• 

  London Gatwick Airport

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  LGW/EGKK

  Country:

  United Kingdom

  CEO:

  Stewart Wingate

  Passenger Count :

  6,260,000 (2021)

  Runways :

  08L/26R - 2,565m (8,415ft) | 08R/26L - 3,316m (10,879ft)

  Terminals:

  North Terminal | South Terminal

Air Tanzania is re-applying for slots at London's Gatwick Airport as it progresses with yet another different plan for direct flights from Dar es Salaam in 2023. Indeed, the relatively small, state-owned airline is trying its luck to re-secure airport slots after losing them in 2020.

The second time's the charm

The national carrier had previously succeeded in securing the slots in 2019 and was planning to fly from Dar es Salaam via Kilimanjaro to London. However, legal issues, the pandemic, and the lack of suitable long-haul aircraft in its fleet saw the slots slip from the airline's wings.

Things will hopefully be different this time, given some long-haul additions to the fleet and the demand for post-pandemic travel. Managing Director Ladislaus Matindi said:

"Following the loss of our slots at Gatwick in 2020, we have started the process afresh to secure the same, and talks with the UK authorities are going well."

The Tanzanian flag carrier would have London as its third intercontinental destination if granted the slots at Gatwick Airport. The airline will be planning to use its two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners to operate the flights. And if and when slots at Gatwick Airport are secured, Air Tanzania has also hinted at possible future plans to expand to ensure slots at London's Heathrow Airport, further deepening its presence in London.

Expanding far and wide

Besides the possible addition of London, Air Tanzania's intercontinental route network includes thrice weekly flight services to Mumbai, though this is set to increase to four times weekly by the end of this year. The airline also flies weekly to Guangzhou, but pandemic restrictions within China have caused Air Tanzania to restrict its capacity to just 75%. Both intercontinental flights are operated on the Boeing 787s.

While it attempts for slots in London, Air Tanzania has also recently expressed its ambitions for expansion to Nigeria and Ghana. The strengthening of its route network comes as part of phases four and five of Air Tanzania’s expansion plan, originally laid out in 2019 by Matindi, as he now reiterates:

"Our plan has the 4th and 5th phases where we intend to have flights to West African cities of Lagos and Accra by the end of 2022. This is when we expect to have more planes."

And it would seem the airline is relatively on track, as it has also confirmed its plans to have at least 16 operational aircraft by early 2023. Helping in the efforts of expanding the fleet is the Tanzanian state, as the government is determined to make Tanzania a transport and logistics hub in East and Central Africa. Developing a more extensive network of connections in the region and internationally would lead to healthier competition between Air Tanzania and Kenya Airways.

The government has invested approximately 468 billion shillings ($200 million) in bringing in five new aircraft, which the airline has already chosen. Due for delivery sometime in early to mid-2023, the aircraft of Air Tanzania's choice has been a third Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, its first freighter - the Boeing 767-300F - two Boeing 737 MAX 9s, and two De Havilland Canada DHC-8-Q400. If the new deliveries are completed on time next year, the airline's expansion plans will be even more perfect.

Bottom line

In summary, Air Tanzania has big goals for the future. And while the national carrier has been on track two far, it has previously been derailed, so expectations this time should be limited. Given that Air Tanzania is still a loss-making airline planning to reach Europe while expanding its fleet and eyeing expansions elsewhere in such a short period could financially hurt the airline even more. Expanding into Europe would also mean facing fierce competition from more prominent African carriers, such as Ethiopian Airlines, which has a bigger fleet and more substantial passenger bases.

However, Air Tanzania has been making consistent efforts to produce a greener balance sheet. And considering how economic trade with West Africa has been slowly improving, there could be a developing interest in travel between Tanzania and Europe, and Air Tanzania could prove itself to be the airline to fill the interest with flights as planned.

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Source: ch-aviation