Fastjet set for Nov. 29 launch

Fastjet A319. Courtesy, Fastjet

Africa’s new low-cost carrier Fastjet is set to launch commercial operations Nov. 29 (ATW Daily News, Nov. 15).
Fastjet’s first Airbus A319 aircraft is stationed at the airline’s inaugural base at Dar es Salaam (DAR), Tanzania, and has received operating approval from the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority. Two more aircraft are due to arrive in time for the launch of the airline’s first scheduled flights. The first two destinations to be served from DAR are Kilimanjaro and Mwanza.
Fastjet has received 8,000 bookings on these first two routes. The airline has recruited 35 pilots, 65 cabin crew and seven maintenance personnel.
Fastjet chairman David Lenigas said, “Demand for seats is high and we are in great shape to start flying next week.”
Fastjet has now formally entered into a £5 million ($7.8 million) Equity Financing Facility (EFF) with Darwin Strategic Limited, the majority owned subsidiary of Henderson Global Investors' Alphagen Volantis fund. The EFF covers a three-year period and a warrant instrument has been set up to enable Darwin to subscribe for up to 2 million ordinary shares, exercisable over that period.