Proflight’s New CRJ Jet lands at KKIA as the airline’s regional expansion pursuit takes-off
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – Zambia’s leading airline, Proflight Zambia has welcomed the latest addition to its ever-expanding fleet, a modern bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft, which arrived at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka.
Aircraft OY-MIL landed at 01:23 on Friday (January 7, 2022) morning and is now in the Proflight hangar where it starts the process of being put onto the Zambian register to commence operations in February.
The new 50-seater jet – the second in Proflight’s fleet – will enable the airline to increase the frequency of its popular service between Lusaka and Johannesburg while also expanding its footprint on regional routes.
“The newest aircraft will expand our fleet and complement the airline’s existing CRJ-100 jet to provide a convenient and reliable service,” said Proflight Zambia Director Flight Operations Captain Josias Walubita.
“The addition of the CRJ-200 aircraft represents a new milestone and a step forward for Proflight especially in the pandemic era where we had to climb out of a challenging two years that had seen passenger numbers drop,” said Capt. Walubita.
“We are all excited at this new chapter in the life of Proflight Zambia, and with the arrival of the new jet we continue to provide a safe, reliable, convenient and friendly service to our passengers in the New Year and beyond,” he added.
Proflight’s Chairman of the Board, Captain Philip Lemba said: “I am extremely proud to announce the arrival of our second regional jet. This is a sizeable investment by Proflight. I am very proud to be chairman of the longest surviving Zambian airline and would urge the traveling public to support your local Independent airlines wherever possible.”
The Bombardier CRJ-200 jet was delivered by Move Aircraft Flight Solutions along with the airline’s local team of engineers.
The newer generation engines on the CRJ-200 provide improvements in performance including lower fuel consumption, an increase in cruise altitude, speed, and range.
Both aircraft will be operated by Proflight’s team of local pilots and cabin crew – reinforcing the airline’s 30-year position as a proudly Zambian business that emphasises local training, maintenance, and reinvestment.
The nation’s longest-running local airline expects the Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft to start operating in February 2022.
The jet has a range of about 3,150 km (1,700 miles) and opens up the potential for routes from Lusaka to Cape Town, Mauritius, Luanda and other regional destinations, subject to demand.
