A TECHNICAL committee tasked to oversee the formation of a national airline has finalised its work and the document is currently before Cabinet for consideration.
This is a major step taken by the Government towards this critical issue that has been pending years after the demise of Zambia Airways, which was the initial airline for the country.
The collapse of Zambia Airways in 1994 left a big void in the local aviation industry, giving leeway to mainly foreign airlines to explore the investment potential.
While a number of airlines came and went, there was still no national carrier in sight and this affected various sectors of the economy such as tourism and agriculture, among others.
Although setting up an airline requires massive resources, strides being made by the Government are quite encouraging and need a lot of support from all stakeholders.
There will be immense economic benefits for this country from the formation of a national airline, if well-planned.
Among the beneficiaries is the tourism industry which was adversely affected following the demise of Zambia Airways.
Formation of the national airline will certainly boost tourist arrivals for the country whose figure currently stands at not less than 850,000 per annum.
The target is to reach more than one million tourist arrivals as there will be direct flights readily available to them once the national airline is formed.
With the refurbishment of Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone, as well as Mfuwe International Airport in Eastern Province, this will definitely boost Zambian tourism because tourists will be flown directly to these areas.
Secondly, the country will increase non-traditional exports (NTEs) whose figure per annum has now hit 20 per cent.
Apart from increasing exports of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers such as roses, for example, it will also stir up many activities such as agro processing and value-addition solely for the export market.
This will make up for the withdrawal of British Airways from Zambia which provided transport for most of the country’s NTES.
The birth of a national airline will further mean more employment creation and increased contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) through foreign exchange earnings which will in turn, strengthen the Kwacha against other international currencies.
In addition, the presence of a national airline will help return the country’s pilots and technical staff that have left for greener pastures abroad.
But while this is good, the Government should ensure that it constitutes a strong and well-focused management team which will run the airline profitably.
Such management should strategise on how to be sustainable and contain stiff competition currently obtaining in the aviation industry.
The Government should in this regard come up with better recommendations, including an option of finding an equity partner, otherwise the national airline is very much welcome.