Tanzania’s airport development programme for the 2026/27 financial year includes construction, rehabilitation, expansion and improvement works across international, regional and strategic airports.
The programme includes allocations for Mwanza, Arusha, Mtwara, Serengeti, Kagera, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport and several regional airports.
The Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) continues to supervise and develop Government-owned airports. Its responsibilities include providing efficient, high-quality and safe airport services, installing enabling equipment for passenger and cargo transport, and providing technical advice to the Government and the public on the establishment, development, management, operation and maintenance of airports.
The objective is to ensure that airports contribute fully to the development of Tanzania’s aviation sector, the growth of trade in the country and the economy in general.
As of March 2026, TAA had conducted emergency preparedness drills at Tabora, Musoma, Iringa and Mpanda airports. The drills strengthened the capacity of those airports to respond to disasters and emergencies. TAA also conducted operational inspections and renewed the licences of Mtwara, Mafia, Tabora, Kasulu, Kibondo, Nachingwea, Shinyanga, West Kilimanjaro and Kilwa Masoko airports to ensure that they continue to operate safely and meet the required quality standards, in accordance with national and international standards for airport safety and operations.
Arusha Airport
For 2026/27, the Arusha Airport Construction Project has been allocated TZS 3.08 billion in domestic funding. The planned activities include continued construction of the agricultural aviation aircraft hangar and construction of the asphalt surface layer on the runway, with the aim of increasing service efficiency for airlines and passengers.
At Arusha Airport, installation of the airfield ground lighting system had reached 65 percent by March 2026.
Mwanza Airport
Mwanza Airport is a priority in the 2026/27 budget. Under the Chama Cha Mapinduzi Election Manifesto for the 2025 General Election, the Government pledged to upgrade it to international airport status.
For 2026/27, TZS 6.0 billion in domestic funding has been allocated to continue work on the passenger terminal and related infrastructure. The Ministry, through the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA), is also continuing discussions with domestic and international stakeholders on financing.
The planned terminal will have the capacity to handle 2.5 million passengers per year, including international passengers. Supporting infrastructure will also be improved to enable efficient operations by large international aircraft.
Serengeti International Airport
The Government is also pursuing airport development in strategic areas along Tanzania’s borders with other countries to provide regional and international services. These airports are also intended to provide tourism-related services and reduce the challenge of having many airstrips in protected areas.
As of March 2026, the first stage of pre-qualification analysis for international contractors for Serengeti International Airport had been completed. Procurement procedures for the contractor undertaking construction and the consulting engineer supervising the construction are ongoing.
The Government’s objective in implementing this strategic project is to grow tourism and protect the ecology of Serengeti National Park. The project has been designed with environmental conservation in mind as a green airport, which is expected to stimulate the growth of tourism activities in the country.
For 2026/27, the Serengeti International Airport Construction Project has been allocated TZS 100.0 million in domestic funding for coordinating preparations for project implementation. Implementation will involve the participation of financial institutions and the Government. The project aims to protect the ecology of Serengeti National Park, as it has been designed with environmental conservation in mind, serving as a green airport.
Kagera Regional Airport
The Kagera Region is described as the only region bordering three countries in the Great Lakes region, namely Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda. The region has strategic mineral mines such as the Kabanga Nickel Mine, various tourism attractions.
To improve air transport services in line with wider economic activity, and to strengthen aviation safety, the Sixth Phase Government has decided to construct Kagera Regional Airport at Kyabajwa, in Bugandika Ward, Missenyi District, Kagera Region, north-western Tanzania.
In 2026/27, the project has been allocated TZS 1.9 billion in domestic funding to complete the feasibility study and detailed design, and to begin construction of the new airport.
Musoma Airport
At Musoma Airport, TANROADS is implementing the construction of runway infrastructure, the taxiway, aircraft parking apron, airport access road, car parking area to asphalt standard, and associated enabling infrastructure. Overall implementation has reached 67 percent, it is expected to be completed by June 2026.
The Ministry, through the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA), has completed the updated design for the new passenger terminal, with procurement procedures for the construction contractor ongoing.
TANROADS recently gave an update on this project here: https://youtu.be/s9138qqX2Q4?si=9Y6qT7aMi-qMHETN
Kilimanjaro International Airport
The Kilimanjaro International Airport remains a major focus of the airport programme. The Government, through the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA), has continued implementing improvements at KIA to strengthen the sector’s contribution to tourism growth and the transport of perishable agricultural products in the northern corridor.
Procurement procedures have been completed and contractors have been secured for the rehabilitation of the runway, installation of the airfield ground lighting system and construction of a new VIP terminal.
Further works at KIA include completed improvements to the cold storage cargo area, ongoing construction of the airport security fence, and improvement works to the dry cargo storage area, which have reached 5 percent. The design of the main administration building has been completed, while the consultancy services contract for the construction of the cargo building has been signed and the project site has been handed over to the consulting engineer.
For 2026/27, the Kilimanjaro International Airport Rehabilitation Project has been allocated TZS 32.0 billion in domestic funding. This will support the continuation of the second phase of major runway rehabilitation, installation of the airfield ground lighting system, construction of a boundary fence around the KIA area, and construction of an administration and service providers’ building.
Following the Sixth Phase Government’s efforts to grow tourism, passenger numbers at KIA have increased. The Government has begun implementation of the second passenger terminal project, with procurement of the contractor in the final stages. The terminal is expected to be implemented in cooperation with development partners and will increase the airport’s capacity to serve more tourists, improve service quality and strengthen the tourism corridor.
Julius Nyerere International Airport
Julius Nyerere International Airport also receives a dedicated allocation. In 2026/27, the Government has allocated TZS 26.75 billion in domestic funding for improvement and construction of passenger terminals, improvement of the airfield ground lighting system, construction of a special safety area on the runway, procurement and installation of ICT equipment and systems to strengthen airport safety and security, and construction of an internal security fence.
Regional Airports Development
The Regional Airports Development Project has been allocated TZS 14.38 billion for the construction, rehabilitation, expansion and improvement of airports in various regions, enabling them to provide quality services.
Planned activities include the rehabilitation and expansion of Lindi Airport and Moshi Airport, construction of a passenger terminal at Musoma Airport, rehabilitation and improvement of Singida Airport, installation of an airfield ground lighting system at Mafia Airport, procurement of two fire engines for Shinyanga and Sumbawanga airports, and construction of Njombe Airport, linked to the presence of vegetable, fruit and flower production in the area.
The Government has also completed the rehabilitation of Sumbawanga, Shinyanga, Songea and Tabora airports. Completion of these projects has opened economic opportunities in the relevant regions, improved transport services and stimulated business for airlines.
Land Acquisition, Surveying and Formalisation
Land acquisition, surveying and formalisation also form part of the airport expansion programme. As of March 2026, the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA), in collaboration with other Government institutions, was continuing procedures to obtain title deeds for six airports: Kirondatal, Mvumi, Ngara, Liwale, Manyoni and Singida.
The Government has paid compensation to 737 citizens in the Kipunguni area who made way for the expansion of Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), and to 58 citizens who made way for the expansion of Musoma Airport. The Government will continue to allocate budget funding to complete compensation payments to citizens who gave up land for airport development.
TAA Revenue Target and Planned Activities
For the 2026/27 financial year, TAA has set a target of collecting TZS 247.33 billion from internal revenue sources.
Planned activities include strengthening security, safety and facilitation services for passengers, aircraft and cargo at airports; serving Government airports by maintaining infrastructure and supervising operational activities; procuring and installing modern passenger and cargo screening machines; providing training to staff; and continuing the process of surveying and obtaining title deeds for land at Government airports.
