Fastjet stopped in its tracks

In a move that reeks of the old European restrictive routes practice (that is before ‘Open Skies’), Fastjet, the ambitious Tanzanian low-cost airline, has been forced to cancel its maiden flight from Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg just hours before take-off.

Protectionism has seemed to have raised its head in South Africa with local interests having sway with the paperwork involved.

Fastjet’s problems will have a negative effect not only on South Africa, but for other Southern Sahara countries trying to get into the world of cheap international aviation and all the benefits it brings.

Chief Executive Ed Winter, once active on the flight deck and now seeking ways of piloting has little to say and was clearly frustrated. 

“Who’s to benefit?” he asks. “I’ll leave you to put two and two together”.

Fastjet was floated on the AIM market at 48p with the backing of such luminaries as Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.  As of Friday’s close of market it was 4.38p.  From Dar es Salaam the airline continues to serve Kilimanjaro, Mwanza and Zanzibar. (See BTN 30 September) www.fastjet.com

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