Tanzania's aviation sector has received recognition in Africa with two of its major airports, Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) and Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), winning three awards from the Airports Council International Africa (ACI Africa). The awards were received by the Commercial and Development Director of the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA), Mzee Kilele, on behalf of the TAA's Director General, Abdul Mombokaleo, at the 35th ACI Africa Annual Conference in Abuja, Nigeria.
JNIA won two awards, including the Runner-Up of Passenger Facilitation and Readiness Excellence Awards 2026 in the Governance Category and the Innovation & Transformation Category for airports serving between 2 and 5 million passengers per year. KIA, on the other hand, emerged as the winner of the Passenger Facilitation and Readiness Excellence Awards 2026 in the Stakeholder Engagement category for airports serving less than 2 million passengers per year.
The awards ceremony took place during the 35th ACI Africa Annual Conference, which began on September 19 and is expected to conclude on September 25, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria. The conference has the theme "Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience," focusing on improving performance, innovation, technology adoption, and resilience of airports in Africa.
Upon receiving the awards, Mzee Kilele stated that the recognition is a testament to the efforts made by TAA to improve services, enhance stakeholder engagement, and create a conducive environment for business and operational growth in Tanzanian airports. He emphasized that the awards are a result of the collaborative work between TAA and stakeholders.
Kilele further mentioned that TAA will continue to capitalize on various business and innovation opportunities in the aviation sector to increase the competitiveness of Tanzanian airports and make them meet the demands of passengers, airlines, and other sector stakeholders. The success of JNIA and KIA adds to Tanzania's visibility in Africa's aviation sector.
The Tanzanian government's ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure, services, and the business environment in airports nationwide are complemented by the achievements of JNIA and KIA. The awards signify the positive impact of these efforts and the potential for further growth and development in the country's aviation sector.
The recognition of Tanzanian airports by ACI Africa highlights the country's progress in providing quality airport services and its commitment to enhancing the overall passenger experience. The awards will serve as motivation for TAA to continue striving for excellence and innovation in airport management and operations.
Key points
- Tanzania's Julius Nyerere and Kilimanjaro airports win three prestigious awards from ACI Africa.
- The awards recognize the airports' excellence in passenger facilitation, governance, innovation, and stakeholder engagement.
- The recognition is expected to boost Tanzania's visibility and competitiveness in Africa's aviation sector.
