Kenya Airways and Air Tanzania have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost strategic cooperation and enhance connectivity, including cargo operations.
The partners say it will pave the way for a more integrated, efficient, and competitive African aviation sector, unlock new markets and create greater opportunities for the airlines and the communities they serve.
It will focus on regional and international partnerships “that promote cooperation over competition”, with both carriers using their resources and capabilities to further sustainable and cost-effective growth.
Besides cargo, areas of collaboration will include best practices in training, engineering, aircraft maintenance and repair, safety and innovation.
Kenya Airways carries some 70,000 tonnes of cargo a year via its hub at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to 45 destinations worldwide, 37 of them in Africa. It is the sole African carrier in the SkyTeam Alliance, which offers over 1,060 destinations in 173 countries.
The airline has a 35-strong fleet, including four freighters. The latest arrival is a Boeing 737-800F received in April 2024.
Government-owned Air Tanzania operates a fleet of 16 aircraft, including a Boeing 767-300F, three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and two Boeing 737 Max.
Its international destinations comprise Dubai, Mumbai, Guangzhou, Johannesburg, Lubumbashi, Kinshasa, Nairobi, Hahaya (Comoros), Ndola and Lusaka, Harare, Bujumbura (Burundi) and Entebbe and plans to add Juba (Southern Sudan), Lagos, Accra, Muscat and London. It also flies to ten domestic airports in Tanzania.
Kenya is a major worldwide exporter of fresh produce and flowers while Swissport Tanzania gained IATA CEIV Fresh certification in March 2024 for its operation at Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport.
At a signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam on 28 July, Kenya Airways chief executive Allan Kilavuka described the partnership as a commitment to building regional capacity to support economic growth, trade, and tourism across East Africa. He added: “By collaborating closely with Air Tanzania, we can jointly offer our cargo clients more flexible and efficient solutions.”
His counterpart at Air Tanzania, Peter Ulanga remarked: “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our efforts to expand our regional presence and better serve the growing demand for air travel in Africa. Together with Kenya Airways, we are creating a stronger, more connected aviation landscape that will benefit our economies and our people.”
