Tanzania suspends Kenya Airways flights after Kenya blocked cargo operations

In a statement signed by Hamza Johari the Director General Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, Tanzania cites Kenya's refusal as a breach of Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services, between the two countries signed on November 24 2016 in Nairobi.

This suspension will greatly impact Kenya Airways which operates many flights per week to and from Tanzania and thousands depend on KQ to travel between the two neighbouring countries.

"Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, on behalf of the aeronautical authorities of the United Republic of Tanzania, has decided to rescind the approvals for Kenya Airways (KQ) to operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam under Third and Forth Freedom Traffic Rights with effect from 22 January 2023," reads a statement released on Monday.

"This is to reciprocate the decision by the aeronautical authorise of the Republic 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 24 November 2016 in Nairobi Kenya."

Following this decision, the statement continues, there shall be no passenger flights by KQ between Nairobi and Dar from 22 January 2024.

"The Republic of Tanzania shall always strive to adhere to the principles of the Chicago Convention and Bilateral Air Services Agreement between states."