Tanzania’s national carrier advised not to repeat past mistakes

Dodoma. National Assembly Speaker Job Ndugai has advised the national carrier Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) not to repeat mistakes that caused it many problems in the past.

Officiating the opening of ATCL offices in Dodoma city on Monday, March 18, he said the national carrier had reached a critical point in the past such that people had lost hope whether it would ever recover.

“In those days delays and cancellation of flights was the order of the day,” added Mr Ndugai.

“…we thought the airline would never recover, but it has. So, don’t take us back there. Work hard,” he advised.

Works, Transport and Communication minister Isack Kamwelwe told executives of the company to increase flights to domestic and international destinations to be able to compete with other airlines in the industry.

Mr Kamwelwe assured Tanzanians over safety and security when travelling by ATCL planes.

ATCL managing director Ladislaus Matindi said the company plans to start flights to Mtwara, Iringa and Mpanda and thereafter travel to Pemba and Tanga.

So far the company has 300 agents both within and outside the country including destinations where their services are yet to reach like India, South Africa and Ethiopia.

ATCL board chairman Emmanuel Korosso requested the government to ensure that all airports are fitted with runway lighting systems to enable aircraft land during the night, this is particularly for Dodoma and Songwe airports.