ACMI partnership supports relaunch of Harare–London Gatwick service with dedicated bellyhold capacity for Zimbabwe’s export sector
Global aircraft charter and leasing specialist Chapman Freeborn has played a key role in supporting the planned return of Air Zimbabwe’s direct scheduled passenger service between Harare and London Gatwick, a milestone that is expected to strengthen air cargo connectivity between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom after an absence of more than 14 years.
Scheduled to commence on 22 July 2026, the three-times-weekly service will be operated by Spanish carrier Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas using an Airbus A330-300 under a 13-month Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) agreement. Under the arrangement, Plus Ultra will provide the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, while flights will operate under Air Zimbabwe’s flight code and commercial brand.
For Zimbabwe’s export industry, the resumption of the route represents far more than improved passenger connectivity. The wide-body Airbus A330 will provide valuable bellyhold cargo capacity for the country’s growing exports of fresh horticultural produce, flowers and other perishable commodities that require rapid access to the UK market.
Boosting Zimbabwe’s Fresh Produce Exports
The direct service is expected to significantly reduce transit times for time-sensitive shipments, providing exporters with faster and more reliable access to one of Zimbabwe’s most important international trading partners. Fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and other agricultural products stand to benefit from improved supply chain efficiency and reduced handling compared with indirect routings.
Chapman Freeborn provided the ACMI and contract management expertise required to structure the long-haul operation, working closely with Air Zimbabwe, Plus Ultra and other stakeholders throughout the project.
“This is an important milestone for Air Zimbabwe and a significant step in restoring direct connectivity between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom,” said Linas Dovydenas, President – India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) at Chapman Freeborn.
“We are proud to have played an important role in supporting this project, working closely with Air Zimbabwe and Plus Ultra to help deliver the right structure for the route.”
He added that demand for flexible ACMI solutions continues to grow across Africa as airlines rebuild international networks and optimise fleet resources.
“Across Africa, we continue to see growing demand for flexible capacity solutions as airlines look to rebuild networks, respond to passenger demand and manage fleet requirements more efficiently. ACMI can play an important role in supporting that growth, particularly on strategic routes where speed, flexibility and operational reliability are essential.”
Flexible Capacity Driving Network Recovery
According to Daniel Huggins, Director – ACMI & Leasing at Chapman Freeborn, long-haul ACMI operations require extensive coordination between airlines, aircraft operators, aviation regulators and commercial partners to ensure operational readiness and regulatory compliance.
“Our team supported the project from both a capacity and contract management perspective, helping bring together the right operating structure for a strategically important route. This project demonstrates how collaborative capacity solutions can help airlines restore important international services and return key routes to the market,” Huggins said.
The Harare–London service is considered strategically important not only for the Zimbabwean diaspora and business travellers but also for exporters seeking dependable air freight capacity into the UK. Prior to the suspension of the route, direct services played a significant role in transporting Zimbabwe’s fresh produce to European markets within tight delivery windows.
Strengthening Air Cargo Connectivity
The project also highlights the growing importance of ACMI solutions in supporting airline recovery and network expansion. Rather than making substantial fleet investments, carriers can quickly restore strategic international routes through wet-lease arrangements while maintaining commercial control of their operations.
For the air cargo sector, the return of direct wide-body services between Zimbabwe and the UK provides additional capacity at a time when exporters continue to seek reliable, temperature-controlled logistics solutions for high-value agricultural products and other time-critical shipments.
The development comes as Chapman Freeborn continues to expand its specialist aviation portfolio, including the recent introduction of its Next Flight Out (NFO) service, designed to provide rapid transport solutions for industries requiring urgent, mission-critical freight movements.
