By Business Insider Reporter
Air Tanzania has received regulatory approval to launch direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Accra, a move that strengthens its growing West African network and deepens the airline’s pan-African ambitions.
The airline was granted a Validated Foreign Air Operator Certificate (VFAOC) by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), clearing the final hurdle required to begin scheduled passenger and cargo operations between the two regional hubs.
The certification comes just weeks after the national carrier inaugurated its Dar es Salaam–Lagos route, signalling a strategic shift towards strengthening East–West air connectivity across the continent.
The new service will mark the first-ever direct connection between Tanzania and Ghana, offering travellers, businesses and cargo operators a faster and more efficient route linking two of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
According to a statement by the Air Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA), the development represents a major step towards achieving the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) – both of which aim to reduce barriers and enhance intra-African trade, tourism, and mobility.
“Air Tanzania’s entry into the Ghanaian market is a significant milestone in deepening intra-African connectivity,” ATTA said in its statement. “The Dar es Salaam–Accra route will not only open new tourism and business corridors but also support the long-term goal of a unified African aviation market.”
ATTA added that the new route aligns with Africa’s broader strategy of self-sufficiency in air transport, reducing dependency on long, circuitous international connections that often require travellers to transit through the Middle East or Europe.
Industry analysts say the service will also benefit Tanzania’s export and logistics sector. With Accra serving as a key entry point to West Africa, the new connection is expected to enhance the flow of perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, and high-value cargo, particularly from Tanzania’s agricultural and industrial sectors.
For tourism, the route opens new frontiers. Ghana has become a leading cultural and heritage destination through its “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” campaigns, attracting thousands of diaspora visitors each year. Tanzania, meanwhile, continues to grow as a leading wildlife and beach destination, home to Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar’s white-sand beaches.
“By linking these two markets, Air Tanzania is not just expanding its footprint – it is also facilitating a cultural and economic bridge between East and West Africa,” ATTA noted. “This is exactly the kind of regional collaboration envisioned under the AfCFTA.”
The timing of the expansion is particularly strategic. Africa’s aviation market is undergoing a quiet transformation as more national carriers shift their focus from long-haul international routes to profitable intra-African connections, capitalising on growing demand from a young, urban, and mobile population.
Air Tanzania’s growing West African presence reflects this shift. After years of focusing on Southern and Eastern African routes, the airline is now targeting key economic centres in Nigeria, Ghana, and beyond – markets that have seen rising trade volumes and passenger flows linked to AfCFTA’s implementation.
The airline’s growing fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A220s provides it with the operational flexibility to serve both long-haul and mid-range African destinations efficiently.
Analysts say that while competition from established carriers such as Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and RwandAir remains stiff, Air Tanzania’s approach – building direct routes between under-served cities – gives it a strong niche advantage.
Moreover, as ATTA points out, increased connectivity between African capitals has multiplier effects across sectors. Each new direct route creates demand for hotel accommodation, conferences, digital payments, logistics services, and local supply chains that serve the tourism and business travel ecosystem.
The announcement has been met with optimism by stakeholders in both Tanzania and Ghana. Tanzanian business groups see it as an opportunity to expand trade ties in areas such as gold, coffee, textiles, and agricultural products, while Ghanaian tour operators anticipate a new wave of travellers interested in cross-continental heritage experiences.
As Air Tanzania finalises launch dates for the Dar es Salaam–Accra service, expectations are high that this will be one of the most consequential new African routes of the year. For the Tanzanian flag carrier, it’s another leap forward in its ambition to establish itself as a leading connector of African economies. For Africa’s broader aviation industry, it’s one more sign that intra-African air travel is finally taking flight.
