Foreign Airlines Threaten To Pull Out As They Are Failing To Get Payments

At least five foreign airlines are threatening to stop operating in Zimbabwe. The airlines have at least US$50 million in payments stuck in Zimbabwe. Due to the foreign currency shortage, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is using a priority list to allocate foreign currency, and the airlines do not have the highest priority.

The airlines have instructed travel agents worldwide to bill their passengers in cash or stop accepting bookings altogether to avoid non-settlement by Zimbabwean banks. The airlines are:

• Qantas Airways
• Lufthansa
• KLM Royal
• Dutch Airlines
• Air France
• Delta Airlines

Commenting on the issue, RBZ governor John Mangudya said: