DAR ES SALAAM, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's state-owned airline on Friday launched its maiden flight to South Africa's business capital Johannesburg, a move described by an official as aimed at bolstering relations between the two countries.
Elias Kwandikwa, Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, said the South African route was vital for strengthening relations between two countries.
"Today is a very special day for Air Tanzania after we managed to launch our new route and we shall soon launch other flights to India and China," said the official.
He was speaking shortly before Air Tanzania Corporation Limited's (ATCL's) newly acquired Airbus 220-300 left from the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam for Johannesburg at 10.30 a.m. local time.
Kwandikwa said the new route will help in reducing the time that was spent by passengers who were forced to connect through either Ethiopia or Kenya.
Emmanuel Koroso, the Chairman of ATCL Board of Directors, said South Africa was a very important market, especially in the tourism sector.
President John Magufuli prioritized investment in Air Tanzania when he took office in 2015, vowing to revive the loss-making carrier because of the potential to boost the vital tourism sector, a top foreign exchange earner.
Magufuli has since then bought eight brand new planes for the national airline, with six of them already delivered.
The airline had only one plane before Magufuli embarked on the investment drive in 2016.
