"Ethiopian Airways has announced that it plans to buy new regional jets in the next month or so as it prepares to relaunch Zambia Airways.

According to Chief Executive Officer Tewolde GebreMariam, the airline has narrowed its choice to Bombardier Inc.’s C Series and Embraer SA’s E2-family E195.

Mr GebreMariam said Boeing Co.’s 737 Max 7 is now out of the running for the contract, which could feature 10 firm orders and the same number of options."

https://www.lusakatimes.com/2018/05/16/ ... -relaunch/

https://newsroom.aviator.aero/zambia-ai ... ts-launch/

I hope for C Series and a great livery!

I also hope for the CSeries.

I am very happy to see some movement on a proper Zambian airline. Zambia is a wonderful country and I wish them all the best. We need more competition between SA and Zambia.

First Ugandan relaunch now Zambian!

And Air Tanzania adding C Series and 787!

C Series 100 is ideal for Zambia Airways for the next 3-4 years. They can order 5 firm + 5 options with the latter being able to upsize to the 300 series in case the airline's routes perform well. Also the extended range of the CS1 (5.5 hours max) versus E95 (3.5 hours max) comes in handy.

C series all the way! I love the African aviation scene right now.

I don't think an airline buys or leases brandnew airplanes for 3-4 years. It will need to work for the airline about 15 years on average. Someone mentioned Air Tanzania too, how are they doing? I always liked their livery from the past with the Giraffe on the tail. Do they have other larger airplanes in sight to use besides the Q400's?

EDIT: Sorry, I see they have the 787 on order and the CSeries. I totally forgot about these orders.

A388

The aircraft choices seem logical for the estimated capacity and traffic in and out of Zam - the CSeries would be really great for LUN/LVI-JNB, for example.

SR380 wrote:

And Air Tanzania adding C Series and 787!

Wonder which will be first to operate C-Series to JNB...will it be Tanzania or Zambia...

Agree this might be the perfect size aircraft for a Zambian airline...ideal for at least daily (later more) LUN-JNB, then also 3 to 4 weekly on LVI-JNB, NLA-JNB, LUN-CPT, LUN-DAR, LUN-NBO, LUN-LAD, LUN-FIH. With a few Q400s then also domestic service and LUN-HRE, LUN-GBE, LUN-FBM

GRJGeorge wrote:

SR380 wrote:

And Air Tanzania adding C Series and 787!

Wonder which will be first to operate C-Series to JNB...will it be Tanzania or Zambia...

Agree this might be the perfect size aircraft for a Zambian airline...ideal for at least daily (later more) LUN-JNB, then also 3 to 4 weekly on LVI-JNB, NLA-JNB, LUN-CPT, LUN-DAR, LUN-NBO, LUN-LAD, LUN-FIH. With a few Q400s then also domestic service and LUN-HRE, LUN-GBE, LUN-FBM

No potential for service to LLW or BLZ?

Btw, Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport seriously takes shape, to be completed probably next year!
Here are some pics:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthrea ... 701&page=4

I specifically didn't mention the Malawi airports, due to Malawian already operating to LUN as well...this is an area where I believe ET have to decide still how to have both Zambian and Malawian operations work together and have both growing next-door to each other...while ET is also planning on setting up some operations in Mozambique as well.
On LLW-LUN there is also KQ with 5th freedom and the current Zambian operator, Pro-Flight is also operating the route with J-41 aircraft...similarly have left out LUN-DUR, because ProFlight also operates this route with CRJ...would prefer ProFlight to survive and also grow.

Embraer E195-E2 all the way !!!

GRJGeorge wrote:

I specifically didn't mention the Malawi airports, due to Malawian already operating to LUN as well...this is an area where I believe ET have to decide still how to have both Zambian and Malawian operations work together and have both growing next-door to each other...while ET is also planning on setting up some operations in Mozambique as well.
On LLW-LUN there is also KQ with 5th freedom and the current Zambian operator, Pro-Flight is also operating the route with J-41 aircraft...similarly have left out LUN-DUR, because ProFlight also operates this route with CRJ...would prefer ProFlight to survive and also grow.

Ok, I get it, If Proflight could not turn LUN-DAR profitable, what are the chances for Zambia Airways?
Are you sure about KQ? Didn't Malawi cancel the right in 2014 when the government decided to set up "Malawian"?

How would they be able to get a hold of C-Series aircraft by October?

drgmobile wrote:

How would they be able to get a hold of C-Series aircraft by October?

Obviously, it will be a new Zambian production line. Or they will just steal Delta slots, or Airbus will magically create frames and engines.

Because if you are relaunching a 3rd world airline into a poverty stricken country in Africa this year, clearly you need to buy new build aircraft that have no availability in the next six months. It adds to the ticket sales cache.

drgmobile wrote:

How would they be able to get a hold of C-Series aircraft by October?

There are a couple of early builds that nobody wants which are held down with ballast. Unlikely I know.

ET is still supporting Malawian Airlines, though that airline has yet to make any profit. I think adding some DH4's for Zambia would be more sensible but if Zambia is willing to subsidize up an airline with all new aircraft, then good luck to them.

texl1649 wrote:

drgmobile wrote:

How would they be able to get a hold of C-Series aircraft by October?

Obviously, it will be a new Zambian production line. Or they will just steal Delta slots, or Airbus will magically create frames and engines.

Because if you are relaunching a 3rd world airline into a poverty stricken country in Africa this year, clearly you need to buy new build aircraft that have no availability in the next six months. It adds to the ticket sales cache.

I suspect they mean Oct 2019. No way they are starting a carrier from scratch in 5 months...

usflyer msp wrote:

texl1649 wrote:

drgmobile wrote:

How would they be able to get a hold of C-Series aircraft by October?

Obviously, it will be a new Zambian production line. Or they will just steal Delta slots, or Airbus will magically create frames and engines.

Because if you are relaunching a 3rd world airline into a poverty stricken country in Africa this year, clearly you need to buy new build aircraft that have no availability in the next six months. It adds to the ticket sales cache.

I suspect they mean Oct 2019. No way they are starting a carrier from scratch in 5 months...

I don't think this is only starting now from scratch...ET have been working on this project for quite a while already...this is now just more information being shared. The deal on aircraft will also probably be more part ET's own bigger package. Still yes, Oct for C-Series might be not possible, however it doesn't mean the airline have to launch with these aircraft at first (ET could send a 737-700 or Q400s to start off with)...but it remains to be seen...
Like I've said before on another discussion, ET busy with so many projects, but so many have only been talk for years already.

I hope it's the CS, and with that launch date it looks all the more likely tbh. I assume this deal has been going on bts for a while now.

The chosen aircraft has not even been announced and some here are already scheduling the delivery, reallocating the programming within the production line and even proposing a temporary replacement until final delivery ...

EMBSPBR wrote:

The chosen aircraft has not even been announced and some here are already scheduling the delivery, reallocating the programming within the production line and even proposing a temporary replacement until final delivery ...

Indeed, for a moment I was confused.

EMBSPBR wrote:

The chosen aircraft has not even been announced and some here are already scheduling the delivery, reallocating the programming within the production line and even proposing a temporary replacement until final delivery ...

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