Air Tanzania (Air Tanzania Company Limited, ATCL) is the flag carrier of Tanzania,founded in 1977, with headquarters and main hub in Dar es Salaam. Its slogan is The Wings of Kilimanjaro, an airline that links the East African interior, the Indian Ocean islands and China. For shippers exporting from China to East and Central Africa, Air Tanzania providesa direct air corridor from China to East Africa: the Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam route starts in Guangzhou, and cargo reaches Tanzania direct and then distributes from Dar es Salaam to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other markets. It is alsoone of few African national carriers operating both widebody passenger aircraft and dedicated freighters, with a B767-300F freighter giving freighter-class capacity for bulk cargo on the China to East Africa lane.
IATA code TC · ICAO code ATC · air waybill prefix 197 · main hub Dar es Salaam Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR / HTDA)
Air Tanzania (Air Tanzania Company Limited, ATCL) was founded in 1977 and is the flag carrier of the United Republic of Tanzania, wholly owned by the Tanzanian government, with headquarters and main operating hub in Dar es Salaam.In the China market, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is its only destination: the Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam route is flown by Boeing 787-8 several times a week in about 11 hours nonstop, one of the few direct air corridors between China and East Africa. After arrival in Dar es Salaam, cargo distributes through its regional network to East African and southern African countries.
Fleet (as of 2026):Air Tanzania operates about 16 aircraft, including 3 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, 2 Boeing 737 MAX 9, 4 Airbus A220-300, 6 Bombardier Dash 8 series and 1 Boeing 767-300F dedicated freighter. For shippers in China, two capacity streams matter directly:787-8 widebody belly capacity on the Guangzhou route, several tonnes per flight, and the freighter-class capacity of the 767-300F at about 54 tonnes, with routes subject to carrier confirmation.
The China route is one of Air Tanzania's fastest-growing business segments.Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam is its only destination in China, flown by Boeing 787-8 in about 11 hours several times a week. The route gives a direct air corridor between China and Tanzania and the East African Community of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. Shippers importing Chinese goods into East Africa can fly direct from Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam and then distribute to East African countries.
Cargo is a strategic business segment for Air Tanzania:in June 2023 the company took delivery of its first Boeing 767-300F freighter with about 54 tonnes of payload, the first time Boeing delivered a 767 freighter directly to an African airline. The aircraft mainly carries cargo within Africa and also flies international cargo. With belly capacity on the 787-8 and 737 MAX, Air Tanzania has built adual freighter and belly capacity structure, an arrangement that is uncommon among African carriers.
Market position: Air Tanzania is one of few carriers on the China to East Africa corridor offering steady nonstop schedules together with freighter capacity.Its overall capacity is limited, but it has irreplaceable corridor value in the East African market.
Air Tanzania is the national carrier connectingEast Africa with Asian markets: nonstop Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam, then distribution through the hub to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other markets.Its combined freighter and belly capacityis what distinguishes it from most African carriers.
① Guangzhou is its only destination in China, flown by the 787-8 several times a week in about 11 hours nonstop.
② It has 1 B767-300F freighter, about 54 tonnes, covering intra-African and international cargo.
③ Dar es Salaam is the East African distribution center, and cargo can move on to Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other markets after landing.
| Item | Content | Item | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | Air Tanzania | English name | Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) |
| Country | Tanzania, East Africa | Head office location | Dar es Salaam |
| Main operating hub | Dar es Salaam Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR / ICAO: HTDA) | IATA two-letter code | TC |
| ICAO three-letter code | ATC | Founded | 1977 |
| Air waybill (AWB) prefix | 197 | Company type | Flag carrier wholly owned by the Tanzanian government |
| Active fleet | About 16 aircraft (3 B787-8, 2 B737 MAX 9, 4 A220-300, 5 Dash 8-Q400, 1 Dash 8-Q300, 1 B767-300F) | Official website | www.airtanzania.co.tz |
| Cargo fleet | 1 Boeing 767-300F dedicated freighter, about 54 tonnes, plus widebody belly capacity | Slogan | The Wings of Kilimanjaro |
General cargo is the mainstay and covers the whole Air Tanzania network. Electronics, machinery, building materials and household goods shipped from Guangzhou can all move on the Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam route.
Cut flowers, fruit, seafood and coffee beans from East Africa are an important source of Air Tanzania cargo. Tanzania is one of Africa's main cut flower and coffee exporters, and cold chain and rapid handover are daily practice on this corridor.
Tanzania has solid experience in live animal transport, with active wildlife conservation, breeding stock, pet and ornamental fish trades. Containers and capacity are arranged under the IATA Live Animals Regulations, with station acceptance confirmed per shipment.
Common classes are carried under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), and lithium batteries, chemicals and similar goods can be declared. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority sets clear permit and declaration requirements for dangerous goods, and accepted classes depend on the carrier's current permits and station capability.
Valuables such as precious metals, diamonds and high-value electronic components, and vulnerable goods, have dedicated handover and security procedures and suit widebody belly or freighter carriage.
Express parcel service is available, and human remains are carried, subject to special documents and packing. Note: human remains, dangerous goods, live animals and perishables cannot move as ordinary parcels and need dedicated procedures.
In June 2023 Air Tanzania took delivery of its first Boeing 767-300F freighter, with about 54 tonnes of payload and a range of about 6,000 km at full load.It was the first 767 freighter Boeing delivered directly to an African airline, and the core asset of the Air Tanzania cargo strategy.
The aircraft has two roles:first, intra-African markets— air cargo demand between East and Central African countries for perishables, industrial goods and relief supplies, previously carried in passenger bellies and now on a dedicated freighter;second, international cargo— as the national carrier's cargo workhorse on international routes. For Chinese shippers this means the China to East Africa lane now has freighter capacity alongside passenger belly space.
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (3): long-haul main type on the Guangzhou route.The 787-8 is the main type on Air Tanzania's China route, with a two-class layout of 22 business and 240 economy seats covering the full Dar es Salaam to Guangzhou sector. The 787 belly takes ULD containers,carrying several tonnes of belly cargo per flighton a per-flight basis, and is the steadiest routine capacity from China to East Africa.
Boeing 737 MAX 9 (2) and Airbus A220-300 (4): regional and short to medium-haul trunk.Both types carry cargo in the belly, mainly on intra-African routes and short international sectors such as Dar es Salaam to Nairobi, Johannesburg and Lusaka. The A220 hold takes AKE containers.
Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 / Q300 (6): domestic and short sectors.These link Dar es Salaam with Tanzanian domestic cities and nearby markets, carrying mainly bulk cargo. For shippers the network provides the last leg once cargo reaches Dar es Salaam for domestic cities.
Boeing 767-300F (1): dedicated freighter.With about 54 tonnes of payload, it is the core cargo asset that sets Air Tanzania apart from most African national carriers.
① The 787-8 is the regular on the China route, with steady belly capacity in the several-tonne range per flight.
② The 767-300F is the heavy cargo channel, available for bulk and full-pallet cargo, with routes subject to carrier confirmation.
③ The Dash 8 network means the East African last leg, covering Tanzanian domestic and neighbouring markets.
| Aircraft type | Fleet size | Cabin layout | Belly loading method | Role at Air Tanzania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 787-8 | 3 aircraft | 22 business plus 240 economy seats | ULD containers / pallets | Long-haul main type on intercontinental routes including Guangzhou |
| Boeing 737 MAX 9 | 2 aircraft | Two-class layout | Bulk plus some ULD | Regional trunk, East African international routes |
| Airbus A220-300 | 4 aircraft | Two-class layout | AKE containers | Short and medium-haul main type on intra-African routes |
| Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 | 5 aircraft | Single class | Bulk | Domestic and short international |
| Bombardier Dash 8-Q300 | 1 aircraft | Single class | Bulk | Domestic short-haul supplement |
| Boeing 767-300F | 1 aircraft | None (freighter) | Main deck plus lower deck, about 54 tonnes | Dedicated freighter, cargo flagship |
Actual schedules change with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
| Departure gateway | Flight type | Frequency | Main aircraft type | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou (CAN) | Passenger belly (plus cargo subject to capacity) | Several flights a week (TC402 / TC403 and others) | Boeing 787-8 | Only destination in China, about 11 hours nonstop |
| Dar es Salaam (DAR) | Destination/transfer hub | Distribution to East African countries after landing | — | Connects to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and others |
| Zanzibar (ZNZ) | Stopover on some flights | Depends on the schedule | 787-8 | Some Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam flights stop at Zanzibar |
Cargo from China to East Africa previously transited Dubai, Addis Ababa or Nairobi, adding handling steps and losing transit time.The Guangzhou nonstop cuts flying time to about 11 hours, a more direct choice for time-sensitive, medium-volume cargo such as household goods, electronics and building material samples.
Tanzania is an East African Community member,so cargo arriving in Dar es Salaam can reach Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. One waybill plus regional distribution is the usual routing for Chinese exporters entering the East African market.
Air Tanzania has no office, ticketing center or 400 hotline in mainland China.The offices listed on its website, including Arusha, Dodoma and Dar es Salaam, are all in Tanzania, with regional stations in Nairobi and Johannesburg. Chinese shippers book through freight forwarder channels.
Booking: handled through a freight forwarder.In practice, capacity from China to Dar es Salaam is booked byChinese gateway freight forwarders working with Air Tanzania cargo sales and its general sales agent. The shipper does not deal with an overseas counter: cargo details, destination and time requirement go to the agent, which books with the carrier, issues the waybill on the 197 prefix and tracks the shipment throughout.
Air Tanzania head office contacts:P.O. Box 543, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (ATC House, Ohio Street); telephone +255 (0) 222 117 500; ticketing and customer service +255 748 773 900 or contactcentre@airtanzania.co.tz. These channels serve mainly local customers in Tanzania, and cargo business runs through agents.
Address: P.O. Box 543, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (ATC House, Ohio Street)
Telephone: +255 (0) 222 117 500
Ticketing and customer service: +255 748 773 900 · contactcentre@airtanzania.co.tz
Not in mainland Chinaoffice established
Cargo booking through Chinese gateway agents dealing with carrier sales
Website: www.airtanzania.co.tz (cargo services section)
China gateway handling: arranged with the carrier at booking
Air waybill prefix 197 · IATA TC · ICAO ATC
Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam nonstop in about 11 hours,removing Middle East or East African transfer steps. For time-sensitive cargo, nonstop is the shortest path.
The 767-300F freighter carries about 54 tonnes and works with 787 belly capacity,so both large and small lots have matching capacity, with freighter routes subject to carrier confirmation.
For cut flowers, fruit and coffee,perishable handling is routine business for Air Tanzania, with mature cold chain and rapid handover experience; the return direction also carries Chinese perishables into East Africa.
Dar es Salaam sits at the center of East Africa andconnects to the Air Tanzania regional network reaching Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on one air waybill.
East Africa has a live animal transport tradition covering breeding stock, pets and conservation-related movements,and Air Tanzania has relevant experience, confirmed per shipment within station acceptance limits.
A government-owned flag carrierwhose routes and traffic rights are tied to government trade relations, with China-Tanzania trade an official priority for both governments, giving corridor stability a policy basis.
Send the destination city, weight and dimensions, cargo type and target departure date; we quote against the capacity available that day
Check commodity compliance, with dangerous goods, live animals and temperature control approved per shipment, and confirm in writing on both sides
Apply to carrier cargo sales for Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam capacity, or assess a freighter or charter option
Issue the 197-prefix air waybill, export declaration and flight documents, including East African clearance paperwork
Deliver at Guangzhou, declare, warehouse and load, with tracking through to Dar es Salaam and beyond
Clear and deliver at Dar es Salaam, or distribute into the East African interior, tracking perishable and temperature-controlled cargo throughout
Frequency and stopovers, including Zanzibar, on the Guangzhou route change with the season,so bookings must be confirmed by the carrier on the day, and delivery dates must not be promised from an old schedule.
Import clearance in Tanzania and other East African countries requiresa commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin where applicable and importer registration details (TIN), with licences and inspection documents for some commodities, andincomplete documents hold cargo at destination.
Air Tanzania accepts dangerous goods under IATA rules, butspecific classes, packing and declaration requirements must be confirmed with the carrier per shipment; temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals and perishables need cold chain capability and handover points confirmed on the route.
