F ASTJET is extending its
reach within Africa with a
number of developments
on the continent, in spite of
increasing competition.
In response to demand,
four return flights a week are
being added on its Dar es
Salaam and Mwanza route,
on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays
and Saturdays, bringing total
return flights each week to
25. Flights are scheduled to
commence on August 1.
From August 17, fastjet will
also operate an additional
return flight on Sundays
between Dar es Salaam and
Lusaka, bringing the number
of flights linking Tanzania and
Zambia to four a week.
Meanwhile, ticket sales for
its new Dar es Salaam-Harare
route, due to start operating
on August 5, have been
strong, says Richard Bodin,
fastjet chief commercial officer.
The airline hopes to have a
base in Lusaka up and running
in the near future. “The project
to obtain our Air Operator
Certificate is well under way
and things are moving forward
positively,” Richard says.
He says in-depth discussions
and planning are taking place
in Kenya with regard to the
establishment of a new airline
in the region, under the fastjet
brand. The company recently
disposed of its holding in
Fly540 Kenya. “At the end of
the day, we decided it would
make more sense to apply for
a brand-new AOC,” he says.
“We are rapidly developing
flights across Africa into South
Africa.” The aim, he says, is
to increase fastjet’s presence
in SA by linking multiple
destinations to Johannesburg.
He says fastjet’s route
between Dar es Salaam and
Johannesburg continues to
grow, and is a strong route.
Richard believes fastjet’s
success in Africa has attracted
new competition in the way of
LCCs such as flyafrica.com.
“There are 1,1 billion people
in Africa, representing a vast
untapped market. As such, we
believe that competition can
only be a good thing.”
