Precision set to add Mbeya once Songwe Airport reopens

PRECISION AIR COMMITS TO MBEYA AHEAD OF REOPENING OF SONGWE AIRPORT

The expected re-opening of Songwe Airport in Mbeya (MBI), due to take place before the end of the year after a prolonged period of reconstruction and modernization, has already seen Precision Air, Tanzania’s leading airline, to commit scheduled flights to the destination, widening its domestic reach and connecting the country’s more distant region with the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam. The airline has offered a complimentary flight on the occasion of the reopening to fly government and private sector officials to Mbeya for the event, before then launching commercial flights. The schedule will initially offer 4 connections a week, nonstop between Dar and Mbeya, using the airline’s workhorse ATR aircraft and daily flights, depending on demand, are envisaged for sometime in 2013.

‘This is a clear sign that Precision Air is a Tanzanian airline with Tanzania at heart. They are not looking for a quick profit by crowding into existing high demand routes but take the risk and invest in building up demand. The programme of TCAA to modernize and refurbish existing aerodromes and secondary airports would be in vain, almost wasted, were it not for an airline like Precision. They are not pulling a FastOne on us but look at the long term future of our country’ said a regular source from Dar es Salaam, partly tongue in cheek, when breaking the news on this latest destination eyed by Precision yesterday evening.

The airline presently operates a fleet of 13 aircraft, including 3 B737-300 but has several more ATR 42 and 72-600 models on order. This is the latest state of the art turboprop aircraft available from the French manufacturer, and four more will join the fleet in 2013 as the airline continues to expand both domestic and regional destinations. Precision Air is listed on the Dar es Salaam stock exchange since its IPO late last year and flies in close partnership with Kenya Airways, with which it operates code shared flights between Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro to Nairobi.

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