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G-BOAE You will find all the information re Solenta in previous RNS, one of the advantages of being partnered with Solenta is that we could at a stroke operate FLIGHTS using their AOC which they hold in several Countries including South Africa, with regards to Fifth Freedom carriage rights we can now fill otherwise empty seats vacated by DAR originators with customer s who wish to board in say Lusaka wanting only to fly to Harare and as Rufiji stated Emirates charge up to $500 return for a short one hour hop , this addition of revenue will go a long way in sustaining our Dar LUN HRE route
FJet crazy, thanks for your insights, but I have missed the significance of the trade on hre/Lun Lun/hre. Please enlighten me on this. Also, Solenta have 28% stake. Don't they need a greater holding to meet the SA requirements for FJet to qualify for domestic SA operations in their own name?
Indeed no extra costs! With four weekly departures two in each direction
What Seems great and smart about that is that on the days we already operate, there would be no extra Landing/Takeoff or staff costs as we have those anyway, just more fare paying passengers, and if picks up from there we have 3 extra days we can add and maybe in time go daily.
$300 /500 do they actually achieve that I wonder? Interestingly the $30 fjet base fares are disappearing fast, already on some dates $70. I have also read about her in doors aspiring to take over!, interesting times indeed Rufiji.
The LUN HRE rights are currently with Emirates who charge, believe it or not, between $300 and $500 return although they are reliable and daily. A positive step if FJET have acquired these rights in addition although it is no longer the high volume route it used to be 15-20 years ago. Political momentum in Zimbabwe seems to be with Mrs Mugabe to succeed Robert. Interesting times indeed if that happens.
We desperately need to get a South African stakeholder to get a licence to fly within SA where the domestic market where the demand exists. I recognise this may never happen ---- G-BOAE Good to see you back, we do actually have a SA stakeholder in Solenta who hold many an AOC, I'm optimistic once we are financially stable we will be taking up such opportunities , the latest RNS suggested that they are reluctant to launch any new routes to avoid start up costs, Nico has with Solenta in a matter of months secured fifth freedom rights enabling us to trade hre lun/ lun hre, something previous BOD were unable to achieve in four years.
Stability plan now mutating into in business growth plan. Good work @fastjet . #5thfreedom
Marksman I do remember you and our shared enthusiasm for Fastjet. Like the previous Board I believed Africa and their governments would see Fastjet as a key component in communication and travel, almost as a key infrastructure project, and would assist and support the airline. Alas, that was not to be. So now we are faced with an uphill struggle as the passenger demand is still limited. We desperately need to get a South African stakeholder to get a licence to fly within SA where the domestic market where the demand exists. I recognise this may never happen so until then it is going be a very long time before we can recover some of our investment. Keep hoping for a break through somewhere.
Fjetcrazy, as you say that is good (and long overdue) news. I may start to have a little more faith and even consider re-investing if the positive news keeps coming.
G-BOAE: “Anyone remember the Stalwarts?” I even remember you by your original username! And even you joining me at the AGM 2015 when you spotted me chatting with Ed Winter after the meeting had concluded and introducing yourself! So, good to see you posting again though probably still a rare visit? Judging by my number of posts, I must be a fairly well-known Stalwart and occasionally bring up the name for the benefit of others. I have only met one other (at last year’s AGM and regularly keep in touch with him). You may have noticed the great improvement to this place since Bedbug and Beretta (Steve Gurr) were both banned? Like you and many other long-termers, I have lost a considerable amount since I first invested over 4 years ago but, also like you, maintain a stoic faith in the feasibility of an African LCC and especially so since the arrival of Nico and his team, of whom I have high hopes of the company’s steady progress and success.
Two weekly DAR HRE LUN Two weekly DAR LUN HRE My guess is they have secured passenger rights between Zambia and Zimbabwe through a Solenta Aoc
I meant to say heavily booked despite increase to four Daily not weekly!
I was going to post to say a little parrot told me we finally have passenger rights to service Lusaka to Harare and visa versa ,but if you go to the winter schedule it's already confirmed with lead in fares do $30 ! The winter schedule is very encouraging with Mbeya back to double daily X 6 days a week together with others increases in frequencies,Zimbabwe to JOBURG continues to be heavily booked well in advance despite the increase to four flights a week. I am Thrilled with last weeks top up!
Yes, loads of Stalwarts around actually, cautiously optimistic with the revised management. A long way to go, but pan-African opportunities still have the same allure, and I like the way the Solenta investment seems to be working. As for Nuri, he has been quieter, but still seems to be very angry.
Ok thanks PJM. Lets hope there is little to keep him interested in that case.
Hi G-BOAE there are several Stalwarts including me around, several comment regularly, some occasionally and some just observe without comment. Hopefully we shall hear more from them now that a plan is in action. Hi Betterthanwork, I am afraid that Nuri is still lurking in the background with his doom and gloom predictions at the ready to use at a milliseconds notice should a negative item appear. He does not generally appear or comment when there is good or neutral news, but he is still watching and waiting to pounce.
Not been on here for a while, what happened to that utter tool Nuri?
Anybody remember the Stalwarts? I was one and I took a major loss on this airline, but I am still invested and look forward to a slow ateady growth now that the Nico regime is in place. My original belief for a LCC in Africa remains and the opportunity for Fastjet is still there. Let us hope this time the plan is fulfilled.
PJM unfortunately not in respect only of airlines as the Gupta saga in South Africa illustrates, and many infrastructure projects seem to be just exercises in padding supply and procurement contracts. With your knowledge I am sure you can point to examples. Perhaps there is a silver lining in FJET competing against compromised operations, as they must win in terms of efficiency and competitiveness
Thanks Rufiji for your local insight into the Wider issues that were not so prevalent in the West during the times that Governments interfered with Airlines.
Sorry ...... air traffic agreement. Hope you are well
Hello Marksman, see my previous post. We can look back at the hopelessness of Ed and.co, but the Zambian Government never really gave them a chance and always had a phoenix national airline as a priority. I fear FJET will not make much headway with the current government unless tjey can leverage on the SAA Zambia reciprocal airtraffic agreeme
Yes totally agree but I think that the business case is not necessarily the profitability of the airline ,but all the procurement contracts and staff placements to insiders and party members that can be put in place, pace SAA and Air Zim and even KQ before it was sorted out over the past two years.By the bye Mahogany Air is back in the skies supported by Qatari money so gossip in Lusaka would have it
When will African Airlines not look to the West and Learn why Western Countries do not get involved in running Airlines for very many years now. Western Countries found it was a bottomless money pit that always loses money until professionals get involved with a free hand. Guess what happens then, instead of pouring billions into Airlines the Governments then start collecting Corporation taxes From them. It is not rocket science, if you keep doing the same thing, you should not expect different results. I am not sure if African Leaders see it as National Pride or if instead they might want to commandeer an Aircraft for State or Personal use using the Government Support as Leverage. Look to the West and let Private Enterprise create transport for everyone, and let Private Airlines drive down costs and prices with a level playing field.