I look forward to the day when Zambia again has a national flag airline, and I can fly on it directly from the United States to Lusaka, Livingstone, Ndola or Mfuwe.
I have discovered that our Nkwazi DC 10 has since been stripped and the forward section of this once fantastic airliner is now preserved and used as a classroom at Manchesters Aviation Viewing Park.
The Zambia Airway DC 10 christened Nkwazi reg. N3016Z flew for Zambia Airways from 1984 up until the company ceased operations in 1994. It last flew in 2001 for Monarch Airlines in UK. It is currently stored... at Manchester's Ringway International Airport.
I rode on probably every one of those planes many times. It suffered a lot from ambition - too many flights, not enough passengers. I remember flying 737s to Harare frequently - they were three-quarters or more empty. I couldn't imagine how they made money on all of trips. DC-10 benefited from the international sanctions on South Africa in the 80s, carrying intercontinental passengers that couldn't fly there directly. When the sanctions were lifted, that reliable money-maker was gone.
in 1978 I sat at Southdowns Airstrip waiting for that HS748 to take me and my family to Luangwa for a vacation. After 4 hours we were told that Presidenty Kaunda had taken the plane to the western Province. I guess fee paying tourists did not count in his Lordships eyes. I drove through the night but all the other paying passengers were SOL. Way to run an Airline? What a banana joke!
@luswishi Sorry to hear that this happened to you, It happened to me too, 3 times! The airline was there for the president, as you may know or not know, Zambia was a one party state and the president back then who was elected in 1964 was on up to 1991. It was difficult times back then for everyone, especially those of us having to live in Zambia. In 1991 Zambia had multi party elections and is now a democratic state. The airline was shut down by the new government in 1994.
that says it all, the presidential DC.. is added to the fleet. how could a country as poor as Zambia afford to fly KK round in his own plane??!! Why couldn't he catch sceduled flights and save millions?
@mesixpence My friend, Zambia was never a poor country believe me, in fact Zambia has so many resources like very few countries in this world. This airline was born because of former president Kaunda, the airline went millions of dollars under ever year yet was bailed out all the time, there was lots of money around to keep an unprofitable airline flying. After the dictatorship went in 1991 and the capitalists came in it was not long till they closed the airline.
@mesixpence I thought I did answer your question. You asked how could a country as poor as Zambia afford to fly KK around and I told you that Zambia was never a poor country, in fact Zambia was and still is a very rich country! Your second question was for him to catch scheduled flights to save money and I ask you how many presidents around the world do you know that catch scheduled flights especially dictators?
it hurts my feelings even thinking about this all especially for us young pilots who have a passion and want to fly for our airline.wel atleast now we have zambezi and am hoping to join them.....
Airliner World magazine, August 2010 issue page 68. I have wriiten an article that looks at the reasons behind the closure of Africa's legendary flag carriers including the mighty Zambia Airways. It was an airline to remember!
@keithmwana Thank you so much for that info on the article, I just went out today and got the magazine! :) Have you written anything else in the past about QZ? Would be nice to see something in future with more info and pictures an gr8 airlines of the past. Those where indeed airlines.
@freedomairwaves, thanks am glad you went out to get the mag! I wrote another article that follows the career of the QZ DC-10 'Nkwazi'. It appeared in a US based magazine called Airways in March 2009. I can email a scanned copy of the airticle to you, and if anyone else wants a copy send me a message at kemwa747@yahoo.co.uk and i will reply and attach it. I have also done features on KQ and ET. I write monthly on African aviation issues for FlightCom magazine based in South Africa.
@keithmwana Thank you so much for that info on the article, I just went out today and got the magazine! :) Have you written anything else in the past about QZ? Would be nice to see something in future with more info and pictures about QZ and other gr8 airlines of the past. Those where indeed airlines.
@freedomairwaves Just seen your reply from 7 months ago! Iam putting together my website it will have all my published articles online for all to read. I have done a few more on african airlines that you might find interesting. keep in touch
for an airline to sustain itself, each plane must fill up at least 80% of its seats per flight. I heard that as far back as 1984, zambia airways was flying to London with almost empty. the fuel bill, maintenance costs and salaries cannot be met in that way. other airlines in africa have also faced the same problem eg air botswana flies from Johannesburg to Gaborone with 15 passngers (ATR 42) a plane with a seating capacity of bout 40. so last year they sufferd P89million loss!
Dear Giggimax, It is not true about the 80% load factor, who on earth told you about such a thing? As a professional I can assure you that it is a lot less, depending on type of aircraft. On average a plane needs to have 40% load factor to break even, anything above 40% is considered a profit. I know for a fact the QZ was profitable at one point especially when it refueled abroad since Zambia has the highest aviation fuel prices in the world! Know, if government mismanaged, that's another story
@freedomairwaves which type of aircraft would that be? How do they cope then with service costs (for jet aircarft!), repairs and maintain competitive salaries? If really Zambian govt mismanaged then how do you explain the fact that for example in Botswana, govt hasn't mismanaged but the airline still continues to operate at a loss even when load factors are 40%?
