Air Zimbabwe’s handwritten boarding passes spark fun and security concerns online
Dr Alexander Rusero, a Zimbabwean international relations analyst, shared his experience on social media
Image: @AlexanderRusero/X
Air Zimbabwe’s recent use of handwritten boarding passes has sparked a mix of amusement, curiosity, and debate among travelers and social media commentators.
Passengers on flights in Zimbabwe were reportedly issued boarding passes penned in blue ink, a practice that has drawn attention in the age of digital check-ins and automated boarding processes.
Some passengers found the handwritten passes quirky or amusing, while others raised concerns about the airline’s operational efficiency.
File photo: Tafadzwa Ufumeli. An Air Zimbabwe plane
Image: File/Tafadzwa Ufumeli
Dr Alexander Rusero, a Zimbabwean international relations analyst, shared his experience on social media, saying, "This is a false start! Why don't you partner with universities or polytechnics to come up with something as simple as a well-designed boarding pass, even an electronic one? This is hilarious!"
This week, award-winning Zimbabwean journalist and commentator Hopewell Chin'ono also weighed in: “Imagine in 2025, a passenger being handed a handwritten boarding pass. They have been doing this regularly for years. A boarding pass printer costs only US$300, but it has never been a priority.”
Chin'ono added: "This is not only embarrassing, it is a serious security concern. Boarding passes are meant to be electronically scanned to verify that the traveller is indeed the rightful holder of the ticket and is cleared to board. But in Zimbabwe, this basic security protocol is being ignored, and that is just crazy. It exposes passengers and the entire aviation system to massive risks.
'Someone could move with drugs, with guns, or even board a flight under a false identity. How do you actually know that the person holding this handwritten pass is the right person when they can manufacture a fake ID and fake boarding pass? It is ridiculous. Zimbabweans must also understand that when other countries start making it harder for them to travel or when their documents are treated with suspicion, it stems from this very culture of shoddy incompetence and security negligence," he said.
On the other side of the debate, outspoken ZANU PF activist Cleopas Mukungunugwa defended the airline on X, arguing that handwritten boarding passes are not unique to Zimbabwe. He shared examples of handwritten tickets from other airlines, including Qantas, suggesting that the practice can occur elsewhere and is sometimes a practical solution rather than a sign of mismanagement.
While Air Zimbabwe has not issued an official statement about the current situation, the tweets and shared experiences have generated widespread discussion, highlighting both curiosity and concern over the airline’s operations.
For passengers, the ink-penned passes serve as a reminder that air travel can still hold surprises—even in the digital age.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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