The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA®) has welcomed British Airways’ decision to introduce a new seasonal service connecting London Gatwick with Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, describing the move as a significant boost to connectivity and tourism opportunities in East Africa.
Virginia Messina, Group CEO of ATTA®, said the association was delighted by the announcement, noting that the new service would provide greater choice for travellers and create new opportunities for tour operators and travel agents to develop itineraries across Tanzania and neighbouring Kenya.
“The African Travel and Tourism Association is delighted to see British Airways launching a new service connecting London with the key destinations of Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar next summer,” Messina said.
“This marks a real step change in connectivity to Tanzania, building on recent announcements from Air Tanzania, Brussels Airlines and KLM that are opening up these incredible destinations to European source markets.”
Messina said improved connectivity would be particularly valuable to ATTA’s UK-based tour operator and travel agent members, giving them greater flexibility in how they package and sell East African holidays.
“For our UK-based tour operator and travel agent members, greater connectivity provides more choice for their customers and creates exciting opportunities to develop new itineraries across Tanzania and neighbouring Kenya,” she said.
She highlighted the potential of the route to make safari-and-beach holidays easier to package, particularly for families and other travellers seeking to combine wildlife experiences with time on the coast.
“It is particularly significant for families and other travellers who want to combine wildlife and coast,” Messina said. “Making it easier to reach the Northern Safari Circuit and then travel onwards to Zanzibar removes some of the complexity from an East African holiday and gives the travel trade much greater flexibility in how they package and sell the region.”
Messina also pointed to Zanzibar’s growing appeal as a standalone premium leisure destination, saying its visitor market has expanded beyond its traditional appeal among couples to include families.
She further noted the island’s emerging wellness tourism offering, suggesting that the new service could facilitate greater access for travellers from the UK and Europe seeking wellness retreats.
The ATTA CEO said the development demonstrated the importance of aviation connectivity to Africa’s tourism growth.
“Improved air connectivity is fundamental to unlocking Africa’s tourism potential, so it is hugely encouraging to see airlines investing in greater access to destinations across the continent,” she said.
British Airways’ new service will operate three times a week from May 29 to October 31, 2027, flying from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro before continuing to Zanzibar.
The route will provide access to Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro, while the onward Zanzibar service will support the development of combined safari and beach itineraries.
British Airways said return fares will start from £849, including taxes and fees.
The airline is also increasing its summer 2027 services between London Heathrow and Cape Town from seven to 10 flights per week, adding further capacity to its African network.
For ATTA, however, the Tanzania route represents more than additional flights, with the association viewing improved air access as an important enabler for tour operators seeking to develop and sell more diverse East African travel experiences.
