Precision Air

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Tanzanian airline based in Dar es Salaam

title: "Precision Air" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["airlines-of-tanzania", "airlines-established-in-1991", "1991-establishments-in-tanzania", "tanzanian-brands", "airlines-banned-in-the-european-union"] description: "Tanzanian airline based in Dar es Salaam" topic_path: "general/airlines-of-tanzania" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_Air" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Tanzanian airline based in Dar es Salaam ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox airline"]

FieldValue
airlinePrecision Air
logoPrecision Air logo.svg
IATAPW
ICAOPRF
callsignPRECISION AIR
founded1991
commencedNovember 1993
aocTCAA/AOC/003
hubsDar es Salaam
secondary_hubsKilimanjaro{{cite news
urlhttps://www.ch-aviation.com/news/77769-tanzanias-precisionair-creates-a-mini-hub-at-kilimanjaro
frequent_flyerPAA Royal
fleet_size8
destinations13
traded_as
headquartersDar es Salaam, Tanzania
key_people{{plainlist
revenueTSh 117,756 million (US$50 million) (FY 2022)
profitTSh −30,139 million (US$−12.8 million) (FY 2022)
num_employees393 (2022)
website
::

| airline = Precision Air | logo = Precision Air logo.svg | IATA = PW | ICAO = PRF | callsign = PRECISION AIR | founded = 1991 | commenced = November 1993 | aoc = TCAA/AOC/003 | hubs = Dar es Salaam | secondary_hubs = Kilimanjaro{{cite news |last= |first= |date=3 May 2019 |title=Tanzania's PrecisionAir creates a mini-hub at Kilimanjaro |url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/77769-tanzanias-precisionair-creates-a-mini-hub-at-kilimanjaro |work=ch-aviation |location= |access-date=24 March 2024}} | frequent_flyer = PAA Royal | alliance = | subsidiaries = | fleet_size = 8 | destinations = 13 | parent = | traded_as = | headquarters = Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | key_people = {{plainlist|

  • Allan Kilavuka (Chairperson)
  • Patrick Mwanri (CEO) | revenue = TSh 117,756 million (US$50 million) (FY 2022) | profit = TSh −30,139 million (US$−12.8 million) (FY 2022) | assets = | equity = | num_employees = 393 (2022) | website = | notes =

Precision Air Services Plc (operating as Precision Air; DSE:PAL) is a Tanzanian airline based at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. The airline operates scheduled passenger services to Nairobi and Comoros; and to various airports and airstrips in Tanzania. Kenya Airways owns 41.23% of the airline, and is a component company of the Tanzania All Share Index.

It is currently banned from flying into the EU

History

Precision Air was incorporated in Tanzania in January 1991 as a private airline and started operations in 1993. At first, it operated as a private charter air transport company but in November 1993 changed to offer scheduled services to serve the growing tourist market. It introduced a 737-300 courtesy of Kenya Airways in 1999.

In 2006, Precision Air became the first Tanzanian airline to pass the IATA Operational Safety Audit.

In April 2011, the airline became a public company.

Corporate affairs

Ownership

Precision Air was privately owned until 2003, when Kenya Airways acquired a 49 percent stake, paying US$2 million, weeks after its rival South African Airways acquired a 49 percent stake in Air Tanzania for US$20 million. The remaining 51 percent was retained by Michael Shirima, the founder of the airline.

In October 2011, Precision Air floated shares in its stock in an initial public offering on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, after which Shirima's and Kenya Airways's stakes declined and the new share subscribers owned 15.86 percent. As of 31 March 2016, the major shareholders were:

::data[format=table]

NameNo. of SharesInterest
Michael Shirima68,857,65042.91%
Kenya Airways66,157,35041.23%
Precision Air Employee Share Option Scheme1,765,3001.10%
Other shareholders23,689,50014.76%
Total160,469,800100.00%
::

Business trends

Because it was a private company until 2011, published figures were not generally available before the initial public offering prospectus of 12 September 2011. Since then, full Annual Reports and Accounts have been published. (, however, those for 2019 and 2020 are still awaited.)

