Dkleeman

Noting that all Zambian airlines are blacklisted by the EU, and that Zambezi Airlines has been grounded, does anyone have any recent first-hand experience or views of the safety of Proflight Zambia Airlines?

I am not trying to knock them, I just want to know the score relative to other regional airline (as a potential passenger).

Langmead

Safety is the top priority for Proflight Zambia.
It runs a fleet of modern, well-maintained aircraft, and its pilots regularly undergo training and flight simulator updates in Europe.
The airline operates two 29-seater Jetstream 41 aircraft; three 18-seater Jetstream 32’s; two 12-seater Caravan C208; nine-seater Britten Norman Islander; seven-seater Cessna C401/C402; and two five-seater Beech Baron.

flareman

The EU blacklist came about because of the lack of oversight by the Zambian authorities (DCA) whilst issuing an AOP to Zambezi Airlines.
Proflight have continued to operate for many years with a good standard of operations. I flew to LVI recently with my family on their J32 and J41 and found the airline to be professional and safe.
Now Zambia needs a regional airline with similar standards again!

batriple7

Proflite needs a bit of competition. When it first started out it was great ...if you were connecting from a BA flight it would wait for you. if you were connecting . I travelled a few months ago on it and wow has it changed. They sting you on any luggage over a handbag and a small case. So my hand luggage from BA and my extra case as I travelled business class were charged as extra as well as the difference in the kg allowance of my first bag. So in future if I dont want to incur extra baggage charges I must travel on BA with a handbag only and a case weighing 15kg. Travelling from UK to Africa ....
Oh and they dont wait for anyone now . BA lands at about 615am and connections leave around 7 and the next flite is at 11am. So its all about them and not the customers.

Everone I know is complaining about Proflight but they have the monopoly.
Where is Richard Branson please....

Journey Man

batriple7,

Let's just have a look at what you're saying...

"They don't wait for you!" - you're not the only passenger. Other passengers, I'll wager the majority of clients transiting off other airlines, are looking to get off on time to get on with their very expensive safari holidays. As an airline, Proflight must be under a lot of pressure from the lodges to get clients into the airports on time. As the flights are usually booked through the lodges, I imagine that pressure is considerable.

"I can't take my international luggage allowance on a domestic flight!" - That's generally the way of domestic airlines. Look at the UK. Name one regional airline which doesn't have a baggage allowance. Name a regional airline which has significantly more than 15kgs of baggage allowance. International business class allowance is obviously quite generous as airlines clamour to keep high net worth clients. I'm afraid that's the harsh reality. Everything has a cost.

Airline operations in Africa are particularly difficult. It's not as smooth sailing as in other areas of the World: fuel costs are high, levels of infrastructure are low, and operational costs are high as national companies managing the airports, etc... are relatively expensive. Despite having a monopoly, the taps aren't gold plated over at the Proflight hangars. Just a company plugging away, providing a service. Other airlines have come and gone, with significant governmental backing. I think that speaks volumes. There just isn't the market volume to support multiple low cost airlines. Until then, you may have to pay for your excess baggage, and not have the aircraft waiting for you alone. I believe Proflight, as well as a number of other operators in Lusaka, do private charters. I believe that would solve your issues? Mind you, it sounds like you wouldn't want to pay for it...

Kasompe

BATriple7,
I don't think you really appreciate the difficulties faced by companies such as Proflight, and others such as Staravia etc, in Zambia.
Also, the very fact that these companies have been around for a very long time does speak volumes about their integrity and commitment to providing safe and efficient air travel in the country.
I suspect you would wither after just a few days of trying to run an operation such as theirs in Zambia.
Just my two cents....

OscarTangoRomeo

The minimum connecting time between International & domestic is 90 minutes meaning passengers arriving on BA at 0615 should not be booked on connecting flights until 0745. If BA or any other international flights arrive late and passengers are expected from these then Proflight staff usually go to international arrivals to locate the passengers to expedite them to domestic departures. If international flights arrive late and passengers miss their Proflight connection then Proflight normally rebook without extra charges. If Proflight arrives late and passengers miss their International flight usually the international airlines will not assist Proflight to rebook passengers. Where possible Proflight may delay departures to accept passengers on late International flights depending on the length of delay and the number of passengers concerned.
Proflight have changed their baggage policy on 1st June.

sicamore

I think the above replies highlight Proflight do try their best to accommodate but their are always pax that want a charter out of a scheduled airline.

Plenty of charter outfits in Zambia if that is the case