Tanzania’s ambition of being East Africa’s one-stop hub for commerce and tourism via aviation is taking shape.
Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) new Boeing 787-7 Dreamliner, touched down in Tanzania on Saturday, October 26, as reported by The Citizen. The impressive aircraft has a capacity of 300 passengers.
This purchase is the latest in a series of strategic actions taken by the government, including—acquiring 4 radar systems worth $29.2 million to secure its airspace and enhance the aviation industry performance, which has proven to be rather vital to the economy.
Further, Tanzania launched it’s modernized airport-terminal (3) at Julius Nyerere International Airport, which will serve up to 8 million passengers per year, it was built at a cost of over $314 million.
Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) oversees over 10 aircrafts in its fleet including Bombardier Q400 and Airbus A220-30, this according to Ministry for Works, Transport and Communications. The expanded fleet will take on more aviation traffic with ease particularly from tourist arrivals which saw a yearly increase from 1.3 million in 2017 to 1.5 million in 2018, resulting $2.4 billion revenue increase in 2018, from $2.017 in 2018, Ministry of Tourism statistics reveals.
On the same note, data from the US Government’s International Trade Division shows that a 62% increase in air passengers from 2.1 million in 2010 to 2.5 million in 2015 (these figures include internal air transportation) has been observed.
Speaking earlier this year, during the launch of the new terminal, President Magufuli emphasized his keen ambition to revitalize the national flag carrier, Air Tanzania “The Wings of Kilimanjaro”.
“The government is expanding the air transport sector, through buying aircraft and expanding infrastructure, whereby the government is planning to renovate and build 15 airports countrywide, including the international airport in Msalato-Dodoma. All that is to reinforce the air transportation’s safety and speed, which will boost the GDP through its users, who have increased by 12 percent annually,” said His Excellency.
Additionally, Tanzania’s new radar systems catapulted the East African fastest growing economy, aviation ambition another step further.
The new radar systems will enforce robust airspace security and safety to the Tanzanian air space, channeling billions to the economy and expanding the sector as well.
During the launch of the radar system, President Magufuli said that previously, $17.4 million was garnered as revenue, compared to $30.8 million collected now. With the new aviation gear, the government envisions the figure to rise to $35.6 million.
Prior to the current strategies of revamping Tanzania’s aviation glory, ATCL had 3 per cent of the internal market share, now it holds over 75 per cent of the share.
Further, per The Citizen—Tanzania Government Flight Agency (TGFA), cited that: Air Tanzania’s fleet will add up to 11, since a new purchase contract has been signed with a Canada-based aircraft manufacturer.
