fastjet operations in Tanzania have told DirectorsTalk about its highest number of passengers in July 2015, carrying a total of 71,763 passengers in the month, surpassing the previous record, achieved in April 2015, by over 3,600 passengers and a 36% increase on the same month in the prior year. The load factor for July was 72%.
The increase in passengers has been achieved in part by the commencement of flights to Malawi and additional flights to Mwanza. This has resulted in an aircraft utilisation figure in excess of 12 hours per day at the end of July.
Punctuality for July remained excellent, with 95% of flights arriving on time (Note 3) .
Network growth
fastjet has released its winter flying programme (effective September 2015 to January 2016) which features several significant additions to its operation. The Dar es Salaam flight to Johannesburg moves from three flights a week to a daily operation while the flight linking Dar es Salaam with both Lusaka and Harare also moves to a daily programme. fastjet’s newest route from Dar es Salaam to Lilongwe doubles from two to four flights a week and both Mwanza and Kilimanjaro will see significant increases. These developments will be served by an additional Airbus 319 aircraft that is planned to be introduced into the Tanzanian fleet later this month.
Ed Winter, Chief Executive Officer of fastjet, said: “We are delighted to be reporting our highest monthly passenger numbers demonstrating the appetite for low-cost aviation in East and Southern Africa.
“The new schedule underlines our commitment to grow the Tanzanian operation, building frequency on our most popular routes, and significant growth across the route network cements our position in the Tanzanian market. We are now at our target figure for utilisation of our existing fleet and we will shortly be introducing a fourth aircraft into the Tanzanian fleet.
In addition, the Company has signed a six year operating lease for the first Airbus A319 aircraft in the fastjet Zimbabwe fleet with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (ICBC). This aircraft will be on its way to Zimbabwe this month in readiness for the final stage of the Air Operator Certificate application which is a demonstration flight for the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe. Seats for the first flights by fastjet Zimbabwe will go on sale shortly after the demonstration flight has been completed.
