TOP INTERVIEWS INTERVIEW WITH SAADA JUMA THE BRITISH AIRWAYS COUNTRY MANAGER FOR TANZANIA 1. Can you give some background information on the History of British Airways in Tanzania and the airline's contribution to the development of Tanzania. A: In the 1930's, Imperial Airways, a predecessor airline of British Airways, was responsible for air links between England and Tanganyika. In February 1931 the first flight left England for Mwanza, the temporary terminus. The flight took ten days compared with more than twenty by boat. Adventurous passengers embarking on the journey set out from Croydon Airport for Paris in a Handley Page "Heracles". The leg from Paris to Brindisi was covered by train because of difficulties concerning flying rights over Italy. Short "Scipio" flying boats were used for the trip from Brindisi to Alexandria which was followed by another train journey to Cairo. Armstrong Whitworth "Argosy aircraft" carried the passengers to Khartoum where they changed to Short "Calcutta" flying boats which flew to Kisumu in Kenya and Mwanza in Tanganyika. The journey time was reduced from ten to three days following the introduction of the Empire class flying boats in 1937. These aircraft covered the complete route from start to finish. Flying was limited to daylight hours and passengers were treated to three night stops in comfortable hotels. World War Two disrupted communications and full scale passenger services to East Africa were resumed by British Overseas Airways Corporation in November 1945. B.O.A.C subsequently merged with British European Airways to become British Airways. York aircraft provided the link between East Africa and England until 1949 when Solent flying boats were introduced and served the route for two years. Flying boats were replaced in September 1950 by Hermes four-engined pressurised aircraft. Later BOAC introduced Britannia Aircraft before switching to Comets making the East African route one of the first to be served by jet aircraft. Although the Comets were among the most modern aircraft in their day, they still required several refuelling stops. Services between Dar es Salaam and London continued to be shared with Nairobi until 3rd April this year when direct non-stop flights were introduced between Dar es Salaam and Heathrow. Since the introduction of British Airways services between England and Tanzania, the airline has contributed to the growth of trade and tourism. The introduction of direct non-stop flights between Dar es Salaam and London Heathrow from April 2002 has made Tanzania a more attractive holiday destination. The Boeing 767 aircraft which serve the route have 176 seats and passengers have the choice of First, Club World (Business) and World Traveller (Economy) cabins. The direct flights also raise the cargo capacity for Tanzania exports. 2. How much cargo does British Airways carry between Dar es Salaam and London? A: British Airways World Cargo offers up to ten tones of cargo space on each of the three weekly flights. A General Sales Agent (GSA) will be appointed to promote airfreighting exports to London and other destinations. Using the transhipment process through "Ascentis", the British Airways World Cargo facility at London Heathrow, the largest and most modern Air-freight centre within the UK, there is direct access into the UK and European markets on the same day the aircraft arrives. This also enables next day connections to nearly all U.S. destinations and the rest of the airline's network. 3. What feedback are you receiving from your passengers on the Dar es Salaam to London route? A: The introduction of direct non-stop flights in April this year has been received with enthusiasm. This is mainly due to the elimination of the transit stop in Nairobi which has reduced the flight time by two hours. British Airways now offers the fastest and most convenient service between Dar es Salaam and London which is the prime destination in Europe for air travellers from Tanzania. We receive favourable comments on Heathrow Airport. Our flights are based on Terminal 4 at London Heathrow which is a very popular airport. Tanzanians receive a special welcome from the African Visitors Service whose members include Swahili speakers. Passengers are guided through the airport formalities and are helped with their onward travel. Our flights arrive at Heathrow Airport in the afternoon which suits passengers with onward connections to Europe and the United States. The timing is ideal for travellers whose journey ends in England. They use the Heathrow Express train service, the Underground or buses to reach Central London. The Heathrow Express train service leaves the airport every 15 minutes for Paddington Station. The check-in facility at Paddington is widely used by passengers during their last day in London. After obtaining their boarding cards, they are free to spend their time shopping, sightseeing or conducting business before leaving for Heathrow and their return flight to Dar es Salaam. 4. Airlines flying to Tanzania offer similar services. What are the competitive advantages of British Airways? A: As London is the key destination for the Tanzanian market British Airways has the advantage of providing the fastest flights to London. Direct non-stop services are far more restful because passengers are saved the time and hassle of connecting with other flights. The facilities at Terminal 4 are excellent. First and Club World passengers and British Airways Executive Club members have the use of arrival lounges. These enable passengers to take a shower, have their clothes pressed and eat breakfast before attending meetings. Business executives, diplomats and government officials who travel frequently like the extensive British Airways network. Our airline serves over 200 destinations. Together with our oneworld partner we offer flights over 550 destinations with over 8600 departures each day. 5. How does British Airways view the future development of Tanzania? A: The introduction of direct non-stop flights between Dar es Salaam and London Heathrow was made in response to the growing importance of Tanzania as a business and holiday destination. The government of Tanzania is striving to promote the country as an attractive long-haul holiday destination. We are working hand in hand with the government to raise the number of holidaymakers through our worldwide computerised booking network and our offices in 92 countries. We have seen steady growth in our passenger loads especially from Britain and North America. 6. What about your staff in Dar es Salaam? How many are Tanzanian citizens? A: We have 13 staff in Dar es Salaam of whom ten work in the town office and three at the airport. The whole team including myself are Tanzanians. We are fully conversant with the local market and understand the preferences of our passengers. Thanks to a continuous training programme, we are fully in touch with the latest developments in the airline industry. The staff regularly attend overseas courses and I have worked as an expatriate in England for 3 years. 7. Is it the policy for British Airways to appoint local staff to manage overseas country offices? A: British Airways fills positions with employees who have the necessary experience and qualifications. The airline is a truly international organisation with staff drawn from all over the world. ©World INvestment NEws, 2002. Developed by WINNE