Masters thesis
This study investigated the assessment of the airline industry in Tanzania: potential opportunities and challenges a case of Precision Air. The study was guided by three questions and specific objectives namely; to find out the challenges which face Precision Air in its operations, to identify potential opportunities which are available in the country for Precision Air, to determine measures to overcome challenges facing the airline industry operations. The specific research questions includes what are the challenges which face the Precision Air in its operations?, what are the potential opportunities which are available in the country for Precision Air?, what are the possible measures to overcome the challenges facing the airline operations?. The study was conducted in Mwanza and Dar-es-Salaam based Precision Airline offices. A sample of 100 employees (respondents) was used in this study. Simple random sampling as probability sampling was used. Data were collected using questionnaire documentary review. Statistical packages for social sciences were employed in the data analysis to obtain the frequencies and percentage of the findings.
It was found out that, there are a number of challenges facing the airline industry which includes maintenance costs, financial difficulties, increase in fuel price, taxes, currency fluctuation, poor infrastructure, lack of airports, and lack of skilled labour. The potential opportunities which are available in the country for the growth of the airline industry are the vast population coverage of the country, rapid growing sectors such as tourism industry, natural gas, expansion of terminals, and venture to new destinations. The measures which can overcome challenges facing the airline industry operations are training the airline employees, reduce bureaucracy, increase inter airline meetings, having stable electricity supply, reduce fuel costs, improve management system and hiring skilled personnel.
It was concluded that, regardless of the importance of the sector in the development of the country, there are number of challenges and opportunities. It was recommended that training would help airline employees, ensuring man power retention, and offering of scholarships to Tanzanians in the aviation sectors.