The government promises support for the aviation industry

THE Government has reiterated its continued support for all airline investors in the country, promising to regulate fair competition, reducing bureaucracy as well as striving to provide the appropriate infrastructure for airlines business to thrive. The Deputy Minister for Transport Dr. Charles Tibeza said last week in Dar es Salaam that, the investor’s efforts in Tanzania’s domestic market economy is still in dire need of air transportation so as to make business people and tourists to visit far flung areas. “Due to the big size of our country and lack of other adequate and reliable transport services particularly road transport in rural areas, air transport holds as central role in country’s development efforts”, he said. However, he added that, the public reliance on the air transport will always remain eminent due to its ability to effect quick, fat and secure deliveries, especially of perishables or high value products which are abundant in the country. The deputy minister gave the concern during the inaugural ceremony of the air maiden flight schedule of the Precision Air to Lusaka-Lumbumbashi route in his speech read on his behalf as a guest of honour by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry John .T.J.Mngodo. According to him, in the case of social services, air transport assists swift movement of the sick from remote areas to places where medical facilities can quickly be availed. Air transport is also important for search and rescue services. In view of this, he reminds stakeholders of the aviation industry that, the government would continue to improve air transport infrastructure in the country notably the airports and the air navigation equipment and services to promote development of the airlines. He noted that, the construction of airports in the country such as Mpanda, Songwe and the on-going rehabilitation of Bukoba, Tabora, Mafia and Kigoma is a milestone for the development of the aviation industry in the country. Plans are underway to build a third passenger terminal building at Julius Nyerere International Airport after having completed major rehabilitation of the airport infrastructure. The government will also continue to review the existing bilateral air services agreements (BASAs) with differently countries to attract more airlines to offer services between those states and Tanzania as well as providing opportunity for Tanzanian airlines to offer services to those states.