fastjet's first international flight takes wing

Champagne corks are likely to be flying at Fastjet’s (LON:FJET) head office as its long-awaited Dar es Salaam-Johannesburg route started operating.

The low-cost airline joined the ranks of international carriers with its first flight between Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania, and Johannesburg, in South Africa.

Encouragingly, the first flight left on time from Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport.

Fastjet intends to operate services between the two cities three times a week, flying on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Depending on customer demand, flight frequency will be increased.

Being an international carrier has always been the game plan for Fastjet, as it seeks to bring the low-cost air flight model to Africa, but there were times when it looked like its ambitions would be thwarted.

“I think what we have learned in the first six months is the political risk is much greater than we thought,” said chairman and chief executive Ed Winter, in an interview with Proactive Investors back in June.

The company plugged away, however, and secured permission in June to operate routes from Tanzania to South Africa, Zambia and Rwanda.

The Tanzania to Johannesburg route is likely to be the jewel in the crown, but even though this became the group’s main focus in the second half of the year, even the launch of this route was hit by an eleventh hour administrative snag, as the planned launch date of 27 September had to be put back after the South African Department of Transport had requested additional documentation very late in the licensing and regulatory process.

Winter was understandably delighted to have finally got the service off the ground.

“In line with our planned strategic development we have made a significant step towards becoming a true Pan African airline,” the Fastjet boss said.

“For many years, the Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg route has been operated by just one airline, and the lack of competition has led to inflated fares. It can cost almost the same for the 11 hour flight between Johannesburg and London as it does for a 3½ hour flight from Johannesburg to Dar Es Salaam, which just doesn’t make sense.

“Fastjet will substantially reduce the route’s average fare and in doing so will make it possible for more people to afford to fly between Tanzania and South Africa, whether they are travelling on business or for pleasure,” Winter declared.

Tickets on the Fastjet flights between the two cities are priced from US$100 one way, excluding all airport and government taxes. This is a substantial reduction to the prices being charged by South African Airways, Fastjet notes.