Air Tanzania acquires two Airbus planes

Air Tanzania acquires two Airbus planes

State-owned Air Tanzania will take delivery of two Airbus 220-300 jets next month, the government said, continuing expansion to support tourism.

President John Magufuli prioritised investment in Air Tanzania when he took office in 2015, aiming to revive the loss-making carrier because of the potential to boost the vital tourism sector, a top foreign exchange earner.

Air Tanzania will take delivery of two Airbus 220-300 planes in December, each with capacity to carry more than 130 passengers, government Spokesman, Hassan Abbas, told a news conference on Monday.

Abbas did not say how much the aircraft will cost.

The airline has received four planes since 2016, including a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and Abbas said that monthly passenger numbers had increased to 30,000 from 4,000 before the fleet expansion.

A second Dreamliner is due to be delivered in October next year, he added.

Air Tanzania had only one plane before Magufuli embarked on the investment drive in 2016.