Tanzania Lifts Ban on Kenyan Flights After 2-Month Impasse

Tanzania has lifted a ban on Kenyan flights following a two-month standoff between the two countries.

The move comes a day after Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) included Tanzania in the list of countries whose citizens will not be subjected to 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival in Kenya over Covid-19.

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) in a statement on Wednesday said it had lifted the restriction imposed on Kenyan carriers including Kenya Airways, Fly 540 Limited, SafariLink Aviation, and AirKenya Express Limited.

“The resumption and restoration of flights for all Kenyan operators is with immediate effect and the KCAA has been informed accordingly,” TCAA said.

In August, TCAA barred Kenyan carriers from operating within the country’s airspace in protest to Kenya’s decision to omit Tanzanians from the list of travelers allowed to travel to Kenya without undergoing quarantine following the resumption of international flights on August 1st.

Attempts by Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia to solve the dispute with his Tanzanian counterpart was in vain as Tanzania held its ground.

Tanzania was included in the updated list of countries whose nationals are free to travel to Kenya without having to undertake quarantine. The list released by KCAA on Tuesday features 147 countries.