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Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
EU ban on Air Tanzania flights could crush London plan
The European Union's decision to ban all Tanzania-registered aircraft from operating in its airspace has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) and cast a shadow over the country's aviation and tourism sectors. Announced on June 3 in the EU's latest update to its Aviation Safety List, the ban cites 'serious deficiencies in national aviation oversight' as the reason for blacklisting all Tanzanian carriers. Suriname was also included on the revised list. While no Tanzanian airline currently operates flights to Europe, the implications of the ban are far-reaching, especially for Air Tanzania's plans to expand its long-haul network. Air Tanzania's dream of launching direct flights between Dar es Salaam and London's Gatwick Airport could have been dashed by the stance taken by the European bloc. The Tanzanian flag carrier had long planned the Gatwick route as part of its broader ambition to expand its long-haul network from Dar es Salaam, which includes routes to Guangzhou, China, and Mumbai, India. The ban, issued by the European Commission's directorate-general for mobility and transport, also applies to the United Kingdom — despite its exit from the EU — as the UK continues to honour aviation safety advisories from Brussels.'Passenger safety remains our top priority. Following a detailed technical assessment, the European Commission has added all air carriers certified in Suriname and Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List due to serious deficiencies in national aviation oversight,' said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the EU Commissioner for Transport.'We urge both countries to address these issues promptly. The Commission stands ready to support their efforts toward full compliance with international safety standards.'The Commission did not specify the exact deficiencies found in the TCAA's oversight or cite any particular safety violations by the affected airlines. While none of the banned Tanzanian airlines currently operate flights to the EU or the UK, the universal ban sets back any plans to enter the market. Air Tanzania, which once flew to Frankfurt, Rome, and Athens, had hoped to re-enter the European market as part of its turnaround strategy. According to its in-flight publication, Twiga Magazine, ATCL had planned to launch direct flights to Gatwick—London's second busiest airport—as early as this year. The airline announced that it had secured three weekly landing slots at Gatwick in June 2024, with plans to operate two flights a week from Dar es Salaam and one from Kilimanjaro. The EU ban now slams the brakes on these plans, casting doubt on Air Tanzania Company Ltd's long-term recovery strategy, which relies heavily on expanding into long-haul and intercontinental markets. The regional market, meanwhile, remains highly competitive, with dominant players such as Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways crowding out smaller carriers. The London route has long been considered a lucrative one. Ethiopian, KQ, Uganda Airlines, and RwandAir all operate direct flights to the UK capital. Air Tanzania joins a list of African national carriers currently banned from the EU: Air Zimbabwe, Congo Airways (DRC), Eritrean Airlines, Air Libya, and Sudan Airways. While the EU updates its Air Safety List regularly, it remains unclear when Tanzanian carriers might be removed, or how long the restrictions will last. Industry analysts say the ban reflects a broader failure in aviation oversight.'It raises questions about TCAA's capacity to enforce safety standards and uphold international regulatory expectations,' one expert observed. The EU's action follows a partial ban imposed in December 2023 that targeted Air Tanzania specifically. At the time, officials from the European Commission and aviation experts were in Tanzania to assist both the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority and Air Tanzania in closing identified safety gaps. Those efforts now appear to have fallen short. Concerns raised by the EU reportedly included the operation of aircraft beyond mandated maintenance intervals, staffing shortages in key technical departments, and weaknesses in the regulator's independence. For Air Tanzania, the impact is particularly significant. The national carrier operates three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners—long-haul aircraft whose potential remains underutilised due to limited access to international markets. The airline has been working toward securing a Third Country Operator (TCO) certification, a prerequisite for launching flights to London Gatwick. Although the United Kingdom is no longer part of the EU, the UK Civil Aviation Authority typically aligns with EU safety assessments in its own decisions.'If Air Tanzania cannot access European destinations, it weakens its business case for operating wide-body aircraft, which are capital-intensive assets,' the analyst added. 'This affects not only revenue projections but also the airline's ability to participate fully in international partnerships and interline agreements.'From an operational safety standpoint, Air Tanzania remains a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and holds a current IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification — widely regarded as the industry's gold standard. The EU ban may therefore reflect shortcomings more on the regulator's side than the airlines. Still, the road to reinstatement could be long. Without demonstrable progress in meeting international standards, Tanzania risks further isolation from global aviation networks — affecting not only its flag carrier but the broader ecosystem of tourism, trade, and investment that depends on strong and credible air connectivity. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Explore Zanzibar: new Air Tanzania flights enhance travel options for South Africans
