Fresh from announcing its new planned South African market-entry, Tanzanian-based LCC fastjet (FN) has revealed Kyle Haywood as the head of the airline's new South African venture with partner, Blockbuster, now known as "fastjet Holdings." |
| fastjet A320 at Fed Air's Joburg ORTIA facility (unknown) |
On Wednesday, fastjet announced it was to enter the South African flight market after signing a deal with South African investment firm Blockbuster, linked to Edward Zuma and Yusuf Kajee, to set up a service between Johannesburg and Cape Town. The joint venture will be 75% owned by fastjet Holdings, with the rest owned by fastjet. The company said it is now “fully engaged” with partners and working hard to get tickets on sale within a few weeks.
A commercial deal has been struck with local operator Federal Air (7V), which will allow fastjet to use its existing licensing infrastructure and deliver its “proven low-cost airline model to the South African public”.
The date targeted to launch the route is 31 May.
Kyle Haywood, the company’s managing director for Africa and former head of Air Uganda (U7), has become chief executive of the new South African operations, heading up the launch team there.