Air Zimbabwe is restoring nonstop passenger flights between Harare and London Gatwick, marking the return of a direct air connection between Zimbabwe and the UK after an absence of 14 years.
The airline will relaunch the route on July 22, 2026, with three weekly flights. Departures from Harare are scheduled for Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while return services from London Gatwick will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. All flights will use Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal.
The route will initially be served by an Airbus A330-300 operated under an Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) wet lease agreement with Spanish carrier Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas. Under the arrangement, Plus Ultra will provide the aircraft, pilots, cabin crew, maintenance and insurance, while Air Zimbabwe will oversee ticket sales, customer service and the commercial operation of the route.
Air Zimbabwe said the London relaunch is designed to strengthen international connectivity, support tourism growth, facilitate business travel and reconnect Zimbabwe with its large diaspora community in the UK. Introductory fares start at US$495 one-way from Harare and £490 one-way from London.
The London service is part of a broader rebuilding of Air Zimbabwe’s international network. In recent months, the carrier has increased regional operations from Harare, including services to Johannesburg and Lusaka, while maintaining flights to Bulawayo and Victoria Falls domestically. The airline has also signaled plans to expand further across southern and eastern Africa as it modernizes its fleet and rebuilds its long-haul presence.
For Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, the return of direct UK flights is a significant milestone. The nonstop service is expected to make travel easier for leisure visitors heading to attractions such as Victoria Falls, as well as for business travelers and those visiting friends and relatives, while providing a direct alternative to connecting flights through major Middle East and African hubs.
According to the latest figures from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Zimbabwe welcomed approximately 1.78 million international tourist arrivals in 2025, up from 1.61 million in 2024. Africa accounted for about 76% of all international arrivals in 2025. Overseas markets represented roughly 24% of arrivals with the UK remaining Zimbabwe’s largest European market.
