The launch of Zambian Airways which is a partnership between the Industrial Development Corporation and Ethiopian Airlines has missed several launch deadlines with the latest being December when it was due to take to the skies.

Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali says the government will not be reviewing the Zambia Airways principal shareholders agreement signed with Ethiopian Airlines and that the fundamental principles will not change.

Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali, however, states that the government through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is reviewing attendant agreements with Ethiopian Airlines to ensure that its terms and conditions are equitable and do not in any way disadvantage the Zambian government.

Elsewhere, Ethiopian involvement in the launch of a new airline will help the airlines to expand inter-African routes further because the connectivity within the continent is still not well. “We have the AOC, the aircraft—51% will be held by the government and 49% by us,” Ethiopian Airlines CEO mentioned.

The Minister was responding to a question by Kantanshi member of parliament Anthony Mumba who wanted to find out whether the government has any plans to urgently review the contract between Zambia Airways Limited and Ethiopian Airlines, to ensure a win-win situation, before the launch of the national airline scheduled for 1st December 2021.