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Starting from January 22, Tanzania has chosen to suspend all flights operated by Kenya Airways (KQ), citing a reciprocal disagreement following Kenya’s denial of a request for all-cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited.
The decision, conveyed in a statement signed by Hamza Johari, the Director General of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, points to Kenya’s rejection as a violation of Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services, a pact inked by the two nations on November 24, 2016, in Nairobi.
This suspension will significantly impact Kenya Airways, known for its numerous weekly flights to and from Tanzania, with thousands relying on KQ for travel between the neighboring countries.
The statement released on Monday by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority reads, “The Republic of Tanzania, on behalf of the aeronautical authorities, has opted to revoke the approvals for Kenya Airways (KQ) to conduct passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam under Third and Fourth Freedom Traffic Rights effective from January 22, 2023.”
“This action is taken in response to the decision by the aeronautical authorities of the Republic of Kenya to reject the Tanzanian request for all-cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited under Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and Third countries, contravening Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services between Tanzania and Kenya, signed on November 24, 2016, in Nairobi, Kenya.”
The statement further declares that, as a result of this decision, Kenya Airways will not be permitted to operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar starting from January 22, 2024.
“The Republic of Tanzania is committed to upholding the principles of the Chicago Convention and the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between states,” concludes the statement.
