Page 31 - World Airnews Magazine May 2021 Edition

AIRLINES

MARKING 30 YEARS IN

ZAMBIAN SKIES

purposes. This has been demonstrated by call centre to make or change bookings,
the increase in air travel among Zambians and vice versa.

his year marks 30 years that Profli- in the past decade. The initiative will enable seamless

Tght has been fl ying in the Zambian In recent years, the airline has seen the connections on one ticket between the two
and African skies; a record that no other opening of new routes within Zambia and airlines’ networks which include Lusaka,

private airline in Zambia’s aviation history in the southern Africa region. From its base Ndola, Livingstone, Mfuwe in Zambia on
the Proflight network and Plettenberg Bay,

has managed to beat. in Lusaka, its domestic routes have grown Margate, Johannesburg on the CemAir
to include Livingstone, Mfuwe, Lower
Since 1991, Zambia’s leading airline has Zambezi, Ndola and Solwezi. network in South Africa.
connected Zambia to the southern Africa Throughout the years, Proflight has Having weathered storms and enjoyed

region, linking businesses and reconnecting brought the wonder of air travel to successes over the years, Proflight remains

families and friends. thousands. In 2013, the airline carried optimistic for the future and committed to

In 1991, Proflight took to the Zambian over 135,000 passengers, and the number connecting Zambia to the region.

skies. The airline’s initial goal was to make has been on the rise since then – until the “We are here to stay in order to fulfil our

flying safe, efficient, reliable and friendly impact of COVID-19 which has dramatically mission to ensure essential connectivity

for all Zambians and, over the years, most affected travel globally. between Zambia and the region with

will agree there is little doubt that the In the company’s early days, its primary a significant economic contribution.

airline has continuously gone above and focus was on tourism-related travel, flying In addition, our vision sees Proflight

beyond to achieve its goal. people to national parks, but to reflect the continuing to be a key player in the region’s

“Three decades - no small feat” needs of its diverse clientele, today Proflight’s aviation market, while maintaining a

When the airline was set up by former backbone is business travel, particularly in continuous growth path and innovative

Zambian Airways pilot Tony Irwin (now the mining sector. The on-demand Lusaka- improvement of passenger experience,
Proflight managing director), the company Solwezi route goes to show this. further positioning Zambia as a business

had only one five-seater Beechcraft Baron Its role in the economic growth of the centre and travel hub in the Southern

aircraft. Today, Proflight claims the top spot nation is a key factor in its success, and Africa region,” said Irwin.

as Zambia’s leading scheduled airline, with it is a position it hopes will come to the As the airline flies into a new decade, its

a fleet including a 50-seater Bombardier fore again as the world comes out of achievements and milestones in the last
CRJ-100 jet, and three 29-seater Jetstream the COVID-19 bubble and revitalises its 30 years tell the story of a true Zambia

41 aircraft. economies. success. And as a pioneer in Zambia’s
“Three decades aloft is no small The company has created synergy and aviation industry, Proflight is celebrating

feat. We are truly proud to be the first strategic partnerships with other players on the last decade with renewed optimism

Zambian airline to celebrate this great the market. Proflight signed its first code- for a future of continued growth, while

achievement,” Irwin said. share agreement with RwandAir in 2015, reflecting on the evolution and needs of

“And while we have helped pioneer while several interline agreements are in the industry and society.
Zambia towards being a more mobile, travel- place with South African Airlines, Emirates, Despite the negative effects of COVID-19

savvy generation of flyers, making air travel Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. Proflight Zambia remains focused on its

more accessible, it is our loyal Proflight More recently, the airline signed a goal of connecting the nation. The airline

customers who are behind our success, and partnership agreement with CemAir commits to stay true to its four values:
we thank them for all their support.” of South Africa, complementing route safety, reliability, efficiency and friendly

The past three decades have been networks between Zambia and South service. Q

both rewarding and fulfilling - as well as Africa, providing customers with a seamless

challenging. The airline democratised travel experience. Under this partnership, Article courtesy: https://www.

the local airspace by giving Zambians the Proflight clients can use CemAir’s ticket themastonline.com/2021/04/15/

opportunity to travel within their country sales desk at OR Tambo International proflight-marks-30-years-in-zambian-

and beyond for leisure and business Airport in Johannesburg, as well as CemAir skies/
World Airnews | May 2021
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