FASTJET Tanzania
announced in December
that all operations
had been suspended after
months of uncertainty. The
suspension comes roughly
a month after a change in
ownership, with the airline’s
new directors working on a
relaunch.
In October, after the
announcement of poor
interim results for the first
half of 2018, fastjet PLC
ceo, Nico Bezuidenhout,
alluded to potential changes
for Tanzanian operations. At
the time, fastjet PLC was a
49% shareholder in fastjet
Tanzania.
Commenting on a
decision to halt funding
the loss-making Tanzanian
operation, Nico said: “From
our perspective, there are
alternative growth markets
available on the continent
and, in the short term, we
see a better use of funding.”
He cited strong growth
markets in its Zimbabwe and
Mozambique subsidiaries.
Fastjet PLC then announced
that it would sell its
Tanzanian operation. The sale
was completed in November
with the airline remaining
under the fastjet brand, but
being operated independently.
New airline, same brand
Hein Kaiser, previously with
Fastjet PLC based in South
Africa, is a new director of
fastjet Tanzania. He told
TNW: “Fastjet is a great
brand, and we have no
immediate plans to change
anything. After this hiatus,
we fully intend to resume
operations, particularly
considering that in December,
we were awarded eight
additional routes, including
Kigoma.” He said the airline
in fact welcomed this short
break, “as it gives us time
to unpack the challenges we
inherited”.
On December 17 the airline
implemented a temporary
suspension following a
28-day notice from the
Tanzanian Civil Aviation
Authority (TCAA) regarding the
airline’s failure to meet TCAA
requirements.
Flights between Dar es
Salaam and Kilimanjaro,
Mwanza, Mbeya, Lusaka and
Harare have all been placed
on hold.
Hein said: “We are
co-operating with the TCAA
to resolve the legacy that
continues to haunt the
airline.”
He said the TCAA’s
concerns included the
transition of accountable
management, the re-fleeting
of the airline and ensuring
sustained operations
thereafter.
The airline is currently
negotiating with several
lessors. “While we can’t put
a date on our resumption
of services as yet, it will be
soon and fastjet Tanzania will
be stronger and better than
before,” said Hein.
Donahue Cortes, head of
compliance and organisation
at fastjet PLC, told TNW
that fastjet Zimbabwe and
Mozambique continued to
operate from their respective
bases in Harare and Maputo.
He added that both airlines
had undergone schedule
adjustments, adding
frequencies on routes with
higher demand.
TNW contacted the TCAA
for more information about
its reasons for suspending
the airline but had not
had a response at time of
publication.
VFA schedule change
Fastjet PLC has canned
its regular Victoria FallsJohannesburg service,
effective January 10, as part
of a strategic growth plan.
The route will be operated
seasonally over busy periods,
including Easter, July to
September and December to
January.
