Aviation
Tanzania's aviation sector handled 7,165,760 passengers in the 2023/2024 financial year, a 10.1% increase from 6,507,476 the year before, alongside 271,376 aircraft movements and 39,027 tonnes of cargo.[14]
Aviation is a strategic pillar of Tanzania's transport system, driving tourism, trade, and regional integration under Vision 2050, which positions the country as a premier regional transport and logistics hub.[2][3]
The sector's post-COVID-19 recovery has been powered by fleet expansion at national carrier Air Tanzania, the return and increased frequencies of foreign airlines, and Government-led modernization of airport infrastructure across the country.[14][15]
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Sector Size and Role in the Economy
Tanzania's air transport sector is a key driver of tourism and trade, with 64.7% of international visitors arriving by air in 2024.[12]
The largest share of air arrivals was recorded at Zanzibar International Airport (42.7%), followed by Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam (34.3%) and Kilimanjaro International Airport (23.0%).[12]
Sector growth is anchored in Vision 2050, which drives integrated investments across ports, railways, roads, aviation, and energy infrastructure to lower logistics costs and improve mobility of goods and people.[2]
The Bank of Tanzania projects GDP growth above 6% in the second half of 2025/26, driven in part by public investment in airports and related infrastructure.[8]
Air Connectivity: Routes and Passenger Traffic
In 2023, Tanzania's air connectivity included 22 airports with commercial scheduled flights, of which three are international: Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar.[14]
Tanzania recorded 47 outbound international flights per day, supported by 40 operating airlines in 2023, accounting for 43% of total origin-destination departures.[15]
Europe was the largest international passenger market at 41% of traffic, followed by Africa (31%), the Middle East (12%), Asia Pacific (10%), North America (6%), and Latin America (less than 1%).[15]
International passenger traffic rose 15.0% in FY2023/24, from 2,782,596 to 3,199,861 passengers, while domestic passenger traffic grew 6.5% to 3,965,899.[14]
Recent connectivity developments include the arrival of Saudia in Dar es Salaam in 2023, the return of Air France to Kilimanjaro that same year after a 28-year hiatus, the launch of Zambia Airways services in 2024, the resumption of South African Airways flights in 2025, and Brussels Airlines connecting to Kilimanjaro in June 2026.[15][16]
However, Tanzania still has no direct flights to North or South America, including the United States.[15]
Airports: JNIA, KIA, Zanzibar, and Msalato
The Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) manages 61 airports across the country, forming the domestic backbone served by Air Tanzania and several regional operators.[15]
Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es Salaam serves the commercial capital and handled 34.3% of international air arrivals in 2024.[12][14]
Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) serves the northern safari circuit and, together with JNIA, has undergone Government-led infrastructure modernization; KIA has historically been operated under a management contract as a PPP.[1][10]
Zanzibar International Airport is the country's largest gateway for international tourist arrivals, capturing 42.7% of air arrivals in 2024, reflecting Zanzibar's strong leisure demand.[12]
The new Msalato International Airport in Dodoma is under construction and expected to be operational by 2026, positioned as a hub for passenger and cargo traffic within the Great Lakes region and supporting both domestic and international flights.[1][15]
Beyond the international gateways, the Government is rehabilitating and expanding several regional airports, including airstrips in the Southern Circuit's Nyerere, Mikumi, and Ruaha National Parks to unlock tourism potential.[1][13]
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Airlines: Air Tanzania and Foreign Carriers
Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), the national carrier, has expanded its fleet to 16 aircraft: three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, two Boeing 737-9 Max, one Boeing 767-300F freighter, four Airbus A220-300s, five DHC-8-Q400s, and one DHC-8-Q300.[1][16]
ATCL operates 16 domestic routes from Dar es Salaam to cities including Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Arusha, and Dodoma, as well as 14 regional African destinations plus Guangzhou, Mumbai, and Dubai.[16]
The airline plans to acquire eight additional aircraft by 2030 to strengthen domestic and international connectivity and position Tanzania as a regional aviation hub.[3][17]
However, Air Tanzania has been banned from European Union airspace since 2024 due to safety concerns, a constraint that limits its long-haul European ambitions.[16]
Foreign carriers serving Tanzania include Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, KLM, Air France, Saudia, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, South African Airways, Zambia Airways, and Brussels Airlines, connecting the country to Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Paris, Mumbai, and other hubs.[15][16][20]
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Cargo and Freight
Air cargo volume increased by 7.8% in FY2023/24, from 36,204.7 to 39,027.3 tonnes, driven by growing reliance on air freight for time-sensitive goods.[14]
International cargo handling rose 9.7% to 36,095.0 tonnes, supported by demand for electronics, pharmaceuticals, and perishable products, while domestic cargo declined 10.8% to 2,932.3 tonnes.[14]
Air Tanzania's Boeing 767-300F freighter and the planned cargo functions at Msalato International Airport are designed to reinforce Tanzania's position as an air freight hub for the Great Lakes region.[1][15]
Investment Opportunities
Vision 2050 identifies transport, including aviation, as a priority area for private investment, with a strategic shift toward public-private partnerships (PPPs) and a redefined Government role as a facilitator rather than solely a regulator.[3][17]
The 2026/27 Plan targets a 70:30 financing ratio, where 70% of development funding is sourced from the private sector, opening opportunities for private capital in airport operations, cargo terminals, ground handling, and fleet financing.[7]
Prior PPP experience in aviation, including the expansion of Kilimanjaro International Airport under a management contract, demonstrates the viability of Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) models, with the 2023 PPP policy amendments further strengthening the enabling framework.[10]
Adjacent opportunities exist in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), aviation training, air cargo logistics, and hospitality linked to the AFCON 2027 tournament, which Tanzania will co-host.[5][9]
Last Update: July 2026
References
Want to know more about Aviation in Tanzania? Our free overview of the Tanzania Business and Investment Guide 2026 covers Aviation, plus key sectors and investment opportunities. The complete 141-page edition includes policies, taxation, key regulations, full macroeconomic data, and sources.
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