THE Pioneer Development Company (PDC) has lodged an application with Zimbabwe's Air Services Board to begin operating a local, private passenger and cargo flight service, Pioneer Airlines, reports Zimbabwe's 'Financial Gazette'.
The new airline, if approved, will begin operations in the first quarter of next year, said Hamish Rudland, director of PDC, of which Pioneer Airlines is a subsidiary.
According to the company's application for an air services permit, the airline will offer passenger and cargo services in any part of Zimbabwe or between Zimbabwe and any neighbouring or foreign country.
"What we are doing is we are looking for a joint venture with local and regional airline companies. This is in anticipation of the influx locally of Chinese tourists," said Rudland, quoted by the Financial Gazette.
The airline's greatest competitor is Zimbabwe's national carrier, Air Zimbabwe, which according to the newspaper has suffered large capacity constraints in recent years.
The exact cost of the venture was not divulged, but Rudland is quoted as saying: "The cost of the project cannot be ascertained at the moment but if we are not going to be able to lease, the cost will run into several millions of American dollars. It will be a multi-billion dollar project."
Rudland said that they are in discussion with some South Africa companies about the leasing of aircraft.