► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania to resume Kigoma from 10 January with Mbeya, Tabora, Mpanda, Arusha, Zanzibar and Mtwara to follow.

Tanzanian carrier Air Tanzania (TC) is to resume flights between the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam and Kigoma, the regional capital of western Tanzania with daily Bombardier DHC-8-300 operated flights to start 10 January 2013. Additionally, flights to Mbeya are also tentatively planned for 20 January with Tabora, Mpanda, Arusha, Zanzibar and Mtwara to follow in due course.

 

■ TANZANIA: fastjet ruffles first feathers as TCAA encourages more LCCs to start operations.

More low cost carriers are set to join the Tanzanian aviation scene in the coming year amid reports that Low Cost Carrier, fastjet (FN), has begun to ruffle its first feathers following its launch on 29 November.

► TANZANIA: (Pics) Precision Air takes delivery of its second new ATR 42-600.

Tanzania's Precision Air on Sunday 23 December 2012, took delivery of its second ATR42-600 (MSN 1003 | 5H-PWI) following a delivery flight routed Toulouse -  Brindisi - Luxor - Dar es Salaam. The welcoming ceremony was held at Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport.

► ZIMBABWE: Egyptair to resume Harare from June 2013.

Egyptair (MS) has joined the list of foreign carriers returning to the Zimbabwean capital with plans to tentatively start a 4x weekly Boeing 737-800 operated Harare via Dar Es Salaam service from 1 June 2013. The Egyptian national carrier last served Harare in 2003 as an intermediate stop between Cairo and Johannesburg using an Airbus A340-200.

► RWANDA: RwandAir announces modifications to its NW 2012/2013 schedule.

Rwandair (WB) has implemented various modifications to its operations following the launch of its 2012/13 Northern Winter season schedule on 28 October 2012. 

► TANZANIA: (Pics) fastjet's inaugural revenue flight to Mwanza.

LCC fastjet (FN) finally became a reality with the launch today of its maiden route from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza followed by Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro later in the morning.

■ TANZANIA: Construction of Terminal III Extension to Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport to finally go ahead?

Construction of the new Terminal III complex at Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International (JNIA) Airport is set to proceed once a suitable qualified contractor has been found by the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA).

► TANZANIA: See Pics of fastjet's inaugural non-commercial flight!

fastjet (FN) yesterday (Tuesday 27 November) celebrated its launch with its inaugural non-commercial flight from Dar es Salaam; a 40-minute round trip over the Indian Ocean above Zanzibar. Note: the carrier's official inaugural revenue flight is scheduled for Thursday 29 November.

► TANZANIA: fastjet outlines Zanzibar, Kenya, Uganda ops as TCAA grants it full operational approval.

With the first of its fleet of Airbus A319s having now having arrived in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, nascent low-cost carrier fastjet (FN) has been granted  full approval to operate the aircraft  by the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA). Its team of 35 pilots, 65 cabin crew and 7 maintenance specialists on the ground actively preparing for launch, the carrier has outlined its regional expansion plans as demand for its flights has totalled to more than 8'000 bookings in their first week on sale.

► TANZANIA: fastjet website now live; announces timetable.

fastjet (FN) this morning activated their online booking portal - www.fastjet.com - thereby allowing passengers the option of making online reservations. Additionally, the carrier can now be followed on Facebook and Twitter.

► TANZANIA: fastjet to start ops on 29 November with Kilimanjaro & Mwanza.

fastjet, the first pan-African low-cost airline, which is backed by easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, announced today that it will start flights between Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam and Mwanza  on November 29, with tickets to cost $20 one-way, excluding taxes. Flights will operate from Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport.

► TANZANIA: fastjet announces initial domestic and regional routes.

fastjet has revealed its first routes to be served when it launches later this month. In an bizarre interview with with Linzie Janis on Bloomberg Television's "Countdown," fastjet CEO, Ed Winter, announced the first destinations to be Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda, though could not give an exact date for operations to start, as "all the necessary government approvals were not yet in place."

■ TANZANIA: Precision Air extends Sabena Technics contract; readies itself for arrival of four additional ATR42s.

Just a week after sealing a 5 year deal with FastJet to provide general service and maintenance to its Airbus A319 fleet set to be based out of Dar es Salaam, Belgium's Sabena Technics, today, extended an existing contract with yet another Tanzanian carrier, Precision Air (PW), to now provide component support for its new fleet of ATR 42-600s and ATR72-600s.

■ TANZANIA: FastJet awards tenders to Sabena Tech, Swissport and head hunts three UK execs for top posts.

Belgian MRO specialists Sabena Technics, have been awarded a 5 year contract by nascent Dar es Salaam based LCC, FastJet, to provide its fleet with engineering services and comprehensive material support for components, standard and cabin parts, and consumables. 

► TANZANIA: Chaos as Air Tanzania 'sort of' resumes services and Fly540 TZ suddenly drops various domestic routes.

In what turned out to be a less than auspicious relaunch, Tanzanian national carrier Air Tanzania (TC) made a pig's breakfast of its debut on Friday morning, by canceling its Dar es Salaam to Mwanza via Kilimanjaro flight. A lone flight to Mwanza later in the evening on Friday served as the carrier's return to service, though news reports state that Dar es Salaam - Kilimanjaro flights will be postponed for roughly a week.

► TANZANIA: FastJet to launch with 3x daily Dar es Salaam - Nairobi flights.

FastJet have announced their debut route; that of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Nairobi, Kenya and return. The route's debut flight will operate as a return VIP flight with 3x daily service between the two East African capitals to follow. No specific date, however, was given for the start of operations, though recent news reports have hinted at a possible November date launch.

► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania resumes flights Friday as Government wants Lufthansa for joint venture.

As we reported last week, Tanzanian national carrier Air Tanzania (TC) will resume flights on Friday 12 October 2012 using their Bombardier Dash 8-300 (MSN 474 | 5H-MWF) along with two leased Boeing 737-500 of unknown origin. 

► TANZANIA: Air Tanzania set to reach new deal with AeroVista; to resume flights next week, but at what cost?

Tanzanian national carrier Air Tanzania (TC) is looking to resume flights by 10 October, should it reach an agreement with Dubai based ACMI specialists AeroVista, from whom they leased a Boeing 737-500 (MSN 27354 | 4L-AJB).

► TANZANIA: Delta Airlines opens ticket office in Dar es Salaam.

American carrier Delta Airlines (DL) has opened a ticketing office in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, as the airline moves to strengthen and consolidate its presence in East Africa, a prime tourist destinations for many Americans.

►► RWANDA: RwandAir announces network changes in preparation for its first Bombardier CRJ-900NG.

Rwandan national carrier Rwandair (WB) has announced various changes to its Nigeria and its previously announced East African route timetables, as it prepares for the arrival of its first Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) 900NG (MSN# 15286 | 9XR-WH) due, according to informed sources, on 22 October 2012.