Air Tanzania announced direct flights from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar from July 2027.
Air Tanzania plans to launch direct flights between London's Gatwick Airport and Tanzania from July 2027, with announced routes to Kilimanjaro International Airport and Zanzibar. According to an announcement by the Africa Travel & Tourism Association and reports by the specialist portal Travel Weekly, the plan is for Tanzania's national carrier to introduce at least three flights per week, with tourism expected to be the main driver of demand. The announcement is important because it would reduce the need for passengers travelling to northern Tanzania and the Zanzibar archipelago to connect via major African, Middle Eastern or European hubs. A direct connection from Gatwick would be particularly significant for travel to areas linked to climbs of Kilimanjaro, safaris in the northern tourism circuit and holidays on the Indian Ocean. For travellers planning a longer stay, a safari or a coastal holiday, the practical accessibility of airports could also increase interest in accommodation near Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.
Announcement from London and a plan for at least three flights per week
According to the ATTA announcement, Air Tanzania CEO Peter Ulanga said that from July 2027 the company will fly directly from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro International Airport. The same announcement states that Air Tanzania, which uses the market name "The Wings of Kilimanjaro", plans at least three weekly departures. According to the same source, Ulanga pointed out that, alongside leisure travel, an important part of traffic will also consist of business travellers and the visiting friends and relatives category, including the Tanzanian diaspora in the United Kingdom. Travel Weekly also states that the tourism segment is expected to be the main source of sales, especially because of the combination of mainland safari destinations and Zanzibar as a holiday destination.
For now, the announcement takes the form of a plan to launch routes, rather than a fully published timetable with commercial details. According to the available information, the exact operating days, flight duration, aircraft type, ticket prices and sales launch date have not been confirmed. It has also not been officially confirmed whether the routes will be structured as separate flights to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar or as rotations connecting both Tanzanian destinations. Such details are usually published only after regulatory, operational and commercial preparations have been completed. For that reason, at present it is most reliable to speak of the carrier's announced intention and an indicative start in July 2027, rather than of a fully finalised traffic schedule.
Why Gatwick is important for Tanzania's plans
The choice of Gatwick points to a focus on the leisure travel market and on passengers seeking more direct links to tourist destinations. Gatwick is one of London's main airports, and in business reports and sector announcements in recent years the growth of long-haul traffic and the expansion of the network towards more distant markets have often been emphasised. For Air Tanzania, entering London is important because the British market has a long history of travel to East Africa, while direct links can increase the destination's competitiveness compared with routes that require a connection. According to sector reports, London Gatwick is already positioned as an airport with a strong share of leisure and long-haul flights, which fits the profile of the announced Tanzanian route.
For passengers travelling to Tanzania, current itineraries often include connections in cities such as Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul or other international hubs, depending on the point of departure and the season. A direct flight from London to Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar could reduce total travel time, lower the risk of missed connections and make it easier to plan itineraries that include several regions of Tanzania. This is particularly important for trips that combine safaris in national parks, a Kilimanjaro climb and a holiday on the coast or islands. If the announced flights are introduced according to plan, tour operators and travel organisers could more easily assemble programmes with arrival in the north of the country and the end of the trip in Zanzibar.
Kilimanjaro as a gateway to the northern tourism circuit
Kilimanjaro International Airport describes itself on its official website as the main air gateway for tourism in Tanzania and a link between the northern tourism circuit and international markets. This role is crucial because the airport provides access to the area around Arusha and Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro and the best-known safari destinations of northern Tanzania. Within this wider area are the national parks and protected areas that form the backbone of the country's tourism offer, including Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Manyara. For travellers whose goal is hiking, wildlife watching or a combined trip through the interior and the coast, a more direct arrival at Kilimanjaro could significantly simplify logistics.
According to Tanzania's official tourism portal, the country is promoted through natural attractions, beaches, wildlife and cultural heritage, while Zanzibar and the northern safari circuit are among the most recognisable travel themes. In practice, this means that one air link can have a wider effect than simply connecting two airports. A flight to Kilimanjaro can serve as the starting point for multi-day safari programmes, while Zanzibar could take on the role of the final holiday destination after travelling on the mainland. For that reason, the announced route is not only a question of air connectivity, but also a question of how future itineraries to Tanzania will be sold and organised.
Zanzibar remains a key part of the tourism picture
Zanzibar is listed in Air Tanzania's announcement as the second key destination in the plan to connect with the United Kingdom. Tanzania's official tourism materials highlight Zanzibar for its beaches, coastal tourism and holidays on the Indian Ocean, while the Zanzibar Airports Authority manages the air infrastructure that is important for arrivals to the archipelago. A more direct connection to Zanzibar could be attractive to passengers who want to avoid more complex connections and travel directly to an island destination. At the same time, it could also help programmes that combine mainland Tanzania with the coast, because passengers could enter the country through one airport and return through another.
