Harrington concerned how National Airline will be viable

William Harrington

Former Communication and Transport Minister in the Fredrick Chiluba administration William Harrington has challenged government to prove that the National Airline will be viable once established by publishing a bankable document.

Mr. Harrington wants government to come up with a clear feasibility study before establishing the Airline which he has described as a prestigious and high risk venture.

He has told Qfm News in an interview that having served as a Cabinet Minister at the time Zambia Airways was liquidated; he still has concerns about how the new National Airline will be made a workable business given the cost of running such a business in Zambia.

Mr. Harrington wonders whether government has particularly kept it in mind how difficult it has been for some Airlines that are already operating in Zambia given the cost of jet fuel in the country.

He further states that government should explain how exactly it will ensure that once established the National Airline is competitive with other Airlines currently operating in Zambia.

Mr Harrington says this is because he foresees the National Airline being highly subsidized by government for it to operate sustainably.

Mr. Harrington has advised that government goes by the route of a joint venture with the private sector in which it will only have a small stake so that the Airline remains a private sector driven business.