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Tanzania rolls out new US$90 passenger tax

AirlineDaily News Tanzania
Editor Africa Beat
Author:
Editor Africa Beat
22/08/2025
1 min.read

The government of Tanzania has announced the introduction of a Passenger Facilitation Fee, set to take effect from November 1, under the VI Tax code. The levy will apply to all international air passengers, with proceeds earmarked for new border control and passenger processing systems.

The tax will be charged at US$45 per passenger for one-way international journeys into Tanzania, and US$90 for return trips. Infants under two years old will be exempt. Airlines will collect the fee at the point of sale, and it will appear separately on tickets. Travellers will be entitled to full refunds in cases of trip cancellations or unused tickets.

Industry response

Airlines including Airlink and FlySafair, which operate routes into Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, confirmed that the fee would be applied to their flights. An Airlink spokesperson noted that while airlines are obliged to collect the fee, they may be unfairly perceived as raising fares.

Kamil Al Awadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, warned that the new levy adds to an already expensive environment for African carriers. He highlighted that the continent’s taxes, fees, and charges are 12 to 15 per cent above the global average, potentially undermining competitiveness and limiting aviation’s role in economic growth and connectivity.

Purpose of the fee

The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority has indicated that funds from the levy will support the rollout of Advanced Passenger Information and Electronic Border Control systems. These measures are aimed at strengthening pre-arrival vetting, enhancing immigration controls, streamlining visa processing, and modernising security infrastructure.

The planned technology upgrades include integration with national databases, data analytics capabilities, and improvements to cybersecurity and privacy standards. According to the authority, reliance solely on government financing would be unsustainable, making contributions from international passenger fees necessary to fund the project.

For the latest information on Tanzanian aviation and border control developments, visit the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority

Tanzania gets more expensive by a 1000 cuts.

Hey, I have a great idea! Let’s soak the tourists for more money, which will then be funneled down the same corruption rat hole. Wanna bet the infrastructure they brag about will never occur?