EAST AFRICA : AIR TANZANIA, RESUMES DAILY FLIGHTS OPERATIONS BETWEEN DAR ES SALAAM AND NAIROBI AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

Tanzania’s national flag carrier, Air Tanzania, resumed daily flights to Kenya on Friday after a hiatus of more than 20 years amid renewed business relations between the two east African neighbors. The arrival of the Airbus A220-300 at 6:45 a.m. local time in Nairobi marked the start of the carrier’s daily Dar es Salaam to Nairobi route, which is strategic to the carrier’s fleet and network expansion plans in Africa.

« We are extremely delighted to resume the Nairobi route, which is one of the most significant destinations in East Africa and a key aviation hub as well, » said Ladislaus Matindi, CEO of Air Tanzania in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The restart of this route has been prompted by improved bilateral relations, increased trade between the two countries, tourism, extension of familial and friendly ties and the need to connect the region with other markets.

Air Tanzania, Africa’s newest fleet, will fly the Airbus A220-300, a 132-seater with 12 business class seats and 120 economy class seats.

Apart from Nairobi, Air Tanzania has announced three new regional routes this month from Dar es Salaam to Bujumbura (Burundi), Ndola (Zambia), and Lubumbashi (DR Congo) as the country seeks to expand passenger services to new markets in Africa, Asia, and Europe as international borders reopen and travel restrictions ease. Mumbai (India), Hahaya (Comoros), Lusaka (Zambia), Harare (Zimbabwe), Entebbe (Uganda), and Guangzhou (China) are among the destinations served by Air Tanzania.

It will add Johannesburg (South Africa), Lagos (Nigeria), Accra (Ghana), and London (United Kingdom) to its destinations in the coming months.

Air Tanzania has eleven new modernized aircraft in its fleet, with eight of them joining in the last three years including five Bombardiers Q400’s, four Airbus A220-300’s, and two Boeing 787-800 Dreamliners. The airline has also made orders for additional six aircraft for $726 million, including a Bombadier Q 400, two Boeing 737-900s, two Boeing 787-800 Dreamliners, and one Boeing 767 Freighter, all of which are due to enter the fleet within the next two years.