Tanzania’s National Flag Carrier Airline Set To Resume Its Flights To China This Month

By Prosper Makene Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Deputy Minister Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk said that the national flag carrier airline, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) will resume its flights to China this month. The Deputy Minister told the parliament while concluding the debate for his ministry’s 2022/2023 budget estimates that the government has been taking various measures to ensure that business between China and Tanzania is going on well. “I want to ensure the business community in the country that the national flag carrier airline, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) will resume its flights to China this month,” the Deputy Minister said. As of November 2021, Air Tanzania serves eight international destinations including regional routes and India. Air Tanzania also serves thirteen domestic destinations from its hub at Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport. He told the lawmakers that due to reports from the Tanzanian Embassy in China, for more than 60 days now, China’s financial hub Shanghai has been in lockdown due to the spread of COVID. “Business activities in ports, banks and industries as well as in public transport were suspended in China as a move to fight against the spread of the disease,” he said He added: “This is a good measure taken by China to show how the country has taken the disease seriously compared to other countries worldwide.” Envoy Mbarouk pointed out that the government is keen to take stem measures to ensure that it opens up a consulate in Guangzhou China to continue serving the citizens. “We have also started cargo flights to China to facilitate the availability of various commodities,” the Deputy Minister noted. As of November 2021, Air Tanzania serves eight international destinations including regional routes and India. Air Tanzania also serves thirteen domestic destinations from its hub at Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport. However, the airline also plans to grow its cargo operations and at the Dubai Airshow on 15 November 2021 placed its first order for a Boeing 767-300 Freighter. The total order was valued at more than $726 million at list prices which included a new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and two Boeing 737 MAX. The airline began its first dedicated cargo flight to Guangzhou Airport in mid-2021 as passenger service was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions in mainland China.