Tanzania lifts ban on commercial passenger flights

John Magufuli, Tanzania's president, on Monday directed the works, transport and communication minister and his tourism counterpart to reopen the country's airspace to both scheduled and non-scheduled international flights following a travel ban introduced last month in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Magufuli said as long as a visitors' body temperatures do not point to anything unusual, he will allow them into the country to view Tanzania's wildlife, without being quarantined.

Acting on this directive, Isack Kamwelwe, Tanzania minister of Works, Transport and Communication, directed the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority to inform the International Civil Aviation Organization about the decision and ensure that the directive is fully implemented.

Kamwelwe also directed the Tanzania Airport Authority to ensure it is well prepared to handle flights into the East African country. Tanzania, which has been reluctant to impose coronavirus restrictions, closed its airspace on April 11, being one of the last African countries to do so.

According to Kamwelwe, reopening of Tanzania's skies will bring back business opportunities, especially in the tourism and hospitality industries. He urged wildlife conservation institutions, hotels and tourist service providers to take advantage of the opportunity and revive the tourism sector.