Low-cost pan-African airline fastjet on Wednesday announced that it had established a company in Kenya, which had already submitted its Air Service Licence (ASL) application to the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
Fastjet held 49% in the new company, fastjet Kenya, with a Kenyan national holding the remaining 51%, in line with local airline ownership rules.
The company explained that the ASL application process required all airlines to formally submit a detailed business plan incorporating its proposed operation, network, aircraft specification, operational plan and commercial strategy.
The KCAA had indicated that the application, along with all other applications, would be gazetted in Kenya on August 29, with a public hearing to be held 21 days after publication, following which a decision would be rendered by the authority.
The ASL was a significant step toward obtaining a full Air Operating Certificate, which would allow the start of operations domestically within the country and internationally from Kenya.
"This is an important step for fastjet. We have submitted a comprehensive application to the authorities, who have confirmed that fastjet Kenya has entered the approval process.
“We look forward to bringing the fastjet operation to Kenya, offering our market stimulating fares, our excellent on-time performance and friendly service. We are excited at the prospect of extending the footprint of the fastjet operation through greater penetration of the African market with a Kenya-based airline,” fastjet CEO Ed Winter commented.
He added that the Kenya-based airline was in addition to the application for fastjet Tanzania to operate services into Kenya from Tanzania.
“The process for designation of fastjet Tanzania is ongoing," Winter pointed out.