Available trends over recent years for the Precision Air group (Precision Air Services Plc and its subsidiaries Precision Handling Limited and Precise Systems Limited) (as at year ending 31 March) are:

::data[format=table]

200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019405481527
Turnover (TSh million)57,98884,34492,493113,606163,061181,358141,262105,40090,75179,75697,108
Profits (PBT) (TSh million)5,6712,8181,9242,1591,841
Number of employees576657704717608536509436356
Number of passengers ('000)465538667825896688452375409474
Passenger load factor (%)6458626559525255
Number of aircraft (at year end)101011121010101010
Notes/sourcestitle=Directors Report and Financial Statements 31 March 2013date=31 August 2013url=https://www.precisionairtz.com/files/Investor%20Relations/PAir%20Directors%20Report%202013%20grey%20fnlmail.pdfaccess-date=3 January 2014archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103181457/https://www.precisionairtz.com/files/Investor%20Relations/PAir%20Directors%20Report%202013%20grey%20fnlmail.pdfarchive-date=3 January 2014url-status=dead }}1="Super Brand Precision Air (PW) pleased with 2012/2013 performance", The Financial Junction, 17 April 2013}}2}}
::

Published reports in June 2013 indicated that Precision Air had encountered substantial financial difficulties, stemming in part from losses incurred while operating flights to and from Johannesburg, South Africa. Those flights ended in September 2012. The Citizen, a Tanzanian newspaper, reported in August 2013 that the airline "desperately" needed a US$32 million bailout package from the Tanzanian government or other non-shareholder sources. The airline's problems increased in 2011 when it received only US$7.4 million of the US$17.5 million in cash that the airline hoped to receive when first listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange. Increasing fuel prices, taxes, and levies plus currency fluctuations and the refusal of minority owner Kenya Airways to contribute capital had also hurt the airline.

Destinations

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Tanzania_-_Aerospatiale_ATR_42.jpg" caption="Precision Air [[ATR 42-300]] at [[Kilimanjaro International Airport]] in 2006."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/2010-09-14_11-08-42_Tanzania_Mwanza_Mwanza.jpg" caption="Precision Air [[Boeing 737-300]] at [[Mwanza Airport]] in 2010."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Precision_Air_ATR_72-212A.jpg" caption="Precision Air [[ATR 72-212A]] at [[Jomo Kenyatta International Airport]], [[Nairobi]], in 2012."] ::

As of , the airline serves the following destinations:

::data[format=table]

CountryCityAirportNotesRefs
ComorosAnjouanOuani Airport
MoroniPrince Said Ibrahim International Airport
Democratic Republic of CongoLubumbashiLubumbashi International Airport
KenyaMombasaMoi International Airport
NairobiJomo Kenyatta International Airport
South AfricaJohannesburgO. R. Tambo International Airport
TanzaniaArushaArusha Airport
BukobaBukoba Airport
Dar es SalaamJulius Nyerere International Airport
DodomaDodoma Airport
KahamaKahama Airstrip
Moshi / ArushaKilimanjaro International Airport
MbeyaSongwe Airport
MtwaraMtwara Airport
MwanzaMwanza Airport
Serengeti–SeroneraSeronera Airstrip
ZanzibarAbeid Amani Karume International Airport
UgandaEntebbeEntebbe International Airport
ZambiaLusakaKenneth Kaunda International Airport
::

Partnerships

Codeshare agreements

Precision Air has codeshare agreements with the following four airlines:

  1. Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi-Dar es Salaam)
  2. Kenya Airways (various routes)
  3. LAM Mozambique Airlines (Maputo–Nampula–Pemba–Dar es Salaam)
  4. RwandAir (Kigali–Kilimanjaro)

Interline agreements

In 2011, Precision Air entered into an interline agreement with Qatar Airways, allowing the latter's passengers to connect to other east African destinations such as Arusha and Zanzibar via Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airport. This agreement includes e-ticketing.

