Air Tanzania recently received its second Boeing 737 MAX 9.
SUMMARY
- Air Tanzania has launched flights from Dar es Salaam to Dubai with its new Boeing 737 MAX 9.
- Flights will be operated four times a week, joining Emirates on the route.
- Air Tanzania aims to connect Tanzania to major markets internationally by expanding its network.
Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has launched direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Dubai, marking the inauguration of its third intercontinental destination. The first flight was operated with the airline’s brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 9, which arrived in Tanzania last week.
Flights from Tanzania to the UAE
Air Tanzania’s non-stop service to the UAE started on March 31, 2024. The inaugural flight departed Dar es Salaam Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) at 20:10 local time and landed at Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 02:30. Flights between the two cities will be operated four times a week with the following schedule:
| Flight | Route | Days | Time |
| TC404 | DAR – DXB | Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri | 20:00 – 02:30 |
| TC405 | DXB – DAR | Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat | 04:00 – 08:30 |
The 737 MAX 9 has a total of 181 seats, with 165 in economy and 16 in business. Launching flights to Dubai is part of the airline’s strategy to connect Tanzania to major markets worldwide. ATCL held an event at Dar es Salaam Airport’s Terminal 3 to celebrate the inaugural flight. Speaking about the new route, Air Tanzania CEO Ladislaus Matindi said,
“As part of our strategy to increase the range of travel, we are pleased to join the world’s major airlines in facilitating flights to Dubai because it is a long-term strategy that expands the range of travel and provides more options for our passengers. Our passengers will have a unique experience during the trip as well as seeing the value of their money.”
Flights between East Africa and the UAE
With the launch of its new service, Air Tanzania has become the second airline operating passenger flights from Dar es Salaam to Dubai. It follows Emirates, which launched flights to the Tanzanian capital in October 1997, operating via Nairobi at the time. The Dubai-based carrier currently has six weekly Boeing 777 flights on the route.
According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, there are a total of 17 weekly flights from Tanzania to the United Arab Emirates. Flydubai is the third carrier flying between the two countries with daily flights from Dubai to Zanzibar with the 737 MAX 8.
This month, more than ten airlines have scheduled passenger flights from East Africa to the UAE. They offer over 174 weekly flights from about 14 airports to Abu Dhabi (AUH), Dubai International (DXB), and Sharjah (SHJ). Emirates is the top carrier from East Africa to the UAE with up to 58 weekly flights. Etihad will resume Abu Dhabi-Nairobi flights in May, adding another connection between East Africa and the UAE.
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Air Tanzania’s second 737 MAX 9
Air Tanzania launched DAR-DXB flights with its brand new Boeing 737 MAX 9, registration 5H-TCQ. It is the second of two ordered by the Tanzanian government from Boeing in November 2021. The aircraft arrived in Dar es Salaam on March 26 after a long ferry flight from Seattle (BFI). The aircraft is named Ruaha National Park.
The airline received its first MAX 9 (5H-TCP) in October 2023 and remains the sole operator of the type in Africa. The aircraft primarily operates flights from Dar es Salaam to Mumbai (BOM) and a few domestic and regional destinations. With the arrival of the second MAX 9, Air Tanzania now has a fleet of 14 aircraft, comprising five DHC-8-Q400, four Airbus A220s, two 737-9s, two 787-8s, and one 767F.
First published by: Simply Flying
