Air Tanzania recently acquired 2 Airbus A220-300 and is set to launch direct flights to Nairobi, Bujumbura, and Lubumbashi in November, stepping up competition for neighbouring airways – Kenya Airways and RwandAir.
According to a spokesperson for Air Tanzania – Josephat Kagirwa, “Last week, we brought in two new flights that were received in Zanzibar, namely Airbus 220-300 with a capacity of 132 passengers and take-off weight of 68.9 tonnes. They also have entertainment segments for both adults and children,”
The Operations
Air Tanzania
The East African reports that the airline will operate two daily flights from its Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi starting November 26. Also, passengers should expect flights to Burundi starting November 8, three flights a week to Ndola in Zambia and the eastern DR Congo city of Lubumbashi, respectively, from November 18. From November 26, Air Tanzania would operate two daily flights from its Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam to the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Other available flights include Dar to Mwanza flight with a loop to the capital Dodoma from November 5, three flights a week to Mtwara from November 10.
Air Tanzania currently operates 12 domestic routes, namely Zanzibar, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Geita, Bukoba, Kigoma, Mpanda, Mbeya, Tabora, Dodoma, and Songea. On the international routes, the airline flies to Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Comoros in the continent, and Mumbai, India, and Guangzhou, China.
Despite this improvement by Air Tanzania, Paul Maringa, Kenya’s Transport Principle Secretary, believes it would not affect Kenya Airways. “The increased competition will not affect the operations of Kenya Airways,” We will bank on the service and brand to get an edge over the competition. Kenya Airways remains dominant on most of the routes, and the expected flight to the US will give it an edge within the region.” Said Paul Maringa.