As part of its plans to increase its fleet and expand its operations to Zambia and Zimbabwe, fastjet has signed a letter of intent with ICBC International Leasing Company to lease an A319-131 aircraft.
The aircraft was the first of a number that the Africa-focused low-cost airline planned to add to its fleet this year, with each aircraft adding 1 000 more seats a day to fastjet's operations.
Based on the 75% load factors currently being projected by fastjet, each aircraft in the fleet was expected to carry about 275 000 passengers a year.
The A319-131 was expected to be put into service in the third quarter, subject to fastjet entering into a lease agreement with certain conditions to be met, including the reconfiguration of seating and painting the aircraft in fastjet livery.
"It will be a strong step forward to add another aircraft to our fleet and embark on our planned expansion funded by our recent £50-million placing. We are currently negotiating to bring further aircraft into the fleet," CEO Ed Winter said.
The company aimed to have up to 34 aircraft operating to 40 destinations within and from Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda by the end of 2018.