BULGARIA AIR TIPPED TO BE FASTJET’S LESSOR FOR THREE E190’S
(Posted 26th September 2016)
Speculation is now rife over the source of Fastjet’s upcoming fleet change after new CEO Nico Bezuidenhout had recently indicated that at least three Airbus A319 will be leaving their fleet on expiration of the lease and will be replaced by smaller, more suitable aircraft.
Bulgaria’s Bulgaria Air has been tipped to provide a wetlease for the time being for Fastjet of three aircraft and with four on the Bulgarian carriers fleet it is anyone’s guess if this thinning out for the winter season could be a short term stop gap measure until Fastjet can make more permanent arrangements.
The Bulgaria Air Embraer E190’s in fact, according to their fleet information, are configured in a two class layout with 8 business class seats and 100 economy class seats, something future aircraft procured by Fastjet will probably avoid as they seek an all economy class cabin.
With the cutoff dates approaching rapidly when the Airbus A319 leases expire and replacement aircraft will be needed is it now anyone’s guess when Fastjet’ will make an announcement to either confirm this supposed deal or else lay down their cards and tell their shareholders and passengers which way the airline intends to go.
In Fastjet’s main home market, Tanzania, is a second Bombardier Q400NG expected later this week to complete the delivery of the first order of new aircraft placed by the Tanzanian government in order to revive the ailing national airline.
Additional statements seen from government sources would also suggest that a further two aircraft will be sourced by the first half of 2017 and here too is speculation mounting that it will again be Bombardier which might be chosen to supply two of their medium sized jets to allow Air Tanzania to expand their route network and more effectively compete in the domestic and regional market which was until now left to Fastjet and Precision Air.
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2 Responses
Fastjet website just says there will be some disruptions to their flights 1-3 October. Just 1 A319 operating in Dar and no Embraers have arrived yet. I have friends stranded in Mwanza and Mbeya and no information. Not a good start for the new CEO!
It appear that regulatory approvals for the wet-leases were not granted
in time for the new Embraers’ to join the fleet and keep up the schedule.
There has been speculation that the regulators did that to boost the
restart of Air Tanzania but this could not be verified independently
and remains a mere allegation at this stage.
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W.