Dubai-based flydubai has announced the start of flights to Kilimanjaro from October 29th this year.

The re-launched service to the carrier’s third point in Tanzania, along with Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, will see flydubai’s network in Africa expand to 12 destinations.

flydubai began operations to Tanzania in 2014 and has seen a steady growth in passenger numbers.

Kilimanjaro will be served with six flights a week three of which are via a stop in the capital, Dar es Salaam.

In addition, the carrier will increase direct flights to Zanzibar from three to eight flights a week.

Commenting on the launch of flights, Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive, flydubai, said: “With the addition of the service to Kilimanjaro and more direct flights to Zanzibar, flydubai will operate 14 flights a week, marking a 133 per cent increase in capacity to the market compared to the previous year.

“This is a healthy indication of the rising popularity of Tanzania as a preferred tourist destination and we are happy to be connecting the market to Dubai.”

Kilimanjaro International Airport is located between the regions of Kilimanjaro and Arusha in Northern Tanzania.

The airport is the major gateway to the Kilimanjaro region, a main international tourism destination that includes Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park.

Only a few international carriers operate to Kilimanjaro and flydubai will be the first airline to provide direct air links from the UAE.

flydubai has seen a 3.5 per cent increase in passengers numbers travelling between the UAE and Africa in 2016 compared to 2015, a positive record for this emerging market.