[Tanzania]Air Tanzania must chart viable operational plan

ONE of the tw o new ly-arriv ed Bombardier Q 4 00 planes ordered b y the gov ernment for lease to Air Tanzania Corporation Limited (ATCL) had a high-profile passenger on Monday among its manifest.

The high-profile v isitor was none other than the Vice-President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Madame Samia Suluhu Hassan, w ho prior to tak e off did the rare act of going up and down the aisle to personally greet her fellow passengers! She w as on her way to Mwanza for an official visit, leading a delegation of 16 officials.
The VIP passenger inclusion did not disrupt travelling comfort of other passengers. On the contrary, it added to their trav elling delight! But there w as another w elcome dimension to the alternative use of a passenger aircraft by such a high-ranking government official, who is entitled to the use of government planes for official business or any chartered aircraft of the state’s choice at the state’s expense.
The use of the national carrier b y the v ice-president cost only 7 . 6 million/- w hereas it w ould have cost the gov ernment more than 4 0 million/- b y using a private commercial plane, almost six times as much.
In her own w ords w hile talk ing to reporters prior to tak e-off, Madame Samia said she thought it prudent and patriotic to board the national airline, urging all Tanzanians to do the same. She acknowledged the fact that her decision to use the national carrier helped serve pub lic funds or by ex tension, the people’s money.
The VP’s gesture sends a message across to Tanzanians to b e proud of and use their national carrier, w hose build-up process is underway. Just for the record, more planes have been lined up for purchase to supplement operations of the tw o ‘Bombardiers’.
By boarding the plane, Madame Samia must have learnt firsthand of the plane’s standards and crew efficiency, v ital ingredients in the successful operations of any carrier, w hether state-ow ned or private.
It does not need much elabouring that the airline industry is a very competitive one, one of the reasons why even some b ig airlines hav e b een operating at a loss or forced to take its fleet to the ground and declare insolvency!
Our national airline should study the domestic, regional and international air trav el scenario and draw a comprehensive operational and mark eting strategy aimed at doing w ell on the air and staying there! The sky is the limit, isn’t it?
 souurce; www.dailynews.co.tz