Air Zimbabwe is taking part in World Travel Market (WTM) London this week, and its chief executive, Edmund Makona, is due to speak on a panel about how airlines and tourism destinations can grow together, The Herald and ATC News report. The show comes as the airline's direct Harare–London Gatwick service, restarted in July after 14 years, approaches four months in the air.

What is WTM London?

World Travel Market is one of the biggest dates in the global travel trade calendar. This year it runs at ExCeL London in the Docklands from Tuesday 3 to Thursday 5 November, according to the organiser's website. It is a business event rather than a public holiday fair: tourism boards, airlines, hotel groups, tour operators and travel-tech firms use it to meet buyers, sign deals and pitch their countries to the wider industry.

The Herald says this year's show is set to build on last year's "record-breaking performance", with an expanded conference programme and more networking events.

The CEO's session

Makona is listed to speak in a session titled "Connected Infrastructure – Can Aviation Growth and Destination Strategy Align?", according to an Air Zimbabwe statement carried by both outlets. ATC News describes him as a keynote speaker.

In the statement, the airline said the discussion "will explore the relationship between aviation connectivity, infrastructure development and destination strategies in unlocking tourism growth". It said the topic "resonates strongly" with its role in supporting Zimbabwe's tourism, trade and investment ambitions.

We have not been able to confirm which day or at what time the session takes place. Neither report gives a time, and it was not on the pages we checked.

Back in London after 14 years

Air Zimbabwe's return to London is the backdrop to its WTM appearance. Direct flights between Harare and London resumed in July 2026 after a 14-year gap. Travelport, the travel-booking technology company, announced a distribution agreement with the airline on 16 July and gave the Harare–Gatwick launch date as 22 July 2026.

According to The Herald, the airline says its Airbus A330-300 flies three times a week from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to Gatwick, leaving Harare on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays and returning on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. We could not check this against Air Zimbabwe's own website this morning because the site was not loading, so travellers should confirm days and times with the airline or their agent before booking.

Why it matters for the diaspora

The UK is home to one of the largest Zimbabwean communities abroad. For years, families travelling between Britain and home have had to change planes in Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dubai or Doha, adding hours and cost to every trip. A direct route matters for weddings, funerals, school holidays and business travel alike, and for families sending relatives home or bringing them over.

A stage like WTM is also where Zimbabwe can be sold to British and European tour operators as a holiday destination, which is the other half of what makes a long-haul route pay its way.

What next for the airline

The Herald reports that Air Zimbabwe plans to expand its domestic network and says it is pursuing more international routes, including Dubai, Beijing and Guangzhou. These are plans only; no launch dates have been announced, and only one outlet has reported them so far.

We do not have figures on fares, how full the London flights have been, or the route's finances, and the airline's statement does not give them.

Have you flown the Harare–Gatwick route since July? Tell Zimbo Grapevine how it went.

Sources: The Herald (Freeman Razemba), "Airzim exhibits in London", 3 Nov 2026, via Zimbabwe Situation: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/airzim-exhibits-in-london/ · ATC News, "Air Zimbabwe takes its voice to WTM London", 3 Nov 2026: https://atcnews.org/air-zimbabwe-takes-its-voice-to-wtm-london/ · World Travel Market London (organiser): https://www.wtm.com/london/en-gb.html · Travelport press release, 16 Jul 2026: https://www.travelport.com/press-releases/travelport-and-air-zimbabwe-sign-multi-year-distribution-agreement

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