Brussels Airline maiden flight at KIA, last week. (Photo by a Correspondent).
ITALIAN AIRLINE ALSO TO START DIRECT FLIGHTS TO TZ NEXT MONTH
BY DAVID CHIKOKO
Belgium’s national flag carrier, Brussels Airlines, which flies to over 100 destinations worldwide, inaugurated their maiden direct, non-stop flight between Brussels (BRU) and Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) on June 3, this year, signalling growing European confidence in Tanzania’s ‘value for money’ safari experience.
The airline, formerly known as Sabena, flew in 248 passengers aboard an Airbus A330-300 wide-bodied plane that normally carries up to 290 passengers in a three-class layout, indicating that the inaugural flight was a big success. The company will operate two flights a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with a hop over in Nairobi for the return journey.
Brussels Airlines is a member of Lufthansa Group, one of Europe’s leading aviation initiative, which also includes other five main global passenger brands – Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings and Discover Airlines. The group serves 46 destinations in 29 African countries.
The inauguration comes as KIA is set to receive another major boost next month, when an Italian carrier, Neos Air, is expected to begin direct flights. The additional route is expected o further expand KIA’s international network.
“Tanzania is a top destination for safaris,” said the airline’s CEO, Dorothea von Boxberg, before adding that their new route was “a strategic link” to connect “Europe with Tanzania’s northern safari circuit.”
Ms von Boxberg also noted the airline’s long-standing ties to Africa stating, “Sub-Saharan Africa is our second home” and that the company was proud to contribute to the growth of the Tanzanian economy.
The Minister of Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa, said that Airlines entry would substantially boost tourism, trade and investments between Tanzania and Europe.
Tour operators in Arusha and Kilimanjaro said the service comes at a crucial time for tourism industry. “This is very good news for the tourism industry because direct flights reduce travel time and make Tanzania more attractive to visitors who want a smooth safari experience,” one Arusha-based tour operator said.
“When tourists are able to land closer to national parks, it becomes easier for them to spend more time on a safari instead of losing hours in transit.” Tanzania is unparalleled for safari experiences to Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Arusha National Parks. KIA prides itself as the main gateway to all those world acclaimed safari destinations.
Another operator said the Brussels route could help increase bookings from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and other European markets linking through Brussels. “For tour companies, hotels, lodges, transport providers and guides, every new international flight into Kilimanjaro creates more opportunities,” the operator said. “It means more arrivals, more jobs and more spending in the local economy.”
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation James Millya, who is also Simanjiro Member of Parliament, told The Arusha News that the route from Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union, reflected growing economic and diplomatic ties with Europe.
The Lufthansa Group Vice-President Julia Hillenbrand, who travelled in the inaugural flight, described the service as an important step in strengthening air travel between Europe and Tanzania.
Brussels Airlines joins other international and regional carriers already bringing tourists directly to KIA. They include KLM, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, RwandAir and Uganda Airlines, depending on route and season. The airlines connect KIA with major hubs such as Amsterdam, Doha, Istanbul, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Kigali, Entebbe, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
