AIR TANZANIA INKS LANDMARK CODE SHARE DEAL WITH INTERAIR

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) Acting Chief Executive Officer, Captain Milton Lazaro (centre), shakes hands with Interair Regional Manager, Mr Angelo Cossi (right) immediately after addressing a news conference in Dar es Salaam to announce a code sharing deal signed between ATCL and Interair, a South African Airline. Looking on is ATCL's Commercial Director, Mr Juma Boma (left).

THE national flag carrier, Air Tanzania, has announced a landmark code share deal with Interair, allowing passengers of the local airline to have three flights a week via Interair between Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg.

The announcement came only few days after the two airlines signed the deal to open the Tanzanian market for Interair and reclaim the South African market for Air Tanzania through code shared flights scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The ATCL Acting Chief Executive Officer, Captain Milton Lazaro said the strategic partnership with Interair was part of an aggressive repositioning of the airline.

He said the airline was back to Johannesburg, if not through direct flights but through code shared operations, to reclaim the market presence in routes it used to ply, staring with South Africa.

"Using Interair facility, our passengers will now be able to travel to and from Johannesburg," he said.

Capt. Lazaro noted that the two airlines now offer market access to travellers from the two countries, who want to explore and experience holiday of a lifetime they had always read about either in South Africa or in Tanzania, as well as offering opportunities for increased business and diplomatic relations.

"With this new arrangement, we are confident the schedule will appeal to travellers throughout the two destinations, thereby providing a source of revenue that will contribute to the growth of Air Tanzania, Tanzania tourism and our home economy," Capt. Lazaro said.

He added that ATCL will in the near future extend the route to Arusha, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Mbeya, Comoros and later to all other destinations it operates. His counterpart, Mr Angelo Cossi, Regional Manager for Interair, in turn said:

"The partnership with Air Tanzania is a perfect blend because of the mutual benefits the two airlines will enjoy. "Interair South Africa is one of South Africa's successful privately owned airlines.

The company, a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has established itself as one of the major regional carriers.

"Partnership with Air Tanzania will bring to Interair's clients a new, smoother way to travel to Tanzania and vice versa, Johannesburg becomes closer and more easily accessible to Air Tanzania clients," he said.

He said Interair South Africa which has its headquarter in Johannesburg, South Africa, currently has a fleet of Boeing 727,737 and 767 aircraft, which provide scheduled services within Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

He was optimistic that the partnership will help his airline build a strong brand within East Africa region.