EU bans Air Tanzania over safety concerns

This decision follows the EU's denial of Air Tanzania's request for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization, which is required for foreign carriers wishing to fly into Europe.

Gerson Msigwa, a spokesperson for the Tanzanian government, mentioned that discussions are ongoing with the EU regarding airport slots at undisclosed locations. He said, "EU aviation experts are expected to visit Tanzania soon to complete the vetting process. This inspection will be a crucial step toward granting Air Tanzania the licence to operate in EU airspace."

Currently, 129 airlines are banned from flying in EU airspace. Of these, 100 airlines across 15 countries face bans due to inadequate oversight by their aviation authorities. Additionally, 29 airlines are listed for specific safety deficiencies.

Notably, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been removed from this list following improvements by its aviation regulator. PIA plans to resume flights to Europe starting with Paris in January.

Air Tanzania boasts one of Africa's most modern fleets with Airbus and Boeing models alongside De Havilland Canada Dash 8s. Its fleet includes four Airbus A220-300s, two Boeing 737 MAX 9s, one Boeing 767-300F cargo plane, three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, and six De Havilland Canada Dash 8s. The airline became Africa's first operator of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 variant in October 2023 but has faced challenges such as grounding one Dreamliner due to engine issues.