Gatwick Locks In Exclusive Direct Flights to Zimbabwe

Air Zimbabwe launched direct flights from London Gatwick to Harare on July 23, restoring a link that had been dormant for over 14 years, ZimGazette reported. The service operates three times weekly on an Airbus A330-200, making Gatwick the sole UK airport with a nonstop connection to Zimbabwe. Gatwick executives hailed the route as a strategic coup that capitalizes on underserved diaspora and business travel demand, while simultaneously intensifying competition with Heathrow for niche African destinations. The inaugural flight departed from Gatwick’s South Terminal, marking a milestone in the airport’s long-haul expansion strategy. The new connection is expected to boost tourism and trade between the UK and Zimbabwe, offering a direct option for the large Zimbabwean diaspora. It also signals renewed international confidence in Zimbabwe’s aviation sector after years of isolation.