Tanzania Lifts Ban On KQ Flights

Tanzania has rescinded its decision to suspend all passenger flights operated by Kenya Airways (KQ) between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

The reversal comes after Kenya granted the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right to Air Tanzania Company Limited specifically for all-cargo service.

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority Director General Hamza Johari announced the resumption of all cargo services, effective 16th January, 2024.

“Following the development the auronautical authorities of the United Republic of Tanzania hereby withdraw its decison of 15 January 2024 and therefore approval of Kenya Airways to operate Third and Fourth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam is hereby restored with immediate effect,” he said.

On Monday, Tanzania suspended all Kenya Airways passenger flights after Kenya rejected Tanzania’s request for all-cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited under the Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and third countries.

“This is to reciprocate the decision by the aeronautical authorities 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, contrary to Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services between Tanzania and Kenya signed on 24th November 2016 in Nairobi.” Noted Johari.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) identifies the following freedoms for airlines:

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫 – the right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one state to another state or states to fly across its territory without landing (also known as a First Freedom Right).

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫 – the right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one state to another state or states to land in its territory for non-traffic purposes (also known as a Second Freedom Right).

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫 – the right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one state to another state to put down, in the territory of the first state, traffic coming from the home state of the carrier (also known as a Third Freedom Right).

𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫 – the right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one state to another state to take on, in the territory of the first state, traffic destined for the home state of the carrier (also known as a Fourth Freedom Right).

𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫 – the right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one state to another state to put down and to take on, in the territory of the first state, traffic coming from or destined to a third state (also known as a Fifth Freedom Right).