The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has warned that it is to rescind approvals for Kenya Airways (KQ) to operate flights between the Kenyan capital Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
It said it did so in terms of the internationally accepted Third and Fourth Freedom Traffic Rights, which allow international services between two countries.
The approvals give airlines the right to fly passengers and cargo from one’s own country to another country.
The statement said that the move was meant to reciprocate the decision by the aviation authorities of Kenya to refuse Tanzania’s request for all cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania.
“Following the decision by KQ, there shall be no passenger flights by KQ between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam from January 22,” the TCAA said.
It is the second major East African flare-up affecting passenger and cargo movement after reports yesterday that Burundi had closed its land border post with Rwanda in retaliation for the latter country’s alleged backing of a rebel militia attack in southern Burundi.