@giggimax , it seems you know for a fact that Botswana does not mismanage their national airline, if I may ask, how is it that you know this? Look here, lets get some things straight, when a government mismanages in a way they are steeling and no one will come out and say so. Air Botswana, Air Zimbabwe, Zambia Airways and another 100+ airlines mismanage. It's just the way things are out there in the real world. By the way, where are you from?
I can just remember flying from Southdowns to Lusaks on 748's then from Ndola on the 737s to connect with 707 to Heathrow. For some reason my dad switched us to British Caledonian. Must have been due to flight times i think.
I flew on a zambia airways 737 in '82 from Nairobi to Lusaka on 26 september. i was 8 years old. the flight was wonderful. I can still remember the food on that flight, man real african hospitality.
I grew up in Chelston, Lusaka. Half the people in Chelston benefited directly or indirectly from Zambia Airways. It was sad to see the airline go, and to see the misery that resulted for so many families because of that decision. Chilankalipa!!!
after several months the music in this video was disabled and I got this message, "This video contains an audio track that has not been authorized by WMG. The audio has been disabled." Shame though cause this is not used in anyway to make money out of it but just to make a pleasant video to watch with an audio track in the background. Maybe one day the peoples of the world can stand proud and free with no moneys in their way to divide each and everyone.
Hi guys I lived in Zambia for four years and it's sad to see thing like these, Zambia was proud of ( The Zambia airways ) Hope one day to go back to Lusaka with a Zambia Airways plane..
As for the management that did not do a good job in running the airline, I have to agree up to a point. When 1 specific MD at QZ tried to refuel the planes abroad getting this way cheaper fuel for the airline and thus the airline running a profit at some point he was very quickly fired! WHY?! I can give you an example of a route that took on fuel from abroad, DC-10 from Jo'burg filled up and onto Lusaka then Monrovia refuel stopover and onto JFK. No or minimal fuel was added from Zambia.
Keep in mind that one of the main reasons why private airlines are unable to flourish in Zambia is because of the fuel prices, Zambia apparently has the highest aviation fuel prices in the world! With that in mind + not enough load factors = unprofitable and unsafe private airlines. It's very sad to know that up to today a lot of low budget airlines are economizing on safety for a bit of extra profit! (or less loss).
Do we know why the fuel is so expensive? Do we have too many middle men? Do we have people in high places that keep the prices high? Shall we exercise our freedoms and let the powers that be know that we are not happy? I am willing to do something about it. let us rally in numbers, and make our voices heard
Dear Bachewe, The fuel in Zambia is very high because it has to come by tankers to Dar-Es-Salam and there after it has to be treated in such a way for it to be pumped trough the 1600 Km line that runs from Dar-es-Salam to Ndola refinery, thereafter has to be treated again and refined and made into the fuel we run our cars, airplanes and so on. All that is costly and to make things worst there are high taxes on top (the cherry) ;)
Not to try and start some kind of political complaint, but let us face facts. Zambia has lost out on Billions of dollars as a result of failing to have a national airline. Think of all the extra income UK and RSA have made due to our loss. British Airways gets most of our money from intercontinental flights while SAA rules on the continent. Let us fight back for what is truly ours and create our wealth by having our own privately owned airlines. We should not depend on Gvt!
Zambia is no state to support privately owned airlines as this has happened and all have ended up closing down, just to mention a few, Aero Zambia, Zambian Express and Zambian Airways (ex-Mine Air Services). The only airline to date that was able to provide international routes and large aircraft for such routes was the government run national airline "Zambia Airways Corporation Ltd" (ZAC). The Zambian government needs to take action and bring it back.
I look forward to the day when Zambia again has a national flag airline, and I can fly on it directly from the United States to Lusaka, Livingstone, Ndola or Mfuwe.
galan98 5 months ago 2
I have discovered that our Nkwazi DC 10 has since been stripped and the forward section of this once fantastic airliner is now preserved and used as a classroom at Manchesters Aviation Viewing Park.
malombola 9 months ago
The Zambia Airway DC 10 christened Nkwazi reg. N3016Z flew for Zambia Airways from 1984 up until the company ceased operations in 1994. It last flew in 2001 for Monarch Airlines in UK. It is currently stored... at Manchester's Ringway International Airport.
malombola 9 months ago
@malombola It was stored some long time ago. It has been scraped and the only part remaining now is the nose section on display :(
freedomairwaves 9 months ago
I rode on probably every one of those planes many times. It suffered a lot from ambition - too many flights, not enough passengers. I remember flying 737s to Harare frequently - they were three-quarters or more empty. I couldn't imagine how they made money on all of trips. DC-10 benefited from the international sanctions on South Africa in the 80s, carrying intercontinental passengers that couldn't fly there directly. When the sanctions were lifted, that reliable money-maker was gone.
