Air Zimbabwe's tentative take-off as flights resumeBy KITSEPILE NYATHI in Harare | Thursday, May 3  2012 at  11:14

Struggling carrier Air Zimbabwe this week resumed domestic flights some four months after it grounded its planes over mounting debts.

The government-owned airline stopped operations in January after creditors in South Africa and the United Kingdom seized its planes.

Officials said limited domestic services would be provided until the airline is sufficiently capitalised to resume international flights.

"We will be flying three times a week, that is Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” Air Zimbabwe chief executive officer Innocent Mavhunga said.

“We will be flying three times between Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. We will gradually increase flights as the market picks up.”

The airline is choking under debts of up to $140 million and has failed to pay its workers since 2009.

But Mr Mavhunga said he was confident the company would soon resume normal operations.

In January, Air Zimbabwe was placed under judicial management after disgruntled workers approached the courts.

The High Court appointed a judicial manager and barred the Air Zimbabwe board from any involvement with the company.

However, the order has since been reversed.

President Robert Mugabe in November last year held talks with China’s Hainan Airlines over a possible takeover but no deal has yet materialised.