Tanzania opens up airspace to foreign airlines after EU ban

Tanzania has granted temporary traffic rights to international airlines to mitigate the effects of a recent EU ban on Tanzanian-registered aircraft.
This measure, valid for six months, ensures continuity in travel, tourism, and trade.
The EU ban affects only Tanzanian-registered aircraft; internationally registered airlines remain unaffected.

This interim measure, valid for six months, seeks to bridge the gap left by the ban and ensure continuity in travel, tourism, and trade.

According to a statement from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), the decision was made “to safeguard tourism, business continuity, and international mobility through various facilitative measures.”

As part of the initiative, Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways have been granted extended rights to operate additional routes connecting key Tanzanian destinations, the TCAA confirmed.

EU ban does not affect all carriers

In a clarification issued by the TCAA Director-General, travellers were assured that the European Union’s restrictions apply only to aircraft registered in Tanzania and do not impact airlines that are certified or registered in other countries.

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“Following the European Union’s announcement regarding the inclusion of some Tanzanian-registered carriers on the EU Air Safety List, the TCAA has undertaken several steps to maintain uninterrupted air travel to and from Tanzania,” the statement read.

The authority emphasised that internationally registered carriers operating in Tanzania remain unaffected and are not under the jurisdiction of Tanzanian regulators, thereby maintaining normal service.

Tanzania urges travellers not to cancel plans

In light of the EU announcement, the TCAA has advised international travellers not to cancel their bookings to Tanzanian destinations. Instead, it reassured the public of the country's ongoing accessibility and commitment to high safety standards.

Tanzania opens up airspace to foreign airlines after EU ban.Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images Business Insider USA

“Tanzania remains open and accessible. The aviation sector continues to operate in accordance with international safety and regulatory standards,” the statement stressed.

Codeshare flexibility for local carriers

To minimise disruptions, the TCAA has introduced regulatory flexibility, allowing Tanzanian-registered airlines to operate in collaboration with foreign airlines through codeshare agreements or block permit arrangements. These partnerships will ensure continued domestic and regional connectivity.

Meanwhile, the TCAA is actively engaging stakeholders across the aviation and tourism sectors—including local operators and development partners—to coordinate a unified response to the ban and limit its impact on the travelling public.

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Talks with EU underway

The Ministry of Transport, through the TCAA, has also initiated diplomatic dialogue with the European Union in an effort to resolve the safety concerns raised and ultimately secure the removal of Tanzania from the EU Air Safety List.

“These temporary arrangements are designed to preserve business continuity, investor confidence, and service reliability during this period,” the aviation authority concluded.