Brussels Airlines launches Tanzania service, strengthening European tourism links

Brussels Airlines has inaugurated direct flights between Belgium and Tanzania, adding a new European gateway for one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations and strengthening air links between East Africa and the European Union.

The airline’s first flight arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport carrying 248 passengers, many of them tourists bound for attractions including Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Zanzibar.

The new route will initially operate twice weekly and increases the number of international flight movements at Kilimanjaro International Airport from 148 to 152 per week.

Tanzanian officials hailed the launch as a significant step in expanding the country’s global connectivity and supporting growth in tourism, trade and investment. Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa said the service is expected to stimulate economic activity across northern Tanzania’s tourism corridor, particularly in the Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions.

The route operates under a bilateral air services agreement signed between Tanzania and Belgium in 2021. Tanzanian authorities also announced plans to modernise Kilimanjaro International Airport through a major infrastructure programme that includes a second passenger terminal, expanded aircraft parking facilities and upgraded runway lighting. The improvements are expected to increase the airport’s annual capacity to more than 2.5 million passengers.

In addition to tourism benefits, the new service is expected to support exports by providing direct cargo capacity to Europe for products such as flowers, fresh produce and fish.

Brussels Airlines, part of the Lufthansa Group, said the route will strengthen economic and cultural ties between Tanzania and Europe while supporting the growing demand for connectivity between the two regions.

The launch comes as Tanzania prepares to host several major international events, including the World Parliamentary Assembly and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with officials viewing improved air access as an important factor in attracting visitors, delegates and investors.