DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's Zanzibar aviation sector has recorded significant growth over the past five years, according to Seif Abdallah Juma, director general of the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA).

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Juma said ZAA had achieved improvements in airport infrastructure and air services, supported by government policy and financial backing.

He said passenger traffic surged from 840,599 in 2020 to 2.4 million in 2024, with projections expected to exceed 2.8 million in 2025.

"The number of airlines operating in Zanzibar rose from 68 in 2020 to 78 in 2024, with 38 expected to offer direct flights in 2025," Juma said, adding that the Chinese-upgraded Abeid Amani Karume International Airport ranked ninth in Africa for flight frequency in 2025.

According to Juma, ZAA also received multiple international awards, including recognition from Airports Council International and the European Union's RA3 certification for cargo security.

"The aviation sector has become a key contributor to Zanzibar's economy, boosting tourism and trade," he said.

Juma also underscored ZAA's commitment to further expanding infrastructure and strengthening Zanzibar's position as a regional aviation hub in the Indian Ocean. ■