The Royal Air Charter managed to fly from Lusaka to India despite the many airspaces that are closed across Africa and the Indian sub-continent after meticulous planning and extensive diplomatic undertakings across the countries involved.

The group that arrived has been placed in mandatory quarantine for the next 14 days.

The Crew were an all Zambian crew that included: Capt Sasha Chizyuka, Capt Orwel Akakulubelwa, First Officer Melanie Sigedt, First Officer Chitambi Zulu, Cabin Crew members, Elizabeth Mubita, Mazyopa, Roginia Banda Muyeka, Engineer Handy Mukunte.

On 7th May, Zambia’s High Commissioner, Judith Kapijimpanga announced the the Mission was arranging for Zambian nationals or resident and work permit holders stranded in India to travel back to Zambia.

She stated that there were hundreds of Zambians comprising students and permit holders stranded since the COVID-19 pandemic and after India implemented a lockdown on 25th March 2020.

Since 2007, Royal Air Charters has been Zambia’s premier provider of private air travel.