Proflight Flies the Proudly Zambian Flag
Local airline Proflight Zambia has been officially recognised for its contribution to the national economy and inducted into the government’s Proudly Zambian Campaign. This initiative, launched by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), aims to stimulate and promote the production, visibility, and consumption of high-quality home-grown products, solutions, and services.
The Zambian-owned and operated airline flies locally owned and registered aircraft, predominantly piloted by Zambians, and has an active policy of sourcing goods and services from local businesses nationwide.
Since commencing scheduled operations in 2005, Proflight has steadily expanded its domestic network. The airline now offers scheduled services to eight domestic destinations, including seasonal safari routes to Chunga airstrip in Kafue National Park and Jeki/Royal airstrips in Lower Zambezi, with 40 weekly flights during peak seasons. Additionally, Proflight has been relentless in its regional expansion, connecting travellers to three destinations in South Africa and ensuring convenient and seamless journeys for international and domestic tourists.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the Proudly Zambian Campaign, particularly because, over the years, we have maintained our roots as a Zambian airline and witnessed the strong push for more local content across the various sectors of our economy. The value created by businesses and communities, and even countries, working together is vital, as we can see in our daily operations,” said Proflight Zambia Director of Flight Operations, Captain Josias Walubita.
Over the past three decades, Proflight’s commitment to excellence and dedication to providing reliable, safe, efficient, and convenient air travel have made it the airline of choice for inbound travellers, connecting them to the rest of Zambia via Lusaka and Ndola, and outbound passengers, connecting them to international destinations via Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town.
In 2023, Proflight surpassed its target of 230,000 passengers, serving a total of 279,212 passengers and marking a significant milestone for the airline.
One key goal of the Proudly Zambian Campaign is to foster local employment opportunities by scaling up business operations. As a result of its expansion, Proflight’s workforce has grown from 140 to over 250 employees, boasting a rich portfolio of seasoned industry experts and new and exceptional talent.
“We are proud to have Proflight Zambia join the Proudly Zambian Campaign and fly the Zambian flag high in its literal sense. In its years of operation, Proflight has continued to instil pride in us by proving that Zambians can deliver quality service. As a Campaign, we are ready to support local businesses that are committed to quality and changing the narrative of what Zambian is. Therefore, as we work to increase local content in all sectors, we urge Zambians to think local first, buy Zambian, and fly Zambian,” said Proudly Zambian Campaign Coordinator Sopani Muzumara.
“Proflight Zambia would like to reaffirm its dedication to supporting businesses and the communities where it operates by contributing to the growth and development of Zambia’s tourism sector and wider economy through its flight operations,” added Capt. Walubita.
One recent development is the resumption of scheduled flights to Kasama in Northern Province, and the introduction of locally produced Kasama Coffee served on the route.
Moreover, Proflight has been a licensed Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) since 2016 and conducts all fleet maintenance at its facility at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. The AMO employs 30 licensed engineers and 50 support staff. Proflight’s core objective is ensuring total flight reliability, achieved through meticulous planning, research, and significant investments in training local personnel and acquiring necessary tools. Capt. Walubita emphasised the importance of this function in managing aircraft maintenance needs, highlighting Zambia’s technological and mechanical capabilities.
