Low cost airline carrier eyes business in Tanzania

FastJet Airbus A319 a renowned air company based in England has set its feet in Tanzania to seek for business opportunity in order to open up low cost travel and bring new levels of comfort to air passengers across the country. It has been learnt The airline will commence flying in November with seats expected to going on sale online a few weeks from now. Fares will be available for as low as between $20 and $80 one-way excluding taxes and charges, the General Manager Africa jet Kyle Haywood said last week in Dar es Salaam. “Our initial focus will be on East Africa with the airline’s first base at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where the A319 aircraft has already been approved by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA)”, he said adding that, being one of the low cost air carriers, it expects to kick off its operations in November this year if all the logistics are finalized”. However, he said adding that, “this will be followed by a second base in Nairobi, Kenya, once the A319 is approved there.  “We look forward to bringing a great, reliable and affordable service to the people of East Africa.”  The airline company adds to 72 air operators already registered with the TCAA in the country as of 31^st August this year. Statistics made available by the Authority shows that, out of 72, only 49 are in internal operations and none of them tackles international direct flight. Kyle Haywood has observed that, there are more Tanzanians travelling domestically by air today than any other time, therefore he has assured enormous opportunities for growth given the expanding middle class and their rising disposable income. Another point he noted is the fact that Tanzania has been relying on a single airline in order to service the majority of its domesticated routes, and in view of this more broadly his airline has come to ease the operations at most low cost price which would be more affordable by the majority of Tanzanians. Elaborating on Africa’s business trend and the general perspective, he said that the continent is booming noting that, 7 out of 10 fastest growing global economies are in Africa with a rapidly growing consumer market. He says Africa has increased the potential of open aviation policy infrastructure across regions and the markets is under served for 1.5 seats per person in Europe is equivalent to one seat for every 13,000 people in Africa.

Narrating on his company’s interest to invest in Africa, he noted that, Airbus forecasts total passenger traffic in Africa which is growing at a yearly average rate of 5.7 percent between 2010 and 2030, this is well above the 4.8 percent world average growth rate. Hence he added that, there is limited capacity of pan continental airlines to meet this demand. “We want o enable people to swap arduous bus journeys for convenient flight just as Brazil, Asia and Mexico have done” he said adding that, it is about democratizing air travel enabling huge numbers of middle class Africa consumers to travel quickly, cheaply and safely. Africa is a growth aviation market with regional and intercontinental traffic both growing rapidly as a result of the continent’s continued economic expansion.  With over one billion people, Africa is hampered by poor infrastructure, a lack of roads and railways and long distances between urban populations. The African aviation market is significantly underserved with air travel spending as a percentage of GDP a fraction of that of other emerging markets.  With rapid economic growth and, as a result, the growing wealth of African citizens, more and more people will be able to benefit from aviation and fly for the first time. Airbus forecasts total passenger traffic in Africa will grow at an annual average rate of 5.7 percent between 2010 and 2030, well above the 4.8 per cent world average growth rate and expects to deliver more than 1,100 new passenger aircraft, 4 percent of world deliveries, in the next 20 years to satisfy growing demand. “FastJet will open up low cost travel to the African market, and the Airbus A319 will bring new levels of comfort to air passengers across Africa.  Once established in East Africa, FastJet has plans to launch in Accra, Ghana and Luanda and Angola. FastJet is incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985 with registered number 05701801 and its registered office is Suite 2C, First Point, Buckingham Gate, Gatwick Airport, RH6 0NT