Tanzania signs bilateral air services pact with Germany

Dr Harrison Mwakyembe

Tanzania and Germany have signed a bilateral air service agreement (BASA) to allow airlines from either side to operate in the other country.

Information availed to the media midweek said that Transportation Minister   Dr Harrison Mwakyembe signed the agreement while on a visit to Germany recently.

The contract aims at increasing the number of airlines from Germany to Tanzania and to provide opportunities for registered Tanzanian airlines to fly to Germany.

It is similarly intended to provide opportunities for tourists from Germany and other travelers to travel from Germany to Tanzania and back directly without passing through neighbouring countries.

Speaking to this reporter, a ministerial official said that the contract will also decrease the cost of air transport between Germany and Tanzania.

“This contract will also increase our airport revenues and the country’s economy in general,” he said, noting that after the agreement was signed it must be ratified by parliaments of the two countries.

Dr. Mwakyembe has pledged to revive operations of the ailing national airline   which for years has been staggering back and forth in its route capacity and management.

Airspace is a natural resource which belongs to countries just like land, water, minerals, forests, et cetera. In other words, a big firmament of the airspace above the territory of the United Republic of Tanzania is within her jurisdiction. This principle applies to all sovereign countries around the world. The management and regulation of the airspace in this country is vested with Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA).

All resources are exploitable and are governed by certain principles. Just like surface transport between countries is administered under certain laws and bilateral agreements, the same applies to air transportation (movement through airspace) which in this case is governed by what is known as Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs). BASAs are generally negotiated and contracted between two parties although recently there has been a trend to conduct BASAs on a multilateral framework like is the case with the European Union (EU).

Germany is one of Tanzania’s longest standing friends, with relations between both countries traditionally friendly. The country was first a German colony, ‘German East Africa’ (Deutsch-Ostafrika) along with Rwanda and Burundi, separated in 1918 at the end of WW1` which Germany lost.

Tanzania and Germany share the conviction of enhancing welfare of people in peace and security. In line with the good relations between Germany and Tanzania, the government of Germany is committed to the development of Tanzania.

Germany is among Tanzania’s biggest donor countries focusing its technical cooperation on the sectors of health, water and good governance as well as broader budget support.

“In all these sectors Germany acts in close coordination and cooperation with its European partners and international donors. Altogether, Germany has supported the development of Tanzania with about 1. 8 billion euros since 1964,” a ministerial statement indicated.