Saudia Airlines now has direct flights from Jeddah to Tanzania’s capital city of Dar es Salaam

Saudi Arabia’s national airline, Saudia Airlines has begun direct flights from Jeddah to the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, making Tanzania the 14th African country to have direct flights with Saudia Airlines

On March 26, a number of Tanzanian authorities greeted the inaugural flight, which landed in Dar es Salaam on a 180-seater Airbus A320. Swissport Tanzania piloted the 61-person flight from Dar es Salaam to Jeddah.

The airline, which is the first to offer direct flights between the two cities, is projected to increase the number of international visitors to Tanzania, according to Makame Mbarawa, Minister of Works and Transport.

According to data from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, the number of foreign tourists increased by 55% in 2022 compared to 2021. During the review period, the number of travelers increased from 1.694 million to 2.618 million. Many tourists and business travelers travel between the two countries.

The coming of a new operator is a vote of confidence in the country’s business environment,” said Prof. Mbarawa.

Tanzania has become the 14th African country to have direct flights with Saudia Airlines, according to Prof Mbarawa, who spoke to a gathering assembled to see the maiden flight.

The journey time to Saudi Arabia has been decreased from 10 hours to roughly 4.40 hours with the advent of direct flights, compared to the previous 10 hours when passengers flew to Saudi Arabia through other locations such as Addis Ababa and Doha.

Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) Director General Mussa Mbura indicated that the airline will operate four flights each week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays between JNIA and King Abdulaziz International Airport.

A delegation of Saudi businessmen arrived in Tanzania in August of last year to seek for investment opportunities in agriculture, water, and the environment.