■ TANZANIA: (Pic) fastjet unveils new brand & livery; to start ticket sales next week.

fastjet, the continent's first pan-African low cost carrier set to launch later this month, today unveiled its new brand image and aircraft livery as the carrier readies itself for ops. It also announced it will begin selling tickets next week ahead of the airline's first flight this month.

Commenting on the new branding, fastjet Chief Executive Ed Winter said the new logo features the well-known African Grey Parrot which was carefully selected following in-depth market research in Africa:

"The African Grey is renowned for its intelligence and is therefore a perfect personification of fastjet's motto; smart travel.  We are delighted to be unveiling this new branding today, which better reflects our individual corporate identity and speaks to our key audiences.

"We hope that our friendly new mascot and logo will soon become universally recognised as symbols of reliability, efficiency and safety."

Source [fastjet]

fastjet's new livery

The airline now has three Airbus A319s as part of its fleet all of which are in the process of being painted with the new fastjet livery before being dispatched to Tanzania.

In addition, the airline's web site - www.fastjet.com - will go live next week providing information on routes and fare schedules. The site will soon allow tickets to be bought using credit/debit cards as well as mobile phone technology that debits the users phone accounts. Catering for the more cash-oriented African market, tickets will also be sold through travel agents and fastjet's own sales desks, call centres and offices in and around East Africa. 

Meanwhile, the carrier has also responded to reports by British paper, The Telegraph, that its sibling company, fly540 Kenya (5H), was being sued by various suppliers over unpaid bills and claimed fastjet owes more than USD1.5million to fuel and engine supplier,  Finejet, stating:

"A recent story emanating from East Africa and picked up by the Daily Telegraph contained material inaccuracies regarding disputes with two Fly540 (Kenya) suppliers. Whilst we are not able to comment directly on these specific cases, we can confirm that the amounts in dispute are not deemed material, and that we will vigorously defend the company's interests as these cases progress. Our shareholders would expect us only to settle invoices that are accurate and appropriate."