Air Tanzania has commenced direct scheduled passenger flights to Lagos, Nigeria, marking a new phase in aviation, trade, and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The maiden service, launched on Monday, September 22, 2025, connects Dar es Salaam and Lagos with three weekly flights.
Departures from Tanzania will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while return flights from Lagos will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The Nigerian government granted the airline a Foreign Carrier Operating Permit after the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) completed a base inspection in Tanzania and approved its Local Security Operation Procedures.
The Document of Authorisation, Conditions and Limitations was also issued to enable full operations.
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Officials say the new route will cut travel time and costs for Nigerians visiting Tanzania’s tourism hubs such as Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, and the Serengeti, which previously required stopovers in Nairobi or Addis Ababa.
Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selestine Gervas Kakele, described Lagos as a strategic destination for West Africa, noting that the route will expand business, investment, and cultural exchanges between both countries.
The Tanzanian government has also pledged visa reforms to ease travel for Nigerians, while both nations are working on further regulatory cooperation through a bilateral aviation agreement.
Industry observers view the launch as a significant boost for regional integration and intra-African connectivity, aligning with broader efforts to expand trade and tourism within the continent.