Dear Air Zimbabwe

11 LonglandsRd New Mills STOCKPORT Cheshire SK12 3BL 16th April 1994 Air Zimbabwe Corporation Colette House 52-55 Piccadilly LONDON W1V 9AA     Dear Air Zimbabwe     It has long been an ambition of mine to visit South Africa, but unfortunately my principles have never allowed me to come to terms with the policy of Apartheid. However, now that the South African Government has at last come to its senses, I am able to achieve my ambition. But first I need to satisfy myself that Apartheid, as applied to air travel, has been outlawed in deed as well as in word. The reason I feel this may not always be the case is because of something I read recently in a magazine article, The writer made the point that when Apartheid was the order of the day Whites sat at the front of the aeroplane and Blacks sat at the rear, and now that Apartheid has been shelved all airlines flying in South African airspace have been instructed to abandon this system of segregation. Unfortunately it would appear that some of the airlines in question have failed to enter into the spirit of things, and whilst abandoning the policy of seating the Whites at the front of the aeroplane and the Blacks at the rear, have replaced it with a policy of seating the Whites on the right side of the aeroplane and the Blacks on the left - and in one case the Whites on the inside of the aeroplane and the Blacks on the outside of the aeroplane. Needless to say my feelings on the subject of segregation would not allow me to travel with an aeroplane which adopted such a policy, and before I book a flight with your airline I would like you to confirm that you do not adopt a policy of segregation in any way, shape or form. I look forward to hearing from you to this effect. Incidentally, I don't object to segregation by first class, club class and economy class. To the contrary, I find the idea of a South African First Class Black most refreshing. Yours faithfully T Ravenscroft (Mr)