FASTJET’S INTRODUCTION OF ATR72 AIRCRAFT IN TANZANIA THOUGHT TO BE IMMINENT
(Posted 08th August 2018)
The shenanigans of the Tanzanian aviation regulators seem to have played out in full now as indications are that Fastjet’s three ATR72 aircraft will be deployed to the country over the coming weeks and then start operating services across the country.
The airline presently uses Embraer E190 aircraft which serve domestic routes between Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Mwanza but also fly to Mbeya, with four and two flights per day respectively.
So far blocked from flying to Kigoma – a route according to a reliable source from Dar es Salaam ‘reserved‘ for Air Tanzania – has pressure on the regulators however increased to allow for competition, to a good part for the risen perception in many parts of the world that the current government is anti free enterprise and its mindset rooted in the socialist / communist timewarp of the 1970’ – a situation which led to the country back then sliding into poverty.
When the three ATR 78 seater aircraft are cleared for commercial flights has Fastjet plans to increase frequencies on key domestic routes while suggestions have been made that the airline may add further flights to Lusaka and Harare and resume Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg services using the Embraer E190’s.
As reported here earlier in the week has Fastjet also responded to market demands and introduced one free checked bag of up to 23 kilograms while offering refreshments on board for passengers. In both cases can travelers continue to purchase additional baggage allowances and also buy additional snacks and drinks on board.
Fastjet is in competition with Precision Air, the only airline listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, which operates an all ATR fleet and also with Air Tanzania which operates three Bombardier Q400 aircraft and will later in the year receive two Airbus A220-300 aircraft, formerly known as the Bombardier CSeries.
