Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has launched a technical field aircraft support center that will provide services to Chinese civil aircraft operators in Africa from its base in Dar es Salaam.
The Chinese aviation company is also in discussions with the Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) to establish a joint venture, provide its technical services and supply spare parts to them and to other local Tanzanian firms.
According to Milton Lazaro, acting CEO of ATCL, the partnership between the ATCL and AVIC will result in expanded services.
“The alliance between ATCL and AVIC is aimed at enhancing domestic and regional air network within Tanzania and Africa as well as the whole world,” he said, “Through such cooperation, we are very sure that even the number of our aircraft is going to increase and we can expand services.”
The decision to establish an aviation center was reached in October 2014 when the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation and bilateral relations between the countries during a visit by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete to China.