walrasiad 1 year ago
in 1978 I sat at Southdowns Airstrip waiting for that HS748 to take me and my family to Luangwa for a vacation. After 4 hours we were told that Presidenty Kaunda had taken the plane to the western Province. I guess fee paying tourists did not count in his Lordships eyes. I drove through the night but all the other paying passengers were SOL. Way to run an Airline? What a banana joke!
luswishi 1 year ago
@luswishi Sorry to hear that this happened to you, It happened to me too, 3 times! The airline was there for the president, as you may know or not know, Zambia was a one party state and the president back then who was elected in 1964 was on up to 1991. It was difficult times back then for everyone, especially those of us having to live in Zambia. In 1991 Zambia had multi party elections and is now a democratic state. The airline was shut down by the new government in 1994.
freedomairwaves 1 year ago
that says it all, the presidential DC.. is added to the fleet. how could a country as poor as Zambia afford to fly KK round in his own plane??!! Why couldn't he catch sceduled flights and save millions?
mesixpence 1 year ago
@mesixpence My friend, Zambia was never a poor country believe me, in fact Zambia has so many resources like very few countries in this world. This airline was born because of former president Kaunda, the airline went millions of dollars under ever year yet was bailed out all the time, there was lots of money around to keep an unprofitable airline flying. After the dictatorship went in 1991 and the capitalists came in it was not long till they closed the airline.
freedomairwaves 1 year ago
@freedomairwaves you didn't answer my question.
mesixpence 1 year ago
@mesixpence I thought I did answer your question. You asked how could a country as poor as Zambia afford to fly KK around and I told you that Zambia was never a poor country, in fact Zambia was and still is a very rich country! Your second question was for him to catch scheduled flights to save money and I ask you how many presidents around the world do you know that catch scheduled flights especially dictators?
freedomairwaves 1 year ago
it hurts my feelings even thinking about this all especially for us young pilots who have a passion and want to fly for our airline.wel atleast now we have zambezi and am hoping to join them.....
undiism 1 year ago
Airliner World magazine, August 2010 issue page 68. I have wriiten an article that looks at the reasons behind the closure of Africa's legendary flag carriers including the mighty Zambia Airways. It was an airline to remember!
keithmwana 1 year ago
@keithmwana Thank you so much for that info on the article, I just went out today and got the magazine! :) Have you written anything else in the past about QZ? Would be nice to see something in future with more info and pictures an gr8 airlines of the past. Those where indeed airlines.
freedomairwaves 1 year ago
@freedomairwaves, thanks am glad you went out to get the mag! I wrote another article that follows the career of the QZ DC-10 'Nkwazi'. It appeared in a US based magazine called Airways in March 2009. I can email a scanned copy of the airticle to you, and if anyone else wants a copy send me a message at kemwa747@yahoo.co.uk and i will reply and attach it. I have also done features on KQ and ET. I write monthly on African aviation issues for FlightCom magazine based in South Africa.
keithmwana 1 year ago
@keithmwana Thank you so much for that info on the article, I just went out today and got the magazine! :) Have you written anything else in the past about QZ? Would be nice to see something in future with more info and pictures about QZ and other gr8 airlines of the past. Those where indeed airlines.
freedomairwaves 1 year ago
@freedomairwaves Just seen your reply from 7 months ago! Iam putting together my website it will have all my published articles online for all to read. I have done a few more on african airlines that you might find interesting. keep in touch
keithmwana 1 year ago
type of things that make me proud to be zambian but sad at the same time!!awe what happened to us
kapasa101 1 year ago
for an airline to sustain itself, each plane must fill up at least 80% of its seats per flight. I heard that as far back as 1984, zambia airways was flying to London with almost empty. the fuel bill, maintenance costs and salaries cannot be met in that way. other airlines in africa have also faced the same problem eg air botswana flies from Johannesburg to Gaborone with 15 passngers (ATR 42) a plane with a seating capacity of bout 40. so last year they sufferd P89million loss!
giggimax 1 year ago
Dear Giggimax, It is not true about the 80% load factor, who on earth told you about such a thing? As a professional I can assure you that it is a lot less, depending on type of aircraft. On average a plane needs to have 40% load factor to break even, anything above 40% is considered a profit. I know for a fact the QZ was profitable at one point especially when it refueled abroad since Zambia has the highest aviation fuel prices in the world! Know, if government mismanaged, that's another story
freedomairwaves 1 year ago
@freedomairwaves which type of aircraft would that be? How do they cope then with service costs (for jet aircarft!), repairs and maintain competitive salaries? If really Zambian govt mismanaged then how do you explain the fact that for example in Botswana, govt hasn't mismanaged but the airline still continues to operate at a loss even when load factors are 40%?
