Why Lufthansa’s Brussels Airlines direct flight to TZ is a strategic bridge for EU–EAC economic, diplomatic ties

The recent launch of Brussels Airlines' direct flights to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, signifies a crucial legal and economic development, operationalised by a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Belgium and Tanzania. This new air link is poised to strengthen economic, tourism, and diplomatic ties between the European Union (EU) and the East African Community (EAC). While the EU and EAC have a complex history with the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), this direct aviation route leverages existing frameworks like the EAC Common Market Protocol and Tanzania's investment laws to facilitate trade, investment, and the movement of people. The development underscores the intricate interplay of international aviation law, trade agreements, and national investment policies in fostering cross-continental integration, despite ongoing challenges in regional trade liberalisation and aviation safety oversight.

This development comes at a time when both the EU and the EAC are actively seeking to deepen economic and diplomatic engagements, albeit through varied and sometimes complex legal pathways. The direct flight is expected to streamline the movement of goods, services, capital, and people, thereby boosting economic activities and fostering closer diplomatic relations. This article will delve into the legal frameworks that underpin this strategic connection, examining how international aviation agreements, regional integration protocols, and national investment laws converge to facilitate such cross-continental linkages and their broader implications for legal practitioners.

Beyond aviation, the broader economic and diplomatic ties are shaped by several legal instruments. The East African Community (EAC) operates under the EAC Common Market Protocol, which entered into force in July 2010, aiming to establish a single market with the free movement of goods, labour, services, and capital among its member states, including Tanzania. This protocol is crucial for facilitating regional trade and investment. Concurrently, the EU has pursued an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EAC, with negotiations finalised in 2014. While a comprehensive EU-EAC EPA has faced ratification challenges, Kenya has proceeded with a bilateral EPA with the EU, which entered into force in July 2024, and is open for other EAC countries to join. Tanzania's investment landscape is governed by the Tanzania Investment Act No. 10 of 2022, which offers favourable conditions for investors, including provisions for dispute resolution through international arbitration, thereby providing a legal safety net for foreign direct investment.

From an investment perspective, the direct flight significantly reduces logistical barriers for European investors eyeing opportunities in Tanzania. The Tanzania Investment Act No. 10 of 2022, with its provisions for investor incentives and access to international arbitration, provides a relatively stable legal environment for foreign capital. This legal certainty, coupled with improved accessibility, can attract more European businesses, particularly in sectors like tourism, agriculture, and mining, which are key to Tanzania's economy. The flight also indirectly supports the legal services sector by increasing demand for advice on cross-border transactions, intellectual property, labour law, and dispute resolution, as economic activity intensifies.

Looking ahead, practitioners should monitor developments in regional aviation safety harmonisation within Africa, particularly concerning the EU Air Safety List, as this could impact future airline operations and partnerships. Furthermore, the potential for other EAC member states to join the bilateral EU-Kenya EPA, or for a comprehensive regional EPA to eventually materialise, will significantly shape the legal landscape for trade and investment. This new air link, therefore, serves not only as a physical bridge but also as a catalyst for further legal and economic integration, demanding proactive legal counsel to navigate its opportunities and challenges.