1 Aug 2013 07:14
1st August 2013
fastjet Plc
("fastjet" or the "Company")
Operational update - July results
Ahead of the release of its monthly passenger statistics, fastjet, Africa's low cost airline, is delighted to report a strong trading month for July 2013 in Tanzania, continuing the trend of month-on-month revenue increases.Passenger revenue for July 2013 was over USD$2.5 million, which represents a revenue increase of over 10% against the previous month, and a USD$700,000 increase since May 2013.The figures can be attributed to a jump in passenger volumes on existing routes, the successful reintroduction of the Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar route and a 17 per cent increase in ancillary revenues*. We are particularly pleased with these results given the fact that Ramadan, a period when travel and business activity traditionally reduces, fell over the last 21 days of the month.
On July 31st, fastjet launched ticket sales for the long-awaited international route between Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg. Initially, flights on the route will operate 3 times a week and the first flight is scheduled for 27th September. However, as demand for seats on fastjet's signature Airbus A319s is expected to be high, the Company intends to increase the frequency of flights in line with market demand. This is expected to be the first of a number of international routes that fastjet has applied for.
Ed Winter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of fastjet, said:
"These are excellent figures. They show the strength of our brand and the support we are receiving from the Tanzanian population. We expected the drop in travel over the religious period to be challenging, but our figures suggest that the fastjet proposition is gaining popularity. This only bodes well for the future.
"The introduction of international flights is critical for our future and we are delighted to have now launched ticket sales for the route to Johannesburg. We are confident that we will be adding more international routes our flying program in the near future."
*revenue from non-ticket sources
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About fastjet plc
fastjet plc is the holding company for African airlines Fly540, which operates in Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana and Angola. Flights under the fastjet brand commenced in Tanzania in November 2012. The airline has introduced Airbus A319s into its fleet and by adhering to international standards of safety, quality, security and reliability; fastjet has brought a new flying experience to the African market at unprecedented low prices. fastjet is implementing the low-cost model across Africa and its long-term strategy is to become the continent's first low-cost, pan-African airline.