263 Economy Class seats |
| Engines | Two Rolls-Royce engines |
| Hex code | 348390 |
EC-OOI Operator History
| Registration | Airline or owner | Delivered | Configuration | Engines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS-TBC | Thai Airways | February 2012 | C36Y263 | 2 x Rolls-Royce | Entered service with Thai Airways under the aircraft name Kanchanaburi. It was withdrawn from use on 19 February 2020. |
| 2-MAFS | ORIX Aviation | March 2022 | Not recorded | 2 x Rolls-Royce | Stored at Lourdes from 31 March 2022 until 12 April 2024, then stored at Châteauroux until 29 May 2025. It was subsequently moved to Madrid, where it remained until 27 June 2025. |
| 9H-SMK | SmartLynx Malta | Not taken up | Not recorded | 2 x Rolls-Royce | The aircraft was associated with SmartLynx Malta but was not taken up into active service. |
| EC-OOI | Iberojet | June 2025 | C36Y263 | 2 x Rolls-Royce | Entered service with Iberojet on 27 June 2025. |
| EC-OOI | Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas | November 2025 | C36Y263 | 2 x Rolls-Royce | Joined Plus Ultra in November 2025 under a lease arrangement. |
What EC-OOI’s Cabin Configuration Means
The C36Y263 configuration indicates that EC-OOI has 36 Business Class seats and 263 Economy Class seats, giving it a total capacity of approximately 299 passengers.
How the Two Aircraft Compare
| Feature | EC-ONX | EC-OOI |
|---|---|---|
| Approximate age | 20 years | 14 years |
| Business Class seats | 30 | 36 |
| Economy Class seats | 272 | 263 |
| Total seats | 302 | 299 |
| Engine manufacturer | General Electric | Rolls-Royce |
| Original airline | China Airlines | Thai Airways |
| Reported status | Active | Parked |
What Passengers Should Know
Although EC-OOI is younger and has six additional Business Class seats, aircraft age alone does not determine the quality of the passenger experience. Cabin refurbishment, seat condition, maintenance standards, meal service and onboard entertainment are likely to matter more to most travellers.
At the time of publication, Air Zimbabwe had not confirmed which registration would operate each London Gatwick-Harare flight. Passengers should therefore avoid assuming that a particular aircraft will operate their journey.
Aircraft information was last checked in June 2026. Airframe status, cabin configuration, operator history and aircraft assignments may change.
Cabin Configuration
The aircraft is expected to feature:
- Business Class
- Economy Class
Passengers can expect a typical wide-body long-haul cabin with twin aisles, larger overhead bins and improved comfort compared to narrow-body aircraft.
What Can Passengers Expect Onboard?
As Air Zimbabwe has not yet operated its inaugural flight on this route, some aspects of the onboard experience remain to be confirmed.
However, based on the aircraft’s previous operation with Plus Ultra, travellers may expect:
- Complimentary meals
- In-flight beverages
- USB charging (where fitted)
- Standard long-haul seating
- Cabin crew providing full-service hospitality
Tripenger will update this article after the inaugural flight with confirmed details.
In-flight Entertainment
One question many travellers are asking is whether every seat will feature personal entertainment screens.
At the time of writing, Air Zimbabwe has not published the final onboard entertainment specifications for this route.
Based on previous Plus Ultra operations, entertainment options may differ from those offered by larger global airlines. Once passengers begin flying, Tripenger will update this section with confirmed information, including:
- Seatback entertainment
- Wi-Fi availability
- Streaming options
- Charging facilities
What Do Travellers Say About Plus Ultra?
Although the aircraft is operating on behalf of Air Zimbabwe, many travellers are interested in the reputation of Plus Ultra.
Reviews from previous passengers commonly highlight:
Positives
- Comfortable seating
- Friendly cabin crew
- Spacious Airbus A330 cabin
- Smooth long-haul experience
Areas Mentioned for Improvement
- Entertainment options
- Cabin age on some aircraft
- Limited route network
As always, passenger experiences vary, and the true experience on Air Zimbabwe’s London service will become clearer after the inaugural flights.
Air Zimbabwe vs Connecting Flights
One of the biggest advantages of the new service is convenience.
| Airline | Stops |
|---|---|
| Air Zimbabwe | Direct |
| Emirates | Dubai |
| Qatar Airways | Doha |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Addis Ababa |
| Kenya Airways | Nairobi |
| RwandAir | Kigali |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul |
For many travellers, avoiding a connection can save several hours and reduce travel fatigue.
Who Will Benefit Most?
The new route is likely to appeal to:
- Zimbabweans living in the UK
- Zimbabweans living in Ireland
- Business travellers
- Tourists visiting Zimbabwe
- Families travelling with children
- Elderly passengers
- First-time visitors
What This Means for Airfares
Whenever additional capacity enters a market, travellers naturally wonder whether ticket prices will become more competitive. While fares fluctuate based on demand, seasonality and availability, the introduction of another option between London and Harare could provide travellers with greater choice. Passengers should continue comparing prices before booking to find the most suitable itinerary for their travel dates.
Can I book through Tripenger?
At the time of publication, Air Zimbabwe flights are not yet widely available through major online travel agencies. Travellers should check directly with Air Zimbabwe or their preferred travel agent for booking options.
Looking Ahead
The return of Air Zimbabwe to London is more than just the launch of another airline route, it represents the restoration of a direct connection between the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe after many years. For families, businesses and the Zimbabwean diaspora, the service offers a more convenient way to travel between the two countries without the need for a connecting flight. As the inaugural service approaches, Tripenger will continue monitoring developments and updating this guide with new information, including passenger reviews, onboard experience, baggage details and any schedule changes.
Compare Flights to Zimbabwe
Although Air Zimbabwe is currently not widely available through major online travel agencies, travellers can still compare flights from hundreds of airlines serving Zimbabwe through Tripenger. Whether you’re looking for the fastest journey, the lowest fare, or the most convenient connection, Tripenger helps you compare flight options in one place and find great value for your next trip to Zimbabwe.
