Mbonea Israel

Although the air traffic in Europe is back to normal since April 23, the Icelandic volcano ashes that spewed in the European skies since last week have left one of the main airline linking Tanzania with European cities -Swiss International Air Lines with a big loss. Speaking to East African Business Week in Dar es Salaam, last week, the Swiss International Air Lines Ltd's Country Manager in Tanzania, Ines Braendle, said the loss is also due to the cancellation of flights and international meetings in different parts of Europe, United States among other places. Braendle, added that the financial effect is not yet clear since it is estimated of some US$5-6 million per day.

"We have encountered a huge loss due to the cancellation of flights and meetings in Europe, USA and elsewhere, but I can not disclose the loss," she stated. Explaining the operational effects that was caused by the volcanic ash ban, she said three Swiss flights were canceled in the nation's commercial city, Dar es Salaam. This is making a total of 1,885 Swiss flights that were cancelled worldwide.

To that effect, a total of about 200 hundred passengers in Dar es Salaam were unable to take their flights as planned between April 15-21. A total number of passengers worldwide who were unable to fly as planned between that period is 202, 184.

According to her, the airline paid one day hotel for all its 200 passengers, an offer that covers accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"We paid hotels for some of our travelers but others paid for themselves. If it is due to the weather it's not our faults then we are not obliged to pay for it," she stated.

She said: Some 2, 268 litres of water were distributed to customers between April 16-19. A further 4,800 chocolate croissants, 100 kilos of fruit and 12 500 Swiss chocolates were handed out to travelers."

Moreover, she said that up to 17 000 SMS text messages were sent to Swiss customers daily informing them of the latest status of their flights. Swiss also posted around 32 updates via Facebook and Twitter.

Braendle said since the cancellation of the flights the travelers stayed in Dar es Salaam for five days.

While a total of 24 crews were stranded in Dar es Salaam, 53 crews were stationed outside Switzerland as a result of the airspace closures.

Swiss International Air Lines country manager said that the last passengers in Dar es Salaam that impacted by the cancellation of Swiss flights due to volcanic ash were expected to move on Wednesday last week. Many of them were unable to fly because the flight was full booked. Kenya Airways country manager Emmanuel Chepkong'a said the airline had canceled 28 flights until Monday last week. The airline operates a minimum of three flights daily to and from Dar es Salaam.

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) Director of Economics and Regulation, Fadhili Manongi, has recently confirmed that nine intercontinental aircraft have been grounded at the airport for the same reason. As a result, Manongi explained that Tanzanian airports have lost revenue taxes paid by airlines, aviation fuel suppliers and air catering companies.