Muscat International Airport welcomes inaugural Air Tanzania flight

Muscat: Muscat International Airport today welcomed the inaugural flight of Air Tanzania, connecting Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam with Muscat International Airport in the Sultanate of Oman.Air Tanzania will operate three weekly flights between Dar es Salaam and Muscat using Airbus A300-220 aircraft. The official launch ceremony was held at Muscat International Airport, attended by senior officials from Air Tanzania and Oman Airports, as well as a delegation from the Ministry of Transport of the United Republic of Tanzania. Among those present at the welcoming ceremony for Air Tanzania's first flight were His Excellency Professor Makame Mbarawa, Minister of Transport of the United Republic of Tanzania, and His Excellency Engineer Khamis bin Mohammed Al Shamkhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Transport, along with other senior officials from Air Tanzania and Oman Airports. This direct route represents a significant milestone in strengthening air connectivity between East Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. For the first time, it offers travelers a direct and comfortable flight between the two nations and is expected to significantly reduce travel time and improve ease of movement for both tourism and business travelers. It will also open new horizons for trade, investment, and tourism exchange between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Republic of Tanzania.The announcement of the new direct flights by Air Tanzania and Oman Airports came during the Tanzania-Oman Tourism Promotion Forum and Business Forum, held at the Diplomatic Club in Muscat.The Sultanate of Oman and Tanzania share historical ties spanning centuries, embodied in maritime trade and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean. This historical legacy is clearly evident in the Omani architectural heritage of Stone Town in Zanzibar. This new air route builds upon these historical relations and provides a modern gateway to enhance cooperation and communication between the two countries. Engineer Peter Rudolph Olanga, CEO of Air Tanzania, stated that the launch of this direct route between Dar es Salaam and Muscat marks a pivotal moment in the airline's journey and supports its national tourism agenda. He added that this route will enhance connectivity between the people of both countries, their business sectors, and visitors in an unprecedented manner. He expressed his anticipation of welcoming Omani visitors to the Serengeti, Zanzibar, Mount Kilimanjaro, and other tourist destinations.Oman Airports Company welcomed the launch of Air Tanzania's direct flights between Muscat and Dar es Salaam. This new route brings the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries closer to East Africa. This direct connection will strengthen the long-standing historical ties between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Republic of Tanzania, opening new horizons in tourism, trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. It also reinforces Muscat International Airport's position as a regional gateway connecting two markets with promising potential. Nasser Al Sharji, Acting CEO of Oman Airports, stated that the launch of this direct route represents a significant step towards enhancing air connectivity between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Republic of Tanzania, in addition to providing more convenient travel options. He added that this route will contribute to supporting tourism, facilitating trade and investment, and creating new opportunities for business and cultural exchange. Al Sharji emphasized Oman Airports' commitment to continuing to expand its network of strategic partnerships and enabling seamless air connectivity, which supports the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and reinforces Muscat International Airport's position as a leading regional gateway.He further added that as the Sultanate of Oman continues to expand its global connectivity, this route embodies those aspirations. During the first six months of 2026, Tanzania received approximately 29,306 visitors from the Sultanate of Oman, a number that both sides expect to witness significant growth with the launch of direct flights. Tanzania also received approximately 2.3 million international tourists in general during the same period, achieving tourism revenues of approximately US$4.4 billion. It aims to attract 8 million international tourists annually by 2030, and enhancing air connectivity with the Gulf region, including the Sultanate of Oman, is one of the main pillars for achieving this strategy.