Astra Aviation has expanded its presence in Africa with the addition of a new location at Harare International Airport. The new location which became operational in January is being managed by Zimbabwe-born aviator Corrina Pickard. The facility currently employs three staff and marks Astra Aviation’s nineth location in its network.
The airport is a popular hub for air and road transfers to many regional destinations in addition to being a centre for imports and exports for Zimbabwe.
It is anticipated that the location will also serve as a regional hub for air ambulance flights as well as meeting the needs of tourist passengers staying in area’s popular game lodges and resorts. This facility will enable passengers to be flown in from unimproved air strips, to then transfer on to larger jets for international flights, or to medevac aircraft.
Astra Aviation’s new location also offers available hangar space through its partner Southern Skies Aviation. The hangar, which measures 2,656 sqm can house four Beech King Air 200’s, or one Beech 1900C, with additional parking on the private ramp outside for seven King Air’s.
Astra Aviation will be providing meet and assist services as part of a concierge style service for both business and tourist visitors to Zimbabwe. This portfolio of services will include airport transfers, airline and hotel bookings, tourist services into game lodges and Victoria Falls, airport lounge access, security services and business support services to new investors into Zimbabwe in addition to the airport meet and assist services.
Astra Aviation sees an opportunity in positioning itself close to popular tourist attractions as Africa prepares to develop the world’s fastest growing travel and tourism market over the next 10 years according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
Commenting, Phil Eyre, managing director of Astra Aviation, adds, “We are very pleased to expand our presence in Harare, Zimbabwe and Corrina Pickard is a highly capable and experienced partner to manage the business. Zimbabwe is somewhere that I have always wanted an office as it was the first African country I fell in love with back in 1990. I have seen an opportunity to serve the tourist sector which is starting to recover despite the fluctuations of the Zimbabwean economy and we want to be ready for when the rest of the economy recovers.”
In further planned expansion, Astra Aviation intends to add an office at Victoria Falls Airport, close to the Victoria Falls, within the next two months and to grow its Zambia team at Livingstone Airport located on the Zambia side of the falls.
