FG grants Air Tanzania licence to begin direct flights to Lagos

The federal government has presented the foreign carrier operation permit (FCOP) to Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL).

According to a statement on Tuesday, Ibrahim Kana, permanent secretary, ministry of aviation and aerospace development, spoke at the presentation in Abuja.

The permanent secretary, represented by Ahmed Mohammed, said the FCOP will standardise procedures, ensure seamless interactions, and align operations with international best practices.

He said the initiative aims to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and collaboration between the two nations’ aviation sectors.

“The presentation of FCOP to Air Tanzania Company Limited is a significant step in our efforts to promote aviation cooperation and excellence, we are confident that this initiative will yield positive outcomes for both nations,” Kana said.

“We are confident that this initiative will yield positive outcomes for both nations.”

He also said the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to foster regional integration and cooperation in West Africa and beyond.

Kana assured Air Tanzania officials of Nigeria’s readiness to provide the necessary support for their operations, urging them to liaise with relevant agencies in the ministry to meet their needs.

On her part, Yinka Iriobe, director of air traffic regulation at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), welcomed ATCL’s entry into the Nigerian market, expressing optimism about the country’s aviation potential.

Iriobe said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between both countries would be signed at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja.

She added that the MoU will require ATCL to upload all passenger data into the NCAA’s AVITECH portal, with the FCOP serving as the authorisation to commence operations in and out of Nigeria.

‘NIGERIA GATEWAY TO ALL AFRICAN NATIONS’

In his response, Selestine Gervas Kakele, the United Republic of Tanzania’s high commissioner to Nigeria, thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation and readiness to collaborate with Tanzania, describing Nigeria as “the gateway to prosperity for all African nations”.

Kakele said the new partnership would address challenges in regional connectivity by establishing a durable flight link between Dar es Salaam and Lagos.

“The movement of people, goods and services in Africa have suffered huge setback due to lack of regional connectivity and this is why the two countries are coming together to establish a durable flight link,” the commissioner said.

Kakele said the ATCL is set to launch scheduled direct flights on the route, following the successful completion of the NCAA’s regulatory requirements, including the issuance of a document of authorisation, conditions, and limitations (DACL) after a rigorous base inspection in Tanzania.

The airline has also secured approval for its local security operation procedures (LSOP) and requested office space at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as well as residence permits for its staff.