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The Herald, 7 September 2015

FASTJET, the low-cost pan-African airline, has increased the number of flights on its Harare-Dar es Salaam route, in response to strong passenger demand.

The airline will now offer daily flights from Harare International Airport to Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport from the previous flights four times a week.

Fastjet said this will provide Zimbabweans and other travellers between the countries with increased and more convenient travel options at affordable fares.

The airline currently operates this route four times a week, and its expanded schedule will see approximately 1 000 extra seats each week added to the flights between the two cities.

Fastjet said the new daily flight schedule will commence on September 13, 2015 and tickets for the additional flights are on sale. Air fares start from as little as $50 one-way, excluding airport and government taxes.

“We have always promised to increase the frequency on our routes between Harare and Dar es Salaam as and when our customers demand it,” says Mr Richard Bodin, chief commercial officer of Fastjet.

“The increased daily frequencies emphasise our commitment to growing our flight schedule in Zimbabwe, making air travel easy, safe and affordable.

“We really are thrilled at the positive reception that Fastjet has enjoyed in Zimbabwe,” said Bodin.

“With our low-cost fares, Fastjet is making air travel more accessible than ever before for Zimbabweans, with many of our passengers being first time flyers who would otherwise not have been able to afford to travel by air.”

Fastjet’s announcement of its new daily frequency to Dar es Salaam follows the airline’s announcement that it is in the final stages of its application to the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe for an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) for Fastjet Zimbabwe, which once issued, means that formal approval has been secured for Fastjet flights to commence domestically in Zimbabwe.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

The introduction of budget airlines like Fastjet in Zimbabwe’s skies meant an increase in tourism activity and the improvement of the country’s socio-economic standing. Tourism is a major player in the economy in order for Government to meet its Vision 2030.

Fastjet was back in the skies at the end of September following Government’s announcement that domestic flights resume after the aviation industry worldwide grounded planes since March or earlier due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Airliners like everyone else, will be required to adhere to the World Health Organisation guidelines on Covid-19. This means caution and vigilance, considering the limited space between seats.

According to information on Fastjet website, the airline will recommence international return flights between Bulawayo and Johannesburg tomorrow. The scheduled flights will resume three times per week.

It will also add a flight to the resort town of Victoria Falls due to demand. The Vic Falls offer the lowest hanging fruits in the tourism sector.