Kenya and Tanzania commit to resolve air flight row: summary

What we know

• Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs Minister, January Makamba, and Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi have resolved to settle the impasse that led to the cancellation of flights from Kenya, Nairobi to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
• This decision follows a decision by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) to suspend all Kenya Airways (KQ) passenger flights between both countries with effect from January 22, 2024, after Kenya’s recent refusal to allow for the operation of cargo flights between Nairobi and other countries by Tanzania’s Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL).
• According to the TCAA, the refusal by Kenyan authorities was a violation of Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Air Services signed between Kenya and Tanzania in 2016 that provides for reciprocal treatment of airlines from both countries local news outlet Nation reported.
• The suspension of flights has had significant implications for passengers using Kenya Airways to Tanzania. Approximately 33 flights are scheduled per week between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam which is a major business and tourism route.
• Concerns have been raised about air flight relations between both countries as a similar incident occurred in August 2020 where Tanzania banned Kenya Airways flights for a brief period after Kenya excluded Tanzania citizens from a list of countries whose citizens could enter without COVID-19 quarantine restrictions.

What they said

In social media posts, Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs Minister, January Makamba, and Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi indicated that they have communicated with each other and have committed to resolving the issue. “I spoke to my Kenyan colleague @MusaliaMudavadi. We agree that restrictions of air travel between our countries and from any of our country to a third country shouldn’t stand. With relevant authorities, we’ve resolved to settle this issue, per existing agreements, within 3 days,” he wrote. Musalia on his part noted that both parties agreed to deal with the issue within 3 days. “I have this evening spoken to H.E. @JMakamba (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, with regard to the decision of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority to rescind the approvals for @KenyaAirways to operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam with effect from 22nd January 2024. 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," he noted.