All Tanzanian Airlines Banned (page 2 of 2)

Hi there, I’m finalizing a trip in early February, and I’m being offered a flight between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar with Ethiopian Airlines on a B737. Departure at 2:10 AM, arrival at 3:30 AM.

1) Daytime and "risky" (= no insurance) 2) Nighttime and safe

Both options are valid, and I’d definitely hesitate too! 🤔 😱

Hi,

Using Ethiopian Airlines flights between Arusha (Killi airport) and Zanzibar only covers a small portion of those who need to travel within the country. For example, to reach the reserves (in the north or south of the country), the ONLY option left will be local airlines.

Checking Flightradar24, you can see that air traffic in Tanzania isn’t limited to Ethiopian Airlines flights—far from it.

https://www.flightradar24.com/airport/dar

Best,

...

For my part, I’ve planned the itinerary accordingly and booked a flight on ET.

For my part, I planned the itinerary accordingly and booked a flight on ET.

When you're lucky enough to come across "smiling" ones, the cabin crew/flight attendants at Ethiopian Airways have a lot of charm. 😏 :)

And who knows, you might have the privilege of flying on a Boeing 738 MAX...

Have a great stay in Tanzania, and safe travels! ...

Hi,

Just a heads-up—the air transport situation in Tanzania isn’t improving. European travel agencies are in a tough spot when it comes to selling packages that include flights with Tanzanian airlines. In fact, the French agency Objectif Nature, which I’ve used for years to book all our trips to Africa, has had to stop selling our upcoming trip because it includes domestic flights to Selous and Ruaha. Insurance won’t cover it. So, their Tanzanian ground operator will handle all the bookings instead. Bottom line: if you’re planning a trip to Tanzania that involves flights with Tanzanian airlines, stay alert.

Hello,

And THANKS Loïc for these details based on a real-life example.

Best regards,

Puma2A

...

Hi everyone,

Our trip to the southern Tanzania parks is slowly but surely approaching. I’d mentioned earlier that European agencies—including French ones—are banned from booking flights for Europeans with Tanzanian airlines (the ban is still in place). The workaround we found is to have a local company organize the trip for us. Our French agency, Objectif Nature, went through the Tanzanian agency Asanterra (which Puma2A knows well), run by a Belgian. After reading Alain’s ("Puma2A") comments, I’m not worried. But another issue just came up: RwandAir, with whom we’d bought our round-trip tickets, just canceled our outbound flight and rescheduled it... 3 days later. I refused and asked for a refund on the round-trip tickets since they’re inseparable. So far, after three emails to RwandAir, I’ve only received confirmation that our tickets were canceled—but no written confirmation of the refund, even though it’s a legal obligation:

1. European Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 Within the European Union, Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 applies when:

the flight departs from an EU airport; or the flight arrives in the EU and is operated by an EU airline.

In the event of a flight cancellation, the airline must offer passengers a choice between:

a full refund of the ticket (within a maximum of 7 days); re-routing to the final destination, either at the earliest opportunity or at a later date at the passenger’s convenience; where relevant, a return flight to the original point of departure if the canceled flight was part of a round trip.

To be continued, because in the meantime, I’ve already rebooked flights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This trip hasn’t been easy to organize this time.

Loïc

Hello,

But another problem has just arisen—Rwandair, from whom we bought our round-trip tickets, just canceled our outbound flight and rescheduled it... 3 days later.

Your experience seems to confirm the trend, because on this site, RwandAir has been getting quite a few negative reviews—fairly or not? Keep us posted! For this summer, we had (among other options) the choice of RwandAir in business class for only 300 € more than Air France/KLM in economy. After a long hesitation 😛, we’re going with the European group—even if we’ll arrive more tired . Customer service will be easier to reach in case of unexpected issues.

To be continued, because in the meantime, I’ve rebooked tickets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you don’t mind me asking, who did you book with?

Rwandair, from whom we had bought our round-trip tickets, just canceled our outbound flight and rescheduled it... 3 days later. Not easy to organize this trip this time. Loïc

Hi Loïc,

This isn’t the first time I’ve heard about Rwandair canceling flights!!

For those who want to go to Tanzania (North or South), here’s a reminder of the reliable airlines that operate flights from France to Tanzania: - Air France with a direct flight from Paris, I believe. - Ethiopian Airlines (which I’ve taken 5 times) via Addis Ababa, departing from Paris or Marseille. - Qatar Airways (which I just took to Kenya) departing from Paris or Nice. - I’ve also flown SWISS from Zurich (very good but too complicated for me to get to Zurich) and I’m not sure if they still fly to Tanzania??

Avoid Kenya Airways (you’re packed in like sardines in their B-787...)

Hope you get a resolution with RwandAir!! Safe travels, and we’re looking forward to your trip report when you return.

...

- Ethiopian airlines (which I've taken 5 times) via Addis Ababa. Departing from Paris or Marseille.

