• Nigeria granted Air Tanzania a permit to launch the first nonstop Dar es Salaam–Lagos flight, enhancing East-West African connectivity.
• Air Tanzania is preparing to start Dar es Salaam–Lagos flights, with a 6-hour duration, faster than one-stop routes via Nairobi or Addis Ababa.
• The new route supports trade, with a potential 700-tonne annual cargo capacity and visa rules requiring Nigerians to get a Referral Visa in advance.

Nigeria has granted Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) a Foreign Carrier Operation Permit (FCOP), enabling the airline to launch the first scheduled nonstop flight between Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Lagos, Nigeria. The permit was formally presented on August 13, 2025, at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development headquarters in Abuja, following the completion of base inspections in Tanzania by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the approval of ATCL’s local security procedures. This milestone marks a significant step in strengthening aviation ties between Nigeria and Tanzania.

Air Tanzania is finalizing arrangements to commence operations, including securing office space at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport and obtaining residence permits for its crew and support staff. Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selestine Gervas Kakele, emphasized these requirements during the permit presentation, as reported by Businessday NG and The Citizen. A bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to be signed soon at NCAA headquarters, further formalizing the partnership. ATCL will also integrate passenger data with the NCAA’s AVITECH portal to comply with regulatory standards.

The nonstop flight is expected to take approximately six hours gate-to-gate, based on the 4,100 km distance between Dar es Salaam (DAR) and Lagos (LOS) and typical cruise speeds of aircraft like the Airbus A220-300 or Boeing 737, which ATCL operates. This duration is significantly shorter than existing one-stop routes via hubs like Nairobi (Kenya Airways, ~6–8 hours), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines, ~8–10 hours), or Kigali (RwandAir, ~7–9 hours). A post on X dated July 18, 2025, suggested a potential start date of August 15, 2025, though ATCL has not officially confirmed schedules or flight numbers.

The Dar es Salaam–Lagos route establishes a new East–West African corridor, enhancing connectivity between the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Nigeria’s aviation network already includes East African carriers like Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, and Uganda Airlines, as well as EgyptAir, South African Airways, Royal Air Maroc, TAAG Angola, ASKY Airlines, Africa World Airlines, and Air Côte d’Ivoire, according to FlightConnections and airline websites.

Cargo capacity will depend on the aircraft ATCL deploys. For example, operating four weekly one-way flights with an Airbus A220-300 could yield approximately 700 tonnes of annual belly cargo capacity, assuming 3–4 tonnes per flight. Actual capacity will vary based on passenger baggage and payload constraints, as noted by Airbus specifications.

Tanzania’s Ordinary Visa costs US$50 for many nationalities. Still, Nigerian passport holders require a Referral Visa, which must be obtained in advance and is not available on arrival, per Tanzania’s immigration policy (visa.immigration.go.tz). Zanzibar, a popular leisure destination, recorded 736,755 international visitors in 2024, a 15.4% increase from the previous year, according to tanzaniainvest.com, making it a likely add-on for travelers.

The route aligns with growing intra-African trade and connectivity, supported by initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The new service is expected to facilitate business and tourism between Tanzania and Nigeria, two key African economies. This development underscores Nigeria’s commitment to expanding its aviation partnerships and ATCL’s ambition to grow its regional network. Travelers and businesses alike can anticipate improved access and efficiency with the launch of this direct route.

Idriss Linge