Zanzibar Emerging as East African Aviation Hub
Zanzibar’s airports have undergone rapid transformation over the last five years, establishing the semi-autonomous isles as a key aviation hub in East Africa. Under the leadership of the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA), Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) has secured multiple international accolades, including the Airports Council International (ACI) award for best African airport handling under two million passengers annually, an “A” grade from the ICAO security audit, and RA3 cargo certification by DNATA in 2023, opening access to European markets. The number of airlines using Zanzibar has grown from 68 in 2020 to 79 in 2025.
Passenger traffic more than doubled from 840,599 in 2020 to 2.4 million in 2025, supported by added routes from carriers such as Edelweiss, FlySafair, Air France, and Etihad. Major infrastructure developments are also underway, including a new terminal at Pemba’s first international airport due in 2027, expanded facilities at AAKIA, and new technology upgrades such as Instrument Landing Systems and night-flight capabilities. Hosting the AviaDev Africa summit in June 2025 further underlined Zanzibar’s growing role in the continent’s aviation landscape, with government officials highlighting transport investment as central to job creation, tourism growth, and broader economic development.
Source: Daily News Tanzania
