Tanzania Aviation Authority (TAA) has been challenged to market Mpanda Airport in Katavi to other airlines.
The Deputy Minister for Works and Transport, Eng Fred Mwakibete, throw the challenge to TAA and asked them to come up with a strategic plan on attracting other airlines to use the airport.
“The aviation authority should set friendly environment strategically to woo other airlines to use the terminal economically,” Eng Mwakibete said when he visited the airport at Mpanda municipality.
The challenge followed the fact that the number of passengers using the airport has increased over time and now serving not only locals but also DR-Congo and Zambia air travellers.
The Mpanda Airport Manager, Mr Jeff Shantiwa, told the deputy minister that the number of passengers has increased almost 40 per cent in the last two years to 2021.
“Traders push up the demand from within and neighbouring countries mostly from the DRC and Zambia who are frequently travelling to Katavi region,” Mr Shantiwa said.
The passengers’ number jumped from 7,931 in 2019 to 11,034 last year.
The national flag carrier has recently increased the number of flights from Dar es Salaam to Mpanda via Tabora due to demand. ATCL now flies four times instead of three per week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
On top of that, the minister challenged the state-owned carrier—Air Tanzania Corporation Limited (ATCL)—to review its fare across its network in a bid to woo more passengers.
The airline serves eight international destinations including regional routes and India and China. Also serves 13 domestic destinations from its hub at Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport.
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