TANZANIAN GOVERNMENT HANDS AGEING FOKKER 50 AIRCRAFT TO NATIONAL AIRLINE
(Posted 07th April 2019)
Information is emerging from Dar es Salaam, that the Tanzanian government has handed Air Tanzania an ageing Fokker 50 (5H-TGF), which has in the past been used as part of the government’s official fleet.
The aircraft, reportedly nearly 28 years old, is now supposed to be used by the airline but questions are being raised if this turboprop aircraft will see a similar fate as another ageing aircraft on the airline’s fleet, a Bombardier Q300 which has in recent years been more on the ground than in the air.
The source also said that a second government aircraft, a Fokker 28 jet (5H-CCM), will be handed too to the national airline to use in their day to day operations, of course a blow to any attempt to control cost by having a relatively uniform fleet.
As of now does Air Tanzania operate 3 Q400s – and has another on order – one Q300 – which is as indicated more on the ground than in the air – and their jet fleet comprises two Airbus A220-300’s and one Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner.
Injecting two non compatible aircraft will result in added maintenance cost, especially for the old Fokker 50, requires crew retraining and impact on the image of an airline flying new aircraft.
It remains to be seen when the Fokker 28 jet will be handed over, the source suggested this might happen by mid year.