As of 23 December 2014, Precision Air also had 21 interline agreements for baggage and paper ticketing purposes with the following airlines:

  1. Air Seychelles (also e-ticketing)
  2. Alitalia
  3. British Airways (also e-ticketing)
  4. Egyptair
  5. Emirates
  6. Ethiopian Airlines (also e-ticketing)
  7. Etihad Airways
  8. Gulf Air
  9. Hahn Air (also e-ticketing)
  10. Heli Air Monaco
  11. Kenya Airways (also e-ticketing)
  12. KLM (also e-ticketing)
  13. LAM Mozambique Airlines (also e-ticketing)
  14. Oman Air
  15. RwandAir
  16. Saudia
  17. SN Brussels Airlines
  18. South African Airways (also e-ticketing)
  19. Swiss International Air Lines
  20. TAAG Angola Airlines (also e-ticketing)
  21. Virgin Atlantic (also e-ticketing)

Fleet

|align= right |direction= vertical |width= 200 |image1= |caption1= |image2=Precision_Air_ATR_42-600_(5H-PWH)at_Toulouse-Blagnac_Airport(LFBO).jpg |caption2= An ATR-42-600. |image3= ATR-72-500 Precision Air Services (PRF) F-WWEW - MSN 923 - Named Kilimandjaro - Will be 5H-PWG (5000147631).jpg |caption3= An ATR-72-500. |header= Fleet |header_align= center

Current fleet

, Precision Air operates the following aircraft:

::data[format=table title="Precision Air fleet"]

AircraftIn ServiceOrdersPassengersNotesCYTotalTotal80
ATR 42–5001—04848
ATR 42–6002—04848
ATR 72–5005—07070
::

Historical fleet

The airline has previously operated the following aircraft:

  1. ATR 42-320
  2. Boeing 737–300
  3. Bombardier Dash 8

Accidents and incidents

According to the Aviation Safety Network Precision Air has had seven accidents or incidents. One of those caused 19 fatalities.

  • 26 July 1999: A Let L-410UVP-E9, tail number 5H-PAB, made a belly landing at Arusha Airport on a training flight while doing a touch and go landing. The two crew and three passengers were not injured.
  • 16 November 2004: A Let L-410UVP-E20, tail number 5H-PAC, crash landed while on a training flight at Kilimanjaro Airport. The two pilots, who had not put on their shoulder straps, sustained facial injuries.
  • 8 July 2007: An ATR 72–212, tail number 5H-PAR, had a runway excursion on landing at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport runway 06. It veered to the right, went over a ditch, and came to a stop on Taxiway F. The nose wheel collapsed. The four crew and 62 passengers were not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The probable cause of this accident was power asymmetry during application of reverse thrust on landing. The control levers were jammed in one position.
  • On 13 December 2013, an ATR 42–600 (5H–PWI) made a safe landing at Arusha Airport after its four tires deflated upon landing. All 37 passengers and 4 crew were safe. The airline subsequently explained that higher braking forces, necessitated by the aircraft landing with a tailwind, caused the deflations.
  • 10 July 2014: An ATR 72–500, tail number 5H-PWA, was halfway to Dar es Salaam from Mwanza during normal cruise when the number 2 engine seized. This necessitated a diversion to Kilimanjaro International Airport. The aircraft touched down normally; however, after selecting ground idle (as per the captain's explanation), the aircraft veered to the left and exited the runway hitting one of the runway edge lights and proceeded to roll on the grass field parallel to runway 09 for approximately 180 meters before subsequently regaining the runway. No injuries were reported.
  • 9 December 2018 Flight PW 722 with 68 passengers from Nairobi to Mwanza via Kilimanjaro had multiple birdstrikes on approach, including on the wheels that caused difficulties on landing.
  • 6 November 2022: Precision Air Flight 494, an ATR 42-500 (5H-PWF) with 39 passengers and 4 crew crashed in Lake Victoria while landing at Bukoba Airport, Tanzania. There were 19 deaths. It was the first fatal accident in the airline's history. A Ministry of Transport report determined that the pilot attempted to land Bukoba in poor weather, against the advice of the first officer, instead of diverting to Mwanza.

