Emirates plans to expand its footprint in Africa by partnering with low-cost carrier, fastjet. The airlines have announced a mutual sales and distribution agreement, which allows Emirates’ passengers to book fastjet tickets through Emirates’ sales channels.
“This agreement will give Emirates’ customers access to onward points in fastjet’s Africa network, such as Lilongwe, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza and Mbeya, amongst others,” a spokesperson for Emirates told Tourism Update.
Chief Commercial Officer of Fastjet, Richard Bodin, says he is delighted that a company of the calibre and size of Emirates has looked to fastjet as a partner. “We’re really pleased to have achieved that level of understanding in the market. Not only will it allow us access to the millions of passengers that Emirates carries, it is also a significant validation of our operation, service and proven low-cost model.”
The connections between the two airlines on the African continent are very smooth, Bodin says. “We serve our main trunk route destinations so frequently that there was no need to change times. There is always going to be an appropriate flight for the Emirates’ customer.”
The agreement will be hugely beneficial to both airlines, Bodin says. “Emirates is not only looking at increasing its footprint into Africa but it is also looking to boost traffic from Africa to and through its Dubai hub.”
Bodin predicts that the routes to and from Dar es Salaam into Africa will be in high demand. Emirates already flies daily to Dar es Salaam, with high demand for destinations such as Kilimanjaro and Mwanza.
Fastjet’s Zimbabwean operation is also likely to be popular. Fastjet Zimbabwe officially received its Air Operating Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe earlier this month. The airline will launch its first route linking Harare and Victoria Falls on October 28. The airline will initially operate three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, using an Airbus A319.
Other international operations are on the cards in the near future, including Zambia, Kenya and South Africa. Bodin says: “It would be almost inconceivable to have a pan-African carrier without having a base in South Africa,” adding that fastjet continues to explore possibilities of establishing a South African-based airline.
Fastjet currently flies daily from Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg, with plans to launch flights to Johannesburg from Harare. “We’re also looking at introducing flights from Harare to Johannesburg, Durban and probably Cape Town. When we open our operations in Zambia, we’re looking to connect Lusaka with Johannesburg and Durban,” Bodin says.
