Tanzania Restricts Kenya Airways Flights to Dar es Salaam in Reciprocal Move

Tanzania’s Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has announced a significant decision impacting Kenya Airways’ operations. Effective next week, the authority has revoked the airline’s rights to conduct third and fourth freedom passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. This move is a direct response to Kenya’s refusal to grant Air Tanzania fifth freedom traffic rights for all-cargo flights between Nairobi and third countries.

The TCAA’s Director General issued a notice on January 15, citing the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services between Tanzania and Kenya as the basis for this action. The notice explicitly states that, starting January 22, 2024, Kenya Airways will no longer operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

Kenya Airways currently operates three to four daily roundtrips on this route using E190 aircraft, as detailed in the ch-aviation schedules module. The airline has expressed its commitment to engaging with civil aviation authorities and government agencies in both Kenya and Tanzania to seek a resolution that prevents flight disruptions.

This decision also affects other airlines operating on the Nairobi-Dar es Salaam route. Air Tanzania provides a daily roundtrip passenger service with DHC-8-Q400 aircraft, while freight operator Astral Aviation offers twice-weekly B757-200(PCF) return flights. Precision Air, a Tanzanian carrier, operates several daily roundtrips on the city pair using ATR72-500s, though these flights often include stops in Zanzibar or Kilimanjaro.

The TCAA’s action represents the latest development in ongoing trade disputes within the East African Community trade bloc, highlighting the complexities and tensions in regional aviation and trade relations. The outcome of the discussions between Kenya Airways and the respective aviation and government authorities will be crucial in determining the future of air travel between these two major East African cities.