The Tanzanian government is seeking partnerships from the private sector to help finance the expansion and modernisation of airports.

Tanzania’s Works and Transport Minister, Makame Mbarawa, said most of the country’s airports required upgrading to handle the influx of traffic and bigger aircraft.

Modernisation of the facilities, he added, would ensure that the airports offered quality service to local and international travellers.

Speaking during a National Civil Aviation Forum this week, Mbarawa said that through public-private partnership, the country could achieve its goal of expanding and modernising its airports.

Participants during the aviation forum included representatives from airlines such as Fastjet, Precision Air and Air Tanzania as well as officials from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority and Transport Ministry.

Mbarawa called on the private sector to work hand in hand with the government to help address challenges facing the aviation industry.

Shortage of pilots, trained cabin crew and technicians are among the issues raised by players in the aviation sector.

Airport projects being undertaken by the Tanzanian government include the construction of Terminal 3 at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

BAM International, a Dutch company, was awarded a $170 million contract for the design and construction of the first phase of the Terminal 3 in April 2013. The new terminal will be able to handle 3.5 million passengers a year.

Mbarawa said when the construction of the second phase of Terminal 3 was completed in September 2018, it would increase passenger capacity to six million a year.