Air Tanzania targets West & Central Africa, UK in 2023

Air Tanzania (TC, Dar es Salaam) will launch new routes to West and Central Africa as well as the United Kingdom following the expansion of its fleet with two B737-9s and one B787-8 in 2023 as it plans to turn Dar es Salaam into a regional hub.

Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam, on August 15, Air Tanzania Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ladislaus Matindi said the national carrier would debut flights to Nigeria, Goma and Kinshasa N'Djili in the Democratic Republic of Congo and direct flights to London Heathrow next year. It already serves Lubumbashi in the DRC, according to ch-aviation schedules data.

As reported, Tanzania is spending TZS468 billion shillings (USD201 million) in the coming financial year to purchase new aircraft for Air Tanzania and expects them to be delivered in early 2023. Apart from the three passenger Boeings, the government is also buying one B767-300F freighter and two DHC-8-Q400 turboprops.

Matindi reiterated the aim is to expand Air Tanzania's reach and to make Dar es Salaam a prominent transport and logistics hub in East Africa. "We are starting flights that will attract people to use Air Tanzania to connect, especially to Europe," he said.

He noted that while Air Tanzania plans to improve its domestic connectivity, it is looking to open new routes in Africa and globally. He pointed out that Air Tanzania has already resumed flights to Guangzhou in China, which were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the ch-aviation schedules module, Air Tanzania currently serves 12 domestic destinations and nine international ones, including Bujumbura in Burundi; Guangzhou in China; Harare Int'l in Zimbabwe; Lubumbashi in the DRC; Lusaka and Ndola in Zambia; Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya; Moroni Int'l in the Comoros; and Mumbai Int'l in India.

Its current fleet comprises four A220-300s; two B787-8s; one DHC-8-Q300; and five DHC-8-Q400s, ch-aviation fleets advanced data reveals.

ch aviation
Photo: Jay Lee