Direct from London: Air Tanzania's Game-Changing Flights to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar

For anyone who has dreamed of waking up to the vast plains of the Serengeti or sinking their toes into the white sands of Zanzibar, the journey from the UK just got a whole lot simpler. Air Tanzania has announced plans to launch direct flights from London Gatwick to both Kilimanjaro International Airport and Zanzibar from July 2027 - and for British travellers, it's the news they've been waiting for since 2013

The End of the Layover Marathon

Until now, flying from the UK to Tanzania has meant navigating a frustrating patchwork of connecting flights through Doha, Istanbul, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa - often adding the best part of a day to an already long journey. Air Tanzania CEO Peter Ulanga is putting an end to that. He has pledged a minimum of three direct flights per week from Gatwick, targeting tourists as the primary market, alongside business travellers and Tanzanian nationals visiting family and friends.

It's a bold move, and one that restores a direct air link between Britain and Tanzania for the first time in over a decade.

Two Destinations, Infinite Possibilities

The choice of both Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar as launch routes is strategically clever. Kilimanjaro International Airport is the gateway to northern Tanzania's legendary safari circuit - Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire, and of course, Africa's highest peak itself. Meanwhile, Zanzibar continues to grow as one of the Indian Ocean's most sought-after destinations, drawing honeymooners, divers, luxury travellers, and culture seekers in equal measure.

Together, the two routes cater to Tanzania's most popular travel combination: the classic safari-and-beach holiday. British travellers have long favoured this pairing, and removing the hassle of connecting flights could significantly increase demand.

Start Planning

Tickets aren't on sale yet, but with a July 2027 launch on the horizon, now is a great time to start researching. Whether it's the wildebeest migration, the summit of Kilimanjaro, or a Zanzibar sunset you're after, direct access from London is finally coming.

References

• Travel Weekly. Air Tanzania plans to launch Gatwick flights to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. travelweekly.co.uk

• ATQ News. Air Tanzania to Launch Nonstop Flights Between London Gatwick and Kilimanjaro in July 2027. atqnews.com

• ATTA. Air Tanzania to fly direct from UK to Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar from July 2027. atta.travel

• Travel and Tour World. Tanzania Opens New Tourism Gateway as Air Tanzania Plans Direct Flights From London. travelandtourworld.com