Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) and Air Tanzania (TC, Dar es Salaam) have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation and improve air connectivity across East and Southern Africa, the airlines have announced in a joint statement.
The agreement, signed on July 28 in Dar es Salaam, aims to foster collaboration in key areas such as engineering, maintenance, cargo operations, safety, innovation, and staff training, "reflecting the shared ambition of both airlines to provide more unified travel options and efficiencies of air services within the region".
"The MoU sets the foundation for increased collaboration between the two airlines, focusing on regional and international partnerships that promote cooperation over competition. Both airlines will utilise their resources and internal capabilities to ensure sustainable and cost-effective growth," the statement says.
Kenya Airways Group CEO Allan Kilavuka commented that "this partnership underscores our commitment to building regional capacity to support economic growth, trade, and tourism across East Africa."
Air Tanzania CEO Peter Ulanga called the collaboration "a significant milestone" toward strengthening the region’s aviation network and expanding the airline’s footprint in Africa.
This follows an Aviation Week report in June that Kenya Airways had been courting Air Tanzania as a potential cargo partner, while South African Airways Cargo is hoping to reignite its strategic cooperation with the Kenyan flag carrier. Asked for comment at the time, a Kenya Airways spokesman said: "These are ongoing conversations. Once firmed we will have an official statement."
The initiative may boost Kenya Airways' ongoing efforts to form a pan-African alliance through partnerships with other key African airlines.
Kenya Airways initially pursued, in 2021, a pan-African airline alliance with South African Airways. That partnership was designed as a commercial cooperation, focusing on coordinated networks, joint scheduling, codesharing, combined pricing, and cost reductions. Progress was delayed due to the need for both airlines to strengthen their internal financial positions through recapitalisation and privatisation efforts. The idea is to compete effectively on the continent with foreign operators.
In December 2023, the airlines expanded their codeshare partnership to include flights to São Paulo Guarulhos, Brazil. Earlier this year, Kilavuka said Kenya Airways was exploring a partnership with SAA Technical (SAAT), the maintenance arm of South African Airways.
