Tanzania lifts ban on Kenya Airways flights

Tanzania lifted a ban on Tuesday imposed on Kenya Airways flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, following a row involving tit-for-tat measures imposed by the two countries.

The lifting of the ban came after Kenya granted Air Tanzania a request for all-cargo service access to Nairobi. Hours earlier on Monday, Tanzania's aviation authorities had suspended Kenya's national carrier from flying into its airspace.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Tanzania's Civil Aviation Authority Director-General Hamza Johari said the ban on Kenya Airways, which was set to take place from Jan 22, has been withdrawn after Kenya heeded their demands.

"This is to inform the public that the aeronautical authorities of the Republic of Kenya have granted the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right to Air Tanzania Company Limited for all-cargo service as per the request of the United Republic of Tanzania, with effect from Jan 16, 2024," Johari said.

"Following this development, the aeronautical authorities of the United Republic of Tanzania hereby withdraw its decision of Jan 15, 2024, and therefore approval for Kenya Airways to operate Third and Fourth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam is hereby restored with immediate effect."

While confirming the news on X, formerly Twitter, Tanzania's Minister for Roads and Transport January Makamba said reciprocal air transport restrictions between Tanzania and Kenya and from Tanzania and Kenya to third countries have been removed.

Previously, while announcing the ban, Johari said the embargo was in response to Kenyan aeronautical authorities' decision to refuse Tanzania's request for all-cargo flight operations.

This, he said, was contrary to Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services signed between Tanzania and Kenya on Nov 24, 2016, in Nairobi.

Tanzania had previously sought approval for all-cargo flights by Air Tanzania to Nairobi, but Kenyan authorities denied the request, citing technical and logistical concerns.

Heavy investment

Tanzania has been investing heavily on reviving its national carrier since 2016 by expanding its fleet, routes and operations to tap local and regional markets.

Kenya Airways is one of Africa's largest airlines, and Tanzania, where attractions, including mountains and vast wildlife reserves, draw more than a million tourists a year, is one of its biggest markets.

The last time the two East African countries were involved in an aviation row was in late 2020, when a tussle between the two countries escalated over the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xinhua contributed to this story.