Low-cost Pan-African airline fastjest has launched flights between Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Entebbe, Uganda, marking the opening of the first direct air link between the two African capitals and the fourth international route offered by the airline.
Noting that the inaugural flight was planned for September 16, the carrier said on Monday that it would operate the route on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the first few weeks of September, and increase this to four flights a week from September 29.
It added that, since airline Air Uganda had ceased operations, the fares offered by other carriers for flights in and out of the country had steadily risen.
“With our market-stimulating fares, starting from as low as $50 plus government taxes, we are confident that we will have a strong competitive advantage and that this new route will be a commercial success,” the airline highlighted.
Commenting on the launch, fastjet CEO and interim chairperson Ed Winter said he believed the opening of the route would stimulate new business and tourism traffic in Uganda.
“Fastjet is delighted with this opportunity to enter the Ugandan market and the support it has received from the Ugandan government and authorities. We look forward to starting flights and hope this is the beginning of a wider fastjet network from Entebbe," he noted.
Tickets for the new route would go on sale from Monday.