French aircraft maker Toulouse relocating to Dar
2008-03-22 09:46:56
By Edwin Agola
Toulouse, the Southern France-based regional aircraft manufacturer ATR is keen to establish an assembly line in Tanzania to cater for Africa.
Toulouse is the world leader in the 50 to 70-seat turboprop market.
Michael Shirima, the chairman of the Precision Air airline revealed about this move early this week during ceremony to inaugurate the new ATR 72-500 at Julius K. Nyerere International Airport terminal 2.
ATR president, Stephane Mayer underlined that the vast presence of the ATRs in Africa.
Operating in some twenty countries over last two years, it has sold almost thirty new aircraft to African carriers, a success that confirms the growth of the regional network across the continent.
Tanzania is considered ideal location for the assembly plant because Precision Air has already acquired ATRs, planes that are said to have ability to operate in various African environments, with ease of maintenance.
Precision Air Services has taken delivery of the first ATR 500 series, thus launching the modernisation of the turboprop fleet with the most efficient, reliable and advanced planes.
The Citibank Tanzania Limited mediated the deal by facilitating availability of funds from Europe, airlines CEO Alphonse Kioko said.
Minister of infrastructure development Andrew Chenge said the government was committed to providing safe air transport, partly through carrying out massive repairs and upgrading of airport facilities.
The ministry has already secured Euros 25m for implementing the second phase of developing Julius Nyerere International Airport effective next month.
We have secured a loan from world Bank to tarmac airstrips in seven airports, namely Arusha, Mafia, Bukoba, Shinyanga, Tabora, Kigoma and Sumbawanga. Works are well on course, he said.
SOURCE: Guardian