Sir Stelios's FastJet Airline Confirms Tanzania As Operating Base From November

'FastJet' Confirms First Airbase
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Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou's FastJet - the low-cost African Airline - has confirmed it will have its first airbase in Tanzania.

FastJet will start flying from November, with seats going on sale online a few weeks earlier. Fares will be available for as low as $20 (£12.30) one-way excluding taxes and charges.

On 3 September, The Huffington Post UK reported FastJet had ordered its first Airbus - a Airbus 319; the lease for the 156-seater aircraft has now been signed and it will arrive in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in October.

According to a press statement, recruitment processes for crew and ground staff is already well advanced.

And FastJet chief executive Ed Winter revealed FastJet is planning a second airbase in Nairobi, Kenya as soon as the airbus has been approved there.

"We look forward to bringing a great, reliable and affordable service to the people of East Africa,” he added.

Further airbases are also planned for Ghana, Luanda and Angola.

Sir Stelios’s easyGroup Holdings owns 5% of FastJet and has the option to acquire another 10% at a price of 5.2p per share until 2 August 2014. Sir Stelios is also a director of the airline.

With rapid economic growth and, as a result, the growing wealth of African citizens, more people are expected to fly for the first time.

Airbus forecasts that total passenger traffic in Africa will grow at an average yearly rate of 5.7% between 2010 and 2030, well above the 4.8% world average growth rate.

It also expects Africa to deliver more than 1,100 new passenger aircraft and 4% of world deliveries in the next 20 years to satisfy growing demand.