The Government of Tanzania has officially announced that Msalato International Airport will begin its operations in September 2026. This historic opening comes exactly four years after the massive infrastructure project was initially launched.
The multi-million dollar facility is located in the national capital city of Dodoma. Once fully operational, it will officially become the Msalato International Airport largest in land area across the entire East African region. Therefore, this major development highlights the strategic efforts of the government to completely transform the aviation transport sector.
The ambitious project will cost more than $330 million upon final completion. The mega airport spans a massive total area of 4,500 hectares of land. Consequently, it will surpass Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya, which currently occupies 4,000 hectares. It will also be significantly larger than Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere International Airport, which sits on 1,000 hectares.
This vast space ensures that the capital city has enough room for long-term transport expansion over the coming decades.
READ ALSO: President Kagame and Shirley Botchwey Discuss Rwanda–Commonwealth Cooperation
Strategic Design to Support the Growing National Capital
However, the public must understand that the facility is not designed to handle the highest number of passengers in the country. It is primarily built to serve the administrative capital by making travel to the city much easier.
Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam will still hold the highest passenger capacity, handling eight million travelers annually. In contrast, the new facility in Dodoma is built to comfortably handle 1.5 million passengers every year.
Tanzania’s Minister of Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, shared these detailed updates after conducting a personal inspection tour of the construction site. He happily indicated that workers have already completed most of the key infrastructure components.
This completed work includes the main 3.6-kilometre runway and the spacious aircraft parking areas. Deputy Minister for Works Godfrey Kasekenya also accompanied the finance minister during this important site visit.
READ ALSO: GLOBAL: Oil Prices Drop by 4%
Funding Partnerships and Future Economic Impact
The strategic project started in 2022 through a successful development partnership. The initiative brought together the Government of Tanzania, the African Development Bank, and the Africa Growing Together Fund. Together, these organizations aimed to provide Dodoma with a highly modern facility.
This infrastructure is necessary to accommodate growing government activities, rapid economic development, and an increasing population. The capital city continues to experience a massive influx of residents and international diplomats.
The first phase of construction covers the core runway infrastructure and has successfully reached 86.73% completion. Meanwhile, the second phase includes the passenger terminals, a 56.2-metre air traffic control tower, and the emergency fire station.
This second phase has currently reached 75.1% completion. Amb. Omar noted that the finished facility will greatly increase domestic and international trade. Ultimately, it will attract new investments and strengthen Tanzania’s growing influence in the regional aviation sector.
READ ALSO: United States and Iran Agree to Ceasefire Agreement
