TANZANIA'S airline business is drastically
growing following aggressive efforts made by airline dons all targeting
aviation market.
Referring to Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority's data, passengers'
traffic in the country grew from 2,246,211 in 2004/2005 to 3,268,773 in
2007/2008 which is equated to 45.5 per cent growth.
The country is on the list of "52 places to Go in 2014" by New York
Times, but for too long, her people have been hesitant about flight
travel considering this is for those economically well off.
The myth is slowly fading following high expression of interest by
aviation operators to establish their base in Tanzania. A week ago,
media was bombarded with information about Air Tanzania Company Limited
(ATCL) acquiring new 50 seats Canadian CRJ 200 Jet and promising to
acquire two others in April.
In no more time after ATCL announced to receive a jet, Malawi Airline also announced its direct flights from Dar es Salaam to its capital city Lilongwe. In the same series, airline company Auric Air Services, is in its routes expansion drive to regions that were less served by flight for so long like Songea, Mpanda, Katavi and Mpanda.
According to Tanzania Air Operators' Association website, more than
11 air operators in Tanzania namely (these are only members of an
association) Air Excel, Coastal Travel Limited, Desert Locust Control
E.A, Flightlink limited, General Aviation services, Northern Air,
Tanzania Air services Limited, Tropical Air limited, Zan Air Limited and
Zantas Air services.
For sure these are adding flavour in an airline business competition.
The competition should be viewed in more positive way since it will act
as a stepping stone towards making travelling by flight not as pricey
as it is now. Increase of airline companies in the country means
creation of employment to young Tanzanians who are tirelessly fighting
to get their bread and butter, but in vain.
Unemployment is becoming a chronic illness in not only Tanzania but
also in the entire world. For example international media reported a
saga of 7 young people who passed away in Nigeria while waiting for a
job interview. The competition in airline is also viewed in its
continuing trend of "head hunting" of employees among airline companies.
Head hunting is a type of recruitment method of finding executives to
take over vacancies in a corporation by any means of cost and is
especially done to those with vast experience. The trend is roaming in
the industry as Fly SAX a newly established airline in the country and
Kenya's premier safari and Private charter airline recruited a former
Fast jet's Director of industry Affairs for Tanzania Mr Brown Francis as
its General Manager.
Fast jet on their side appointed Jimmy Kibati, who spent over 10
years with Kenya Airways, its new general manager as well. These
happenings send a clear message to all aviation industry's partakers
that, business muscles are now most applied than ever.
While this is happening, Precision Air which happened to dominate the
business during the "partial death" of ATCL is still struggling harder
and harder to come out of austerity. The Managing Director and CEO of
Precision Air has been quoted in "Paa Tanzania Magazine" as saying:
"I wish to assure the public that you will have every reason to once
more trust and feel proud of your airline. I am already seeing signs
that we are getting back on track." Dar es Salaam, ranked 8th among
livable cities in Africa and 2nd in East Africa behind Nairobi, that
ranks 3 in Africa and 1st in East Africa respectively (according to
Africa.com) is the town that is focused with all these sharpen arrows of
airliners.
There is clear conviction that more aircraft companies will keep
flowing to Tanzania given the discoveries of oil and gas, the business
which is now watched at closest distance by many business mongers here
at home and abroad. Also abundant of tourism attractions in Tanzania
like the highest mountain in Africa and world heritage site, Serengeti
makes airliner influx in the country unstoppable.
The question to pose here, is how far ATCL is prepared to penetrate
in this market which is rapidly growing with lots of challenges? Captain
Milton Lazaro, the ATCL Acting Chief Executive Officer said: "The
future of the national flag carrier is bright as it has come up with a
workable expansion strategy whose implementation has started."
He added that: "With the expansion of our fleet, our guests will
enjoy daily flights from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza. We will be going to
Mbeya four times a week and to Moroni in Comoros. We also intend to open
up Tabora-Mpanda route soon," he said.
However, Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, as a mandated regulator
in terms of safety, security and economic oversight is itself set to
take necessary measures on 6 areas in regard to stakeholders and
customers.
In its five year (2009/2014) strategic plan the authority is
determined to ensure among others, having enough flight safety, security
and economic inspectors to meet industry demands timely, development of
sub-sector capacity to engage in public- private partnerships,
development of air cargo business and promoting effective competition
and economic efficiency.
The authority also affirmed that in order to make Tanzania an air
transport hub, the country need strong airlines and adequate airports
and air navigation infrastructure. Ministry of Transport should ensure
its airports plan drive yields fruit sooner than later.
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