Tanzania Grounds Kenya Airways Passenger Flights From Nairobi Starting January 22nd
Dar es Salaam – Tanzania has abruptly suspended all passenger flights operated by the regional carrier between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam effective January 22nd, 2024. The sudden grounding enforced by Tanzanian aviation authorities halts Kenya Airways’ daily services shuttling travellers between the two capital cities, which are key airports and economic centres in East Africa.
No firm motive was given for banning the airline’s passenger jets from Tanzanian runways. However, relations between the neighbouring countries have been strained over ongoing trade disputes. This latest surprising aviation freeze extends recent tit-for-tat regulatory actions as tensions simmer. Last week, Kenya banned all Tanzanian airlines from its airspace in retaliation for Dar es Salaam’s sudden revocation of landing rights for Kenya Airways cargo planes.
While cargo planes remain exempted currently, the new ban on passenger flights deals a heavy economic blow to both nations. Tourism and business travel take direct hits as travellers face reduced regional route options. Kenya Airways called the suspension “unfortunate” given its rippling impacts on regional connectivity and relations. With other regional carriers slowed by financial woes, limited alternate choices exist for direct Nairobi-Dar links vital for trade and partnerships.
Analysts hope cooler commercial logic prevails to resolve the aviation disputes before the damage becomes permanent. With paperwork and red tape temporarily grounding East African cross-border mobility, model airplane building may be the closest passengers can get to regional flight simulations until these sudden squalls clear.
