South African Airways is reported to have cancelled a flight to Harare from Johannesburg on Thursday, because there were not enough lights on the runway for a night time landing.

This was believed to be the second time this week that the airline cancelled a flight to Harare, fearing a difficult landing at night.

Obert Gutu, Deputy Justice Minister and an MDC-T Senator, was a passenger on the flight. Gutu told SW Radio Africa that the captain said it was too risky to land at Harare International in the dark, “because there are no lights on the runway in Harare!”

According to Gutu, Flight SA 24 was supposed to leave Johannesburg for Harare at 16:20 hours Thursday afternoon. But there was a thunderstorm in Joburg for about 20 minutes, which delayed the flight.

Gutu said that at about 16.50 hours, the captain made the announcement that he would not risk landing in Harare. The flight was then rescheduled to leave Joburg on Friday, at 6:00am.

Zimbabwe’s air transport industry has made many embarrassing headlines recently.

Last month the national airline was suspended from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), after failing to comply with global safety standards. Transport and Communications Minister Nicholas Goche, said Air Zimbabwe had been given until November 31st to comply with IATA’s international standards.

Air Zim is also reported to be in debt to the tune of US$140 million. One of their aircraft was impounded by creditors at Gatwick Airport last year, after failing to pay an American parts company.

The airline was disbanded in March this year after crippling strikes by the staff. But Transport Minister Goche immediately announced a ‘rebranding’, changing the company name to Air Zimbabwe Private Limited.

 

 

 

Source: http://allafrica.com