RE: Missed opportunity?12 Sep 2018 19:06
According to the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Isaac Moepeng, Fast Jet failed to start plying the route last year due to economic reasons as well as delayed sourcing of suitable aircraft to be used on the intended route.
“The licence was initially issued on the 19th January 2016 valid for one year to 18th January 2017. The airline has indicated their intentions to renew its licence,” he said.
Fast Jet Airlines is a British based holding company for a group of low cost carriers founded in 2011 operating in Africa.
They do have subsidiaries with Fast Jet Zimbabwe, Fast Jet Tanzania, and Fly 540 Sociedade de Aviacao Civil in South Africa. Fast Jet currently operates in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania.
Late last year Air Botswana announced that they have suspended the Gaborone-Harare and Gaborone-Lusaka route, as part of their plans to enhance schedule rationalisation for the upcoming summer period. Moepeng said Air Botswana made the decision in accordance with their business model and decided not to renew their licence.
Air Botswana was flying the Gaborone-Harare route three times a week. Meanwhile, about five airlines have been granted traffic rights into Botswana, which include Air Namibia, South African Express (SAX), South African Air