Tanzania and Russia are planning to open direct flights, and an agreement to this effect is planned to be signed in the near future, Tanzania’s Ambassador to Russia Fredrick Ibrahim Kibuta told the media.
“We are in the final stages of signing an agreement of mutual understanding and cooperation between our airlines in order to organize direct flights from Russia to Tanzania, even from St. Petersburg there will be direct flights,” he said.
The ambassador also expressed hope that this will boost the flow of Russian tourists to the African country, as until recently Russians were actively traveling to Tanzania.
Kibuta further noted the existing need for direct flights between the countries.
“In fact, there is a need for direct flights, and we have requests from very different directions about organizing such flights,” the diplomat said.
Russia has repeatedly talked about the importance of developing air links with African countries.
Last summer, during the second Russia-Africa summit, the Russian Union of Travel Industry urged the mutual cancellation of visas and the launch of direct flights with many African countries, saying that "Africa is a popular destination [among Russians], and expanding the geography of flights would allow tour operators to increase the range of outbound tourism offers."
Moreover, this week, the Africa Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry has declared its efforts to broaden Africa's flight geography, adding that Russian Aeroflot airlines resumed flights to the Seychelles in 2022 and Mauritius a year later. The department also listed these nations as the most popular sub-Saharan African travel destinations for Russian travelers, along with Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa.