IS IT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED FOR THOSE HOSTILE AGAINST PRIVATE ENTERPRISE?
(Posted 28th January 2019)
Information was provided by a regular aviation source in Dar es Salaam that Fastjet Tanzania – after already seeing their operational licence suspended by the Tanzanian aviation regulators – now has apparently also lost their Air Service License. Due for renewal early in January were all reported efforts by the company’s new owners thwarted by a Himalayan size mountain of obstacles disguised in the form of ‘regulatory requirements’ making it literally impossible for the airline to comply in time if ever.
On December 17th last year was Fastjet Tanzania given a 28 day window during which it was required to fulfill conditions to have their operating licence restored – that period of course now also expired – while the Air Services Licence expired on the 03rd of January.
Once licences lapse in the aviation industry it is ordinarily required to begin an entirely new process of application unless good will is shown by the regulators, something unlikely to be shown now as it wasn’t at any time in the recent past.
A comment attributed to the Director General of the Tanzania CAA that the authority will give Fastjet Tanzania all the help they can once they submit a new application, was greeted with howls of laughter across the private aviation industry in the country.
Links to previous related articles are shown below for ease of access:
https://atcnews.org/2018/10/04/fastjet-pulling-the-plug-on-funding-their-tanzania-operation/
https://atcnews.org/2018/12/08/fastjet-tanzania-ownership-sees-massive-change/
https://atcnews.org/2018/12/18/airtanzania-wastes-no-time-to-add-frequencies-after-fastjet-exit/
Fastjet PLC already in December made it clear that their relationship with Fastjet Tanzania had come to an end and sources close to the airline reaffirmed yesterday that the blame for all these developments must be laid squarely at the Tanzanian government’s doorstep.
‘If ever a playing field was being deliberately tilted, this is a text book case. Of course that government spent mega bucks to revive their otherwise moribund airline and of course the competition had to give way to make that work. It is patently not a country to invest in‘ did the source write verbatim on condition of total anonymity.
https://atcnews.org/2018/12/18/fastjet-plc-reacts-to-developments-in-tanzania/
How this sad saga ultimately ends is now anyone’s guess but going by past experience, and taking into account that the market share Fastjet Tanzania once commanded has all but evaporated, it seems that the airline will now be firmly rooted to the ground instead of plying the skies over Tanzania and into the neighbouring airspaces.
