Tanzania Purchase USD200m Bombardier Aircraft

The Government of Tanzania recently signed a USD200m purchase agreement with Canadian manufacturer Bombardier for two CS300 jetliners and one Q400 turboprop aircraft.

They will be used for commercial airline operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), the national carrier of Tanzania.

The Q400 aircraft will have an all-economy, 76-seat interior with two lavatories. The two CS300 airliners will be configured in a dual-class layout, and will be equipped with WiFi internet and in-flight entertainment.

“The domestic market in Tanzania as well as the regional market are becoming more competitive as both business and leisure travel are steadily increasing,” said Leonard Chamuriho, Permanent Secretary at Tanzania’s Ministry of Works, Communications and Transport.

“Therefore it is vital to operate aircraft that offer superb passenger comfort and amenities. Of course, high reliability, operational flexibility, as well as excellent fuel efficiency and economics are also necessary. Both the Q400 and CS300 aircraft more than satisfy these parameters,” he added.

In September 2016, Bombardier delivered two Q400 turboprop airliners to Tanzania following the purchase agreement signed in August 2016.

“We are delighted that the Q400 aircraft which entered service with Air Tanzania earlier this year are proving their superior economics and versatility. The CS300 aircraft will allow Air Tanzania to expand both its domestic and regional markets, and it has the range to open new international destinations such as the Middle East and India at the lowest cost. The C Series jet aircraft have the right attributes to develop these markets,” said Jean-Paul Boutibou, Vice President, Sales, Africa and the Middle East, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

Air Tanzania

ATCL is the flag carrier airline of Tanzania based in Dar es Salaam with its hub at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA).

It was established as Air Tanzania Corporation (ATC) in 1977 and wholly owned by the Tanzanian Government until 2002 when it was partially privatized.

The Government therefore reduced its shareholding to 51% and entered into a partnership with South African Airways.

The partnership ended in 2006 when the Government of Tanzania repurchased the shares and the airline became once again a wholly owned government company.