Lonrho Regulatory News (LONR)

19 Sep 2007 13:30

Lonrho PLC19 September 2007 19 September 2007 Lonrho Plc ("Lonrho" or "the Company") Fly540 awarded 'International Designation' and to commence flights to the DRC and Southern Sudan with further additions to fleet Lonrho (AIM:LONR), the conglomerate with a structured portfolio of Africaninvestments, is pleased to announce that the Kenyan airline, Fly540 Aviation, inwhich Lonrho has a 49% shareholding, has been granted 'partial internationaldesignation' rights by the Kenyan Government permitting the airline toimmediately start flights to Southern Sudan and the DRC This coveted designation has been granted in recognition of Fly540 becoming thesecond largest airline in Kenya with passenger loads for August of 16,000domestic passengers and achieving 84% load capacity and on time departures at93%. Fly540 is now establishing regular scheduled passenger services to Juba inSouthern Sudan and Goma in Democratic Republic of the Congo to commence from the13th October. The Juba route will link into the Fly540's planned Southern Sudan operations andprovides a launching pad to allow Fly540 to establish scheduled services withinthe country of Southern Sudan thereby replicating the successful Fly540 Kenyamodel. The Goma route is regarded as strategic as no commercial carrier providesscheduled service links to Goma from Nairobi. Fly540 expects this to be a highyield route that will assist the movement of business trade and Aid providers inthe region. Fleet Expansion To take advantage of the newly acquired international designation, Fly 540 hassigned on another ATR42-320 to service these new routes. Goma and Juba are strategic growth areas in Central Africa and provide some ofthe highest yields in the region. The ATR passenger fleet is idea for thesesectors due to their efficiency, reliability and range. Fly540 has also signed for delivery of a F27 Freighter aircraft to service thisgrowing market in both Southern Sudan and Somalia. With the new internationallicence, Fly540 can take advantage of the large inflow of freight and aid intothese regions. This is the first of three freighters scheduled to join the 540fleet over the next six months. David Lenigas, Lonrho Executive Chairman and CEO commented: "Fly540 launched its first flight in November 2006 and has made significantprogress and now provides regular scheduled services to seven destinations inKenya. The granting of international designation status by the Kenyan Governmentis a substantive step forward for Fly540 and will allow the airline to expandinto neighbouring counties. New services to the DRC and Southern Sudan inOctober will greatly assist business travellers and help Aid organisations tothese destinations." ENQUIRIES Lonrho Plc +44 (0) 20 7016 5105David Lenigas, Chief Executive +44 (0)7881 825 378Emma Priestley, Executive Director +44 (0)7867 785 177 Pelham PRCharles Vivian +44 (0) 20 7743 6672 +44 (0) 7977 297903Alisdair Haythornthwaite +44 (0) 20 7743 6676 +44 (0) 7714 721379 Collins Stewart EuropeHugh Field +44 (0) 20 7523 8350Jonny Sloan NOTES TO EDITORS About Fly540 Fly540 introduced its first service from Nairobi to Mombasa on 24th November,2006 and is well received by both business and leisure travellers. The airlinenow has regular services from Nairobi to Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu and Kisumu,Eldoret and the Mara and is the largest domestic low budget air carrier in EastAfrica. About LONRHO: Lonrho Plc is an expanding conglomerate that is rapidly growing a successfulbusiness throughout Africa. The Company is listed on the London AIM stockexchange (LONR). Lonrho is strategically focused on the development of businessopportunities in infrastructure, transportation, support services and naturalresources. The Company has over 20,000 shareholders and substantialinstitutional backing to support its mandate to build a profitable business thatplays a fundamental role in the development of the African economy. Since 2006, the Company has invested in or acquired control of: • Hotel Cardoso - www.hotelcardoso.co.mz (retained)• Nare Diamonds - www.narediamonds.com• Luba Freeport - www.lubafreeport.com• Fly540 - www.fly540.com• Norse Air - www.norseair.co.za• Swissta Holdings - www.swissta.com• SA Independent Liner Services This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange