From 737 MAX to 787: Air Tanzania orders Boeing jets
Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)-based Air Tanzania has just placed an order with Boeing for a 787-8 Dreamliner, a 767-300 Freighter, and two 737 MAX aircraft. The national flag carrier of Tanzania will use the planes to expand service from East Africa to new markets in Asia and Europe.
The order placed today is valued at more than $726 million and was previously listed as being unidentified on the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website. In its 2021 Commercial Market Outlook, the Seattle planemaker forecasts that, by 2040, airlines on the African continent will need 1,030 new planes valued at $160 billion. On top of that are aftermarket sales and maintenance worth a whopping $235 billion. Boeing says that the sale of new aircraft in Africa will support the growth in air travel and the continent’s economies.
Boeing maintains an office in Johannesburg
Boeing first began operating in Africa 75 years ago and maintains an office in Johannesburg, South Africa. During this time, it has worked with more than 60 customers delivering as many as 500 American-built planes to airlines on the African continent.
When speaking about the order and particularly the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in a statement carried by AP News ‘The Wings of Kilimanjaro’ airlines said:
“The 787 Dreamliner will be the flagship aircraft as we renew and grow the Air Tanzania fleet. We aim to establish our long-haul capability by starting flights to Europe, Asia, and the USA over the coming years, and the 787 is the perfect aircraft to achieve this ambition.” Adding” The introduction of the 737 MAX and 767 Freighter will give Air Tanzania exceptional capability and flexibility to meet passenger and cargo demand within Africa and beyond.”
When speaking about the Dubai Airshow order in the Air Tanzania statement, Boeing’s Van Rex Gallard, Vice President, Latin America, Africa & Caribbean Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said:
“I am pleased to welcome Air Tanzania as the newest member of the Dreamliner family. We are honored that Air Tanzania has chosen the 787 to operate its long-haul operations. The 787 will significantly increase passenger numbers feeding on to its domestic flights thereby boosting overall tourism to Tanzania.”
About Air Tanzania
Based in the Tanzanian capital of Dar es Salaam, Air Tanzania is wholly by the government of Tanzania. In a move designed to promote and bring increased tourism to the East African nation. In 2016 President Magufuli initiated a new drive to revive the national carrier by acquiring new aircraft to restore and modernize the fleet. When taking a look at Air Tanzania’s current fleet, aviation data and statistics website ch-aviation lists the African airlines as operating a fleet of 14 aircraft made up of the following models:
4 x Airbus A220-300s 2 x Boeing 787-800s 1 x De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-8-Q300 5 x De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-8-Q400s 1 x Fokker Aircraft 28-3000 1 x Fokker Aircraft F50
Why is Air Tanzania expanding?
Since taking office in 2015, Tanzanian President John Magufuli’s administration made the modernization and expansion of the county’s national flag carrier a priority. The government also embarked on a plan to modernize and build new airports accross the country to boost tourism, trade, and investment.
Tanzania is best known for its vast wilderness areas that include the Serengeti National Park, Kilimanjaro National Park, and the tropical islands of Zanzibar. Despite President John Magufuli dying from heart complications in March, it would appear as though his plans to continue building Air Tanzania are ongoing.
