Air Tanzania introduced Dar es Salaam – Lagos – Accra flights and shortened the path between East and West Africa

Air Tanzania expands network: new Dar es Salaam – Lagos – Accra route connects East and West Africa

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), the national carrier of Tanzania, has introduced a new international route connecting Dar es Salaam, Lagos, and Accra in a single rotation. Flights commenced on January 28, 2026, and the carrier plans to operate them three times a week, opening a more direct air corridor for passengers between East and West Africa, with fewer layovers and shorter total travel times than previous routes.

The new service builds on the earlier opening of the connection between Dar es Salaam and Lagos and expands its reach toward Ghana, one of West Africa's transport and business hubs. The introduction of the route comes at a time when African nations, as well as continental institutions, are increasingly emphasizing the need for stronger intra-continental connectivity to facilitate the movement of people, goods, and services between regions that are geographically distant but economically increasingly connected.

What the new route looks like and how often it flies

According to information published by Ghanaian state channels and media, ATCL plans to fly the Dar es Salaam – Lagos – Accra – Dar es Salaam route on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The departure point in Tanzania is Dar es Salaam, and in Ghana, it lands in Accra at Kotoka International Airport. The same operational loop includes a stop in Lagos, Nigeria's largest urban area and one of West Africa's busiest aviation hubs.

For passengers, it is important that this route configuration practically "connects" three large markets in a single line: East African, Nigerian, and Ghanaian. This opens up an additional option for business travel, family visits, student mobility, and tourism, especially for passengers who previously relied on longer layovers through multiple airports or hubs outside the African continent.

In Accra, the inauguration of the route was met with ceremony. Reports state that the aircraft was greeted upon arrival with a "water salute," traditionally used at airports to mark the first flight on a new route. Some sources also state that the flight was operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, suggesting an attempt to maintain operational costs at a level acceptable to a market where ticket prices are often sensitive to seasonality and competition, while maintaining reasonable capacity.

What changes for passengers: fewer layovers, more predictability

Travel between East and West Africa has for years been burdened by a limited number of direct routes. In practice, many passengers had to combine multiple regional flights or choose routes that include layovers outside the continent, which increased travel time and cost and brought additional risks due to delays and schedule coordination. The new route, reduced to a single rotation via Lagos and arrival in Accra, reduces the need for additional layovers and facilitates travel planning, especially for business travelers and those traveling shorter distances.

For passengers targeting Nigeria or Ghana, the fact that flights take place several times a week is also important. Such frequency is not daily, but it allows for realistic flexibility in planning meetings and short trips. At the same time, it may be an indicator that the carrier is testing the demand and sustainability of the route, with the possibility of schedule adjustments if market interest proves to grow or concentrate on certain days.

Economic impact: air traffic as infrastructure for trade and services

Aviation links in Africa are not just about tourism. Faster travel facilitates meetings, trade fairs, negotiations, and the mobility of experts, and often stimulates demand for additional services: from hotels and transport to logistics, the convention industry, and cargo offerings. In this sense, ATCL's move fits into a broader discussion on how to increase intra-continental connectivity, reduce logistical barriers, and strengthen regional value chains.

For entrepreneurs and companies operating in multiple African markets, the advantage of more direct air links is not only in speed but also in reliability. Shorter itineraries usually mean fewer points where a journey can "break" due to delays or schedule changes. Additionally, more direct connections facilitate maintaining contacts in markets where personal meetings remain crucial for closing deals, especially in the services, finance, logistics, and tourism sectors.

Regional integration: AfCFTA and the "Single African Sky"

Continental initiatives also lie behind such decisions. The African Union emphasizes in official materials that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is designed as a framework for strengthening trade and services between African nations, with the gradual removal of barriers and facilitation of cross-border activities. Air traffic is one of the most direct ways political ambitions for integration translate into everyday economic practice, as it connects business centers, shortens travel, and increases market accessibility.

A similar role is played by the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) project, which the African Union describes as an effort to establish a unified air transport market on the continent and encourage better connectivity between states. Implementation in practice is uneven, as it depends on bilateral agreements, regulatory requirements, and airport capacities. Nevertheless, every new route connecting major centers between regions gives additional meaning to the idea of Africa connecting more "internally" instead of through intermediary hubs.

