Internet reacts to Air Zimbabwe's one passenger flight rumour

1 Views

In a video circulating online, an individual claims to be the only passenger who boarded an Air Zimbabwe flight from Harare to Johannesburg.

The viral video has raised eyebrows on X and drawn fresh attention to the state of Air Zimbabwe’s operations.

Did Air Zimbabwe transport one passenger?

In a post that quickly picked up traction on X (formerly Twitter), the user Mlandeli Ndlela posted a short video and claimed that an Air Zimbabwe flight from Harare to Johannesburg flew with just one passenger on board. The video has a caption: “I decided to give Air Zimbabwe a chance and I was the only passenger on board.”

While some X users treated it as a joke, others pointed to the post as symbolic of the airline’s long-standing struggles with passenger numbers and operational viability.

What is the truth about the situation?

The South African has reached out to Air Zimbabwe for comment. We’ve asked if the flight in question really carried only one passenger, and if so, whether there were operational or logistical reasons that made the flight necessary. We’ve also asked how common these low-passenger flights are on the Harare–Johannesburg route.

Air Zimbabwe has been working to revive its image amid years of economic and operational challenges. But stories like this, whether true or not, add to the intrigue around the state of national carriers in the region. We’ll update this story as soon as we receive a response from the airline.

Here is how some X users have reacted:

@advocatmelanie: How is this not a lie?

@dexkellyzim: “Not too sure about your experience or feelings. I once flew Harare – Heathrow – BA. Four passengers were on board. It was actually quite weird.

@TalentNyonie: “I actually don’t understand why AirZim is expensive aren’t they supposed to be like the Zupco of airlines.”

@@beejay_bj3: “They must reduce their fares, Fylsafair is always packed to the brim…”

@sinatragunda:“The plane seems stationary though .Is it not one of those last passengers out of a plane ?