Fastjet introduces flights between Dar and Entebbe

  Fastjet will be launching its fourth international route, with flights between Dar es Salaam and Entebbe, Uganda taking off from mid-September.

The Tanzanian-based airline has its sights set on becoming the first pan-African budget airline, so far offering international flights to Johannesburg in South Africa, Lusaka in Zambia and Harare in Zimbabwe.

Flights are planned to commence on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, the company said in a statement yesterday.

Fastjet will fill the gap of direct flight between Dar es Salaam and Entebe after Air Uganda was grounded pending reapplication for operation certificates from the regulator.

The firm said the route was part of the long-term expansion plans and not a response to absence of direct flights between the two countries or suspension of the three airlines in Uganda.

The Civil Aviation Authority suspended Air Uganda, Transafrik Uganda Ltd and the Ministry of Defence-owned Uganda Air Cargo Corporation on June 17, this year. The airlines were suspended indefinitely after a review of their systems, structures and operations by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).

The Fastjet route will initially operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the first weeks of September, increasing to four flights a week from the September 29.

Since Air Uganda ceased flying, the fares offered by other carriers for flights in and out of the country have risen steadily.

Fastjet will be offering tickets from $50, excluding taxes