Aviation Tanzania

Serengeti — AN American tycoon, Mr. Paul Tudor Jones, has agreed to spend millions to finance the construction of an international airport in Serengeti district, Mara Region. "Mr Jones has agreed and he has written to us a letter accepting to finance construction of the airport," Serengeti District Council Chairman, Mr John Ng'oina confirmed to this paper. Mr Ng'oina had assured a full council meeting here on Friday that the American investor has agreed to finance construction of the much awaited airport that will transform Mugumu town in Serengeti to a tourist hub. "We are now waiting completion of the master plan and the go ahead from the Ministry of Transport. After the construction, the airport will be handed over to Serengeti District Council", Mr Ng'oina said. He, however, did not disclose how much exactly the project will cost and what the tycoon intends to spend in implementing the same. Mawala Trust Fund of Arusha has also agreed to assist in …

Perennial problems in finance and administration facing Air Tanzania Company Ltd (ATCL) have worsened as the national carrier halted all its flight schedules this week.

The beleaguered national airline flew once last Monday to Hahya in the Comoros Islands and that was the last flight it could offer after it halted domestic trips the previous week.
From May 18 ATCL has been running it business relying on a single aircraft, Boeing 737-500 leased from a Dubai based company, Aerovista.

Prior to that the national airline was on the ground since early April when the only operational plane, Bombardier Dash 8 was damaged in an accident at Kigoma airport.
The Guardian on Sunday has learnt this week that the newly appointed board of directors led by Salum Msoma was compelled to hold lengthy meetings in bid to find a workable solution on the matter.

Sources privy to the ATCL management and the board told this paper that the board decided to halt operations so as to have ample time to hold discussion …