After many years of travelling to Europe, US and Middle East for holidays, Nigerians and other African travellers are beginning to realise that Africa could be a better destination to spend their holidays.
Africans are just beginning to realise that Africa may have more than the things that take them to other destinations for holidays and they are beginning to appreciate the natural endowments that litter across the African continent, hence the current drive to promote intra-Africa tourism, which is gaining momentum in recent times.
Also, the stringent visa policies introduced by European, Middle East as well as US governments helped to make Africans realise that they could spend their money on the continent, helping their own economies to grow and also supporting their own airlines.
This is one of the major reasons why Air Tanzania decided to establish direct flight from Dar es Salaam, Capital of Tanzania to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial megacity.
Air Tanzania last week officially launched direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Lagos marking a new era of connectivity, trade and cultural exchange between Nigeria and Tanzania. The historic route was unveiled at a glamorous ceremony in Lagos.
The launch event brought together senior representatives of the Nigerian and Tanzanian governments, tourism, business executives, logistics operators and members of the African diaspora in Nigeria.
Tanzania Ambassador to Nigeria, Selestine Kakele, hailed the launch as “the dawn of a new chapter; a bridge across the skies connecting two magnificent nations, Nigeria and Tanzania, and two great cities: Lagos on the west coast and Dar es Salaam on the east.”
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, represented by Mrs. Janet Oputa, congratulated Air Tanzania and pledged government strong support for the new service. He emphasised that the route would enhance trade, tourism, and cultural exchange while also advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
Tanzanian Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Prof. Godius Kahyarara, who led the Tanzanian government delegation to the launch, said: “What Air Tanzania is aiming at is to ensure that the national carrier connects to major destinations on the continent. Air Tanzania has already connected to other sub-regions of Africa and it is now connecting to West Africa, starting with Lagos.
This is important because Nigerians are already travelling to Tanzania through other hubs in the East and Southern Africa, but now, the indigenous carrier has introduced direct flight in order to reduce the flight hours and also for passengers to reap the benefits of direct flights.”
According to Kahyarara, “We do our part to ensure that we reduce the time of commuting between the countries. Of course, apart from this airline, we have now the longest electrified standard gauge railway, which is under construction. It is going to connect all landlocked countries that are neighbours to Tanzania.
“Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest economies. For us, this represents a great opportunity to open up Tanzania by establishing direct air transport services that connect our two nations. This connection will strengthen trade, investment, and people-to-people ties between Tanzania and Nigeria.”
He also hailed the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, whose vision has positioned Air Tanzania among Africa’s leading carriers, with 16 modern aircraft and with an average fleet age of 4.5 years.
Kahyarara, said Tanzania decided to invest in its national carrier to grow its economy, create jobs and develop its tourism sector.
The CEO of Air Tanzania, Peter Ulanga, highlighted the opportunities and invited Nigerian travellers to explore Tanzania’s world-class attractions; from the Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar’s beaches.
Ulanga celebrated Nigeria’s energy, culture and entrepreneurial spirit and announced plans to expand cargo freighter operations, saying that the airline would improve its capacity to 54 tons. This will open new trade flows for Nigerian yams to Tanzanian, coffee from East Africa; building commerce and fuelling prosperity.
“With Lagos now in our network, Air Tanzania connects to 29 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, including Johannesburg, Nairobi, Dubai, Mumbai, and Guangzhou. This is more than a timetable, it is a rhythm of progress and a shared destiny for our people.
“This is more than a new route. We are starting with three weekly flights from Dar es Salaam to Lagos (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and return flights from Lagos (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). Together, we are opening the skies to greater business, tourism, and cultural exchange,” Ulanga said.
He affirmed the airline’s commitment to safety, reliability and excellence, promising passengers and cargo operators world-class service, while building stronger bonds between East and West Africa.
Reacting to Air Tanzania’s choice of Lagos as its first destination in West Africa, travel expert and organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ambassador Ikechi Uko, told THISDAY that connecting Lagos, which is the largest market in West Africa was the best decision by the airline, disclosing that Zanzibar is number destination for Nigerians.
Uko observed that before Air Tanzania started flight to Nigeria, other airlines have been taking Nigerian tourists to Zanzibar, adding that now, the country’s national carrier would be doing that.
According to him, now that Tanzania has become intentional about driving tourism and growing its airline, it must be intentional about safety and security in the country and ensuring that the hotels and resorts in those tourism destinations develop good reputation and goodwill in order to continue to attract tourists from Africa and other parts of the world.
