The European Commission says the ban on Air Zimbabwe is of “an indefinite duration” after the airline failed the safety test.
The Commission blacklisted AirZim alongside airlines from Angola, Nigeria, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Ukraine.
“The ban is of an indefinite duration. But the list is updated periodically (at least twice a year), and Air Zimbabwe could be taken out in the future if the safety deficiencies are addressed,” the EU source said.
“Finally, please note that a banned carrier can continue to operate to the EU by using wet-leased arrangements from any non-banned air carrier (that is not necessarily EU air carriers).”
A wet lease is a leasing arrangement whereby one airline (the lessor) provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance to another airline or other type of business acting as a broker of air travel (the lessee), which pays by hours operated.
A wet-leased aircraft may be used to fly services into countries where the lessee is banned from operating.
The question now remains whether AirZim will be in a position to pay for such services.