After arrival in Dar es Salaam, connections to Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere, andcross-border clearance rules differ by destination, with tariff arrangements between East African Community members, so confirm the trade term and destination first.
Air Tanzania has no office in China,so agent channels are the only booking entry point. A forwarder with East Africa experience should provide four services:
Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest city and economic center, and Julius Nyerere International Airport is a major East African gateway. Air Tanzania builds its East African Community network on this hub:Nairobi in Kenya, Entebbe in Uganda, points in Rwanda and Burundi, Kinshasa and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lusaka and Ndola in Zambia, and Harare and Victoria Falls in Zimbabweare all network points. For shippers, China to East Africa can move on one air waybill.
Tanzania is one of East Africa's larger economies, with about 60 million people and an economy built on agriculture, mining and tourism. As a wholly government-owned flag carrier, Air Tanzania performs the national carrier role, andits route expansion to Dubai, Mumbai, Guangzhou, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Kinshasa tracks Tanzania's economic opening. Choosing a national carrier ties corridor stability more closely to official trade relations, with a policy basis.
Tanzania exports to China mainlyagricultural products such as sesame, cashew, coffee and tea, minerals such as tanzanite and gold, timber and seafood; China exports machinery, building materials, electronics, textiles and consumer goods to Tanzania. Two-way flows givereturn capacity a cargo base, keeping rates relatively stable, an advantage one-way routes do not have.
The Air Tanzania slogan The Wings of Kilimanjaro refers to Africa's highest peak and signals high service standards in East Africa. For shippers who value certainty, a government-backed national carrier with freighter capacity and nonstop schedules reduces uncertainty in the transport chain.
Are there nonstop routes and schedules from China to Dar es Salaam?
Yes. Guangzhou (CAN) is the only destination in China, served on the Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam route by 787-8 in about 11 hours several times a week, with some flights stopping at Zanzibar. Frequencies and stopovers are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
What can the B767-300F freighter carry?
There is 1 Boeing 767-300F dedicated freighter with about 54 tonnes of payload, delivered in June 2023, the first 767 freighter Boeing delivered directly to an African airline. Its fixed routes are mainly intra-African and international cargo; routine China traffic moves in 787 belly holds, and large volumes can be assessed for the freighter or a charter.
What is the Air Tanzania air waybill prefix?
197. IATA two-letter code TC, ICAO three-letter code ATC. The three codes and the 197 prefix appear together on cargo documents, and missing any one can cause rejection.
What is the transit time on the Guangzhou to Dar es Salaam nonstop?
About 11 hours nonstop. Including delivery at Guangzhou, loading and Dar es Salaam clearance, delivery in Dar es Salaam usually completes 2–4 days after handover at Guangzhou; distribution into the East African interior adds 1–3 days depending on connections. These are reference ranges, not commitments.
Does it carry dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo and live animals?
Air Tanzania cargo covers dangerous goods under DGR, perishables and live animals, but holding approvals does not mean every station accepts them on every flight: specific classes, packing, declaration requirements and cold chain capability must be confirmed with the carrier per shipment, verified once at booking rather than promised verbally.
How does East African distribution connect through Dar es Salaam?
Connections are reliable, which is exactly where the hub value lies. Dar es Salaam connects to the Air Tanzania regional network for Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other markets. Cross-border clearance and connections are designed per destination, and Goodhope Freight provides the full routing and transit range at booking.
How is a booking made through a Chinese gateway forwarder?
Air Tanzania has no office in mainland China, so cargo bookings run through Chinese gateway forwarders dealing with carrier sales. Once the shipper provides destination city, commodity, piece weight and dimensions and time requirement, Goodhope Freight handles the booking and tracks the shipment throughout.
Which documents are needed for East African clearance?
Tanzanian import clearance usually requires a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin where applicable and importer registration details (TIN), with licences and inspection for some commodities; East African Community members share a common tariff arrangement, and onward transit follows separate rules. The document list is itemized at booking by destination and commodity.
Direct service and distribution from Chinese gateways to Dar es Salaam and on to East African countries, belly and freighter options, and document preparation are coordinated by a specialist forwarder.
Contact Goodhope Freight for a cargo planFrom China · international air freight forwarder · (an independent forwarder, not a branch or representative office of Air Tanzania)