And Lyon... starting July 2nd, 2026, with 3 flights per week (Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday) 🙂.

https://actu.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/lyon_69123/aeroport-de-lyon-une-nouvelle-liaison-vers-cette-immense-capitale-d-afrique-ouvre-pour-l-ete_63701156.html

With Kenya Airways because it's one of the few that arrives and departs at decent daytime hours, not at 3 AM. I know this airline since I’ve already traveled with them to Kenya.

With Kenya Airways because it's one of the few that arrives and departs at decent daytime hours, not at 3 AM. I know this airline since I’ve already traveled with them to Kenya.

Great choice 🙂. Approved! Africa from the moment you board. Plus, with Kenya Airways, if there’s a cancellation/delay on the second outbound flight and/or the first return flight, their subsidiary Precision Air (PW) will take over to/from Dar es Salaam/Zanzibar/Kilimanjaro, and you’ll be prioritized!🙂

Hi everyone,

We got back from Tanzania a month ago. For reasons known only to this site’s moderator, I started a discussion about our trip, but it wasn’t placed in the Tanzania section like I’d hoped—instead, it ended up in another part of the forum ??? So I’ve kicked off this trip report here: https://voyageforum.com/forum/decouverte-ruaha-nyerere-ex-selous-en-fevrier-mars-2026-d11466010/

I’ve already uploaded a video, and I’m waiting to add photos and a full write-up. Stay tuned! Thanks for your patience.

Loïc

Hello,

Could you share your impressions of local flights, especially in the bush, for your connections to Ruaha and Selous during your stay/safari? Your thoughts on the apparent safety of these flights? (in relation to the blacklist)

In June 2024, the bush airstrips in Mikumi and Selous were under reconstruction by the Chinese. I also heard that in Ruaha, the Chinese were building a new airfield. Could you let us know, please, whether the runways used for your flights between these reserves were paved or still just dirt "airstrips"?

Have you heard any updates about the evolution of the local airlines' "blacklist" status?

Best regards,

Puma2A

If you have any photos of the new facilities... feel free to share them here! Thanks.

...

Hi Alain,

Here’s a quick recap of our flights in Tanzania with AURIC AIR.

3 flights with the same pilot between: - Dar es Salaam and Ruaha: 2-hour flight - Ruaha and Nyerere: 1h15 flight - Nyerere and Dar es Salaam: 45-minute flight

Flights went smoothly in a Cessna Grand Caravan like this one:

Just a reminder—if Tanzanian airlines have been blacklisted by the European Union, it’s not due to their fault or any negligence on their part, but because Tanzanian civil aviation regulators are unable to guarantee compliance with international safety standards!!!!!

Yes, Alain, two airfields with nice paved runways are under construction in Ruaha and Nyerere and should be operational this summer. Goal: to welcome 30-40 passenger planes from Zanzibar. Maybe the end of the absolute tranquility observed in these two parks.

Otherwise, I hope to make progress on my recap of this trip with lots of photos.

The link: https://voyageforum.com/forum/decouverte-ruaha-nyerere-ex-selous-en-fevrier-mars-2026-d11466010/

Thanks Simon,

I’m also worried this might spell the end of the unique (and really pleasant) vibe in these two reserves—and Mikumi’s too 😕. Plus, it could attract Chinese tourists, and that would honestly be a nightmare! 🤪

Cheers.

...

Hi Loic, It’s worth noting that EVERYTHING related to aviation in Tanzania is being questioned/challenged—not just the airlines (which are on the EASA/European Blacklist). This includes airports, flight crews, air traffic control, everyone’s training (which requires licenses), mechanics, and the airlines themselves... You have to understand that it’s the safety regulator, TCAA—Tanzania’s CAA/DGAC—that’s officially under scrutiny. So, all certification and oversight processes that depend on its monitoring and verification (according to international standards—ICAO) are "being questioned." Even if you fly with Ethiopian Airlines to Tanzania, they have to land at an airport that’s (likely) poorly monitored and may have seriously inadequate safety standards—or even none at all... It’s also a major issue for the insurance of airlines that land in Tanzania (risks, higher premiums)... Yes, it’s a really complicated situation—I agree. I don’t understand why the Tanzanian Government/TCAA isn’t asking for (international) help to resolve this as quickly as possible? Thanks, Chris

Primary EU Concerns The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Commission cited systemic vulnerabilities in national aviation oversight, focusing on the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA):

Regulatory Deficiencies: The TCAA was deemed unable to ensure that local air carriers comply with international safety standards.

Personnel Shortages: A critical shortage of adequately trained and qualified personnel to conduct regulatory tasks. Flawed Oversight Processes: Ineffective management and monitoring of both flight operations and general airworthiness across registered aircraft.

Aircraft maintenance and upkeep are extremely costly and complex—something not everyone, let alone poor countries, can afford.

Yes, dear Guentelin,

That’s exactly why we need a strong national regulator to oversee everything and ensure the necessary work is done properly...

Thanks, Chris