MSALATO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN DODOMA SET TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS IN SEPTEMBER 2026
The Government of Tanzania has announced that the Msalato International Airport in Dodoma is expected to be completed and become operational by September 2026, a development that will significantly strengthen air transport services and enhance the status of Dodoma as the nation’s capital city.
Speaking during an inspection visit to assess the progress of the project, the Minister for Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar (MP), said that construction has reached its final stages, with major infrastructure components, including the runway and aircraft parking aprons, substantially completed.
Ambassador Omar explained that the project commenced in 2022 through a partnership between the Government of Tanzania, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), with the objective of developing a modern international airport capable of meeting the growing demands of the country’s capital.
“Dodoma is the capital city of Tanzania, and it is therefore essential to have a modern airport that can adequately support the increasing economic, governmental, and social activities taking place here,” he said.
According to the project implementation report presented by technical experts, the first phase of the project, which focuses on core airport infrastructure, has reached 86.73 percent completion, while the second phase, involving key facilities such as the passenger terminal, air traffic control tower, and fire and rescue station, has achieved 75.1 percent completion.
Ambassador Omar noted that the airport will be among the largest in Tanzania, featuring a 3.6-kilometre runway with a width of 60 metres, as well as extensive aircraft parking facilities capable of accommodating multiple aircraft simultaneously.
He added that once completed, the airport will further open up Dodoma to both domestic and international air services, enhance the city’s attractiveness to investors, and strengthen Tanzania’s position within the East African aviation sector. The passenger terminal is designed to handle up to 1.5 million passengers annually, significantly increasing Dodoma’s capacity to receive domestic and international visitors while contributing to economic growth.
The project also includes the construction of a 56.2-metre air traffic control tower, an international-standard fire and rescue facility, power generation infrastructure, and a modern meteorological building equipped with advanced aviation management systems.
Speaking during the visit, the Deputy Minister for Works, Godfrey Kasekenya (MP), described the Msalato International Airport as one of Tanzania’s flagship strategic infrastructure projects being implemented under the leadership of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan.
He said the airport has been designed with a long-term development perspective, allowing for future expansion in line with the growth of air transport demand in Tanzania.
“This airport has been built to modern international standards and is expected to become one of the most advanced airports in the country once it begins operations,” said Mr. Kasekenya.
He emphasized the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the remaining works are completed on schedule so that airport operations can commence as planned in September 2026. He added that the project forms part of broader national efforts to strengthen transport infrastructure and stimulate economic growth through strategic investments.
During the inspection tour, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar was accompanied by Deputy Ministers Engineer Mshamu Ali Munde (MP) and Laurent Luswetula, the Permanent Secretary and Paymaster General at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Natu El-Maamry Mwamba, Deputy Permanent Secretary Nsubili Joshua, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary and Commissioner for External Finance Rished Bade, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works Ambassador Engineer Aisha Amour, as well as technical experts from the Ministries of Finance and Works, including representatives from the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS).
