Tanzania confirms Msalato International Airport to start operations by Sept 2026

DODOMA: THE Tanzanian government has said that the Msalato International Airport in Dodoma is expected to be completed and operational by September this year, a move that is expected to strengthen air transport and give more prestige to the capital city of Dodoma.

Speaking when he visited and saw the progress of the project, the Minister of Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar said the construction of the airport has reached the final stages where major infrastructure including the runway and aircraft parking areas have been largely completed.

Ambassador Omar said the project began in 2022 in collaboration between the Government of Tanzania, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), with the aim of building a modern airport that will meet the needs of the country’s capital.

“Dodoma is the capital of the country, so it was important to have a modern airport that can accommodate the increase in economic, governmental and social activities,” said Ambassador Omar.

He added that, according to the project implementation report issued by experts, the first part involving the airport infrastructure has reached 86.73 percent of implementation, while the second part involving important buildings including the passenger terminal, the control tower and the fire station has reached 75.1 percent.

“This airport will be among the largest airports in the country, with a runway measuring 3.6 kilometers long and 60 meters wide, as well as a large aircraft parking lot that will enable it to service many aircraft at the same time,” he added.

Mr Omar said the completion of the airport is expected to further open up Dodoma to domestic and international travel, while increasing investment attractiveness, strengthening Tanzania’s position in the aviation sector in the East African region,

“The passenger terminal will have the capacity to handle 1.5 million passengers per year, which is expected to increase Dodoma’s capacity to receive domestic and international visitors as well as stimulate economic growth.

The project also involves the construction of a modern 56.2-meter-high control tower, a world-class fire station, power generation buildings and a climate control building with modern air traffic management equipment.

For his part, the Deputy Minister of Works, Godfrey Kasekenya said that Msalato International Airport is among the important strategic and exemplary projects being implemented in the country under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

He said the project has been designed with a long-term perspective, with the ability to be expanded gradually according to and the increasing demand for air travel in the country.

“This airport has been built to modern international standards and is expected to be among the most modern airports in the country once it is operational” said Hon. Kasekenya

He stressed that the government is committed to ensuring that the remaining works are completed on time so that the promise of starting operations of the airport in September can be fulfilled, while noting that the project is part of efforts to strengthen transport infrastructure and grow the national economy through major strategic investments.