Belgian MRO specialists Sabena Technics, have been awarded a 5 year contract by nascent Dar es Salaam based LCC, FastJet, to provide its fleet with engineering services and comprehensive material support for components,
standard and cabin parts, and consumables.
As part of the deal, Sabena Technics will also
establish a local operations base in the Tanzanian capital to provide line and light maintenance support.
Commenting on the decision, Rodolphe Marchais, the Chairman & CEO of Sabena Technics, said:
“We are very proud that FastJet has selected us to assist it in the launch and development of its operations. Sabena technics’ experience and know-how in full support solutions means that FastJet can depend on us to deliver a reliable service from the start. We look forward to supporting FastJet’s future expansion into other African countries and thereby grow our maintenance service portfolio with other customers in the region.”
FastJet has also announced that it has signed a lease for a further two Airbus A319s from Sweden's Volito Aviation with delivery scheduled for November. The two aircraft will join another Airbus A319 already leased from BBAM LLC, formerly Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management, with the carrier aiming at a launch with five A319s in total.
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| Ed Winter |
On the recent aircraft hires, FastJet Chief Executive Officer, Ed Winter, noted:
"Signing two further aircraft to our fleet and securing delivery in November puts us firmly on track to launch FastJet next month at our first base in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania."
Airport ground handling and related management services in Tanzania have been awarded to Swissport International, the Tanzanian division of Swissport International in which Swissport International owns 51% and the Government of Tanzania 49%.
On the human resources front, the airline has headhunted three executives to joint their management team, namely:
- Rob Bishton - Operations' Director - previously the Chief Pilot & Head of Aircraft Operations at easyJet, and Director of Flight Operations at Astraeus Ltd.
- Kyle Haywood - Africa General Manager - former Chief Executive officer at Air Uganda and has held various other senior positions at Air Arabia, Gulf Air and British Airways.
- Harun Cordan - Group Chief Pilot & Head of Flight Ops - formerly at Ryanair where he held a number of positions including that of Chief Instructor and Deputy Head of Training.