TCAA ordered to provide affordable air travel fares

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian government has directed the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) to ensure that air travel fares are set in line with the actual cost of living, rather than pricing them beyond the affordability of ordinary Tanzanians.

The directive was issued by Deputy Minister for Transport, Devid Kihenzile, during a meeting with TCAA officials in Dar es Salaam. He said the authority should establish a fare-pricing framework that improves access to air transport services for a larger number of citizens.

Kihenzile also instructed the authority to develop a strategy for increasing the number of aircraft operating in the country through private sector investment, noting that Tanzania offers a safe aviation environment and has sufficient airport infrastructure to accommodate increased flight operations.

“We cannot accept airports that were built at great expense being used only once a day. An aircraft lands in the morning, and then staff have nothing to do for the rest of the day. That is a misuse of public resources,” Kihenzile said.

He noted that the current number of aircraft is insufficient to meet growing demand, as passenger traffic has risen significantly in recent years. According to government figures, the number of air passengers increased from 4,200,000 in 2020 to 8,100,000 in 2025.

Kihenzile said the growth reflects increasing confidence in Tanzania’s aviation sector among investors, tourists and business travellers.

“This increase shows that the world is eager to come to Tanzania and make use of our airspace. It also confirms that more Tanzanians are choosing air transport as a faster means of travelling both within the country and internationally,” he said.

The Deputy Minister further directed TCAA to create an enabling environment that allows investors in the aviation sector to achieve sustainable returns while ensuring that air travel becomes more affordable and service quality continues to improve.