Ed Winter, Chief Executive Officer of fastjet, said: “The load factor this month has been significantly affected by a change in market demand in Tanzania due to the Presidential elections. We expected a downturn in the few days leading to the election and on the day itself. However, due to the unusually competitive nature of this year’s elections, people tended to suspend travel plans until the inauguration. There have been no significant reports of civil unrest in the country and I am pleased to report that bookings are beginning to return to expected levels.
“I am also delighted with the successful launch of fastjet Zimbabwe. We have clearly captured the imagination of the Zimbabwean market having sold over 2,600 seats in a few short weeks on our first route which links Harare with Victoria Falls. We are working hard on growing the network to and from Zimbabwe and our applications to operate to various regional countries have already been sent by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.”
fastjet operations carried a total of 73,758 passengers in October 2015 and achieved a load factor of 63%. The amount of seats offered across the network has grown by almost 14,000 compared to October 2014 (a 23% increase in capacity). Due to the launch of fastjet Zimbabwe on 28 October 2015, the two flights that operated between Harare and Victoria Falls in October feature in the total above.
Punctuality for the month remained excellent, with 91% of fastjet Tanzania flights arriving on time Note 3, despite some severe weather that resulted in flooding across Tanzania.
Note: as fastjet broadens its operations, exposing us to more competitors, the Company has decided for commercial reasons to cease reporting monthly passenger statistics with effect from January 2016, and will instead include updates in interim and end of year accounts.
|
Month ending |
October 2015 |
October 2014 |
Change |
|
Passengers Note 1 |
73,758 |
59,830 |
23% |
|
Load Factor Note 2 |
63% |
74% |
-11pp |
|
Rolling 12 months ending |
October 2015 |
October 2014 |
Change |
|
Passengers Note 1 |
791,758 |
539,205 |
47% |
Notes:
1. “Passengers” are sold seats flown, excluding infants. fastjet bookings are generally non-refundable.
2. “Load Factor” is the number of “passengers” as a percentage of the number of available seats flown.
3. “on time” – arrival earlier than or within 15 minutes of schedule (excludes cancelled flights).