Accra as a new destination: symbolism and practical effects

For Ghana, ATCL's entry into the market is also important in the context of developing Kotoka Airport as a regional hub. According to Ghanaian official announcements, the arrival of the Tanzanian carrier increases the number of international airlines flying to Accra, and the benefit for passengers in the form of a wider offer of flights and new connections to East Africa is emphasized. In practice, this can also mean strengthening competition in certain market segments, which over time can affect ticket availability and service quality.

In recent years, Accra has increasingly positioned itself as a base for international organizations, conferences, and business events for West Africa. A more direct connection with Dar es Salaam, along with the connection to Lagos, can strengthen business travel flows as well as tourism exchange. Tanzania is investing heavily in promoting destinations such as Zanzibar, national parks, and safari tourism, while Ghana is developing cultural and historical programs that attract visitors from the region and the broader African diaspora. The new air corridor can further accelerate such flows, especially if the route remains stable even outside peak demand periods.

Nigeria and Lagos: upgrading the corridor opened in 2025

Lagos, Nigeria's largest city and one of Africa's most important business centers, previously received a direct connection with Tanzania. Nigerian media reported in September 2025 on the launch of direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Lagos, emphasizing that the route should facilitate trade, investment, and tourism exchange between the two countries. By introducing the continuation to Accra, ATCL practically connects three markets with high demand and a large number of passengers, where Lagos becomes a transit point on this rotation, but also a hub that gains additional value in the network.

For some passengers, it is precisely this combination that is crucial: Lagos and Accra are strongly connected by business and regional movements, while Dar es Salaam is one of the gateways to East Africa and a wider transport hub for Tanzania. If the route manages to maintain a stable frequency and quality of service, it can become an important alternative to existing travel schemes, especially for passengers targeting multiple cities in a single business or tourist route.

AFCON 2027 and the logistics of a major sporting event

The new route is linked in some statements and reports to preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, according to an official announcement by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). For host countries, such a tournament is not just a sporting project, but also a logistical test: it requires reliable connectivity between regions, enough capacity to transport fans and teams, and a wider tourism "wave" that spills over to hotels, catering, and service industries.

In this context, the expansion of the national carrier's international network can be interpreted as part of creating practical accessibility for the region ahead of the event, but also as strengthening the reputation of the host country. However, it is not clear in advance how much of the demand will be related specifically to the tournament, as it will depend on the match schedule, visa regimes, ticket prices, and the offers of competing carriers and possible charter operations.

Sustainability of the route: a market test in a competitive environment

Launching the route is only the first step. Key questions follow in the months after the inauguration: can the route be filled stably throughout the year, what will be the ratio of business and tourist passengers, and will the frequency be maintained without significant seasonal cuts. In markets such as Lagos and Accra, competition is strong, especially in the segment of regional connections and transit passengers, so success will also depend on pricing policy, operational reliability, and the quality of service on the ground and in the air.

On the other hand, the trend of growing travel within Africa and political pressure to strengthen continental ties work in ATCL's favor. Continental initiatives like AfCFTA and SAATM create a framework in which air traffic becomes part of a broader economic infrastructure. If the new route manages to maintain a stable rhythm and attract enough passengers, it could become an example of how "gaps" between regions can be closed by gradually opening markets and connecting key hubs.

For passengers from Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ghana, the new route offers a concrete gain: more directness, more predictable planning, and a new alternative in a market that has long relied on layovers and uneven schedules. For the economy and tourism, the impact will be measured through the number of passengers, frequency stability, cooperation with local airports, and the ability of the route to remain sustainable even outside peak seasons, when it is most clearly seen how much the new connectivity is truly rooted in the actual needs of the market.

Sources:

• - Ghana Information Services Department – report on the inauguration of the Dar es Salaam–Lagos–Accra route and expected effects on connectivity ( link )
• - Ecofin Agency – news on the launch of the Dar es Salaam–Accra route and weekly flight frequency ( link )
• - Graphic Online – details about the first flight to Accra, aircraft type, and flight schedule ( link )
• - CAF (Confederation of African Football) – official confirmation of AFCON 2027 hosting (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) ( link )
• - The Punch (Nigeria) – report on the earlier launch of direct Dar es Salaam–Lagos flights and expected effects on Nigeria-Tanzania ties ( link )
• - African Union – description of the SAATM initiative and the goal of creating a single African air transport market ( link )
• - African Union – official overview of AfCFTA and goals of strengthening intra-continental trade ( link )