The aviation sector in Zanzibar, part of the United Republic of Tanzania, has registered considerable growth over the past five years, according to figures released by the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA). Speaking at a news briefing, Seif Abdallah Juma, Director General of the ZAA, highlighted that the improvements stem from a combination of government policy support, infrastructural modernisation, and expanded international engagement.
Passenger traffic through Zanzibar’s airports rose from 840,599 in 2020 to 2.4 million in 2024, with forecasts indicating this could exceed 2.8 million by the close of 2025. The increase reflects both heightened regional mobility and Zanzibar’s strengthening role within Africa’s broader aviation network.
The number of airlines operating in the archipelago rose from 68 in 2020 to 78 by 2024, with 38 carriers projected to provide direct flights in 2025. The Abeid Amani Karume International Airport – upgraded in collaboration with Chinese partners – is now ranked ninth on the African continent in terms of flight frequency in 2025, underscoring its rising prominence.
ZAA has also obtained international recognition, including awards from Airports Council International and the European Union’s RA3 certification for cargo security. These acknowledgements, according to Juma, demonstrate alignment with global aviation standards and reinforce Zanzibar’s positioning as a regional aviation hub in the Indian Ocean.
The growth in air services has strengthened Zanzibar’s contribution to Tanzania’s wider economy, particularly through the facilitation of trade and tourism. The aviation sector’s expansion is also viewed as part of Africa’s broader reconfiguration of mobility infrastructure, where enhanced connectivity is a critical factor in deepening continental integration and expanding opportunities for intra-African and global exchange.
ZAA maintains that it remains committed to consolidating these gains by investing in additional infrastructure and services, with the aim of expanding the archipelago’s regional and international reach. While the achievements are notable, industry observers point out that sustained growth will depend not only on infrastructure but also on consistent policy support, environmental sustainability measures, and alignment with the African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
As African states continue to reimagine aviation as an instrument of both economic development and cultural connection, Zanzibar’s trajectory exemplifies how smaller states and territories can position themselves as strategic nodes in the continent’s aviation landscape.
