Fastjet announces record month for passengers

Fastjet, which has ambitious plans to become Africa’s first pan-continental airline, has moved a step closer to its goal with the news of a 5.8 percent monthly rise in the number of passengers it has carried.

Low-cost airline Fastjet plc, has hit another record with the announcement it carried more than 33,000 passengers during August , the highest monthly total since the company began flights in November last year.

Fastjet has now carried 260,000 passengers since the launch and this latest figure represents a 5.8 per cent increase on the previous month, and a load factor of 84 per cent.

Combined, the Fastjet and fly540 operations carried a total of 78,500 passengers in August, a 30.2 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.

Ed Winter, Fastjet’s CEO and Chairman said:  “As reported earlier this month, we have seen a continued growth in passenger sales revenue in Tanzania.  The strong load factor and revenue in excess of $2.7m exceeded expectations for the month.”

August also saw the launch of ticket sales for its Tanzanian domestic route to the newly refurbished Songwe Airport in Mbeya.

Tickets have also been on sale for the airline’s first international route from Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg, with the first flight due to take off on the September 27.