Fastjet is set to begin flights in South Africa next month as part of its expansion plans across the continent.
The African no-frills airline, which includes Easyjet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou as a shareholder and adviser, is currently flying domestic routes in Tanzania since commencing operations in November.
Fastjet is poised to begin its first service outside Tanzania with Johannesburg to Cape Town flights planned to start from May 31. The airline said tickets "could go on sale within a few weeks".
The company has agreed a deal with two South African businessmen to set up Fastjet Holdings as well as securing a “commercial arrangement” with local airline Federal Air to use its existing licences to operate in the country.
Fastjet chief executive Ed Winter said: “There is a strategic gap in the South African market for a pan-continental, high quality, low-cost airline and we look forward to bridging that gap and bringing Fastjet to the South African public.
“This marks an exciting chapter in Fastjet's history and an important step in its growth strategy.”
Fastjet had originally planned to expand from Tanzania into neighbouring Kenya but that plan has been slowed by a legal dispute with Fly 540 owner Don Smith over the sale of that business to Fastjet last year.
But this dispute may be nearing an end after Fastjet and Smith signed a memorandum of understanding with “a view to resolving recent disputes and establishing a way by which the two parties can work together to maximise the value and business prospects of both Fly 540 and Fastjet”.
As part of the deal, both parties have agreed to stop all legal action against each other.
Winter added: “The signing of this MOU provides a positive platform for Fastjet to strengthen its east African hub.
“Both Fastjet and Don Smith are pleased to be putting the unfortunate, highly-publicised events of the past few months behind us. Don Smith remains the CEO of the Kenyan business and we are pleased to have him as part of the Fastjet/Fly 540 team."
fastjet.com