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Direct flights between Russia and Tanzania are resuming after several years of interruption. Air Tanzania будет летать по маршруту Дар-эс-Салам — Москва («Внуково» )Zanzibar three times a week on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The launch is scheduled for July 2, but the first flight will only take place if the minimum load is reached, a standard reservation for new destinations.
Initially, Vnukovo’s schedule included May 28, but the airport later adjusted the date.
What’s with the tickets. Sales are not open yet. According to estimates by tour operators, at the start, you can expect fares in the region of 55-75 thousand rubles round trip at promotional prices. In the future, they will probably match the fares of Ethiopian Airlines, the main African carrier on the Russian market.
Where to fly. Zanzibar is the main destination for a beach holiday. It is well known to Russian tourists, they do not need a visa, and the destination is considered ready to receive guests. Dar es Salaam is not a resort, but a transportation hub. From here it is convenient to start a safari (Mikumi, Selous, Ruaha parks) or take a ferry to Zanzibar in a couple of hours.
Market estimates. In the tour operator environment, the launch is viewed with interest, but without euphoria. Most tourists have already made their summer plans, so there won’t be an instant boom. However, the new flight is quite capable of attracting a part of the audience from Sri Lanka, India and Kenya, and in the future – compete with Maldives and Seychelles.
Air Tanzania is a new player in the Russian direction. The service level is basic, no frills. In the reviews, passengers sometimes mention delays and schedule changes – it is worth considering when planning connections.
If flights really start in July, it will make Tanzania noticeably more accessible for travelers. For now, it remains to wait for the opening of sales.
