Tanzania reopens skies for international passenger flights

Tanzanian authorities earlier this week announced the reopening of its skies for international passenger flights.

The reopening of the skies come after the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) suspended international passenger flights on April 12, 2020, to the eastern African nation over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Isack Kamwelwe, Minister, Works, Transport and Communications, said in a statement that the reopening of the east African skies for passenger flight was effective from Monday, May 18, 2020.

Kamwelwe said business, humanitarian, diplomatic, emergency and other special flights were allowed to land, take off and fly across the country’s skies as it was before.

He said the opening of the skies followed an announcement by President John Magufuli on Sunday, May 17, 2020 that the number of COVID-19 infections has been dropping citing statistics from health centres treating COVID-19 patients across the country.

Kamwelwe directed the TCAA to inform the International Civil Aviation Organisation about the decisions made by the government.

He also directed the Tanzania Airports Authority and the Kilimanjaro Airport Development Company Limited to ensure that they provided services to flights landing in the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children.

Kamwelwe also instructed the national carrier Air Tanzania Company Limited to make arrangements for resuming its international flights to various countries.

TCAA said cargo flights will be allowed but crew members will be quarantined at designated places by the government at their own costs for the duration of their stay.