Air Tanzania (TC, Dar es Salaam) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia's Irkut Corporation concerning the possible placement of MC-21 short- and mid-range jets with the Tanzanian carrier.
Newly elected president John Magufuli has pledged to return cash-strapped Air Tanzania to full operational status with plans to acquire two aircraft before the end of this year followed by two more by 2018. Previous plans have pointed to the aircraft in question being two Dash 8-400s along with an E170 and an E190 though these have yet to be confirmed.
At present, the carrier operates a single Dash 8-300 on flights to Kigoma, Mtwara, and Mwanza domestically and Moroni International regionally.
For its part, Irkut has also been linked to the proposed sale of thirty MC-21s with options for ten more, to South Africa’s Pamodzi Investment Holdings.
