Air Tanzania yesterday took delivery of two Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The pair of arrivals will join two other units in the flag carrier of Tanzania’s facilities to make up a group of four A220s in its fleet.
Grand prospects
In April, Simple Flying noted that the Dar es Salaam-based carrier was thinking of adding more units of the narrowbody model to its holdings. The airline was looking for another two A220s along with a Dash 8 Q400.
When the initial deliveries were made at the end of 2018, the airline and the wider Tanzanian aviation industry highlighted the benefits of the A220’s comfort and efficiency. They were excited to see the plane in action and take advantage of the improved economics to be had.
“With the addition of the A220 in our fleet, we are confident that we will expand our footprint in the growing African markets and beyond, as we unlock additional routes and regain our position as a key player in the African air transport market.” – Ladislaus Matindi, Managing Director & CEO, Air Tanzania Company Limited, via statement.
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The broader operations
Newsaero reports that two new additions hold MSNs 55130 and 55135. They were handed over to Air Tanzania at Airbus’ facilities in Montreal-Mirabel before being sent to the capital of Tanzania via Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The A220s are joined by two Boeing 787-8s, six DHC-8s, and one F28-300. Before the arrival of the new members, Air Tanzania held 12 planes to provide a fleet with an average age of 10.5 years.
While Air Tanzania flies long-haul, it prides itself on its domestic and regional connectivity. The carrier flies to over 10 domestic airports while also heading to the likes of Lusaka, Zambia, Harare, Zimbabwe, Bujumbura, Burundi, Entebbe, Uganda.
The right arsenal
Altogether, the A220 fits in perfectly with Air Tanzania’s network. The plane’s size and efficiency will prove to be valuable across the carrier’s short and medium-haul network.
During the summer, Air Tanzania took delivery of the last Dash 8 Q400 to be built amid the suspension of the program following a drop in demand. The turboprop will balance well with the single-aisle jet to cover great ground in the local realm as the operator has its eyes on recovery after a significantly challenging period.
Even before the global health crisis, the company was in financial difficulty, accumulating a loss of 150 billion shillings ($64.6 million) over the last half a decade. The firm will be hoping for brighter prospects in this next chapter.
Simple Flying reached out to Air Tanzania for comment on its Airbus A220 aircraft. We will update the article with any further announcements from the airline.
What are your thoughts about Air Tanzania’s Airbus A220 deliveries? What do you make of the overall aircraft? Let us know what you think of the plane and its prospects in the comment section.
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