Zimbabwe recorded a sharp 42% drop in flight numbers during the first quarter of 2025, according to a new report by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat). The agency revealed that only 11,400 flights were recorded between January and March, a significant decline from the 19,600 flights recorded in the final quarter of 2024. This major drop in air traffic affected both domestic and international flights, cargo, and passenger volumes across all airports in the country.
The ZimStat report stated that February recorded the weakest performance, but some recovery was seen in March. International flights increased from 2,200 to 2,522, while domestic flights rose from 1,221 to 1,762 during the same month. Despite this slight rebound, the quarterly totals still reflect a worrying trend for Zimbabwe’s aviation sector.
The reduction in flight activity also had a direct impact on passenger movement, which dropped by 19.5% in the first quarter of the year. The number of passengers declined from 622,700 in late 2024 to 501,300 in early 2025. According to ZimStat, all major airports in Zimbabwe, including Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls International Airport, recorded reduced activity.
Air cargo operations were also badly affected. The country’s airfreight volumes fell by 38.8%, with imports plunging by 58.1% and exports dropping by 17.3%. Cargo volumes fell from 4,851 tonnes in Q4 2024 to just 2,968 tonnes in Q1 2025. Analysts say this has serious implications for sectors like manufacturing, mining, and agriculture that rely heavily on efficient cargo logistics.
Meanwhile, rail transport did not fare much better. ZimStat reported that the volume of goods moved by train declined by 35.9%. The agricultural sector saw the biggest slump, with goods moved by rail dropping a staggering 86.7%. The industrial sector recorded a smaller but still significant fall of 1.7%, while the mining and energy sector saw a 5.8% reduction in goods transported via rail.
Despite the drop in rail freight, there was a reduction in the number of railway accidents. ZimStat reported 58 train accidents in Q1 2025, down from 120 in the previous quarter—a 51.7% decrease. However, accidents along main lines increased by 66.7%, from 21 incidents to 35. This rise in mainline incidents has raised concerns over rail infrastructure safety and maintenance.
Reacting to the report, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced that the government has revised the tourism growth forecast for 2025 from 4.3% to 2.9%, blaming the decline on the poor performance of the aviation and transport sector. Ncube said that a strong aviation industry is key to attracting tourists, boosting exports, and facilitating business travel.
“The significant decline in flight and cargo volumes has affected Zimbabwe’s connectivity, which directly impacts tourism and trade,” Ncube said. “We need to address operational inefficiencies, rebuild trust in our transport systems, and invest in modern infrastructure.”
Stakeholders in Zimbabwe’s tourism and transport sectors have expressed concern over the declining numbers, calling for urgent reforms. Some airlines and tourism operators have blamed high operational costs, weak passenger demand, and unstable currency exchange rates for the downturn.
Experts have also pointed to regional competition from neighboring countries such as South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana, whose airports and airline services are attracting more international traffic. Zimbabwe’s aviation sector, once seen as a regional hub, has struggled in recent years due to economic instability, aging infrastructure, and underinvestment.
Transport analysts say that unless government takes bold steps to support the industry—through tax breaks, modernisation of airports, and improved airline regulations—the sector may continue to underperform. Zimbabwe’s national carrier, Air Zimbabwe, has also faced operational challenges, with limited routes and aircraft, further contributing to the overall decline in air traffic.
As the year progresses, it remains to be seen whether Zimbabwe can bounce back from this downturn. The next quarter will be crucial in determining whether March’s slight recovery can be sustained and built upon to restore confidence in the country’s aviation sector.
