Oct 22, 2012

Africa’s New LCC FastJet to Lease Two A319s

FastJet, the African low-cost carrier backed by easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has signed operating lease agreements with Volito Aviation for two Airbus A319s, to be delivered in time for its November launch date. These are the second and third of five A319s the airline plans to deploy in Africa within six months of its launch. By the end of its first year, the carrier expects to operate a fleet 15 aircraft (ATW Daily News, Sept. 17).

FastJet has also appointed three executives to the management team—operations director Rob Bishton, formerly of easyJet; general manager-Africa Kyle Haywood, formerly chief executive of Air Uganda; and group chief pilot and head of flight operations Harun Cordan, formerly a Ryanair executive.

FastJet CEO Ed Winter said: “Signing two further aircraft to our fleet and securing delivery in November puts us firmly on track to launch FastJet next month at our first base in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.” The additions to the management team, he said, were “important strategic hires for us ahead of launch and our inaugural flight in just a few weeks.”

FastJet has also signed a service contract with Swissport International for ground handling and related management services across its operations. The airline has also awarded a five-year contract to Sabena Technics to provide maintenance support for its A319 fleet.