Fastjet, Africa’s low-cost airline, has announced the launch of its second international route from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to Lusaka, Zambia. The launch coincides with celebrations marking one year of successful flight operations from fastjet’s main hub at Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere Airport in Tanzania.
Despite strong trading between Tanzania and Zambia, driven in part by landlocked Zambia’s reliance on Dar es Salaam’s port, there is currently no direct air link between Dar es Salaam and Lusaka. A steady increase in the onerous, 25-hour cross-border journeys undertaken by both Tanzanians and Zambians by road, demonstrates a real need for affordable air travel between the two countries, which fastjet intends to fulfil by launching its flights along this route.
Flights on fastjet’s new route, which will initially operate twice a week, are available for purchase from next week, with fares starting as low as $75 excluding government charges and taxes. The first flight is scheduled to take place on 1 February 2014.