Brussels Airlines launched twice-weekly direct flights between Brussels and Kilimanjaro on June 3
Tanzania says international flight movements at Kilimanjaro Airport have risen from 148 to 152 per week
The route opens Belgium’s first direct air connection to Tanzania as tourist arrivals exceed 2 million
Belgium’s Brussels Airlines launched direct flights to Tanzania on June 3, becoming the latest European carrier to expand services to East Africa’s tourism market.
The airline’s inaugural flight landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport carrying 248 passengers, according to Tanzania’s Ministry of Transport. The new route will operate twice weekly between Brussels and Kilimanjaro, creating the first direct air connection between Belgium and Tanzania.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Tanzanian Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa said the airline’s arrival had increased international flight movements at Kilimanjaro International Airport from 148 to 152 per week.
The service adds Tanzania to Brussels Airlines’ African network, which now covers 18 destinations across sub-Saharan Africa. Africa remains the airline’s largest long-haul market and a central component of its network strategy, according to the carrier.
The new route strengthens access to northern Tanzania’s tourism circuit, home to some of the country’s most visited attractions including Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Tourism has become one of Tanzania’s most important sources of foreign-exchange earnings. According to the country’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, international visitor arrivals exceeded 2 million in 2024, up from about 1.8 million in 2023 and well above pre-pandemic levels. Tourism receipts reached approximately $3.9 billion in 2024, making the sector one of Tanzania’s largest contributors of foreign currency.
The additional European connection comes as Tanzania expands airport infrastructure and seeks to attract more international carriers. The government has invested in upgrades at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and other airports while national carrier Air Tanzania has expanded parts of its regional and international network.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, travel and tourism contributed around 17% of Tanzania’s GDP and supported more than 1.5 million jobs in 2024, underscoring the sector’s importance to economic growth and employment.
The route also strengthens links with a European market that generates high-spending long-haul visitors. According to Tanzania’s tourism statistics, European travelers remain among the country’s largest overseas visitor groups, particularly for safari tourism and mountain-climbing activities centered around northern Tanzania.
For Brussels Airlines, the launch expands a long-standing African network that already includes destinations in countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The airline is part of the Lufthansa Group and has historically maintained one of the most extensive Africa-focused networks among European carriers.
By Cynthia Ebot Takang