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Ivan Zhakata-Herald correspondent

German airline Lufthansa, is set to resume flights from Frankfurt to Windhoek and Victoria Falls in March 2022 after having pulled off from Zimbabwe in 1998.

Lufthansa, together with other international airlines, including Qantas, Air France and British Airways, pulled out of Zimbabwe between 1998 and 2008 citing dwindling passenger volumes coupled with an unstable economic environment.

But with the stabilisation of the Zimbabwean economy following the introduction of a multi-currency regime in 2009, some of the airlines have resumed flights.

Lufthansa general manager Southern and East Africa Mr André SchulzIn said in many parts of the world, more and more people were being vaccinated against Covid-19 and the number of infections was falling with travel restrictions gradually easing up in several countries.

He said as a result, demand for Lufthansa airline tickets increased significantly, a strong signal that people were yearning to travel and experience different cultures once again.

“Flights to leading long-haul leisure destinations such as Windhoek, have already been showing a strong increase in demand,” Mr Schulzln said.

“Thanks to positive booking trends and favourable market conditions, today I am able to announce that the Lufthansa Group will be further increasing our presence in Namibia. 

“With effect from 30th March 2022, we will increase our operations to Windhoek from five weekly flights to a daily flight schedule, through our leisure airline — Eurowings Discover.

“As a leading aviation company, we believe in connecting people through a reliable and comprehensive route network, allowing our guests to have an even greater variety of choice when planning their upcoming vacation or business trip. 

“It is with this in mind and great excitement, that through Eurowings Discover, we are additionally able to further expand our Sub-Sahara Africa route network by adding a brand new destination to our portfolio; Victoria Falls. 

He said from next March, the Lufthansa Group would for the first time in its history, operate a tag flight from Windhoek to Victoria Falls three times a week, bringing the Eurowings Discover African portfolio to six leisure destinations in the region.

Mr Schulzln said Africa remained an important focus growth market for Eurowings Discover.