AIR Tanzania’s flights between
Johannesburg and Dar es
Salaam remain grounded, with
no solution imminent. The
airline launched the route only
two months ago.
Flights were abruptly stopped
on August 23 when the
carrier’s A220-300 aircraft
was impounded at OR Tambo
International Airport by South
African authorities. The aircraft
was reportedly seized over a
Tanzanian farmer’s US$33m
(R500m) compensation claim
for land that was nationalised
by the Tanzanian government
in the ‘80s.
The airline said in a
statement that it was confident
that flights would resume “as
soon as possible”.
According to the GDS, flights
between Dar es Salaam and
Johannesburg are scheduled
for operation on September 4.
However, the lawyer
representing the farmer told
Business Insider South Africa
that the aircraft would remain
at ORTIA until the government
of [Tanzania] stepped up. “It
will remain under attachment
until they pay the debt or put
up security for the claim,” he
said.
The airline is using
affiliated airline partners to
re-accommodate ticketed
passengers on affected
flights, mainly SAA and Kenya
Airways.
