Moshi Airport in the Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania could potentially serve as a gateway for tourists visiting the region but is currently in dire need of renovation, according to Philemon Ndesamburo, Moshi Constituency member. He recently questioned the Tanzanian government as to why the airstrip had been neglected.
Deputy Minister for Transport, Charles Tizeba, informed the Parliament, however, that Moshi was set to receive a major facelift in the near future as the airstrip was among ten others in Tanzania set to benefit from the TZS3,2bn (R17m) received from the World Bank for feasibility studies before restoration of air services. “Rehabilitation of the airports is to start soon after accomplishing the feasibility studies,” the minister said.
The Moshi airstrip saw a 135% increase in passengers, from 575 passengers in 2009 to 1 355 passengers in 2012. Frequency of light aircraft landing and taking off from Moshi airport has increased by an average of 20% from 491 flights in 2009 to 638 flights last year.
