This archive report was first published on 12 August 2019.
Published on August 12, 2019, Air Tanzania has made significant progress in its plan to fly to London by securing three coveted landing slots at Gatwick airport.
The airline intends to operate direct flights from its hub at Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport via Kilimanjaro to London's Gatwick airport every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, returning via Kilimanjaro to Dar es Salaam on Thursday, Saturday, and Monday.
With this new route, Air Tanzania will become the first Tanzanian carrier to operate in Europe, using the London route as a gateway to other European and American markets.
As part of its preparations, the airline is undertaking land rights and landing licenses to allow it to fly into the United Kingdom. Additionally, Air Tanzania will need to secure European Union safety standards certification.
The airline has already passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), a mandatory requirement for airlines planning international flights.
Operating its new Boeing B787 Dreamliner thrice a week, Air Tanzania is poised to offer an exceptional service and dominate the market.
The new route is expected to put pressure on loss-making airlines in the region currently flying from their hubs in East Africa to the UK, as Air Tanzania gains market share at their expense.
Furthermore, it will increase competition to Air Egypt, which has been connecting via Cairo, and KLM, which connects via Amsterdam and Kilimanjaro.
Air Tanzania has recently resumed flights to Moroni, Entebbe, Johannesburg, Harare, and Bujumbura, with planned flights to the Far East in Mumbai, Guangzhou, and Bangkok.
