EU Bans Air Tanzania Over Safety Concerns

The European Union has added Air Tanzania to its Air Safety List, effectively banning the carrier from flying to, from, or over EU airspace due to safety concerns identified during an audit by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The audit highlighted significant, though unspecified, safety issues, leading to the denial of Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization.

EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, emphasized the need for immediate action. “We strongly urge Air Tanzania to address these safety concerns. The EU is prepared to assist Tanzanian authorities in improving safety compliance and aligning with international aviation standards,” Tzitzikostas stated.

While the ban has no direct impact on Air Tanzania’s operations, as the airline does not currently fly to the EU, it affects its expansion plans. Government spokesperson Gerson Tsigwa confirmed that the airline was in talks to acquire slots for EU routes before the ban. An EU aviation team is expected to visit Tanzania for further inspections, a key step toward potential reinstatement.

Air Tanzania operates a diverse fleet, including three B787-8s capable of long-haul flights to Europe. The airline’s two active B787-8s currently serve routes from Dar es Salaam to Mumbai and Guangzhou, while a third remains parked. Its fleet also includes four A220-300s, two B737-9s, one B767-300F, and various turboprops.

Air Tanzania joins six other individually banned airlines, along with over 100 carriers prohibited due to national oversight concerns, and 22 Russian airlines banned on safety and sanctions grounds.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com