Tanzania’s transport boom reshapes economy, connectivity fast

DAR ES SALAAM: AN old Swahili proverb says, “Ukiona vyaelea ujue vimeundwa” that translates as “When you see it float, know it was crafted.” Tanzania’s transport sector embodies this wisdom. Visible progress here is no accident. It is skill, investment and vision made real.

Travel once took days. Now, journeys across Tanzania take hours. What required endurance and traversing thousands of kilometres is now almost instantaneous. Roads, railways, ports and airports are transforming the country. People, businesses and regions are connected like never before.

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), modern roads, and upgraded ports have turned Tanzania into a hub for commerce, tourism and regional integration. Modern vessels and aircraft are extending these connections even further. The nation is not just moving; it is bridging opportunity.

Government Chief Spokesperson Gerson Msigwa told journalists at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) that transport’s contribution to the national economy is rising. From 7.1 per cent in 2021, it increased to 7.5 per cent in 2024. Transport is now a key engine of economic growth.

In aviation, massive investment is changing the landscape. Airports have been upgraded to improve efficiency, safety, and service quality. Thirteen state-ofthe-art passenger and cargo screening machines now operate at JNIA, Kigoma, Shinyanga, Tanga, Lake Manyara and Iringa. These machines allow 24-hour operations and faster services.

From 2022/23 to 2024/25, the government spent over 1.154tri/- on airport projects. Arusha Airport now boasts modern passenger terminals, upgraded lighting and an electricity substation costing 10.472bn/-. Moshi Airport’s ongoing rehabilitation, costing 14.14bn/-, is 69 per cent complete. At Mwanza Airport, designs for a new passenger terminal are ready, with construction preparations underway.

The Msalato International Airport is progressing in two phases. Phase one covers runways, aircraft parking, access roads, lighting and perimeter security, over 90 per cent complete under Sinohydro. Phase two, including a passenger terminal and parking facilities, is 68 per cent complete under Beijing Engineering.

Other airports benefiting from upgrades include Serengeti, Kyabajwa (Kagera), Kigoma and Sumbawanga. These improvements are attracting seven new international airlines, increasing competition and strengthening global connectivity.

Scheduled flights rose from 148,897 in 2023/24 to 149,835 in 2024/25. Passenger numbers increased from 5.15 million to 5.25 million, while air cargo grew eight per cent from 34,620 tonnes to 37,683 tonnes. Modest flight frequency growth masks a stronger reality: Rising passenger and cargo traffic, reflecting expanding commercial activity.

Domestic and international air travel surged in late 2025. Flights increased 10 per cent from 83,647 to 91,760, while passengers grew nine per cent from 2.8 million to 3 million. Demand for air services is climbing steadily.

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) is implementing its Five-Year National Development Plan (2021/22–2025/26) to revitalise aviation. In 2024/25, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was added, increasing ATCL’s fleet to 16 aircraft.

The expanded fleet now serves 33 destinations by 2025/26, restoring old routes and opening new ones. Tourism, trade and foreign exchange earnings are rising. Passenger numbers climbed from 822,232 in 2021/22 to 1,178,025 in 2024/25. In July–December 2025 alone, 709,432 passengers were carried. Cargo transport grew from 2,567 tonnes to 6,919 tonnes over the same period.

ATCL contributed 157.69 million US dollars to the economy in 2024/25 and paid 52.35bn/- in taxes. Employment rose to 1,031. Aviation is no longer just transport; it is an engine of economic empowerment.

On land, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza is 1,219 kilometres long. By December 2025, 747 kilometres (61 per cent) were complete. Travel time from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma has dropped from 10–12 hours by bus to 3–4 hours by train. Since starting operations, the SGR has moved 4.6 million passengers and over 52,000 tonnes of cargo, creating more than 207,000 jobs.

Maritime transport is also booming. Dar es Salaam port now has ten new berths and 15 fuel storage tanks, raising capacity from 32 million to 50 million tonnes annually. Bagamoyo Port is underway, with a 1.32-kilometre berth for modern vessels.

Other projects include the Kurasini Logistics Terminal for perishable cargo, modernised Kemondo and Bukoba ports on Lake Victoria and new vessels on Lake Tanganyika. Two 2,000-tonne cargo ships strengthen trade with the Democratic Republic of Congo. MV New Mwanza, carrying 1,200 passengers and 400 tonnes of cargo, launched in January 2026, improving Lake Victoria transport.

These investments have boosted customs revenue to 8.256tri/- between July 2024 and February 2025. Tanzania’s ports and maritime infrastructure now support both domestic and international trade efficiently.

The SGR, upgraded airports, modern ports and expanded aviation networks all demonstrate Tanzania’s transport sector as a crafted achievement. Progress is visible and deliberate. Economic growth, job creation and regional integration follow naturally when infrastructure is built with vision and skill.

Tanzania’s transport story embodies the Swahili proverb. What floats visibly above the nation’s surface is not accidental. It has been carefully, skillfully and deliberately crafted.