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| Brussels Airlines announces new direct flights from Brussels to Kilimanjaro starting June 2026, operating twice weekly to boost tourism, trade, and economic ties between Tanzania and Belgium |
Brussels Airlines of Belgium has made history by announcing new direct flights between Brussels and Kilimanjaro International Airport starting June 3, 2026.
According to Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, the flights will operate twice weekly, every Wednesday and Saturday—a move described as a fresh boost for the country’s aviation, business, and tourism sectors.
The launch of these flights is seen as opening a new chapter in economic cooperation between Tanzania and Belgium, while making travel easier for tourists, businesspeople, and citizens of both countries.
Introducing these direct routes is expected to enhance competitiveness in air transport services by reducing travel time and offering more options for passengers traveling between East Africa and Europe.
The step is considered important for promoting international trade, especially for time-sensitive goods such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish fillets, and other products sold in Belgian and neighboring European markets.
Belgium remains one of Tanzania’s key partners in agricultural and mineral products trade, and is one of the few European countries where the value of goods imported from Tanzania exceeds that of exports to Tanzania.
In the tourism sector, the new flights are projected to increase visitor numbers from Belgium and nearby European nations to Tanzania’s major attractions such as Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Data show that tourist arrivals from Belgium have grown rapidly, from about 9,000 visitors in 2018 to over 18,000 in 2024—reflecting strengthened people-to-people ties and growing interest in visiting Tanzania.
This success is attributed to the long-standing friendly relations between Tanzania and Belgium, which have been further strengthened under the leadership of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan through economic diplomacy, policy reforms, infrastructure investment, and the country’s peaceful and stable environment.
The government has urged businesspeople and tourism stakeholders to fully utilize opportunities arising from these new flights to expand business, investment, and tourism revenue, while further strengthening Tanzania’s ties with European nations.