DAR ES SALAAM, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The government of Tanzania on Sunday received its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to strengthen the east African nation's ailing national carrier Air Tanzania Corporation Limited (ATCL).
The purchase of the 262-passenger capacity plane brings to four the number of brand new aircraft that have been bought by the government in efforts to revive the national airline.
Receiving the aircraft at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, President John Magufuli said two more Bombardier CS 300 jetliners with the capacity to carry 130 passengers each will also be delivered in November this year.
"The arrival of the new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner marks a significant milestone in government efforts to revive the state-owned airline and enable it compete locally and internationally," said Magufuli.
He said the government has already made advance payment for another Dreamliner expected to be delivered in January 2020 to boost air transport but also attract more tourists from various parts of the world.
Isack Kamwelwe, the Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, said the new plane will be plying international routes starting with the Mumbai route in India by early September.
