Air Tanzania, the Wings of Kilimanjaro, has launched its first ever flight link into the West African Sub Region from its hub at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by extending its wings with direct flights to Lagos, Nigeria three times weekly effective September 21, 2025.
Speaking at a dinner reception to celebrate the inaugural flight from Dar es Salaam at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Selestine Gervas Kakele said; “This is an integral part of an historical event signaling the launching of direct flights by Air Tanzania connecting Dar es Salaam and Lagos, two cities of the major hubs of West and East Africa. It is a turning point of solid and more meaningful diplomatic ties between Tanzania and Nigeria. Our two countries officially established diplomatic relations in 1971. Today 54 years later, we are gathered here to witness the unfolding development of Air Tanzania extending its wings to Nigeria and West Africa market for the first time in history since its inception; which is bringing two of our countries more closer.”
“The commencement of Air Tanzania scheduled flights between Tanzania and Nigeria concurs well with the broader vision of our two governments seeking to promote tourism by fostering seamless connectivity across the continent. For Tanzania, it is a significant stride in achieving aviation diplomacy and cooperation between our two countries and its people,” he stressed.
He stated further that; “Since assuming the leadership of Tanzania, Her Excellency, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania has clearly and loudly demonstrated her desire of repositioning Tanzania to its rightful place on the global agenda by building a strong, resilient and competitive economy. The launching of Dar es Salaam–Lagos route by Air Tanzania therefore cannot be viewed in isolation. It speaks volume of the Tanzanian Government’s perspective on enhancing connectivity that contributes to flourishing of trade, tourism and cultural exchanges between Tanzania and Nigeria.”
He thanked various institutions and individuals who played a role in achieving this feat saying; “We have reached at this point today mainly because of the political willingness demonstrated by the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development under the leadership of Honourable Festus Keyamo who was very instrumental and helped in the entire process.” Appreciations also went to Capt. Chris Najomo, DG, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as well as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for their readiness to receive and work closely with Air Tanzania among others.
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, was represented by the Special Advice on Service Delivery, Mrs. Janet Oputa. Expressing his excitement at the historical development, he said; “This is not merely a new route, it is a bridge between two great nations and for that I extend my warmest congratulations to the government and the people of Tanzania. This new service, connecting our commercial nerve center, Lagos to Dar es Salaam is a powerful testament to the growing ties between Nigeria and the United Republic of Tanzania and it is a concrete result of our shared commitment to fostering deeper integration with our continent.”
He noted also, “The importance of this development cannot be overstated. It will facilitate the movement of ideas, create valuable opportunities for trade and investment and bring our people closer together. It will also allow Nigerian businessmen to explore new markets in East Africa and enable Tanzanians to experience the vibrant energy and potential of Nigeria. This flight is a perfect example of what we can achieve when African nations collaborate.”
The Minister firmly declared that, “This initiative also aligns perfectly with the core objectives of our Ministry under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are actively working to transform Nigeria into a premier aviation hub in Africa and that means encouraging and welcoming precisely this kind of connectivity. We believe that open skies and strong partnerships are the wings upon which Africa’s economic prosperity will soar.”
In a similar gesture, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport, Tanzania, Prof Godius Kahyarara, said: “What we witnessed today is part of the vision of our President, Her Excellency, Dr. Samir Suluhasan. Four years ago, Air Tanzania was still striving to be where it is today. We started with one aircraft, now we have 16 aircraft of different modes including 3 B787s, 3 B737 Max, 5 Dash8–Q400s, 5 Dash8–Q300s and 1 B767 Cargo aircraft with others in the pipeline. Our plan is to have at least 20 brand new aircraft with modern technology to keep the airline moving. But this is the vision of her Excellency, the President; we are merely implementing her expectations.” He also used the opportunity to give assurances of changes by the government of Tanzania to its visa policy for Nigerians planning to visit Tanzania, stressing that the changes will come within one week.
Board Chairman of Air Tanzania, Prof Neema Mori, said the carrier is rapidly connecting the continent by starting from within Tanzania and later expanding to nearby East African countries. He added that according to the airline’s strategy, it is time to connect to West Africa.
“We have started Lagos, which is a big market, and we have a lot in common. We believe that we will be able to bring good services to Nigerians and Tanzanians travelling to Nigeria. Our frequency will be three times a week for now. If we look at the market, the more reliable and profitable it becomes, then we can increase our flights,” he submitted.