giggimax 1 year ago
@giggimax , it seems you know for a fact that Botswana does not mismanage their national airline, if I may ask, how is it that you know this? Look here, lets get some things straight, when a government mismanages in a way they are steeling and no one will come out and say so. Air Botswana, Air Zimbabwe, Zambia Airways and another 100+ airlines mismanage. It's just the way things are out there in the real world. By the way, where are you from?
freedomairwaves 1 year ago
I can just remember flying from Southdowns to Lusaks on 748's then from Ndola on the 737s to connect with 707 to Heathrow. For some reason my dad switched us to British Caledonian. Must have been due to flight times i think.
jezinbrum 1 year ago
I flew on a zambia airways 737 in '82 from Nairobi to Lusaka on 26 september. i was 8 years old. the flight was wonderful. I can still remember the food on that flight, man real african hospitality.
giggimax 1 year ago
I grew up in Chelston, Lusaka. Half the people in Chelston benefited directly or indirectly from Zambia Airways. It was sad to see the airline go, and to see the misery that resulted for so many families because of that decision. Chilankalipa!!!
50kwacha 2 years ago
sad to see this, really sad. hope they're back sometime
NeoNMussiC 2 years ago
after several months the music in this video was disabled and I got this message, "This video contains an audio track that has not been authorized by WMG. The audio has been disabled." Shame though cause this is not used in anyway to make money out of it but just to make a pleasant video to watch with an audio track in the background. Maybe one day the peoples of the world can stand proud and free with no moneys in their way to divide each and everyone.
freedomairwaves 2 years ago
Flew on the Nkwazi in 1994 with an all Zambian crew from London to Lusaka - my most memorable flight.
tasila 2 years ago
Hi guys I lived in Zambia for four years and it's sad to see thing like these, Zambia was proud of ( The Zambia airways ) Hope one day to go back to Lusaka with a Zambia Airways plane..
elchicostanco 2 years ago
Lovely composition! Brings back sweeeet memories!!
zulu27921 2 years ago
AMSTOQZ ... Loved to work, ashame it ended 1994 ... Cheers old colleagues and go with God.
1969tero 2 years ago
As for the management that did not do a good job in running the airline, I have to agree up to a point. When 1 specific MD at QZ tried to refuel the planes abroad getting this way cheaper fuel for the airline and thus the airline running a profit at some point he was very quickly fired! WHY?! I can give you an example of a route that took on fuel from abroad, DC-10 from Jo'burg filled up and onto Lusaka then Monrovia refuel stopover and onto JFK. No or minimal fuel was added from Zambia.
freedomairwaves 2 years ago
whats that song? really nice :))) similar to deep forest and enigma style
saszer20 2 years ago
the song is by Snap and is entitled Rame
freedomairwaves 2 years ago
Keep in mind that one of the main reasons why private airlines are unable to flourish in Zambia is because of the fuel prices, Zambia apparently has the highest aviation fuel prices in the world! With that in mind + not enough load factors = unprofitable and unsafe private airlines. It's very sad to know that up to today a lot of low budget airlines are economizing on safety for a bit of extra profit! (or less loss).
freedomairwaves 2 years ago
Do we know why the fuel is so expensive? Do we have too many middle men? Do we have people in high places that keep the prices high? Shall we exercise our freedoms and let the powers that be know that we are not happy? I am willing to do something about it. let us rally in numbers, and make our voices heard
bachewe 2 years ago
Dear Bachewe, The fuel in Zambia is very high because it has to come by tankers to Dar-Es-Salam and there after it has to be treated in such a way for it to be pumped trough the 1600 Km line that runs from Dar-es-Salam to Ndola refinery, thereafter has to be treated again and refined and made into the fuel we run our cars, airplanes and so on. All that is costly and to make things worst there are high taxes on top (the cherry) ;)
freedomairwaves 2 years ago
Not to try and start some kind of political complaint, but let us face facts. Zambia has lost out on Billions of dollars as a result of failing to have a national airline. Think of all the extra income UK and RSA have made due to our loss. British Airways gets most of our money from intercontinental flights while SAA rules on the continent. Let us fight back for what is truly ours and create our wealth by having our own privately owned airlines. We should not depend on Gvt!
bachewe 2 years ago
Zambia is no state to support privately owned airlines as this has happened and all have ended up closing down, just to mention a few, Aero Zambia, Zambian Express and Zambian Airways (ex-Mine Air Services). The only airline to date that was able to provide international routes and large aircraft for such routes was the government run national airline "Zambia Airways Corporation Ltd" (ZAC). The Zambian government needs to take action and bring it back.
freedomairwaves 2 years ago
I really miss Zambia Airways, especially the New York flights.
FamousZambian 2 years ago