The Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has announced that it will remove measures designed to improve the nation’s air connectivity. These included removing regulations on code-sharing and wet-leasing agreements between Tanzanian and foreign airlines, which were introduced after all 34 TCAA registered airlines were added to the European Union’s (EU) Air Safety List (ASL) in June 2025. The TCAA has decided that regulations will be put back into place Nov. 1, 2026.
What Has been Announced?
The TCAA has decided to undo a series of regulatory changes that were introduced June. 18, 2025.
These changes were designed to improve Tanzania’s air connectivity, after all of the nation’s registered carriers were added to the EU’s ASL June. 3, 2025.
The TCAA subsequently extended traffic rights to foreign carriers such as Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways, allowing the airline to form code-sharing agreements with Tanzanian airlines, and provide Tanzanian travellers with flights to EU destinations.
Director General of the TCAA, Jabiri K. Bakari, said that the regulations were being re-introduced due to “evolving operational circumstances” and “a reduced need for temporary arrangements.”
The EU has yet to give any indication that ant TCAA registered carriers will be removed from the ASL.
How Connected is Tanzania?
Tanzania is currently connected directly to seven different EU countries by foreign airlines.
This includes flights from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) to destinations in: France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, and Spain; along with a service from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) to Brussels Airport (BRU) in Belgium.
It is possible that some of these connections may be disrupted by stricter regulations, which may dissuade foreign airlines from continuing their operations in Tanzania.
The country’s own flag carrier airline, Air Tanzania, currently flies to 16 foreign countries, either from ZNZ, or its hub at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR).
This includes services to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), in Mumbai, India, and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), in China.
Why are Tanzanian Airlines On the EU ASL?
The EU ASL is a list of airlines which are currently banned from operating within EU airspace.
It currently includes 172 airlines, from 22 different countries, including all 34 airlines registered in Tanzania, and therefore under the authority of the TCAA.
The EU Air Safety Committee said in June 2025 that these airlines were added to the ASL due to,
“a shortage of qualified personnel, ineffective oversight processes in flight operations and air worthiness, and non-compliance with international safety standards.”
The Committee identified key shortcomings in both the TCAA’s operational and regulatory areas.
The ASL is not updated regularly, meaning that Tanzania’s airlines could only be removed from the list if this was suggested by someone on the committee.
Were you considering flying to Tanzania soon? Are you worried it might be cut off from other countries? Let us know what you think in the comments.
