■ TANZANIA: Air Tanzania streamlines its operations with hefty staff lay-offs.

National carrier, Air Tanzania (TC), has joined the growing list of Tanzanian airlines that have been forced to trim their workforces down with reports that 128 out its original 300-strong staff have now been let go.

Air Tanzania Q300 in Mtwara (Air Tanzania)

According to Tanzania's Minister for Transport, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, government intends to streamline the number even further such that the staff compliment reflects the airline's current operational status:

"We are continuing with the work of cleansing ATCL and we have managed to reduce the number of staff to 172 from the previous 300. The idea is to retain a small number of up to 50 essential staff," he said. "We want to remain with a few but essential staff as a way of making ATCL an efficient company and interesting to investors who are eyeing to enter in partnership with it."

During a recent visit by the on-again/off-again Omani consortium, Al-Hayat Development and Investment Limited, Dr Mwakyembe noted that government has cleared the airline's debt overhang in order to pretty it up for potential investors.

Air Tanzania's fleet is restricted to a Bombardier Q300 turboprop and a B737-200Adv leased from South Africa's Star Air Cargo. Its network includes flights to Kigoma, Tabora and Mtwara with its sole international route being to Moroni in the Comoros.