Air Zimbabwe re-admitted in IOSA

Published: 30 May 2014

National airline Air Zimbabwe is now poised to resume international flights as it has been readmitted into International Air Transport Association International (IATA) Operational Safety Audit program (IOSA) following a successful safety audit.

The Air Zimbabwe board unveiled the airline's IOSA re-registration certificate on Wednesday evening.

The national airline had been de-registered from the IOSA certification in September 2012 after failing IOSA's assessment subsequent to a brief halt of business because of an industrial strike. Transport and Infrastructure Development ministry permanent secretary Munesu Munodawafa announced the audit that took place in February of this year.

"I stand before you to announce the accomplishment that moves Air Zimbabwe towards realisation of a great vision. It gives me honour and delight to announce the successful re-registration of Air Zimbabwe on the International Air Transport Association International Operational Safety Audit programme with no finding in the audit.

"This achievement is a result of a successful IOSA re-registration audit that was conducted by IATA through one of its accredited audit organisations from 10 t0 14 February 2014," he said.

IOSA registration means that the airline has met all safety standards as per IATA requirements ensuring passenger and employee safety in line with aviation safety in the conduct of all its operations.

This is the fourth successive IOSA for Air Zimbabwe since it was mandated as a prerequisite for IATA membership in 2008.

Munodawafa said the benefits of certification have put the nation in an elite group of airlines in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as ensuring the safety and attractiveness of the airline to potential investors and passengers.

"As an IOSA registered airline Air Zimbabwe has demonstrated compliance with the highest global safety standards and becomes one of the 25 airlines in Sub-Saharan Africa that are on the IOSA registry."

"The benefits of IOSA are varied and unlimited for the passenger, the airline and the nation at large. Our passengers will continue to enjoy Zimbabwe's hospitable skies while the economy opens its belly to more investors who by nature prioritise safety.

"The tourism industry which enjoys the aviation's multiplier effect will benefit immensely from this development as world travelers of the 21st century are safety conscious and their choices are guided by international standards like IOSA," he said.

Principal director in the Ministry of Transport Valentine Sinemani said the success of the nation as well as that of the airline are intertwined and triumph in aviation would afford the nation a chance to prevail.

"Air Zimbabwe is redefining its static context in terms of its relevance and rebooting its value. Our national airline represents the greatest opportunity of a turnaround of a nation in the skies because we know there is a derived relationship between national performance and national aviation development," he said.
- BH24