Air Tanzania has officially launched direct flights between Lagos and Dar es Salaam, a move aimed at boosting connectivity across Africa.
The announcement was made in Lagos by the Permanent Secretary of the Tanzanian Ministry of Transport, Professor Godius Kahyararara.
Kahyararara explained that the decision to operate direct flights was driven by the need to strengthen intra-African travel. He assured that within a week, significant reforms would be made to the visa system to make travel easier between Nigeria and Tanzania. “We have Nigerians who travel for tourism, and Zanzibar is their most attractive destination. Our research showed they often take longer routes through Addis Ababa or Nairobi. Now, it will be possible to reach Tanzania in less than five hours,” he said.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Selestine Kakele, stressed the importance of the new route, describing Nigeria as Africa’s second largest economy and a key partner. He noted that direct connectivity would open up opportunities in trade, investment, and cultural exchange, while strengthening relations between both nations.
On his part, Air Tanzania’s CEO, Eng. Peter Ulanga, described Nigeria as a vital partner and invited Nigerians to explore Tanzania’s global attractions including the Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar’s beaches. He also announced plans to expand cargo operations with a freighter capacity of 54 tons, which would help grow bilateral trade, from Nigerian yams to Tanzanian coffee.
“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,” Ulanga said. He emphasized that the new service is not just a timetable but “a rhythm of progress and a shared destiny for our people.”
The airline confirmed that operations will begin with three weekly flights from Dar es Salaam to Lagos on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with return flights from Lagos on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The move is expected to drive growth in tourism, business, and cultural ties between Nigeria and Tanzania.
