FASTJET SPECIAL SALE SERVES NOTICE OF INTENT ACROSS EAST AFRICA
(Posted 11th September 2014)
The special sale by Fastjet for domestic and selected international routes yesterday not only saw thousands of wannabe passengers take up the available tickets at record pace, but it also reverberated across the region in the headquarters of other airlines. The tickets are for flights between the 15th of September until the 30th of November and domestic fares at US Dollars 20, PLUS TAXES and international flights to Johannesburg, Lusaka and Entebbe for between US Dollars 40 and 75, depending on route, PLUS TAXES were snapped up by travel savvy individuals always on the lookout for the best possible deals.
The move also reportedly triggered unease if not outright concern in neighbouring Kenya where presently four airlines are competing for the low cost passenger segment, market leader Jambojet, Fly540, SkyAero and SouthEast. They are all now facing the prospect of Fastjet being granted an air service licence and after attaining their AOC then launching flights from Nairobi to Mombasa and to Kisumu before expanding on to regional routes too. This will set the newcomer on a direct competitive collision course with their rivals and while Jambojet, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways, has arguably the deepest pockets to withstand the onslaught, will the other three face stark choices vis a vis their fares charged if they want to retain their market share and make financial ends meet.
Jambojet’ has repeatedly offered special deals on their three routes out of Nairobi, to Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret for as low as 1.950/- Kenya Shillings, one way, taxes included but the lowest published fare stands at Kenya Shillings 2.950/-, if booked early enough though rising sharply when for instance booking on the day or a few days prior to travel. The Fastjet fare on offer yesterday, when expressed in Kenya Shillings, translates to around 1.750/- Kenya Shillings but without taxes which puts it into the same fare range like Jambojet’s special deals, setting the stage to what will no doubt become a bonanza for passengers shopping for the lowest fares and a cut throat competition for sheer survival among the airlines. No doubt sooner or later something or someone has to give and when that happens, be sure to read it right here.
