ATCL cleared for direct flights to Lagos

ABUJA: AIR Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has secured full clearance to launch scheduled direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Lagos, Nigeria, after successfully meeting regulatory requirements set by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selestine Kakele said in Abuja on Wednesday that NCAA had issued the airline with the Document of Authorisation, Condition and Limitation (DACL) following a rigorous base inspections conducted in Tanzania.

He said the airline had also obtained approval for its Local Security Operation Procedures (LSOP) and is now seeking office space at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and residence permits for its staff.

ATCL Public Relations and Communications Manager, Sarah Reuben confirmed the development, saying the clearance marks a major milestone in the airline’s expansion plans.

“It is true that we have received the required approval. The exact start date will be announced soon after the launch of our Pemba flights on August 20, 2025,” she said.

She further said that the Dar–Lagos route will be operated by a Boeing 737-9 Max, which has a capacity of 181 passengers and will initially run three times a week.

According to her, the route is designed to cater for business travellers, tourists and the growing number of Tanzanians and Nigerians seeking easier travel between the two countries.

“The movement of people, goods and services in Africa has suffered a huge setback due to limited regional connectivity. This is why the two countries are coming together to establish a durable flight link,” Ambassador Kakele said.

The envoy made the remarks when he led a Tanzanian delegation to the Nigeria Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to receive the Foreign Carrier Operation Permit (FCOP) issued to ATCL, a vital authorisation for foreign airlines to operate into and out of Nigeria.

Permanent Secretary in the Nigeria Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr Ibrahim Kana hailed the move as a milestone in advancing aviation cooperation between the two nations.

“We are confident that this initiative will yield positive outcomes for both nations. It aims to enhance operational efficiency, safety and collaboration between Nigeria and Tanzania in the aviation sector,” he said.

He added that the FCOP will help standardise procedures, ensuring seamless interactions and efficient operations between aviation stakeholders from both countries, while aligning with international best practices.

Dr Kana further assured ATCL officials of Nigeria’s readiness to provide the necessary support for smooth operations and directed them to liaise with relevant agencies to meet their operational requirements.

NCAA Director of Air Traffic Regulation, Ms Yinka Babaoye Iriobe, said Nigeria looks forward to welcoming ATCL services, noting that the country has significant potential to help the aviation industry thrive.

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She said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries will be signed at NCAA headquarters in Abuja, which will mandate ATCL to upload all passenger information into the NCAA AVITECH portal for regulatory oversight.

Tanzania and Nigeria share a long-standing diplomatic relationship, rooted in the principles of Pan-Africanism and the struggle against colonialism.