Passemgers boarding an Air Tanzania flight. Image: Instagram South Africans planning a getaway to the stunning landscapes of East Africa can now look forward to more accessible travel options. Air Tanzania is set to enhance its services by launching twice-weekly flights between Johannesburg and the enchanting island of Zanzibar, commencing from June 10. This new route promises to breathe fresh life into travel between South Africa and its neighbour, with the return journey ingeniously structured to include a stop in Dar es Salaam. The newly scheduled flights are designed for optimal convenience, departing Dar es Salaam every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.45am, landing in Johannesburg at 1.15pm. Following a brief layover, the service will take off from Johannesburg at 2.15pm, arriving in Zanzibar just before sunset at 6.45pm. The return leg of the journey, departing Zanzibar at 7.35pm, allows travellers to touch down in Dar es Salaam shortly thereafter at 8.05pm. This latest addition to Air Tanzania's offerings follows the successful launch of five weekly flights between Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam in November of last year, scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The expansion of services reflects the airline's commitment to enhancing connectivity and boosting tourism within the region. In anticipation of an influx of visitors, travelling to Zanzibar now requires new precautions. The Revolutionary Government of Tanzania has implemented a mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance programme through Zanzibar Insurance Corporation. This initiative emphasises traveller safety, providing comprehensive coverage in emergencies, including medical evacuations and repatriation, with a fee set at $44 per person. A failure to comply with this requirement could result in denied entry at immigration checkpoints, underscoring the importance of ensuring proper documentation and compliance. Tanzania's allure as a tourist destination continues to grow, recently experiencing a surge in visitors. The country welcomed a record 5.36 million tourists in 2024, surpassing its target of 5 million by 2025. With 3.22 million domestic tourists and 2.14 million international visitors, the thriving tourism sector generated approximately $4 billion in revenue. Review reports from the Ministry for Natural Resources and Tourism highlight the commitment to sustaining this growth while maintaining the country's rich cultural and natural heritage. Across the region, connectivity has been key, especially with South African Airways re-establishing daily flights between Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam in January. As East Africa's largest city, Dar es Salaam not only acts as a crucial hub for logistics and the economy but also offers easy access to an array of popular tourist attractions. From the breathtaking Serengeti National Park to the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, South Africans can indulge in a variety of experiences. Moreover, the relationship between South Africa and Tanzania is strengthened through significant foreign direct investment, particularly in agriculture, precious metals, chemicals, and machinery. This dynamic trade partnership enhances the economic landscape, creating mutual benefits for both nations. With these developments in air travel and tourism, South Africans are now uniquely positioned to explore the vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and historical richness that Tanzania and Zanzibar have to offer. As the flights commence, anticipation swells for what promises to be an exciting new chapter in travel connectivity between these two beautiful nations.
Zawya
02-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
No respite for Air Tanzania as annual losses soar
Air Tanzania's annual losses have mounted, according to the latest performance record, defying nearly a decade of continued efforts to rescue the national carrier. The latest report from the Auditor General shows the carrier's losses rose by 62 percent to reach Tshs 91.8 billion ($34.4 million) in the 2023/2024 financial year. The airline's losses have been on the rise despite nine years of rescue efforts initiated first by the late president John Pombe Magufuli. However, Air Tanzania Company Ltd (ATCL)'s troubles paled in comparison to the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC), another State-owned transportation firm, which posted a Tshs 224 billion ($83.95 million) hole. TRC's losses more than doubled its Tshs 102 billion ($38.23 million) loss from the previous year. The revelations are contained in a report by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) Charles Kichere submitted for 2023/2024 year to President Samia Suluhu Hassan at State House in Dar es Salaam on Thursday. The full details of the report will be made public after it is tabled in parliament on an unspecified later date. Although they remain regular beneficiaries of government subsidies, TRC and ATCL have consistently been among Tanzania's worst performing public companies in recent years. And according to Mr Kichere, both are still in need of close State supervision if they are to eventually break even. The railway utility's latest confirmed loss figures were considerably higher than the Tshs 156.77 billion ($60.7 million) with which the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) topped the list of loss-making State entities in 2022/2023. The audit covered the year immediately before Tanzania began operating its new standard gauge railway in June 2024, suggesting the new line could turn around the loss trend for TRC. The Auditor-General attributed the company's escalating losses to a drop in revenues from the medium gauge railway that is now being slowly phased out along with decaying locomotives, engines and wagons, and prolonged rains which caused the railway to be temporarily shut down too often. Without a Tshs 29 billion ($10.86 million) government bailout during the course of the year, TRC's losses would have hit Tshs253 billion ($94.82 million), he said. Air Tanzania's Tshs 91.8 billion ($34.4 million) loss figure for 2023/2024 followed up on Tshs 56.64 billion ($22.19 million) in 2022/2023, which was up almost 32 percent from $15.17 million the year before. This is despite receiving bailouts of Tshs100 billion ($37.48 million), Tshs 31.55 billion ($12.37 million) and Tshs 30.63 billion ($12.01 million) in each of those years, respectively, to meet overhead costs such as paying staff salaries and running pilot-training programmes. Read: Air Tanzania adds 737 MAX 9 to its fleet as auditor flags a big hole in its booksAccording to Mr Kichere, the airline was largely bogged down by the grounding of its Airbus fleet for several months during the year in review, due to engine problems which led to significant maintenance costs. Under an ambitious revival strategy initiated by the late Magufuli in 2016, ATCL has built a stable of 15 planes: Two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, two Boeing 737- MAX 9s, four Airbus A220-300s, five De Havilland Dash 8 Q400s, one De Havilland Dash 8-Q300 and one Boeing 767-300F Freighter. Official Air Tanzania records put the total cost at close to Tshs4 trillion ($1.57 billion). However, the fleet is owned by State-run Tanzania Government Flight Agency (TGFA), which oversees all purchases. Air Tanzania operates them under a strict lease arrangement that it has in the past described as detrimental to its chances of doing profitable business. Other state firms that CAG Kichere cited over rising losses in his briefing to President Samia on Thursday included the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) and Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC). TTCL incurred a Tshs 27.7 billion ($10.38 million) deficit against Tshs 19.23 billion ($7.2 million) in 2021/2022 and Tshs 894 million ($335,000) in 2022/2023, while TPC's figure was Tshs 23.3 billion ($8.73 million) compared to just Tshs 1.34 billion ($502,000) in the previous year. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
