Air Tanzania’s maiden flight from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to the Unguja archipelago of Zanzibar Islands was accomplished with aplomb, on the 30th day of October 2024.
“Touchdown in Paradise!” screamed a dispatch from the National Carrier of Tanzania.
“Today marks a historic moment as Air Tanzania’s first flight from Dubai to Zanzibar lands on Spice Islands!” adds the release found on the airline’s official channel.
And the company was generous with words; “From the shimmering sands of Dubai to the turquoise shores of Zanzibar, we’re bringing you closer to unforgettable adventures and breath-taking landscapes.”
Afterwards the management floated what was being described as “their special 20 percent launch discount,” without explaining if the offer was just for the inaugural trip or if it will linger around much longer.
Like many other airlines, the carrier boasts to offer free Wireless Internet on board in addition to in-flight entertainment, and extra baggage allowance.
Anyway the UAE to Zanzibar and vice versa, will make the struggling Air Tanzania to accomplish its 20 destinations manifest, which covers among other places, Nairobi, Lusaka and soon to be unveiled Johannesburg journey.
While Air Tanzania’s newly announced flights from Julius Kambarage Nyerere to Oliver Tambo International may seem new, essentially the carrier is reviving the route which it one flew in code-sharing arrangements.
During its time as Air Tanzania Corporation (ATC) the airline had code-shared the Dar-Joburg route with the South African Airways (SAA) an arrangement which started in 2003 and was sustained for nearly ten years.
The SAA and ATC in the initial arrangement offered code-sharing flights to Johannesburg, Dar Es Salaam, Cape Town, Durban, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro.
But again in 2014, the now Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) had announced a new code sharing deal signed with yet another South African Airline; Interair.
The agreement was to be extended to cover other destinations in Air Tanzania’s network such as Arusha, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Mbeya, and Moroni International in the Comoros.