Etihad Airways will expand its African route network with the launch of a daily service to Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania. Flights between Abu Dhabi and Dar es Salaam, which will commence on 1 December 2015, will be operated using A320 aircraft.

Dar es Salaam will be Etihad Airways’ 110th destination globally, and its 11th destination in Africa and the Indian Ocean. In particular, it is anticipated that the demand for the new route will be boosted by strong flows of cargo volums and travellers between the East Africa region and the Indian Subcontinent and China.

James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Dar es Salaam is an important new route on Etihad Airways’ global network. It builds upon our existing presence in Africa, and supports the close trading relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Tanzania.”

The UAE is the primary trade partner of Tanzania in the GCC region. Between 2007 and 2012, trade between UAE and Tanzania increased by more than 350 per cent to US$761 million.