Travel/Tourism
Air Tanzania to Commence Direct Flights to Moscow July 2
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
To significantly boost economic diplomacy, trade, and tourism between Tanzania and Russia, Air Tanzania will commence direct flights from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar to Moscow, the capital of Russia, from July 2, 2026.
Early June, the President of Tanzania, Ms Samia Suluhu Hassan, and her delegation were in Moscow and St Petersburg’s SPIEF-2026, at the invitation of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. One of the dominant topics discussed by the two parties was tourism. This was a follow-up to earlier visits by Russian delegations to Tanzania on the matter.
The sides noted that the country is well-positioned to become a more attractive destination for Russian tourists. The Russian party also offered help in promoting Tanzanian tourist products on the Russian market, organising business meetings with Russian travel agents and presenting the tourist potential at Russia’s tourist forums.
The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, sent an authorisation to Air Tanzania for making flights over the route of Dar es Salaam – Moscow. “Rosaviatsiya received an application from the Tanzanian national air carrier, Air Tanzania, to make flights on the route of Dar es Salaam – Moscow. The issue was promptly considered, and the authorisation for flights was already sent to the airline. Air Tanzania did not make flights to Russia before,” Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin told Russian reporters.
Tanzania has been a popular tourist destination for Russian tourists for years, particularly Zanzibar. “Unfortunately, during the pandemic, the number fell sharply, and now we are trying to increase it again. But to increase the number of tourists, we need several factors to be in place. The most important thing to do to bring back the number of tourists to a high level is to establish direct flights from Russia to Tanzania,” Russian Ambassador to Tanzania, Andrey Avetisyan, explained in an interview with The Citizen newspaper.
The key operational and news details include:
Launch Date: Direct flights officially begin on July 2, 2026, marking a massive milestone for African-Eurasian travel.
Frequency: Air Tanzania will operate three weekly flights between Tanzania and Moscow (departing on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). The journey time will be 8 hours and 30 minutes.
The Route: From Moscow, the flights will operate from Vnukovo airport. Using the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, planes will fly between Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Moscow, with initial discussions highlighting a strategic stop in the Seychelles for refuelling.
Tanzania has hit a record in terms of the number of foreign tourists. By facilitating this travel arrangement, Russia and Tanzania have taken a significant step forward in establishing connectivity with the Island, well-known for recreation. Welcomed by East African entrepreneurs, this policy initiative indicates broader efforts to promote a more interconnected and open Africa.
In 2024, the country accepted more than 1.5 million guests on its territory. According to tourism experts, the new development will likely go beyond the traditional recreation, to create grounds for expansion and diversification of its various types of tourism, including medical, sports and business tourism.
Zanzibar, off Tanzania’s coast, is one of East Africa’s most popular tourist destinations and attracts visitors from Europe and North America. In addition, Zanzibar is now attracting Russian tourists. “We look forward to the emerging tourism dynamics, future collaboration between the two countries,” says Tour Operator Karina Yefimova at the “Let’s Travel” forum in June 2026.
With an estimated population of 1.9 million people, Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. It is located in the Indian Ocean, and consists of many small islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba Island.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 10 hospitality establishments, including hotels and restaurants, were sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The affected businesses are located in different locations in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the metropolis, Business Post learned from a statement from the agency.
It was stated that they were sealed by LASEPA for persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and several opportunities to comply with the agency’s directives.
According to the notice, the enforcement exercise was carried out in line with the directives of the Lagos State government to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard public health.
The affected facilities were said to have breached various environmental regulations, including noise pollution, air pollution, unlawful discharge of untreated effluent, obstruction of official duties, among others.
LASEPA closed the premises of Granduer Meridian at Obasa Akiniyi Street, Oluwaga, Ipaja for non-compliance with the agency’s directives; Lasola (Spazio Bar), located on Ipaja Road, Fatolu Bus Stop, Ipaja, was sealed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives; Millennium Restaurant, located at Gate Bus Stop, Ipaja, Ayobo, was shut down for non-compliance with directives; O2 Exquisite Suites & Tower on Jimoh Akinremi Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; and Chirozz Hotel & Suites, located on Samuel Street, Akowonjo, by Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda, was closed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives.
In addition, House 7 Hotel, located at Remi Akande Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with LASEPA’s directives; House 48 on Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; Exclusive Hotel, located at Ishan Kimishe, Akesan Bus Stop, was shut down by non-compliance with directives; Sabola Ventures Limited, Iocated at Km 11, LASU–Isheri Road, Igando, was shut down for operating without evidence of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and discharging untreated effluent into public drains; and City Int’l Motel, located at Chief Olu-Adegbite Street, off Oladun Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, was sealed for non-compliance with directives.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Emirates has become the first airline cargo carrier to deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft.
The aircraft (A6-EBK) will enter commercial service with a flight from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo, a statement from the airline operator stated.
The converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF offers 100 tonnes of payload capacity and 811 m³ of cargo volume, representing a 25 per cent increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter.
At 47 pallet positions, the converted aircraft also accommodates 10 additional pallet positions when compared with the Boeing 777-F production freighter, making it ideal for transporting volumetric cargo such as e-commerce goods, which currently constitute around 20 per cent of global air cargo tonnage with further growth projected in the next few years.
The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF is the sixth new freighter, following five Boeing 777-F production freighters, to join Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet since March 2026.
As part of its ambitious expansion strategy, Emirates SkyCargo will also be taking delivery of five additional Boeing 777-F aircraft as well as one additional converted Boeing 777-300ERSF by December 2026.
Emirates SkyCargo will also be introducing three additional converted Boeing 777-ERSFs into its fleet in 2027.
“The induction of the first converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF into operational service represents the next step in the expansion of our fleet and operational agility.
“We are optimising our fleet assets by converting older Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft to meet the growing demand for air cargo capacity to transport goods rapidly across the world,” Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President, Badr Abbas, commented.
“Combined with our growing fleet of Boeing 777-F production freighters, we have already been able to scale our global freighter network from just over 40 destinations in February this year to 62 destinations currently and growing.
“We are providing our global customers with scalable cargo capacity and ultimate flexibility and connectivity when moving cargo to and through our hub in Dubai,” Abbas added.
