The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has announced that Kenya has granted the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right to Air Tanzania Company Limited for all-cargo service.
This comes hours after TCAA announced its decision to bar Kenya Airways (KQ) from operating passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam with effect from January 22, 2024.
In the January 16, 2024, statement, TCAA noted that Kenya has since granted the right to its neighboring Air Tanzania as per the request of Tanzania.
“This is to inform the Public that the aeronautical authorities of the Republic of Kenya have granted the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right to Air Tanzania Company Limited for all-cargo service as per the request of the United Republic of Tanzania, with effect from 16 January 2024,” read the statement in part.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, while confirming the resolution, also acknowledged Transport ministries from both countries for their collaborative efforts.
He further extended his gratitude to his Tanzanian counterpart January Makamba for his cooperation in the efforts to achieve the resolution.
“The issue on aviation restrictions between Kenya and Tanzania have been successfully resolved this afternoon,” noted Musalia.
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TCAA further noted that following this decision by Kenya, the aeronautical authorities in Tanzania have since revoked its ban against KQ.
According to the statement, the Tanzania has withdrawn its earlier decision, granting the approval for KQ to operate Third and Fourth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
Kenya reaches out
Following the decision by Tanzania to bar KQ, Mudavadi revealed that he had reached out to Makamba to help save national carrier Kenya Airways.
According to the CS, he and Makamba came to a decision to allow relevant authorities to further discuss the matter and find an amicable solution within three days.
“We have jointly agreed that our respective Civil Aviation Authorities will work together to have the matter resolved amicably within the next three days.
There should therefore be no cause for alarm,” stated Mudavadi.
Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen also disclosed that he had reached out to his Transport counterpart Prof. Makame Mbarawa.
On the other hand, Makamba noted that restrictions of air travel between the two nations should not stand noting that the matter would be resolved.
“I spoke to my Kenyan colleague Musalia Mudavadi. We agreed that restrictions of air travel between our countries and from any of our country to a third country shouldn’t stand,” he noted.
Diplomatic ties
Also, the move was welcomed by the Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs Koriri Sing’Oei, who lauded the CS Mudavadi for his diplomatic approach to the matter.
According to him, payback was not the best way to handle neighborhood challenges.
“We must favor an approach that seeks to understand any basis for disagreement with a view to reaching mutually beneficial objectives,” he added.
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The ban against KQ added to Kenya’s diplomatic crises with her neighbors.
In December 2023, Kenya got into a diplomatic spat with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This came following a decision by Kinshasa to recall its ambassador to Nairobi.
Furthermore, the decision came after a group of rebel leaders were alleged to have held a press conference at a Nairobi hotel in the run up to the country’s general election.
