Arusha — A new airline is bracing to provide inexpensive flights between Kilimanjaro International Airport and Johannesburg in South Africa.

Air Zara international which last week inaugurated a new flight using Boeing 737 - 200 with a carrying capacity of 110 passengers launched the return route of Dar Es-Salaam / Moroni (Comoro). Preparations are underway to connect Kilimanjaro Airport to O.R Tambo International airport in Johannesburg through Zanzibar and Dar-es-Salaam stopovers.

The Managing Director of Superb Tours and Safaris, Rashid Ayoub Kashaghama whose company is the Arusha agent of Air Zara said fare from Dar to Johannesburg starts from as low as US $299 while the connecting flight from Kilimanjaro would cost Tsh. 170,000; "That is the lowest on the route so far," he said.

Kashaghama added that the new South African-based airline will fill the void left after Tanzania's national carrier, Air-Tanzania was grounded early this year.

Air Zara Managing Director Misha Hango told journalists in Dar-es-salaam during inauguration of the new flight to Comoros that the efforts initiated by his company are sustainable adding the deploying of other aircraft will follow depending on the market demand.

Mr Hango said the airline has also planned to operate schedule flights from Dar/Kilimanjaro, Mwanza/Moroni, Dar/ Johannesburg effective the end of this month insisting that it will be reliable, economical and safe to all customers worldwide.

The electronic ticketing system used by his company, he said, will soon be followed by on line ticketing which will provide its customers with a self ticketing facility all around the world.

Hango said Air Zara has appointed passengers sale agents in Dar, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Musoma, Znanzibar, Pemba, Mtwara Iringa Bukoba, Arusha, Moshi, and Kahama.

He further said that his company has introduced special fares applicable through its entire network which include Dar/Mwanza 200,000/-, Dar / Kilimanjaro 175,000/-, Kilimanjaro/Mwanza 180,000/-, Dar/Moroni us 430, and Dar/Johannesburg usd 299.

Hango said his company will utilize its fleet composition of Boeing 737 - 200, Beech craft1900D,and King Air B200 after appropriate approval, adding that the deployment of Aircrafts like B767 - 200 and others would follow.