86.1bn/-  set aside for airport renovations

33
86.1bn/-  set aside for airport renovations
86.1bn/-  set aside for airport renovations

Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has set aside 86.1 bn/- for construction and renovation of airports infrastructure in this financial year as part of improving the aviation sector in the country.

Minister for Work and Transport Prof Makame Mbarawa said this in Dar es Salaam this week when briefing journalists on implementation of the ministry’s budget for 2022/23 financial year.

The budget involves construction of infrastructure at Kigoma, Mpanda, Songwe and Tabora airports and renovation of Mwanza, Arusha and Mtwara airports among others.

Prof Mbarawa further added that the government will continue to strengthen the aviation sector and airports in general by building and renovating all 58 airports managed by the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA).

He added that the government will also ensure the renovation of the Kilimanjaro Airport which is managed by Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO).

Moreover, the minister said in the financial year 2022/23, the government has planned to spend 20.4bn/- for the construction of Msalato International Airport in Dodoma.

In a related development, Prof Mbarawa said in this financial year the ministry allocated 353 bn/- for improving Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) services, adding that until May this year the government has already completed the purchase of three new planes and handed them to ATCL.

“The new planes include one Bombardier Q-400 with the capacity of carrying 176 passengers and two Airbus A220-300 with the capacity of carrying 132 passengers each…these aircrafts make a total of 11 compared to eight existing planes in 2021” Prof Mbarawa said.

According to him, the allocated funds will be going to cover various ATCL expenses, including completing purchasing process of five other new aircrafts, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, two Boeing 737-9, one Boeing cargo plane 767-300F and one Bombardier Q-400.

“We will continue to make payments for the planes…..you know purchasing planes involves some delicate procedures, particularly the model of payment because you have to arrange prior contracts, that’s why this year we have allocated that amount for carrying out those activities,” the minister insisted.

He also said they will continue to purchase equipment for flight maintenance for Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) and Kilimanjaro International Airport(KIA) to ensure aircraft maintenance is carried out in the country.

For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here