TANZANIA – Boeing and the government of Tanzania have announced an order for a 787-8 Dreamliner, a 767-300 freighter, and two 737 MAX jets at the 2021 Dubai Airshow to boost the national carrier’s capability in Africa and abroad.

The airplanes will be operated by Air Tanzania, the national flag carrier of Tanzania, to expand service from the country to new markets across Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The order, valued at more than US$726 million at list prices, was previously unidentified on the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website.

Air Tanzania CEO Ladislaus Matindi, said: “Adding to our 787 fleet, 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.”

Based in Dar es Salaam, the carrier will expand its current fleet of 787s, leveraging the new 737s for its regional network and the 767 Freighter to capitalize on Africa’s burgeoning cargo demand.

“Africa is the third fastest-growing region worldwide for air travel, and Air Tanzania is well-positioned to increase connectivity and expand tourism throughout Tanzania,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of commercial sales & marketing.

Boeing’s 2021 Commercial Market Outlook forecasts that, by 2040, Africa’s airlines will require 1,030 new airplanes valued at US$160 billion and aftermarket services such as manufacturing and repair worth US$235 billion, supporting growth in air travel and economies across the continent.

“Adding to our 787 fleet, 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”

Ladislaus Matindi – CEO, Air Tanzania

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Boeing’s heritage in Africa began more than 75 years ago, with more than 60 airline customers operating as many as 500 Boeing airplanes.

Boeing has an office in Johannesburg, South Africa, in addition to field service representatives supporting commercial customers across the continent.

The move comes as the airline just launched a direct flight from Dar es Salaam to Lubumbashi, the Democratic Republic of Congo via Ndola, Zambia.

The new route brings the total of the airline’s international routes to nine including two intercontinental flights to Mumbai (India) and Guangzhou (China).

According to ATCL’s managing director Mr. Ladislaus Matindi, the national carrier will be flying three times a week—Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday using the Airbus A220-300.

The national carrier is also set to launch a new route to Kenya’s capital Nairobi later in November 2021.

The last time that ATCL flew to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was 15 years ago.

The airline on the other hand currently has 13 domestic flights from its hub in Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Geita, Bukoba, Kigoma, Mpanda, Mbeya, Tabora, Dodoma, and Songea.

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