KENYA: Jambojet Gets 2018 Bombardier Reliability Award

Mr Allan Kilavuka(middle), CEO, Jambojet and Maureen Okomo, Chief Engineer, Jambojet receive the Bombardier 2018 Airline Reliability Award from Todd Young, Vice President and General Manager, Head of the Q Series Aircraft Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.
Jambojet, has been awarded the 2018 Bombardier Reliability Award for outstanding performance.

Jambojet was the only African airline among the thirteen airlines from around the world that were recognised. The award recognizes operators of Bombardier Q Series turboprops who achieve the highest rates of dispatch reliability.

Jambojet Chief Executive officer Mr Allan Kilavuka said the award is an endorsement and acknowledgement of Jambojet’s performance in its operations and aircraft maintenance procedures.

This has been a big year for Jambojet with major milestones in the five years since our establishment. The Bombardier Award further attests to our commitment to deliver on our core values on safety and reliability as the region’s affordable airline, he said.

The Bombardier Reliability Award rewards airlines based on their dispatch reliability. This is the percentage of flights that depart within a specified time of the scheduled departure time.

Airlines global standard uses a 15-minute margin between actual and scheduled departure time for a flight to be considered as having departed on time.

Jambojet’s On-time performance (OTP) currently stands at 81%, one of the highest in Kenya.

We are delighted to congratulate this year’s award recipients for their outstanding performance, said Todd Young, Vice President and General Manager, Head of the Q Series Aircraft Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

We are proud of the strong collaboration between Bombardier, our operators and suppliers and the success it delivers in providing efficient, reliable air service to communities worldwide.

Low-cost carriers have entered the African market in recent in recent years to ensure travellers don’t have to rob banks in order to afford flights.

Travelling by Air is the best and safest mode of transport today. However, despite its perks and comforts Air travel does not come cheap, it is one of the most expensive mode of travelling.

Low-cost carriers have entered the market in recent in recent years to ensure travellers don’t have to rob banks in order to fly, offering affordable flights without compromising on quality.

Below are some of Africa’s leading low-cost airline which offers absolute comfort.

Fastjet Airlines is a British/South African-based holding company for a group of low cost carriers that operate in Africa.

The carrier entered the African space in 2012 and since then they have flown over 2,250,000 passengers to some of southern Africa’s most incredible countries from as little as US$20 one way.

Fastjet offer the lowest possible fares through an ingenious budget model where passengers who make advance booking pay less.

Passengers who want additional services such as food, baggage and seat choices pay extra making it cheaper for to fly for those seeking minimal additions.

Flyjet airlines currently flies to; Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe

It was named Africa’s leading low-cost airline during the World Travel Awards, 2017.

Five Forty Aviation Ltd, trading as Fly540, is a low-cost airline based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The carrier commenced operations in 2006 and offers flights for as low as $50 one way.

Fly540 is East Africa’s premier low cost airline offering scheduled flights all year round to destinations within Kenya, South Sudan and Zanzibar.

Kulula Airlines often referred to as Kulula.com is one of South Africa’s leading low cost airlines based on Johannesburg.

"Kulula" means easy in isZulu and isiXhosa, which explains the airline's approach to booking and flying

It was founded in 2001 and has a fleet of about ten aircrafts.

It is a wholly owned low-cost subsidiary of British Airways Franchisee Comair and was the first privately owned low cost airline in South Africa

Precision Air Services Plc is a Tanzanian airline based at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, with a minihub at Mwanza Airport.

It was established in 1993 and started as a private charter air Transport Company operating a five-seater piper Aztec aircraft.

Its initial line of business mainly entailed providing connections to tourists visiting the rich natural attractions of Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, in northern Tanzania, the Zanzibar Island in the Indian Ocean and other parts of the country from Arusha town as its base.

In 2003 Kenya Airways acquired a minority 49% shareholding leaving majority 51% shares in the control of one local Tanzanian businessman.

Since then, Precision Air has literally turned its image into a professionally run modern regional airline.

It currently flies to parts of Tanzania, Zanzibar, Nairobi and Entebbe with its modern fleet consisting of, Five 70 seater ATR 72-500, Three 48 seater ATR 42-500 and 1 48 seater ATR 42-600.

Mango Airlines SOC Ltd, trading as Mango, is a state-owned South African low-cost airline based at OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg and a subsidiary of South African Airways.

