Zanzibar Airports Authority Records Revenue Collection Increase
The Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) has seen a significant increase in its revenue collection during the third quarter of the financial year 2022/2023. The Authority reported a record revenue collection of 8.83bn/-, which is a 195% increase compared to the same period in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The collection during the third quarter of the last financial year was 5.5bn/-. The ZAA attributed the success to the personal initiatives of President Hussein Mwinyi in promoting tourism and improving infrastructure.
Improved Services Boost Revenue Collection
One of the factors contributing to the increase in revenue collection is the improved services at Terminal III, including ground handling by DNATA, which has enabled the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) to meet international standards for transporting cargo to Europe. This has opened the doors of commercial opportunities for the blue economy sector and other businesses, with the transportation of goods to Europe expected to boost exports.
Increase in passenger numbers and flights
The number of passengers served from January to March 2023 also increased to 538,828 compared to 424,968 passengers in the same period last year. Moreover, the existing international airlines have significantly increased the number of flight schedules to meet the needs of passengers, including the NEOS airline (Italy). The increase in flights has contributed to the increase in revenue collection at AAKIA.
ZAA Vows to Continue Attracting New Airlines
To further increase revenue collection in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2022-2023, the ZAA aims to continue attracting new airlines and issuing permits for direct flights to Zanzibar. The South African Airlines is also expected to start its route to Zanzibar soon. The Authority has pledged to maintain security and safety in all airports in Zanzibar, sustain the provision of good services in the existing passenger buildings at AAKIA, and speed up the construction of Pemba International Airport. The ZAA is also planning to construct a new fourth passenger building (Terminal 4) at AAKIA.
The ZAA commended President Mwinyi for his leadership in promoting Zanzibar. The Authority aims to continue increasing its revenue collection by implementing strategic measures, such as improving airport infrastructure and attracting more international airlines to fly to Zanzibar.
