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TANZANIA’s resistance to the new coronavirus disease is now paying off after three major airlines increased their flight frequencies to the country.
Ethiopian Airlines becomes the first of the three to increase its frequency to 14 weekly flights, from the four initial landings and departures from Tanzania.
The bold move by Ethiopia’s flag carrier is necessitated by Tanzania’s decision to open its skies in June this year and the high demand for air travel in the country.
“Thanks to the government’s efforts to contain the deadly virus, some of the major airlines are increasing their routes into the country’s main airports,” revealed the exultant Interim Managing Director of Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO), Christine Mwakatobe, while receiving an Ethiopian Airline Dreamliner, christened ET-ATJ at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).
Other major airlines that will follow a similar example, according to Ms Mwakatobe, include KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which added several of its flights from one to four a week, while Qatar Airways increased its flights from two to 14 a week.
“These airlines have sent a strong message to the world that Tanzania is now free from the killer virus,” explained the KADCO official.
He also urged tour operators and their agents abroad to seize the moment to attract more tourists to the country and the commercial destination of Tanzania.
Echoing similar sentiments, Regional Commissioner Anna Mghwira described the move as an important step in boosting the tourism sector, saying Tanzanians had every reason to hold their heads high, adding that the country had shown critics that the country was now a safe destination. .
