Air Tanzania officially launched direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Lagos, operating three times weekly, a move the carrier and government officials say will strengthen trade, tourism and people-to-people links across East and West Africa. According to The Nation journalist Kelvin Osa Okunbor, Air Tanzania CEO Peter Ulanga unveiled the service at an event in Lagos that drew Nigerian and Tanzanian government representatives and industry stakeholders.
The service begins with three weekly rotations, Dar es Salaam to Lagos on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with return flights from Lagos on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and will include cargo capacity the airline cited as 54 tonnes (Air Tanzania framed cargo expansion as a core objective). AeroRoutes and multiple local outlets confirm the schedule.
Why the route matters
Direct air links between Nigeria (Africa’s largest economy by GDP and population) and Tanzania (East Africa’s tourism hub) create shorter connections for passengers and faster logistics for exports and imports. Air Tanzania’s CEO emphasized opportunities for tourism (Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar) and trade (agricultural and manufactured goods). Government officials on both sides backed the move as advancing pan-African integration and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
Key facts (verified)
- Frequency: Three weekly round-trips (Mon/Wed/Fri outbound; Tue/Thu/Sat return).
- Launch event: Inauguration ceremony held in Lagos with senior Tanzanian delegation and Nigerian Ministry of Aviation representation.
- Cargo: Air Tanzania announced an expansion in cargo freighter operations and cited a capacity figure of 54 tonnes (interpretation: announced cargo capacity; airline should be asked to confirm per-flight vs. total weekly capacity).
- Network reach: Air Tanzania said the Lagos link connects it to 29 destinations across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Operational context & aircraft
Industry route schedulers (AeroRoutes) list the Dar es Salaam-Lagos service in their September 2025 schedule data, indicating Boeing 737 family equipment is planned for the route. Airlines typically allocate narrow-body aircraft for intra-Africa links of this distance to balance cargo and passenger demand. Exact aircraft type and cabin/hold configuration for this service were not specified in The Nation article; check the airline’s operations release for the precise fleet assignment.
Economic impacts and trade potential
Direct flights shorten transit times and lower freight handlings compared with multi-stop journeys. The CEO suggested trade flows could include “Nigerian yams” to Tanzanian coffee as illustrative examples of bilateral commerce. While such statements are promotional, route economics for perishable agricultural produce often improve with direct services. Over time, regular cargo capacity and scheduled freighters can support predictable export corridors.
Caveats and outstanding questions
- Clarify cargo metric: The reported 54 tonnes needs specification: is it payload per flight, per week, or the freighter’s maximum payload?
- Visa/market facilitation: Some outlets report the Nigerian government pledged support and visa facilitation to encourage travel; concrete visa-reform steps and timelines remain to be seen.
- Commercial sustainability: New intra-Africa routes succeed when bilateral demand, pricing and connectivity align. Early months will show whether frequencies rise, or if the route operates seasonally. Market response and load factors will determine long-term viability.
Timeline
- Aug 2025: Route planned and scheduled (AeroRoutes published seasonal schedule in Aug 2025).
- 19–22 Sept 2025: Launch ceremony and first operations reported in Lagos; multiple media outlets reported the inauguration on/around Sep 22–24.
- Next 3 months: Industry watchers will track load factors, frequency adjustments and cargo uplift statistics to assess sustainability.
What’s next? Industry outlook
- Monitor passenger loads & cargo uplift: The first 3-6 months will indicate if the route requires frequency changes or equipment swaps.
- Coordination on facilitation: Expect discussions between Nigerian and Tanzanian authorities about visas, customs clearance and cargo facilitation to maximise route benefits.
- Potential for expansion: If strong, Air Tanzania or other carriers may add frequencies or codeshares, improving onward connectivity within West and East Africa.
Primary sources & citations (load-bearing)
- The Nation (Nigeria) – Kelvin Osa Okunbor, “Direct flights to Nigeria will boost trade, says Air Tanzania.”
- AeroRoutes schedule (Aug/Sep 2025) – Dar es Salaam-Lagos service details.
- Punch / Vanguard / PremiumTimes coverage of the route launch and ministerial statements.
- AllAfrica and ThisDay summaries of launch event and support for SAATM objectives.
