Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) yesterday resumed  its Dar es Salaam–Hahaya (Comoros) route as part of the company’s five-year development strategy that seeks to increase the company’s fleet and frequency. The national flag carrier suspended its Dar es Salaam –Hahaya route in 2008.

Speaking shortly after arrival at Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport at Hahaya, Comoros the ATCL Acting Commercial Director Mwanamvua Ngocho said ATCL would operate four frequencies each week for the new route promising unbeatable services.

“We have today relaunched the Dar es Salaam-Comoros destination as our first international flight since we resumed services two months ago, she said in a statement issued in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

She noted that the decision to re-launch the route aimed to effectively utilise our 108-seater Boeing 700-500 plane.

“We have chosen to embark on the route because of its strategic importance to the country. We believe our efforts will help improve bilateral relations between the two countries as well as help to increase balance of trade between the two countries as well as offering a gateway for passengers from Comoros to connect to further destinations via Dar es Salaam,” she said.

Mwanamvua said her firm still has plans to embark on more regional and international destinations that include Dar es Salaam–Lusaka, Dar es Salaam-Johannesburg among others urging that such plans will be a reality upon securing another plane.

“We are already in talks to secure another plane that will help us to embark on international flights. We will in some cases enter into joint ventures and partnerships with regional airlines to enable us achieve this.

“We thank Tanzanians for the patriotism and faith they have vested in us since we resumed services,” she added.

Mwanamvua said there are so many trade opportunities that will be realised with the company’s resumption of services to Comoros thus calling upon Tanzanians to embrace them.

“Most of the goods consumed here in Comoros originate from Tanzania. People should utilise this chance since ATCL will be there not only to provide affordable but reliable services as well,” she said.