LONDON (Alliance News) - Low-cost African airline fastjet PLC said Wednesday passenger numbers at its new Tanzanian operation reached a record high in August, but fell back in other countries.
The airline carried a total of 78,500 passengers in August 2013, compared to around 60,000 in the same period last year, an increase of 30%. Stripping out passengers on the new Tanzanian route, numbers on existing routes were down by around 15,000.
The company operates under the fly540 name in Kenya, Ghana and Angola, and started flying under the fastjet name in Tanzania in November 2012.
The airline carried around 33,000 passengers in Tanzania in August, up 5.8% on the previous month. The operation had a load factor of 84%, generating revenues of more than USD2.7 million. Total passenger numbers since starting to operate in Tanzania passed 260,000.
In the 12 months ending August 2013, the company carried a total of 904,359 passengers, up on 620,997 for the same period the previous year.
The company is attempting to become the continent's first low-cost, pan-African airline and recently launched ticket sales for two new routes: a domestic Tanzanian route to Songwe Airport in Mbeya, Tanzania, and an international route from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to Johannesburg.
Shares in fastjet were down 0.02 pence, or 0.5%, Tuesday morning to 4.38 pence. The share price is down significantly since the start of the year, when it stood at 33.37 pence.
By Philip Nye; philipnye@alliancenews.com;
Copyright 2013 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
