New no-frills carrier Fastjet has agreed an option for the possible purchase of the defunct low-cost airline 1time for one South African rand (around seven pence).
The South African carrier went into liquidation last month, and Fastjet, which is backed by Easyjet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, now plans to purchase 1time in order to operate domestic and regional air services to and from the country.
If the agreement goes ahead, it would see Fastjet using up to three of the 12 aircraft in the 1time fleet operating domestic routes serving the cities of Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London.
Fastjet’s CEO Ed Winters said: “I am pleased we have managed to reach a provisional agreement with all parties to buy 1time. Due to protracted negotiations we will not have 1time flying before the Christmas but very much hope that 1time will be flying again early in the new year.
“Flights will initially be operated by a number of aircraft from the 1time fleet including McDonnell Douglas MD-82s, MD-83s and MD-87s. In due course we plan to re-fleet with modern Airbus A319 aircraft.
"The acquisition of 1time supports Fastjet's growth into a pan African low cost carrier and the synergies with Fastjet' s existing operations will potentially increase the number of available route networks from South Africa into the rest of Africa.”
Fastjet services launched on November 29 with domestic flights within Tanzania but the company has ambitions to become a “pan-African” carrier.
fastjet.com