Fastjet, Africa’s first low-cost airline, has on Tuesday this week unveiled its first fully branded aircraft ahead of commencing flights operations in Tanzania in two days’ time.
Speaking to reporters in a news conference in Dar es Salaam this week, Fastjet Chief Executive Ed Winter said that from Thursday, 29thNovember, Fastjet will operate twice daily flights on its first two routes, Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam to Mwanza.
He said that tickets went on sale two weeks ago and fastjet has recorded strong demand, outstripping its initial expectations.
Winter added that average fares are expected to be USD80 but now start from as low as USD20 one way (excluding taxes and charges) for customers who book early.
“Today is an incredibly exciting day not just for fastjet, but for Tanzania and Africa as a whole. For years, the African aviation-market has been significantly underserved, lagging a very long way behind the rest of the World,” winter said.
He further said that the airline is committed to become a large scale local employer and will recruit and train people on the ground and it has already hired over 70 local people in Tanzania.
“Fastjet’s decision to base its fleet on A319 is testament to the aircraft’s efficiency, reliability and suitability for the low-cost operations in Sub-Sahara Africa,
“With the market leading modern Airbus single-aisle aircraft, fastjet will be introducing new levels of comfort and affordability to an African market which is set to double over the next 20 years,” he attributed.
On his part Deputy Minister for Transport Dr Charles Tizeba said that the government will continue to create a conducive environment in the aviation sector to attract more investors in the aviation sector in the country.
He noted that the government is ready to strength partnership with the private sector as part of the efforts to foster social and economic development across the country.
Ends.
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