Air Tanzania has announced its plans to launch direct flights between the UK and Tanzania from July 2027
“We will be flying direct from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro International Airport from July 2027” was the pledge announced by Peter Ulanga, the CEO of Air Tanzania,
Ulanga stated that Air Tanzania (‘The Wings of Kilimanjaro’) will schedule a minimum of three flights per week and whilst accepting that business as well as F&F (Tanzanian nationals visiting Family and Friends) categories will be of great importance, the key sales driver will be tourism to Tanzania and Zanzibar.
“We will also run direct flights to Zanzibar, expanding the tourism potential of that destination from the UK, too” added CEO Ulanga.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by airlines wanting to introduce new routes, he stated that he was confident that they would be ready well ahead of time, but were choosing not to overpromise. Instead, a comprehensive and well developed activity plan was already being implemented
Reliability
Ulanga recognises that the reliability of flights and their timings hold huge importance. Thats partly the reason that he was delighted to confirm that current data shows that more than 90% of Air Tanzania flights land within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival times.
Flight Cancellation Policy
To boost confidence, Mr. Ulanga has implemented a firm policy that no AT flights can be cancelled without the personal approval of the CEO. Since its introduction, not one single AT flight has failed to take off.
Current International Routes
Whilst Air Tanzania is a major domestic player (serving 13 domestic airports including Zanzibar), the airline already boast 11 international routes, with more to come in the short term. AT currently flies within Africa (to Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe) and across the globe to China, The Comores, India, The Seychelles and The United Arab Emirates). Russia is being added soon, with various EU cities under consideration.
Partnership with the travel trade
Such is the airline’s commitment to delivering a high-quality 360 degree service, that CEO Ulanga will be returning to the UK in the Autumn of 2026, to hold open discussions with travel trade professionals to listen to their needs and requirements. Invitations will be sent out in due course (but do register your interest in attending with tim.henshall@tzhc.uk
His Excellency, Mbelwa Kairuki, High Commissioner to the UK for the United Republic of Tanzania and Zanzibar was delighted by the news, “It has been one of my biggest and most passionate ambitions during my assignment to the UK to see the introduction of a direct flight to my country” such is his recognition of the importance this plays in the development of tourism from the UK..
As reported here https://www.tanzaniatourism.uk/post/air-tanzania-targets-eight-new-aircraft-by-2030-in-major-fleet-expansion-drive, Air Tanzania will acquire eight new aircraft over the next five years, marking one of the most substantial fleet expansion programmes currently underway among East African airlines.
