Fastjet increases flights to Nairobi

DAILY NEWS Reporter

FASTJET Tanzania has increased the number of flights on its route between Dar es Salaam and Nairobi in response to strong passenger demand.

The airline said it will offer two daily return flights between Dar es Salaam and Nairobi every day from Monday next week, making total of 28 flights per week between Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) and Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

“We have always promised to increase the frequency on our route between Dar es Salaam and Nairobi as consumer demand grew for our affordable, safe, quick and on-time service,” said John Corse, Fastjet Tanzania’s General Manager.

“The combined Dar es Salaam and Nairobi population of over eight million people was previously subjected to high air fares that we believe excluded large percentages of them from air travel, but now they have a real and affordable choice of airline.”

The airline, which currently operates one daily flight between the two cities, has increased its flight frequency to provide passengers with a convenient early morning and evening flight service.

Mr Corse noted that since Fastjet started flying between Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, they have estimated that up to a third of its passengers have been first time flyers who would otherwise not have been able to afford to travel by air between the two cities.

“The announcement of an extra 14 flights a week just two months after Fastjet starting flying between the two countries on January 11, 2016 emphasised Fastjet’s commitment to increase the number of consumers who can access the convenience of affordable air travel.

This is sure going to have a positive impact both on lives of the country’s citizens as well as on the economic growth of both countries,” says Mr Corse. The expanded schedule will result in nearly 19,000 seats each month on Fastjet flights between the two cities, providing travellers with more convenient travel options at affordable fares.

“The additional evening return flights mean that passengers can schedule meetings in either Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, and travel to their destination city and back home within the same day,” Mr Corse said.

“This convenience and choice is great for business passengers under pressure to maximise time and cost savings, and who do not want to stay overnight for just one or two meetings.”

The impact of Fastjet flights to and from Kenya has already been substantial; with Mr Corse pointing out that on the day that Fastjet announced that it would commence flights between Tanzania and Kenya, the cheapest fare with other airlines flying between the two countries suddenly dropped by as much as 40 per cen