FASTJET LAUNCHES NEW ROUTE TO MALAWI
(Posted 27th July 2015)
Fastjet this morning launched their latest African destination out of Dar es Salaam, when flight FN209 took off at 09.40 hrs to Lilongwe with a full load of passengers, government and airline officials and local media. The new route, Fastjet’s fifth in Africa – they also operate to three domestic destinations out of Dar es Salaam – will initially be served twice a week every Monday and Friday. Fares, like to all other African destinations, start at US Dollars 50 one way, PLUS TAXES and regulatory fees and require prebooking as outlined on the airline’s website www.fastjet.com
Jimmy Kibati, Fastjet’s General Manager for East Africa, ahead of the maiden flight earlier today said: ‘Until now, it has been prohibitively expensive to fly between Lilongwe and Dar es Salaam. We believe that affordable fares on a direct route between the two cities will make it possible for more people in Malawi and Tanzania to experience the safety and convenience of air travel. We have worked closely with the governments of these two magnificent countries to establish this route, as we all agree that it will strengthen the trade, tourism and business sectors. Low-cost air travel stimulates economies in a number of ways, and we’re excited to contribute to economic growth in the countries we operate in’.
Richard Bodin, Fastjet PLC’s Chief Commercial Officer, in the meantime tweeted ‘First Fastjet flight to Malawi today. The LCC revolution spreading across East Africa’ a statement true except for Kenya where aviation authorities continue to sit on two applications, one of Fastjet PLC to establish a Kenyan offspring of Fastjet and the other being the landing rights for Fastjet in Tanzania on the route from Dar es Salaam to Nairobi. Shame on them to deny their people the low cost travel option now available to Tanzanians, Ugandans, South Africans, Zambians, Zimbabweans and as of today Malawians. Watch this space for breaking and regular aviation news.
