Fastjet starts

Claimed to be Africa’s first low-cost airline, Fastjet commenced commercial flight operations last Thursday (29 November) with its initial aircraft flying passengers from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza (Tanzania).  The Fastjet A319 left Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere airport at 06:00 almost full to capacity with well over half the passengers on board paying just US$20 (excluding taxes and charges) for their seat.
 
Chief Executive Ed Winter personally welcomed clients on board.
 
A second A319 carrying more Fastjet customers on the airline’s second route from Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania set off later the same morning.  Travelling on board with passengers, Chief Commercial Officer Richard Bodin said: “I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new passengers travelling today, a very special day for us.  Today’s flights to Kilimanjaro and Mwanza mark the start of a new, revolutionary, smart way to travel for African people, and our first steps towards becoming a low-cost, reliable pan-African airline”.
 
The airline says that ticket sales for its first two routes have been very strong.  Seats are being secured well in advance by passengers with bookings into February 2013.
 
Fastjet expects its third A319 to arrive in Dar es Salaam during this coming week.  www.fastjet.com

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