ATCL’s Dar-Lagos flights open new chapter for trade under AfCFTA

Dar es Salaam. Air Tanzania’s newly launched direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Lagos have been hailed as a timely move that could significantly boost trade exchanges between Tanzania and Nigeria while cementing the national carrier’s presence in West Africa.

The airline is now operating three weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays using its Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.

The inaugural flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos on September 20.  

The evening departures from Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es Salaam see Flight TC226 leaving at 8:30pm and touching down in Lagos at 11:59pm, while the return service, Flight TC227, departs Nigeria’s commercial capital at 1:30am and lands in Tanzania at 9:00am.

The route provides Tanzanian traders, investors and professionals with a much-needed air bridge to one of Africa’s largest economies.

Equally, it gives Nigerian businesses new opportunities to explore the Tanzanian market, taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework, which aims to eliminate barriers to intra-African trade.

Economists and industry stakeholders say the direct connection could serve as a catalyst for increasing volumes of trade in goods such as agricultural produce, manufactured items, textiles and pharmaceuticals, while also stimulating tourism and professional services between the two countries.

“By linking Dar es Salaam and Lagos directly, Air Tanzania is reducing travel time and costs for businesses that have traditionally faced logistical challenges in connecting between East and West Africa,” a Dar es Salaam-based logistics expert observed.

“This move positions Tanzanian businesses to engage more seamlessly with Nigerian partners under AfCFTA.”

Beyond bilateral exchanges, the Dar-Lagos route is also seen as a strategic entry point for Air Tanzania to expand further into West Africa.

Aviation analysts argue that with Lagos as a hub, the airline could establish onward connections to other economic powerhouses such as Ivory Coast, Ghana and Senegal.

This would not only strengthen Tanzania’s role in continental integration but also allow ATCL to tap into new passenger and cargo markets in one of the fastest-growing aviation regions in Africa.

The timing of the launch comes amid growing momentum for African airlines to play a central role in unlocking AfCFTA’s potential.

Industry studies suggest that efficient air connectivity is key to enabling the movement of goods, people and capital across the continent’s 1.3 billion-strong market.

For Tanzania, direct access to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, opens the door to a market of over 200 million consumers.

For Air Tanzania, it underscores an ambition to evolve from a regional carrier into a continental player, linking East Africa with other vibrant economic blocs.

As trade corridors between East and West Africa deepen, the Dar es Salaam, Lagos flights may well prove to be more than just a transport service, they represent a strategic bridge for business, investment and cultural exchange, signalling the growing interdependence of African economies under the AfCFTA era.