Zanzibar Airports Authority

What Zanzibar Airports Authority does

Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) is a government statutory body established under Airport Authority Act No. 8 of 2011, operating with overall responsibility for government airport operations in the Zanzibar Archipelago. It is wholly owned by the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and headquartered on Kisauni Road, Zanzibar. ZAA operates two airports: Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) on Unguja Island, the primary international gateway with flights to East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and Pemba Airport on Pemba Island, which is being upgraded to international status.

ZAA's core service is airport infrastructure and operations, including air navigation aids (Zanzibar VOR-DME and non-directional beacon), real-time flight information systems for arrivals and departures, passenger processing, and cargo handling. Internal administrative systems include ERMS for employee resource management, E-OFFICE for document workflows, ZANMALIPO for billing, and the Zanzibar Government Mailing System (GMS) for official communications. The authority does not publicly disclose pricing for airport services, as fees are regulated under its statutory mandate.

ZAA's revenue is generated from airport fees and charges (landing fees, passenger service charges, and other aviation-related fees from airlines) supplemented by government operational support. Its customer base comprises over 30 international airlines including Etihad Airways, Air France, Discover Airlines, World2fly, TUI, FLYONE, and Airlink, alongside passengers, travelers, and the broader tourism industry. Distribution is direct through airport facilities, with no traditional commercial sales channels. The authority markets its services primarily through its official website, social media, and through hosting industry events such as the AVIADEV Aviation Development Conference.

Name

Zanzibar Airports Authority

Legal name

Zanzibar Airports Authority

Website

https://zaa.go.tz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Zanzibar Airports Authority is a Tanzanian government statutory body operating Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and Pemba Airport, providing airport infrastructure, navigation, and flight services to 30+ international airlines and travelers connecting East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations and Aviation Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

Keywords

• Airport operations services
• Aviation infrastructure management
• Government airport authority
• Passenger handling services
• Aviation navigation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Zanzibar

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Airport Fees and Charges: Revenue generated from airport operations including landing fees, passenger service charges, and other aviation-related fees from airlines using Zanzibar airports.
2. Government Funding: Statutory body under the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, established by Airport Authority Act No. 8 of 2011, receiving government operational support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Zanzibar Airports Authority is a national statutory body that operates two government airports — Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) on Unguja Island and Pemba Airport on Pemba Island — providing airport operations, passenger and cargo handling, navigation aids (VOR-DME and NDB), real-time flight information (arrivals and departures), and related aviation services to airlines, passengers, and tourism stakeholders in Zanzibar.

Product overview

Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) is a statutory body established under Airport Authority Act No. 8 of 2011, operating two airports: Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) on Unguja Island and Pemba Airport on Pemba Island. The core services include airport operations, flight information systems providing real-time arrivals and departures, and passenger/tourism services. The authority also maintains internal administrative systems including ERMS for employee management, E-OFFICE for document workflows, ZANMALIPO for billing, and GMS for government email communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) The main international airport in the Zanzibar Archipelago, located on Unguja Island approximately 5 kilometres south of Zanzibar City. It offers flights to East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, leads East Africa with 62,393+ flights per year, and serves over 30 international airlines. Previously known as Kisauni Airport and Zanzibar International Airport.
• Pemba Airport The second major airport operated by Zanzibar Airports Authority, located on Pemba Island. The airport is currently undergoing international airport development construction to expand capacity and international readiness.
• Flight Information System (Arrivals and Departures) Public real-time flight tracking system providing arrival and departure schedules, flight status updates, and gate information for all flights at Zanzibar airports, available to airlines, passengers, and ground handlers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Passenger traffic increased from 840,599 (2020) to 1,909,459 (2023) - 127% growth
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zanzibar Tourism Commission (ZCT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2024Joint hosting partnership for the AVIADEV Aviation Development Conference. Both ZAA and ZCT were handed the baton to host the conference expected to take place in June 2025, aiming to improve aviation industry services and promote tourism attractions in Africa.
• 46 International AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 46 airlines represented at AVIADEV 2025 conference in Zanzibar, demonstrating extensive international aviation partnerships serving the destination.
• 10+ Tourism BoardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple tourism boards participated in AVIADEV 2025, representing various destinations and supporting aviation-tourism collaboration.
• Tanzania Civil Aviation AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment regulatory body providing oversight and collaboration on civil aviation matters in Tanzania.
• Etihad AirwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational airline operating 4 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Zanzibar, returned after 2+ year suspension with increased frequency.
• Air FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational airline operating 3 weekly direct flights from Paris-CDG to Zanzibar, returned in May 2025 after seasonal suspension.
• AirlinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional airline operating 2 weekly direct flights between Johannesburg and Zanzibar using Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, launched June 2026.
• TUIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational leisure airline welcomed to the travel and tourism roster, serving the growing leisure travel market to Zanzibar.
• FLYONEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivately owned Moldovan low-cost airline headquartered in Chișinău, operating 3 times per month to Zanzibar.
• World2flycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish airline operating weekly direct flights from Madrid to Zanzibar since June 2024, bringing over 400 tourists on inaugural flight.
• Discover AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman airline operating 4 weekly flights from Frankfurt to Zanzibar, increased from 2 weekly flights.
• Bul AirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBulgarian airline operating Airbus A320 flights from Sofia with 180 passengers, operating 3 times per month.
• Safina Tours and TravelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal travel agency that organized the inaugural World2fly Madrid-Zanzibar route launch, facilitating Southern European tourism.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Airports Company South Africa (ACSA): State-owned operator of South Africa's major airports including OR Tambo and Cape Town. Comparable as an African state-linked airport authority managing high-volume international gateways and tourism-driven routes.
• Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA): Tanzania's mainland airport authority operating major gateways including Julius Nyerere (Dar es Salaam) and Kilimanjaro. Closest functional peer as a domestic government airport operator sharing regulatory context with ZAA.
• Kenya Airports Authority (KAA): Operates Jomo Kenyatta International and other Kenyan airports. Regional peer running a state-owned, multi-airport network serving East African tourism and transit traffic in the same geography as Zanzibar.

Broad incumbents

• Airports Authority of India (AAI): India's national airport operator managing 100+ airports including major international gateways. Comparable as a large state-owned multi-airport authority with tourism and regional connectivity mandates.
• Groupe ADP (Aéroports de Paris): Operates Paris-CDG, Paris-Orly and holds international airport concessions (including TAV Airports). Comparable as a listed airport operator with European tourism and intercontinental route mix similar to ZAA's.
• Fraport AG: Operates Frankfurt Airport and holds stakes in airports globally including Antalya and Lima. Comparable as a global airport operator leveraging tourism and intercontinental route portfolios similar to Zanzibar's.
• Dubai Airports: Operates Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International. Comparable as a tourism-and-business gateway operator with strong Middle East/Europe/East Africa route overlap with ZAA's network.

Regional players

• Uganda Civil Aviation Authority: Operates Entebbe International Airport and regional airfields in Uganda. East African peer managing a tourism-and-business gateway with similar government-operator structure.
• Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos: Operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), it is West Africa's largest airport. Comparable as an African government-operated international gateway with intercontinental tourism and business traffic.
• Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA): Operates Seychelles International Airport, a small island tourism gateway. Strong functional comparator as a state-owned operator of a single-island tourism airport with similar European carrier mix and traffic scale to ZAA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@zaazanzibar
• Xx.com/zaazanzibar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zanzibar-airports-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Zanzibar Airports Authority