Air Zimbabwe B737-200
Air Zimbabwe B737-200

Air Zimbabwe B737-200 Classic Flying Experience

After a very enjoyable Air Zimbabwe B767-200 ride from Johannesburg. I arrived in Harare in the evening. The next day I went back to the airport to fly on their B737-200 classic to Bulawayo.

I didn't buy ticket in advance till the day of departure to avoid frequent schedule changes or any cancellations. Air Zimbabwe ticket office opens at 5am each day. The Air Zimbabwe B737-200 flies to Bulawayo at 7am, Vic Falls in mid morning and another Bulawayo flight in the evening. Due to aircraft shortage, their B737-200 schedule frequently changed and flights may get merged into one. Therefore, I advise to buy ticket on the day. The flight is usually not full.

I bought the ticket at the ticket office (inside International terminal) for around $180 on a round-trip between Harare and Bulawayo.

Harare Int'l airport
Harare Int'l airport
Harare Int'l airport Robert Gabriel Mugabe Int'l
Harare Int'l airport Robert Gabriel Mugabe Int'l
 

Air Zimbabwe domestic flights depart from domestic terminal which seems like an original airport building.

Harare Int'l airport Domestic Terminal
Harare Int'l airport Domestic Terminal
people standing in a room with a sign

Once air-side, there is a lounge called Dzimbahwe Lounge. I went inside to take a look as there were no attendants in the lounge. I was told Air Zimbabwe business class passengers can use the lounge. The lounge is fairly simple with a few drinks and packets of chips on offer.

a door with a sign and a window a sign on a door a room with chairs and tables a room with chairs and tables a refrigerator full of sodas and cans a shelf with cups and plates on it a microwave on a table a basket of chips in a wooden shelf a wooden magazine rack with newspapers in it

Boarding started 30 minutes before our departure time. Passengers walk outside the ramp to board the plane. It certainly felt very nostalgic to board a B737-200 classic in 2018. The registration of the plane is Z-WPA, originally delivered from Boeing in Nov 1986. (32 years old)

a group of people outside of a building
Air Zimbabwe B737-200
Air Zimbabwe B737-200
Pratt & Whitney JT8D engine on Air Zimbabwe B737-200
Pratt & Whitney JT8D engine on Air Zimbabwe B737-200
an airplane on the tarmac

Air Zimbabwe B737-200 has 12 Business Class and 93 Economy Class seats. I was quite surprised to see the Business Class as the ticket office didn't even tell me there is an option to fly in Business.

Air Zimbabwe B737-200 interior
Air Zimbabwe B737-200 interior
Air Zimbabwe B737-200 Business Class seat
Air Zimbabwe B737-200 Business Class seat
Air Zimbabwe B737-200 interior
Air Zimbabwe B737-200 interior

I was seated in row 5 and have a great frontal engine view. The window were quite dirty and heavily scratched makes it hard for photography. Check out the video for the takeoff scenes.

an airplane wing and a landscape

Video

 

There were sandwiches, tea/coffee/juice service on the short 30 minutes flight to Bulawayo. All free of charge. I must say the service was better than many major airlines in US and EU.

a sandwich wrapped in plastic on a plastic tray a hand holding a cup of coffee

The Monday morning flight was not even 50% full so I moved to the back for landing.

Air Zimbabwe B737-200 interior
Air Zimbabwe B737-200 interior
a black and white seats in a bus

See the landing into Bulawayo from the video footage below.

 
  a sign on a building We landed 15 minutes ahead of time at Joshua Nkomo Int'l Airport of Bulawayo. I quickly deplane and went out and back to the check-in area for the return flight. The turnaround time was 30 minutes at Bulawayo.
Air Zimbabwe B737-200
Air Zimbabwe B737-200
Air Zimbabwe B737-200
Air Zimbabwe B737-200

a woman standing in front of an airplane a man standing in front of an airplane an airplane on the runway a man in the cockpit of an airplane

Strictly no cockpit visit was allowed but I settled in Row 16A to enjoy the views of Zimbabwe and sounds of JT8D engine.

an airplane wing in the air an airplane wing in the sky the wing of a plane an airplane wing in the sky

The same sandwich was served again on the return flight.

a sandwich on a plate an airplane wing and a city an airplane wing and a landscape

See the video below for landing back into Harare.

Overall, it was a really enjoyable ride on the Air Zimbabwe B737-200 classic. It was like traveling back in time. Never a moment I felt dangerous.

 

Video