Zanzibar has been positioned as a holiday destination for years, but its connection with mainland safari destinations gives it additional market value. For travellers planning a stay on the island, the choice of location depends on the type of trip, from historic Stone Town to quieter coastal zones and resort areas. In this context, the new route could increase demand for accommodation in Zanzibar, especially in seasons in which safari programmes, honeymoons, family trips and beach holidays are combined. At the same time, a larger number of direct passengers may increase pressure on local infrastructure, so the quality of air traffic management, transfers and accommodation capacity will be an important part of the overall tourism experience.
Tourism in Tanzania is recording a strong recovery
Air Tanzania's announcement comes during a period in which official data show a strong recovery and growth of tourism in Tanzania. According to the 2024 International Visitors' Exit Survey report, prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the Bank of Tanzania, the National Bureau of Statistics, the Immigration Services Department and the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism, Tanzania recorded 2,141,895 international arrivals in 2024. The same report states that tourism generated 3.903 billion US dollars in revenue, which shows the economic importance of the sector for the country. Data from official statistical sources also state that arrivals in 2024 were significantly above levels from the period immediately before the pandemic, confirming the recovery of international demand.
This growth explains why the national carrier is seeking to open new long-haul routes to markets that can generate a larger number of passengers and higher spending. Air connectivity directly affects the competitiveness of a destination because it shortens travel, reduces the costs of connecting and facilitates the sale of package holidays. According to official tourism sources, Tanzania relies on a combination of natural attractions, protected areas, beaches and cultural content, and it is precisely such a combination that is attractive to travellers seeking multi-part journeys. If the announced routes are confirmed in the operational schedule, they could further stimulate demand for trips combining mainland parks and Zanzibar.
What the new route means for Air Tanzania
For Air Tanzania, entering the London route would mean strengthening its international network and visibility beyond the regional and continental market. According to data cited by Travel Weekly, the company currently serves 13 domestic airports and 11 international routes, including destinations in Africa and routes to China, the Comoros, India, the Seychelles and the United Arab Emirates. In such a network, London would stand out as a strategic long-haul point with major commercial and reputational weight. For national carriers, such routes often have broader significance than the sale of seats alone, because they support tourism, trade, diplomatic ties and diaspora connectivity.
However, long-haul routes also carry greater operational risks. They require stable year-round demand, a reliable fleet, a strong sales network and well-aligned relationships with tour operators. A route to tourist destinations can be highly seasonal, so the schedule, pricing and partnerships with the tourism sector will be key to the sustainability of the flights. Since Air Tanzania has not yet announced all commercial details, the question remains open as to whether the route will develop primarily through package holidays, standalone ticket sales or a combination of tourism, business and diaspora demand. Success will also depend on how well the new connection fits into the existing domestic network and transfers to other parts of Tanzania.
Regulatory and market steps are still to follow
Although the announcement has attracted the attention of the tourism and aviation industries, more than a year remains before the flights begin. During this period, commercial agreements, sales channels, permits, slots, ground services and marketing activities are usually finalised. For passengers, it is important that the currently available information does not mean that tickets are already on sale or that the timetable is final. According to sector media reports, the indicative start has been set for July 2027, but the final schedule and operational details should be confirmed closer to the launch date.
If the plan is realised, Air Tanzania could gain new visibility on the European market, while Tanzania would receive an additional channel for attracting visitors to its best-known destinations. For the country's tourism sector, this would mean easier sales of combined itineraries and greater destination recognition compared with competing African destinations. For Gatwick, the new route would represent another expansion of its long-haul network towards a market that relies on tourism, family visits and business links. A final assessment of the impact, however, will only be possible after the publication of the timetable, prices, sales channels and the first load factor results.
Sources:
- Africa Travel & Tourism Association – announcement about Air Tanzania's direct flights from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar from July 2027. (link)
- Travel Weekly – report on the planned flights, statements by CEO Peter Ulanga and Air Tanzania's network (link)
- Air Tanzania – official information from the national carrier and the company's sales channel (link)
- National Bureau of Statistics Tanzania – 2024 International Visitors' Exit Survey Report and official data on arrivals and tourism revenue (link)
- Kilimanjaro International Airport – official description of the airport as the main gateway to Tanzania's northern tourism circuit (link)
- Tanzania Tourist Board – official tourism information about destinations, beaches, wildlife and travel in Tanzania (link)
- Zanzibar Airports Authority – official information about Zanzibar's air infrastructure (link)