The Dream of a Pan-African Budget Airline Is Fading


Skift Take

While some of fastjet's wounds have been self-inflicted, it hasn't been helped by problems in key markets. The radical turnaround plans initiated by the new CEO seem like the last throw of the dice.

When fastjet launched its first flights in the east African country of Tanzania in November 2012, the company’s senior management team was keen to talk up the possibilities on the continent. After travelling onboard one of its first services Chief Commercial Officer Richard Bodin, said: “Today’s flights to Kilimanjaro and Mwanza mark the start of a new, revolutionary, smart way to travel for African people, and our first steps towards becoming a low cost, reliable pan-African airline.” The CEOs of Etihad, Expedia, RouteHappy, and More Are Speaking at Skift Global Forum 2016. Join Us. Four years and numerous profit warnings later those dreams lay in tatters. This week the company published first-half results, revealing th