UK Flag Carrier Plans Tanzania Return After 13-Year Pause

The United Kingdom’s flag carrier has announced plans to resume flights to Tanzania after a 13-year absence, with a new service linking London Gatwick, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.

The airline said the route will operate three times a week from late May 2027. Flights from London Gatwick will land at Kilimanjaro before continuing to Zanzibar.

Return follows end of Dar es Salaam route

The planned service will mark the airline’s return to Tanzania since it ended its Dar es Salaam-London operation 13 years ago.

The announcement places Kilimanjaro at the centre of the carrier’s planned return. Kilimanjaro International Airport is described as a gateway to one of Africa’s best-known wildlife routes, including the Serengeti Wildlife Park, where visitors can witness the Great Migration.

The onward connection to Zanzibar will also link the service with a destination known for its white sandy beaches, marine life, history and cultural heritage.

Additional Cape Town flights planned

Alongside the Tanzania announcement, the airline said it would add more flights to its London-Cape Town route starting next March. The year and the number of additional flights were not specified.

The airline has not provided an exact date in late May 2027 for the start of the London Gatwick-Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar service.