Mango first launched end October 2006 with its first flight taking to the skies on 15 November 2006.

It is considered South Africa's most innovative airline and flies between South Africa’s major airports.

Mango also operates twice-weekly flights between Johannesburg and Zanzibar.

According to the airline it is the only airline globally to accept store charge cards in lieu of booking payment and the only African airline to offer on-board Wi-Fi.


Tourism Observer

Fastjet Gets New Shareholder Solenta, Raises $28m

Fastjet has sought its investors for $28m (£23m) and signed up a new shareholder in an attempt to stabilise a business that has been rocked by losses and boardroom turbulence.

The Africa-focused budget airline has raised gross proceeds of $28.8m after successfully placing 143m new shares.

It has also agreed a deal with specialist aviation group Solenta for the provision and operation of three leased aircraft, in return for a 28pc shareholding, which will make it the company’s largest shareholder.

Fastjet, which is listed on Aim, suffered a shareholder uprising last year after reporting a £25m loss in 2015. Its co-founder, easyJet tycoon Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, successfully launched a rebellion to remove boss Ed Winter early last year, while chairman Colin Child announced he was leaving in November, little more than a year after taking the post, when he also admitted the carrier needed more cash.

Nico Bezuidenhout, the former boss of low-cost South African airline Mango Airlines who was named as Fastjet’s new chief executive in June, said the Solenta agreement “represents a good operational and strategic fit” but warned of another financially challenging year ahead.

He said the deal allowed Fastjet to continue to stabilise its business, with the short-term priority to reach cash flow break even by the fourth quarter of 2017.

Johannesburg-based Solenta operates 49 aircraft under five African air operator certificates and has “strategic alliances” or pending AOCs in a further seven African countries.

It will have the right to nominate two directors to the Fastjet board, and Mr Bezuidenhout said it would “add substantial value to the boardroom”. The deal will be voted on at a special meeting called for January 23.

Fastjet, which was criticised by Sir Stelios for its high costs, is in the process of relocating from Gatwick to South Africa to ensure its headquarters is closer to its operational base. The company’s commercial division has already relocated, with the financial division expected to complete its transfer by the end of March.

The funding injection will go towards this relocation, fleet transition and geographic expansion, Mr Bezuidenhout said, adding that the agreement would provide the platform “from which to flexibly and cost effectively pursue Fastjet’s medium to long-term objective of becoming the first truly pan-African low-cost airline”.

Fastjet had blamed losses last year on Tanzania’s turbulent economy. The country, which is by far and away the airline’s largest market, was unsettled by a general election that led t to a hiatus in government and civil service activity. It also pointed to the falling value of the Tanzanian shilling versus the US dollar.

“The African market remains overall a challenging one,” said Mr Bezuidenhout, who agreed to subscribe for around 125,000 shares. “We are in a market where there is tough competition and we need to remain vigilant. The next 12 months will continue to be financially challenging.”

Pointing to growing demand for low-cost carriers in South America and India, he added: “It is, as always, a question of making sure you have got the right business model, the right cost structure, and matching product to market demand. If you do all those things right, I see no reason why Africa cannot benefit from a more effective overall aviation industry.”

Shares in Fastjet were up around 9.77pc to 18.25p on Thursday afternoon.

SOUTH AFRICA: South African Airways Celebrates 20 Years Flying To Tanzania

South African Airways has been flying between Johannesburg and Dar Es Salaam in Tanazania since 1995 and now offers twice daily flights between these two cities. The relaxing of visas requirements in 2013 for South African passport holders on business or holiday in Tanzania has significantly aided tourism.

South African Airways is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 56 destinations and is in partnership with SA Express, SA Airlink and its low cost carrier, Mango. The route Johannesburg to Dar Es Salaam flights are operated by SAA's new A320s or A319s.

SOUTH AFRICA: Skywise’s Commences Johannesburg to Cape Town Flights

Skywise celebrated the launch of its first operations at Johannesburg Airport, with the addition of twice-daily flights to Cape Town
Skywise, the South African carrier that was founded in 2012 before suffering from numerous licencing issues, finally commenced first operations on 5 March, adding flights from Johannesburg (JNB) to Cape Town (CPT).

Even though this route is extensively competed, with flights offered by South African Airways (126 times weekly), Comair (122), Mango Airlines (43) and FlySafair (26), Skywise will operate twice-daily flights using its 737-300s.