The Arusha Airport is now going to become an international hub
The terminal, which has been serving mostly domestic flights, especially planes that connect to National Parks, Game Reserves and other remote tourist destinations, is about to become an international airport complete with immigration and custom services.
Already the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) is working to upgrade the facility to attain international status at the cost of 11 billion/-.
The Director General of Tanzania Airports Authority, Abdul Athumani Mombokaleo, revealed that under the ongoing expansion and upgrading project, the facility will include immigration services and customs department ready to cater for international arrivals and overseas departures.
As far as Mombokaleo is concerned, the initiative taken by President Samia Suluhu Hassan,through her Royal Tour travel documentary, showcasing the country’s attraction, has prompted the management to overhaul the terminal.
Arusha airport, which has been operating only during the day, will now start serving travellers around the clock with the ongoing installation of landing and taxiway lights, extended runway and expansion of terminal buildings.
The terminal will now be able to accommodate larger aircrafts, including Bombardier Q400 and ATR 72, though of course at one time in the past, the airport did handle even a Boeing plane.
According to Mombokaleo, the new development is specifically targeted to boost tourism in the Northern Circuit by cutting short travel time for foreign visitors who want to sample the Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara National Parks.
At the moment, most foreign tourists land at Kilimanjaro International Airport before being compelled to travel over 50 kilometers by road to reach Arusha, where they usually start their Safaris to game parks.
This time however, they will be flying directly to Arusha City, cutting their journeys short and enabling them to have more time in the parks.
The TAA Director General added that the implementation of the project is in response to a major increase in the number of tourists at the airport, following massive campaign efforts by the President, the Tanzania Tourists Board and local tour operators.