AIR TANZANIA’S FIRST BOMBARDIER Q400 SPORTS THE GIRAFFE ON ITS TAIL
(Posted 23rd August 2016)
The first of two Bombardier Q400NG aircraft ordered by the Tanzanian government for national airline Air Tanzania is now getting its livery painted on hull, engines and tail, soon to be followed by the second aircraft which will be delivered just a few weeks after the first such aircraft due in Dar es Salaam in early September.
The airline is presently working flat out to prepare for an increase in flight frequencies and a network expansion across key destinations in Tanzania, where the two new birds will be deployed alongside a Bombardier Q300 sistership.
With the decision taken to purchase Bombardier aircraft has Air Tanzania settled for the same option taken by RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines, which operate two and fifteen such aircraft respectively for their short and short medium distance domestic and regional routes.
The two additional aircraft are thought to be a potential game changer for Air Tanzania, provided the company’s management can live up to the government’s expectations, and give competing airlines on domestic routes a run for their money, in particular Precision Air which operates an all turboprop fleet of ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft.
Be sure to watch this space and not miss the announcement when the two new aircraft will be ferried to Dar es Salaam and then prepared for entry into service following final regulatory work.
