Low-cost airline fastjet’s operations in Tanzania carried 37 458 passengers in December 2013, the highest number of passengers in one month since fastjet started operations, with the airline’s new Dar es Salaam to Mbeya route noted as a key contributing factor.

Achieving an average load factor of 71%, the average yield a passenger was a record $97, compared with $50 in December 2012.  Total revenue for the month was $3.6-million, considerably more than previous months, and exceeded $3-million for the first time since the start of operations. 

The Dar es Salaam to Mbeya route was increased in frequency from three to four flights a week on December 1 and to daily flights on December 16. Despite these capacity increases, the route achieved an excellent average load factor of 68% for the full month.

Meanwhile, the passenger numbers carried by the airline’s legacy Fly540 businesses fell slightly year-on-year with restructuring.

Punctuality remained outstanding with 92% of flights operating on time, which refers to arrival earlier than or within 15 minutes of schedule.

Interim fastjet chairperson and CEO Ed Winter said: "Our yield and total revenue figures for the month were excellent and the performance on our established routes during the important Christmas period was better than expected.

“Additionally, the strong performance of the Dar es Salaam to Mbeya route continues to show how well the low-cost model can work in this marketplace. Our low fares have stimulated the market and provided a real option for the huge, pent-up demand on this route.”

Winter highlighted that, as previously announced, flights were now on sale for fastjet’s second international route, Dar es Salaam to Lusaka, in Zambia, which would launch on February 1. 

“Early indicators suggest that the route will prove to be a popular link between two major commercial hubs,” he said, adding that many Tanzanians and Zambians undertook the uncomfortable and dangerous road journey between the two cities.

“Based on our achievements in 2013, … I am very optimistic about the prospect of fastjet rolling out the low-cost model on many more routes.  Our success to date shows that the African market will react positively to the provision of reliable, safe and well-priced air transport," noted Winter.