Air Zimbabwe Harare-London Route Hit By Second Delay In A Week

Air Zimbabwe’s Harare-London route has been hit by a second disruption in less than a week, with the national carrier rescheduling its weekend services between Harare and London Gatwick.

In an update issued on 2 August 2026, the airline said Flight UM724 from Harare to London, scheduled for 2 August, and Flight UM725 from London to Harare, scheduled for 3 August, had both been rescheduled “following an operational disruption experienced on 31 July 2026.”

“This disruption had an impact on subsequent flight scheduling and necessitated adjustments to our operations, as we work to restore normal service,” the airline said.

According to the revised schedule, Flight UM724 will now depart Harare tomorrow, 3 August, at 8:30 PM and land at London Gatwick at 6:00 AM on 4 August, London time. Check-in will open at 5:30 PM, three hours before departure.

The return leg, UM725, has also been pushed back. It will now depart Gatwick at 8:30 AM on 4 August and arrive in Harare at 8:00 PM the same evening, Harare time. Check-in for the London departure opens at 5:30 AM.

The airline said affected passengers are being contacted directly by its customer service team and advised of the new timings.

“Air Zimbabwe sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused and appreciates the patience, understanding, and continued support of our valued passengers,” the notice reads.

It is the second operational setback for the London route since Air Zimbabwe relaunched three weekly Harare-London flights on 22 July, ending a 14-year absence from one of its most strategic long-haul markets.

The trouble began days earlier when the airline pulled a London-bound service after its pilot fell ill, offering no further details on the nature of the illness.

That flight was to have been operated by the same aircraft now in use on the route, a wet-leased Airbus A330-300 from a Spanish carrier, which was brought in specifically for the relaunch.

The back-to-back disruptions have come at a time when reliability is critical to winning over diaspora and business travellers.