Aviation History
Air Tanzania was formed in 1977 out of the breakup of the regional East African Airways, and has since cycled through full state ownership, a failed 2002-2006 partnership with South African Airways, a near-total grounding around 2011, and a fleet revival from 2016 onward with new Bombardier, Airbus A220 and Boeing 787 aircraft. In December 2024 the EU restricted Air Tanzania's fleet from its airspace over safety-oversight concerns, a status that may evolve as the carrier addresses the findings.
Founded on 11 March 1977 after the collapse of the regional East African Airways (which had accumulated roughly $120 million in debt); operations began 1 June 1977.
SAA purchased a 49% stake in Air Tanzania for $20 million, a partnership that later collapsed over differing business interests.
The Tanzanian government repurchased SAA's shares for $1 million in September 2006, restoring full state ownership.
Tanzania's civil aviation regulator withdrew Air Tanzania's AOC for failing to meet ICAO standards; it was restored in January 2009 after remedial work.
By March 2011 Air Tanzania was largely grounded due to a lack of funds for aircraft maintenance.
Under a presidential push to rebuild the carrier, Air Tanzania took delivery of new Bombardier Q400s, Airbus A220s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners from 2016 onward.
In December 2024 the European Union added Air Tanzania's aircraft to its air safety list over safety-oversight and training-program concerns; the restriction's duration depends on remedial progress with regulators.
Air Tanzania · Precision Air · Coastal Aviation · Auric Air
Wikipedia, Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, European Commission air safety list notices