TCAA bans KQ flights to Dar

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has announced a decision to revoke the approvals for Kenya Airways (KQ) to conduct passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

According to a statement released and signed by the TCAA Director General, Mr Hamza Johari (pictured), the approvals are under third and fourth Freedom Traffic Rights with effect from January 22nd, this year.

“TCAA on behalf of the aeronautical authority of the United republic of Tanzania, has decided to rescind the approvals for Kenya Airways (KQ) to operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam under the third and fourth Freedom Traffic Rights with effect from 22 January 2024,” reads part of the statement.

The third and fourth freedoms are traffic rights that allow international services between two countries.

The third freedom gives an airline the right to fly (passengers and or cargo) from one’s own country to another country.

The fourth freedom gives an airline the right to fly from another country to the home country for the purpose of commercial services.

The statement further said that the move was meant to reciprocate the decision by aeronautical authorities of Republic of Kenya to refuse Tanzania’s request for all cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited under Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and third countries.

The TCAA cited the Kenyan authorities’ refusal as a breach of section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Air Services, between the two nations signed on November 24th 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya.

This section stipulates reciprocal treatment for airlines of both countries.

“This decision is based on the principle of reciprocity, following the refusal by the Kenyan authorities to grant approval for ATCL’S cargo flights despite the clear provisions of the MoU,” the statement said.

Following the decision, the statement noted, there shall be no passenger flights by KQ between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam from January 22nd, this year.

It further read that, Tanzania shall always strive to adhere to the principles of Chicago Convention 1994 and Bilateral Air Services Agreement between States.