Page 60 - World Airnews Magazine May 2021 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

AIR TANZANIA EYES ANOTHER

A220

By Mark Finlay

aviation website aeroTELEGRAPH claims True to his word, in September 2016, Air
they will be delivered sometime this year Tanzania took delivery of two Bombardier
Dar es Salaam-based Air Tanzania or next. DHC-8-400s, followed up by two more on
is thinking of adding more Airbus A220 During an address before Parliament on April 2, 2019. Air Tanzania also received an
aircraft to its current fleet. The news of April 13, Tanzania’s new Prime Minister Airbus A220-300 in December 1018 and
the expansion comes amidst the current Kassim Majaliwa said that the government a second in January 2019. As well as the
Airbus jets, Air Tanzania took delivery of its
COVID-19 medical emergency, with many had paid for the new aircraft and that they first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in July 2018
airlines looking to consolidate rather than would be arriving during the 2021/2022 and its second in October of 2019.
expand. Former Tanzanian President John financial year.
Magufuli, who passed away last month, The Prime Minister also complimented AIR TANZANIA LOST MILLIONS
had big plans for state-owned Air Tanzania. Air Tanzania for launching its Julius
Like many a leader in underdeveloped Nyerere International Airport (DAR)- This latest optimism regarding the
counties, John Magufuli planned to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport state-owned airline comes at a challenging
time for Air Tanzania who, according to the
use the state and the state alone to (CAN) route. He called the flights between Tanzania Court of Auditors, has lost Sh150
bring prosperity to the African nation. Tanzania and China as being a catalyst for billion - (US) $60 million - over the past
Hellbent on promoting outrageous mega boosting tourism, trade, and employment. five years, with Sh 60 billion - (US) $26
infrastructure projects during his 2015 million of the losses incurred during the
election campaign, Magufuli promised to TANZANIA WANTS TO ENTICE 2019/2020 financial year.
revive Air Tanzania and make it an airline TOURISTS
Again another vanity project appears
the nation could be proud of. Tanzania is a country with astounding to be spiraling out of control, and with
wildlife, seductive Indian Ocean beaches, Kassim Majaliwa closely aligned with
THREE MORE PLANES and natural wonders that include Africa’s Magufuli’s projects, it appears as though
In 2019 Air Tanzania also announced that it hights mountain Kibo (Uhuru Pk) in the Air Tanzania is going to get its new aircraft.
would get another Bombardier DHC-8-400 Eastern Rift mountains. Seeing Tanzania’s Of course, there are other politicians
and a further two Airbus A220s. As yet, potential for tourism, Magufuli decided in Tanzania that can see the folly, while
there has been no news about when the that Tanzania would need to have an airline others cling on to John Magufuli’s big
two A220s will be delivered. Austrian with a modern plane fleet to entice visitors. dream for the country. Q

World Airnews | May Extra 2021
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