Zimbabwe’s national carrier, Air Zimbabwe, announced on 9 July that a direct air route between the country’s capital, Harare, and London Gatwick Airport would begin on 22 July, with three return flights a week carrying both passengers and cargo.
Linda Nielsen, CEO of Zimbabwe’s Horticultural Development Council (HDC), said this was a positive development for the industry.
“The UK is one of our most important export markets. Direct flights have the potential to make Zimbabwean fresh produce more competitive by reducing transit times and the amount of handling cargo goes through before it reaches customers,” she told Farmer’s Weekly.
Nielsen said that alongside blueberries, agricultural exports commonly moved by air included fresh-cut flowers, peas, fine beans, baby vegetables, sugar snap peas, mangetout, and other speciality vegetables.
“These products benefit from getting to market as quickly as possible to maximise freshness and shelf life,” she added.
Elzette Schutte, operations manager of South African grower organisation Berries ZA, said that most of Zimbabwe’s berry cargo was currently shipped via South Africa, either by air or sea.
“This development will certainly make logistics easier for [Zimbabwe], though we would still need to compare fuel prices and cost-per-kilogram metrics,” she added.
Export flexibility
With regard to costs and the effect the new shipping route may have on the industry’s profit margins, Nielsen indicated that the HDC would “monitor how the service performs in practice”.
“South African airports and logistics hubs will remain an important part of Zimbabwe’s export network. Exporters choose different routes depending on the product, volumes, freight costs, schedules, and customer requirements. The return of direct Harare–London flights just gives exporters another option and greater flexibility,” she added.
Concerning the effect the new route would have on the South African blueberry industry, Schutte said a faster route to market for Zimbabwe’s blueberries was currently unlikely to have a massive impact on South Africa’s foreign sales as South Africa is not yet in full production when Zimbabwe is active.
“While Zimbabwe is a competitor, once South Africa begins northern production (typically around week 25), I don’t believe these flights will materially impact our operations. Zimbabwe is projecting around 8 000t of blueberry exports this season (potentially more), but these remain relatively small volumes that the global market easily absorbs. [South Africa’s] primary competitor remains Peru,” she said.
The route is also unlikely to affect South Africa’s deciduous fruit exports, according to Hortgro.
According to HDC data quoted by Reuters earlier this month, Zimbabwe, Africa’s third-largest blueberry producer after Morocco and South Africa, expects to export 12 000t of blueberries from about 850ha in 2026, up from 9 500t from 650ha the previous year.
Regular service
Air Zimbabwe said in a media release issued on 9 July that flights would depart Harare on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while return services from London Gatwick would operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
“The Harare–London route represents one of the most significant milestones in Air Zimbabwe’s history and reflects the national carrier’s commitment to restoring international connectivity and strengthening Zimbabwe’s links with key global markets.
“The service is expected to strengthen tourism, trade, investment, and diaspora connectivity while supporting Zimbabwe’s broader economic engagement with the UK,” the statement read.
Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu-PF, said in an Instagram post that bookings for “over 30 000t of cargo” were secured ahead of the inaugural flight.
