Passenger traffic doubles amid aviation growth
CANADA: COUNTRY’s aviation industry has recorded significant growth, with passenger traffic doubling to 8.11 million last year from 4.06 million in 2012, reflecting expanding demand for air transport and its growing contribution to economic activity.
The growth has also been accompanied by increased aircraft movements and cargo volumes, highlighting the expanding role of aviation in supporting tourism, trade, investment and regional connectivity.
Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) Director General Dr Jabiri Bakari said aircraft movements increased by 34 per cent to 297,285 in 2025 from 222,430 in 2012, while air cargo volumes rose by 36 per cent to 44,076 tonnes from 32,411 tonnes during the same period.
He said the growth underscores the strategic importance of aviation in the country’s economic development and the need to strengthen infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and institutional capacity to accommodate rising demand.
Dr Bakari made the remarks ahead of the Seventh International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Worldwide Air Transport Conference, scheduled mid of this November in Montréal, Canada.
“We are committed to developing a safe, secure, efficient and competitive aviation industry capable of positioning the country as a strategic aviation gateway within Africa and beyond,” he said in a statement.
The commitment, he added, is in line with the country’s Development Vision 2050, which recognises connectivity as an important driver of economic transformation.
To respond to the industry’s changing demands, Dr Bakari said the civil authority continued to strengthen the country’s aviation regulatory and institutional frameworks.
He cited the review of civil aviation regulations and legislative reforms to strengthen safety governance and align the sector with international standards. He said priorities also included aviation safety and security, modernising air navigation, digitising regulatory processes and developing professional skills.
Investment in aviation training, particularly through the Civil Aviation Training Centre (CATC), was also essential to building the technical expertise required by the growing industry.
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On regional integration, Dr Bakari said progressive air transport liberalisation, particularly through the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), presented opportunities to expand market access and strengthen connectivity across the continent.
He said improved access to aviation markets could boost trade, tourism, investment and economic integration, provided regulatory oversight and international safety standards were maintained.
The ICAO conference, themed ‘Air Transport Powering Global Connectivity, Economic Development and Resilience in a Dynamic World’, brings together governments, regulators and industry players to discuss economic regulation, infrastructure financing, innovation and industry resilience.
He stressed the need for practical and inclusive regulatory reforms that reflect countries’ different development needs and reaffirmed TCAA’s commitment to working with the government, ICAO, regional bodies and industry stakeholders to support investment and connectivity.
