ATCL eyes regional and international flights next year

BY GEOFFREY NANGAI

THE Air Company Tanzania Limited (ATCL) is in talks with other regional airliners that will see the company enter a joint venture with them in a bid to increase flight frequency.

The national carrier resumed operations in late October focusing on two destinations of Tabora and Kigoma after fulfilling all the required aviation recommendations.

The ATCL Acting Chief Executive Officer Paul Chizi while launching a new corporate uniform for the plane’s cabin crew at the weekend said the company would now focus on the regional routes through code-sharing with regional airliners.

“We have already talked to Jet Link Express, a Kenyan based airliner on how we can work together and what has delayed the move is just the computerized observation system.

“We have also discussed the matter with Air Zambezi that will see us fly to Lusaka, Lubumbashi, Harare and other cities. We talked with Rwanda Air and agreed on joint routes to Dubai, Mumbai, Kinshasa and Lagos come February next year,” he said.

Chizi said the company is in the final stages on acquiring another plane will help connect other regions with in the country that include Zanzibar and Arusha by January next year.

“After acquiring another plane, we shall open up to the regional market. First, we shall settle for the code-sharing scheme with other airliners. I cannot say when such flights will begin but this will be immediately after acquiring another plane,” he stressed.

Speaking on the company’s revived flights to Kigoma and Tabora , Chizi said the company has got an overwhelming good response from the customers for the quality services provided in board.

“I have received many compliments for the services we offer. For those who will get a chance to board our plane will actually see that flying with the ATCL really makes a difference. Passenger turn up is satisfactory.

“Many Tanzanians are patriotic, I do not expect to see stiff competition to undermine our efforts to move forward,” he said.

The ATCL Commercial Director Josephat Kagirwa earlier during the launch of the airline’s cabin crew uniform said the initiate was in line with uplifting the company’s corporate image.