Aviation History
Zambia's civil aviation history centers on Zambia Airways, founded in 1964 as a subsidiary of the regional Central African Airways and later fully nationalized, which grew into a substantial pan-African and long-haul carrier before collapsing into liquidation in 1994 under heavy debt. The country went without a flag carrier for over two decades until the government relaunched Zambia Airways in 2021 in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.
Established as a subsidiary of Central African Airways at independence, beginning operations on 1 July 1964 with Douglas DC-3s and de Havilland Beavers.
Following the dissolution of Central African Airways, Zambia Airways became an independent, wholly state-owned national carrier on 1 September 1967.
Ex-Aer Lingus and Pan Am 707s acquired in 1974-75 enabled direct long-haul service to London and Frankfurt.
Zambia Airways took delivery of a DC-10, becoming reportedly the sixth African carrier to operate the type.
Mounting debts and losses forced the Zambian government to place the airline into liquidation in December 1994, ending 30 years of operations.
The national carrier officially resumed operations on 1 December 2021 as a joint venture, 55% government-owned and 45% owned by Ethiopian Airlines.
The revived Zambia Airways received its first jet, a Boeing 737-800, in September 2023, with plans to grow the fleet toward six aircraft by 2027.
Zambia Airways (historic 1964-1994, relaunched 2021) · Proflight Zambia
Wikipedia, Zambia Airways corporate history, Ethiopian Airlines press releases