FINGER POINTING STARTS AS FASTJET FLIGHTS TO KIGOMA PULLED
(Posted 06th February 2018)
Opened for bookings only just over a week ago does it now appear that Kigoma flights, while still showing on the airline’s drop down menu, are now listed as ‘Sold Out‘ and subsequently ‘No Flights‘, indicating that regulatory spanners have been thrown into the works. Fastjet was to launch their new domestic route on the 01st of March.
Flights were to be sold at 123.000 Tanzania Shillings one way, substantially below the fares charged by other airlines, and like initially with Mbeya, when that destination came on line a few years ago, was a mass migration of travelers to Fastjet expected, both turning their backs on bus operators but also on the other airlines flying there.
The ‘directive‘ to pull the flights does not come as an entire surprise as the airline has been at the receiving end of what can only be described as a ‘21st Century Command Economy‘ where, when it suits the commanders, all gloves are off when it comes to private enterprise. It is a matter of intense speculation right now who exactly is behind this development.
From Dar Es Salaam (DAR) To TKQ
Mon 26 FebNo flightsTue 27 FebNo flightsWed 28 FebNo flightsThu 1 MarSold outFri 2 MarNo flightsSat 3 MarSold outSun 4 MarNo flights
Sold out
From Dar Es Salaam (DAR) To TKQ
Mon 5 MarNo flightsTue 6 MarSold outWed 7 MarNo flightsThu 8 MarSold outFri 9 MarNo flightsSat 10 MarSold outSun 11 MarNo flights
From Dar Es Salaam (DAR) To TKQ
Mon 12 MarNo flightsTue 13 MarNo flightsWed 14 MarNo flightsThu 15 MarNo flightsFri 16 MarNo flightsSat 17 MarNo flightsSun 18 MarNo flights
From Dar Es Salaam (DAR) To TKQ
Mon 19 MarNo flightsTue 20 MarNo flightsWed 21 MarNo flightsThu 22 MarNo flightsFri 23 MarNo flightsSat 24 MarNo flightsSun 25 MarNo flights
This much regretted situation must be seen against the background of the airline changing their workhorse aircraft from the Airbus A319 to the Embraer E190 at substantial cost and seeking to maximise the use of the new birds by adding another domestic destination, making flying to and from Kigoma finally affordable for many Tanzanians who have until now been unable to afford airfares and had to travel by bus.
Watch this space for more information as and when it becomes available.
Link to a related article:
https://atcnews.org/2018/01/29/fastjet-opens-kigoma-bookings/
