WITH increased demand for cargo transportation between The Comoros and Tanzania, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL)’s Boeing 767-300F cargo plane is scheduled to commence flights to Moroni next month.

The new plane can carry up to 54 tonnes of cargo and has a flight range of seven to 10 hours without needing to refuel.

Esther Mahiga, head of ATCL Centre in Comoros, made this affirmation yesterday during a meeting with Tanzanian Ambassador to Comoros, Said Yakubu, at the embassy.

Mahiga also introduced Kamarouddine Waziri Zamane, ATCL’s agent in Comoros, representing ComAir.

“Currently, ATCL operates three flights a week between Dar es Salaam and Moroni. We plan to increase this to four flights weekly, with the new B767-300F cargo plane starting on September 13,” Mahiga said.

She added that the new service is in response to requests from Tanzanian and Comorian business communities for improved transportation of perishable goods, given the geographical challenges of Comoros.

Ambassador Yakubu expressed his satisfaction with the enhanced air travel service provided by ATCL, noting that it has significantly improved connectivity between Tanzania and the Comoro Islands over the past three years. He said that this increase in trade necessitates more frequent cargo flights.

“Trade cycle between Tanzania and the Comoros has expanded, and we are committed to strengthening our cooperation to benefit both nations,” Yakubu said.

He welcomed the introduction of cargo flights as a positive development for business growth and pledged continued support from his office to assist ATCL’s operations in line with the government’s efforts to boost business activities.

Since the arrival of ATCL’s first B767-300F cargo plane in June 2023, the airline has transported a range of  cargo, including vehicles, minerals, medicines, furniture, spare parts, and perishable goods such as fruits, meat and seafood.

The aircraft has serviced various destinations within and outside Africa, including N’Djamena (Chad), Mumbai (India), Dubai (UAE), Nairobi (Kenya), Kinshasa (DRC), Lusaka (Zambia) and Entebbe (Uganda).