References

References

  1. "JO 7340.2J – Contractions – Basic with Change 1, Change 2 & Change 3".
  2. (1 February 2013). "Precision Air enhances its operations from Mwanza".
  3. "PrecisionAir – Home".
  4. "The EU air safety list - European Commission".
  5. "Precision Air History". Precision Air.
  6. "Precision Air – Apg".
  7. (10 April 2007). "Directory: World Airlines". [[Flight International]].
  8. "Kenya Airways to buy 49% stake in Precision Air".
  9. "Precision Air gets Sh510 million IFC boost". Business Daily.
  10. (18 August 2016). "Precision Air Services P.L.C. Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015/2016".
  11. (12 September 2011). "Prospectus".
  12. (31 August 2013). "Directors Report and Financial Statements 31 March 2013".
  13. {{usurped
  14. "Directors' Report and Financial Statements 31 March 2013". Precision Air.
  15. "Directors' Report and Financial Statements 31 March 2014". Precision Air.
  16. "Despite bad financial performance Precision Air shares remain flat". Daily News.
  17. "Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2018". Precision Air.
  18. "AFRAA Annual Report 2020". [[AFRAA]].
  19. (8 January 2021). "Tanzania's Precision Air flies in detrimental business losses". sautikubwa.org.
  20. Thome, Wolfgang H. Thome. (11 June 2013). "Precision Air's financial troubles go into public domain". eTurboNews.
  21. (2017). "Airlineroute :: Routesonline". UBM (UK) Ltd..
  22. "Precision Air's Sh51bn bailout appeal to State".
  23. "Precision Air looks to other lenders after poor IPO show". The East African.
  24. "Destinations". Precision Air.
  25. (8 July 2023). "Precision Air discontinues FBM-LUN route".
  26. (10 October 2016). "How regional airlines are scrambling for Entebbe airport". Monitor.
  27. Jim Liu. (27 December 2016). "Etihad / Precision Air plans codeshare service from Jan 2017". [[Routes Online]].
  28. "Partners & Alliances". [[Kenya Airways]].
  29. (6 March 2012). "Precision Air enters into code share with Mozambique Airlines". Precision Air.
  30. "Partners and Alliances.". [[RwandAir]].
  31. (1 November 2011). "Qatar Airways and Precision Air announce partnership". [[Qatar Airways]].
  32. [http://www.expertflyer.com/air/travelInformation.do Travel Information, Expert Flyer, accessed 23 December 2014, subscription service]
  33. (September 2025). "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Precision Air".
  34. "Tanzania's Precision Air goes all prop after last 737 is withdrawn".
  35. "Accident record for Precision Air". [[Aviation Safety Network]].
  36. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident ATR 42–500 5H-PWF Bukoba Airport (BKZ)".
  37. "5H-PAB".
  38. "5H-PAC".
  39. "5H-PAR".
  40. ""Update: Precision ATR 42–600 Blew All Main Tires on Landing at Arusha on Dec 13 Resumed to Service", The Aviation Herald, 17 December 2013".
  41. "5H-PWA".
  42. "Precision wafafanua ndege yao kuvamiwa na kunguru angani – Dar24".
  43. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident ATR 42–500 5H-PWF Bukoba Airport (BKZ)".
  44. "FINAL REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT TO ATR 42-500 AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION 5H-PWF WHICH OCCURRED ON 6 NOVEMBER 2022 IN LAKE VICTORIA NEAR BUKOBA AIRPORT". Ministry of Transport.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

airlines-of-tanzaniaairlines-established-in-19911991-establishments-in-tanzaniatanzanian-brandsairlines-banned-in-the-european-union