Tanzania Announces Suspension Of Kenya Airways Flights

UPDATE: Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced that it was notified regarding the Public Notice issued by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) which blocked the airline from operating flights on the Nairobi-Dar es Salaam route in response to Kenya's refusal to grant Air Tanzania all-cargo flight operations between Nairobi & Third countries

"Kenya Airways is engaging the Civil Aviation Authorities and relevant government agencies in Kenya and Tanzania to find a solution that will ensure there are no flight disruptions between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam," a statement from the airline read in part.

Tanzania has announced the suspension of Kenya Airways (KQ) flights on the Dar es Salaam route effective January 22, 2024.

The announcement was made by the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) on Monday, January 15 in a statement seen by Viral Tea.

"Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, on behalf of the aeronautical authorities of the United Republic of Tanzania, has decided to rescind the approvals for Kenya Airways (KQ) to operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam under Third and Forth Freedom Traffic Rights with effect from 22 January 2024," the statement read in part.

The Tanzanian aviation regulator cited a reciprocation of the decision by the aeronautical authorities of the Republic of Kenya to refuse the Tanzanian request for all-cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited under Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and Third countries.

TCAA added that this was contrary to Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services, between Tanzania and Kenya signed on November 24, 2016, in Nairobi.

"Following this Decision, there shall be no passenger flights by KQ between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam from 22 January 2024," added the statement.

Fifth freedom rights allow an airline to carry passengers or cargo from one foreign country to another while stopping in the airline’s own country.

Third and fourth freedom rights allow an airline to carry passengers or cargo between its own country and another foreign country.

The United Republic of Tanzania asserted its constant commitment to adhere to the principles of the Chicago Convention of 1944 and the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between States.

The Chicago Convention is an international treaty that established the rules of airspace, the rights of the signatory states, and the standards and procedures for civil aviation.

The latest continues a long streak of feuds between the two East African countries neighbouring each other over air transport rights.

In August 2020, Tanzania barred Kenya Airways from flying into the country after Kenya excluded Tanzania from a list of countries whose passengers were allowed to enter Kenya amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The ban was later lifted, but tensions remained high.

It is worth noting that Kenya Airways operates 33 scheduled flights weekly between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, that is four flights a day between the two major cities.

KQ's rival, Air Tanzania, the flag carrier of Tanzania, operates three weekly flights between Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, and one weekly flight between Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.