FastJet Chooses Tanzania as First African Base

FastJet, Africa’s first low-cost carrier, announced that it will establish its first operating base at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The airline will commence flying in November 2012 with seats going on sale online a few weeks earlier. Fares will be available for as low as $20 one-way excluding taxes and charges.

The lease for FastJet’s first Airbus A319 aircraft has been signed with lessor BBAM and will arrive in Dar es Salaam next month. Recruitment for crew and ground staff is said to be already well advanced.

FastJet Chief Executive Ed Winter said: “Our initial focus will be on East Africa with the airline’s first base at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where the A319 aircraft has already been approved by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority. This will be followed by a second base in Nairobi, Kenya, once the A319 is approved there. We look forward to bringing a great, reliable and affordable service to the people of East Africa.”

Once established in East Africa, FastJet has plans to launch in Accra, Ghana and Luanda and Angola.

FastJet Plc is the holding company for African airline Fly540, which operates from four bases in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Angola. Fly540 currently has 10 aircraft serving around 25 domestic and regional destinations, carrying approximately 750,000 passengers per year with a strong emphasis on safety, security and reliability.

Following a consultancy assignment by easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s easyGroup focused on determining the feasibility of launching a European-style low-cost carrier in Africa, FastJet, Africa’s first low-cost carrier, is being lanuched, based on the Fly540 platform of licences and routes.

In August 2012 Fly540 carried 60,000 passengers with a increase of 27% compared to the same month a year earlier.