Tanzania faces air passenger handling challenges
DAR ES SALAAM - THE country’s airports are facing a fresh passengers handling challenge as airlines increase frequencies. The passengers’ capacity challenge emerged a fresh on Sunday as Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) super jumbo takes to sky flying to Kilimanjaro and Mwanza twice a day from Dar es Salaam. Daily News spot observation revealed that currently existing passenger terminal buildings are outdated and investment has to be made to increase the capacity and equipment. Minister for Works, Transport and Communications Isaac Kamwelwe said the government has set aside fund for constructing a new terminal building at Mwanza Airport. “We have set aside a fund in this financial year for the construction of 3.0 million passengers a year at Mwanza,” Mr Kamwelwe told a multitude of people who gathered at the airport to receive the ATCL’s Dreamliner on Sunday. The minister, who toured the Mwanza Airport before receiving the Dreamliner, experienced the situation where passengers clogged the terminal building waiting for the final board in the morning to Dar. In the morning there were four flights operated by Precision Air, two of ATCL and FastJet to Dar from Mwanza. Mr Kamwelwe, however, failed to mention the fund size and when the construction will begin. Tanzania Airport Authority Mwanza Airport Manager Mr Maulid Mohamed said the airport has 324 seats only. “We have terminal building capacity challenge…I know the government has new plans to address the challenge,” Mr Mohamed, who just transferred from Arusha, said. Kilimanjaro Airport Development Company (KADCO) acting Managing Director, Christopher Mukoma said airport was renovated recently at a tune of 39 million Euros.