By Business Insider Reporter
Despite aggressive investment in recent years – expanding routes, renewing its fleet with larger aircraft, and branding itself as a revitalized national carrier – Air Tanzania, the “Wings of Kilimanjaro,” has once again failed to secure a place in the top 10 rankings of Africa’s best regional airlines.
The 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards have brought fresh recognition to African carriers – but also renewed scrutiny of those still struggling to make their mark on the continental stage.
The London-based organization is a air transport consultancy, founded in 1989, widely known for its “World Airline Awards” – dubbed the “Oscars of aviation.”
The awards are based on the world’s largest passenger satisfaction survey, conducted independently. Over 350 airlines and 100+ nationalities participated between September 2023 and May 2024
While long-haul giants like Emirates and Qatar Airways often dominate headlines, the latest rankings reflect a growing truth: it’s regional airlines that are the real lifeline of Africa – bridging vast geographies, remote towns, and fast-growing economic hubs.
From North to Southern Africa, these carriers connect the continent in ways international airlines simply can’t.
In a region where infrastructure gaps and distances challenge even the most seasoned travelers, regional airlines remain essential to unlocking mobility, economic integration, and tourism.
And this year’s Skytrax results confirm which carriers are getting it right – through safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
“Regional carriers like RwandAir and Airlink score highly because of consistent quality and attention to detail – day in, day out service counts,” notes Rita Okoye, a former Skytrax auditor.
At the 2025 World Airline Awards, RwandAir claimed the top spot as Best Regional Airline in Africa, reinforcing its rise as a continental leader. With a hub in Kigali and a growing footprint across East, Central, and Southern Africa, the airline has earned a reputation for punctual service, modern aircraft, and excellent in-flight experience.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines retained its crown as Best Airline in Africa for the seventh consecutive year.
Though it operates well beyond the regional level, its intra-African network remains among the continent’s most comprehensive and efficient.
Air Mauritius, known for its international and regional links, ranked second on the continent, praised for high service standards and strategic connectivity from the Indian Ocean.
While many carriers celebrated upward momentum, Air Tanzania’s continued absence from the rankings highlights the challenges some national airlines still face in converting investment into measurable passenger satisfaction and global recognition.
As Africa’s aviation landscape evolves, sectoral experts argue, regional players are proving that world-class service doesn’t require crossing oceans.
For carriers like Air Tanzania, the message is clear: fleet renewal and route expansion are only part of the equation – operational consistency, customer experience, and service excellence must follow if they hope to join Africa’s best.
Skytrax 2025 Rankings
| Rank | Airline |
| 1 | RwandAir |
| 2 | Royal Air Maroc |
| 3 | Airlink |
| 4 | Nile Air |
| 5 | Tunisair |
| 6 | LAM Mozambique Airlines |
| 7 | Air Senegal |
| 8 | Uganda Airlines |
| 9 | Air Botswana |
| 10 | ASKY Airlines |
Meanwhile, the government has granted temporary traffic rights to international airlines in response to the European Union’s recent ban on all Tanzanian-registered aircraft.
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 CivIil 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.
In a clarification issued by the TCAA Director-General, Salim Msangi, 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.
“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 reads.
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.
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 remains open and accessible. The aviation sector continues to operate in accordance with international safety and regulatory standards,” the statement stressed.
