The Zambian government has reportedly signed a US$30 million contractual agreement with Ethiopian Airlines for the launch of a new national carrier in October this year.
According to the Zambian Minister of Transport and Communications, Brian Mushimba, the new national carrier would be established in a joint-venture with Ethiopian Airlines, with around US$30 million allocated to the project from the 2018 national budget.
According to a report published by This Day, Ethiopian Airlines’ Managing Director, Tewolde Gebremariam earlier in 2017 said that Zambia Airways would likely operate a combination of Dash 8-400 and B737NextGen aircraft.
Zambia is the second country in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade bloc to have partnered Ethiopian Airlines, the first being Malawi through its already active Malawian Airlines initiative. There, government holds a 51 per cent stake with Ethiopian controlling a 49 per cent stake.