Tanzania Lifts Ban on Kenya Airways Flights

By Samuel Ouma

Tanzania has revoked a decision that suspended the operation of Kenya Airways flights between Dar es Salaam and Nairobi.

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority Director General Hamza Johari said the decision has been withdrawn after Kenya granted the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right to Air Tanzania Company Limited for all-cargo service.

“This is to inform the Public that the aeronautical authorities of the Republic of Kenya have granted the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right to Air Tanzania Company Limited for all-cargo service as per the request of the United Republic of Tanzania, with effect from January 16 2024,” said Johari.

“Following this development, the aeronautical authorities of the United Republic of Tanzania hereby withdraw its Decision of January 15 2024 and therefore, approval for Kenya Airways to operate Third and Fourth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam is hereby restored with immediate effect,” he added.

Johari added that the United Republic of Tanzania's aeronautical authorities avail themselves of this opportunity to renew to the Public the assurances of its highest consideration.

The ban on Kenya Airways flights was issued on Monday after the aeronautical authorities of the Republic of Kenya refused the Tanzanian request for all cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited under Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and third countries.

According to Johari, Kenya’s action to block cargo flights was contrary to Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services between them, signed on November 24, 2016, in Nairobi.

“This is to reciprocate the decision by the aeronautical authorities of the Republic of Kenya to refuse the Tanzanian request for all-cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited under Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and Third countries, contrary to Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services, between Tanzania and Kenya signed on November 24 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya,” read the statement in part.