African LCC group fastjet passes hurdle with launch of Zimbabwe affiliate as Tanzania base expands

African LCC group fastjet has finally been able to launch an affiliate in a second market to supplement its original operation in Tanzania after nearly three years of multiple setbacks and delays. fastjet Zimbabwe commenced operations on 28-Oct-2015 with an A319 operating a domestic route between Harare and Victoria Falls.

fastjet Tanzania launched in 2012 with an initial fleet of three A319s. It recently took delivery of two A319s, its first additional aircraft in almost three years, and is using the additional capacity to expand across its network of four domestic and five international destinations.

Tanzania was never envisioned as a large operation given the relatively small size of the market. But fastjet's attempts to launch airlines in other African markets have been repeatedly set back, a victim of protectionism and bureaucracy.