Tanzania: ATCL Plans to Add New Routes in Revival Strategy

Dar es Salaam — Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) is planning to start at least 11 new regular routes including Dodoma after receiving the two new aircraft expected next month.

The state-run airline currently flies only two routes – Kigoma and Comoros – with only one aircraft but the new fleet is expected to restore the company’s business competitiveness, according to acting managing director Mr Patrick Itule.

Tanzania signed agreement with Canadian Bombadier to purchase two commercial aircraft – D8 Q400 and they are expected to arrive in the third or fourth week of September this year.

“As a company we are expecting a smooth run after the planes’ arrival and we will be logged in a competitive business since our long time biggest challenge which is the shortage of planes would be solved, ” promised Mr Itule in a statement issued yesterday.

“The company will not be willing to tolerate employees who fail to conform to the current pace of change,” he stressed.

President Dr John Pombe Magufuli has promised to replenish the ailing ATCL fleet and return it to its lost glory. He said will revive the national flag carrier.

The planes are currently undergoing final touches by the Canadian Bombardier Company, he said.

Some of the destinations the company would conduct its regular flights include Dodoma, Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya, Kigoma, Tabora, Mpanda, Kilimanjaro, Mtwara, Zanzibar, Pemba, Bukoba and Comoros Islands.

However, he stressed that the mentioned destinations and many more will be established basing on the company’s business feasibility study.

According to Mr Itule, company already has created a task force that oversees various issues including preparations of human resource in order to conform to the current business requirements.