Qatar Airways is set to launch daily flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport in July, supporting the burgeoning tourism industry in the north of Tanzania, which has seen international arrivals to the airport rise by almost 15 per cent year on year since 2003.
Kilimanjaro airport is the closest aerial hub to Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater and is marketed as “the gateway to Africa’s wildlife”.
Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker announced on the opening day of ITB Berlin. The route will be serviced by an A320 Airbus that flies from Doha via Nairobi.
“The services to and from Kilimanjaro to one of the fastest growing destinations in today's aviation industry are of vital importance to further develop the tourism potential of Tanzania,” Tanzania Tourist Board managing director Aloyce Nzuki said.
The Middle Eastern airline will join KLM, Edelweiss Air, Condor Air and Ethiopian Airlines in servicing the route.
“Connections to Australia and New Zealand will also improve, and last but not least, travellers from Europe and America will have another option to reach Kilimanjaro,” CEO of Kilimanjaro airport Marco van de Kreeke said.
Kilimanjaro airport is set to be overhauled with a multi-million dollar redesign project announced this year.
Qatar Airways will also operate a route to the Tanzanian airport of Zanzibar, with dates yet to be announced.
