British Airways will resume Tanzania flights in May 2027, connecting London Gatwick with Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar for safari and beach holidays. The launch restores the country to BA’s network 15 years after it withdrew in 2012.
British Airways Tanzania flights shift beyond Dar es Salaam
BA’s former service reached Dar es Salaam, while the returning route focuses on two of the country’s main leisure areas.
Kilimanjaro provides access to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit, including Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara. Zanzibar adds a coastal stay centred on beaches and coral reefs.
The combination is designed for holidaymakers who want to include a safari and an Indian Ocean island in one journey. It also gives travellers a London link that does not require an overseas flight connection before reaching Tanzania.
The Zanzibar journey includes an intermediate stop
Passengers bound for Zanzibar will travel via Kilimanjaro rather than flying nonstop from London.
The service will leave Gatwick on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, flying first to Kilimanjaro and then continuing to Zanzibar. A direct service can include a scheduled stop, while a nonstop flight cannot, so Zanzibar passengers should account for the intermediate call when comparing itineraries.
British Airways has announced the launch month but not the precise first operating date. Flight times and fares have also not been disclosed.
Seven other long-haul changes reshape the 2027 schedule
BA’s accompanying plan adjusts services across South America, Central America, Africa, North America and the Caribbean.
| Route or destination | Planned change |
|---|---|
| London Heathrow–Buenos Aires | Nonstop service returns after several years of operating as an onward extension from Rio de Janeiro. |
| London Heathrow–Rio de Janeiro | The attached Buenos Aires sector ends, leaving more capacity for passengers travelling to Rio. |
| London Heathrow–Santiago de Chile | The nonstop flight ends and Santiago becomes an onward extension from Buenos Aires. |
| London Heathrow–San José, Costa Rica | The new route will operate throughout the year instead of only during the summer season. |
| London Heathrow–Cape Town | Service rises from seven to 10 flights a week during the Northern Hemisphere summer. |
| London Heathrow–Las Vegas | The schedule increases by one weekly flight, producing a twice-daily service. |
| London Gatwick–Barbados | The service launching in October becomes year-round and supports onward flights to Grenada, Guyana and Tobago. |
Fleet pressures keep the expansion measured
British Airways still faces limits on how quickly it can add long-haul routes because of aircraft availability and engine problems.
The airline retired its Boeing 747 fleet earlier than planned during the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the number of widebody aircraft available when long-haul demand recovered. Delays to replacement aircraft then made it harder to rebuild capacity.
Continuing issues with Rolls-Royce engines on Boeing 787 Dreamliners have added another constraint. Deliveries of delayed 787s are beginning to improve, while BA also has 24 Boeing 777X aircraft on order.
These pressures help explain why the latest programme combines a limited number of new routes with schedule changes intended to make better use of the existing fleet.
Travellers should watch for the exact launch date
The key next update will be the precise first operating date, followed by the full timetable and fares.
Travellers considering a combined safari and beach trip should compare the published operating days with lodge, tour and hotel plans before committing to separate arrangements. Those heading only to Zanzibar should also compare total journey times because the BA itinerary includes the Kilimanjaro stop.
Passengers affected by the wider network changes should check whether their journey remains nonstop. This is particularly important for Santiago, which will be reached through Buenos Aires, and for Buenos Aires travellers who will regain a nonstop Heathrow flight.
