Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) has reported a new record in revenue collection, reaching 8.83 billion Tanzanian shillings in the third quarter of the 2022/2023 financial year. This marks a remarkable 195% increase from the same period in 2019, prior to the pandemic, where revenue stood at 2.99 billion TZS. Last year's revenue for the same period was 5.5 billion TZS. The announcement was made by ZAA's Communication Officer, Mulhat Doria, in the Financial Year quarterly performance statement released yesterday, signed by the Acting Director General, Seif Abdallah Juma.
The statement attributed the successful increase in revenue to a variety of factors, including the personal efforts of President Hussein Mwinyi to boost tourism and infrastructure. It also acknowledged the better quality of services at Terminal III, including ground handling by DNATA, which enabled Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) to meet international standards for transporting cargo to Europe. This development is expected to increase exports, particularly from the blue economy sector, and create new business opportunities. The rise in the number of passengers served between January and March 2023 also contributed to the increased revenue, with 538,828 passengers served compared to 424,968 passengers in the same period in 2022. Moreover, the expansion of flights and routes was identified as another advantage that helped increase revenue collection at AAKIA. To maintain the momentum and further increase revenue collection in the fourth quarter of the 2022-2023 fiscal year, ZAA aims to attract new airlines and provide permits for direct flights to Zanzibar. Additional strategic measures include encouraging international airlines to launch flights to Abeid Amani Karume Airport. The ZAA also plans to construct a new passenger building (Terminal 4) at AAKIA and accelerate the construction of Pemba International Airport. The statement concluded by praising President Mwinyi for his visionary leadership that is driving Zanzibar to greater heights.