Zambia faces aviation connectivity shifts as Turkish Airlines exits Lusaka

Turkish Airlines has permanently removed Lusaka from its future flight schedules, ending the service that connected the city to Istanbul via Dar es Salaam. This decision follows a period where Zambia's tourism arrivals were 6.6 percent below target, despite a significant increase in international arrivals in 2024.

In response to connectivity challenges, the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has encouraged the national carrier, Zambia Airways, to consider introducing domestic services to Kasama. CAA Director General Captain Derrick F. Luembe indicated that the government might provide support for routes deemed necessary for national development, suggesting potential subsidies or public service obligations to maintain provincial connections.

Zambia Airways CEO Aman Wole Gurmu stated the airline is pursuing a strategy for both domestic and regional expansion, which includes potential routes to Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo and increased cargo operations.