Tanzania Receives Its First A220-300 Airbus, Becomes Africa’s Maiden Operator

By Special Correspondent, Montreal, Dar es Salaam

TANZANIANS metaphorically have nothing but a broad smile on their collective face this festive Christmas season as their Government under President of the Fifth Phase Government of the United Republic, His Excellency Dr. John Pombe Magufuli, led the nation to mark another milestone; receiving the first Airbus 220/300 Series aircraft to have ever touched down on African soil.

The arrival of the new aircraft, is making the total of fifth to arrive in the country during the three years of proven success story of H.E President John Pombe Magufuli. This will then make the United Republic the first proud owner/operator of this special make of Airbus planes on the vast African continent.

President Magufuli and other senior leaders aboard the A220-300 Airbus

Currently, Air Tanzania is busy with a comprehensive fleet renewal. The country is also set to receive another holiday season present, Airbus 220 - 300 Series aircraft in January, 2019. The company expects a further Bombardier DHC8-Q402 and one Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to be delivered in 2019.

Earlier this year, the airline received two brand new Bombardier DHC8-Q402NG, a brand new Boeing 787-Dreamliner, which is currently used for short domestic flights and international routes.

The plane touched down at the country's major international gate way, Dar es Salaam, at 15:30 hrs on Sunday from Montreal in Canada, via Accra, Ghana.

H. E President John Pombe Magufuli was the guest of honor who graced the event to receive the plane that will be leased to Air Tanzania Corporation Limited (ATCL).The new aircraft becomes the fifth among seven aircrafts that have been bought by the administration of the Fifth Phase Government that took office in November 2015.

After it touched down, the plane received a water salute from two firefighting engines that were spraying arcs of water over it, as a sign of respect, honour and gratitude.

In his speech, President John Pombe Magufuli, congratulated all Tanzanians for paying taxes, which eventually are able to do all this!

"Let's be patriots, this is for the benefit of our nation. The economy of our country goes well, let's maintain our peace! We are blessed to have many resources, Tanzania is rich," the President said.

With bringing new airplanes, President John Pombe Magufuli, said that the Fifth Phase Government is reviving ATCL's hangar specifically for doing aircraft major maintenance in Kilimanjaro region.

"We promised to strengthen transport services, and in these three years of the Fifth Phase Government, we have implemented this promise and it is by doing major things in the earth, in the sky and even in the marine," Dr. John Pombe Magufuli noted. Tanzania is also renovating and upgrading more than 11 national airports in multi-billion project that include the Terminal III in Dar es Salaam.

This then makes the United Republic the first proud owner/operator of this special make of Airbus planes on the vast African continent with the capacity of carrying 132 passengers, and has the capacity of flying non stop directly for six and a half hours.

With new fleets on its hangars, Tanzania has already seen the impact, the number of passengers flying with Air Tanzania has jumped from 5,600 to 34,000 passengers per month.