Fastjet wins Africa leading low-cost airline award
Budget carrier Fastjet has won Africa's Leading Low-Cost Airline Award at the 23rd Annual World Travel Awards held in Zanzibar, Tanzania. PHOTO | FILE
Budget carrier Fastjet has won Africa's leading low-cost airline award at the 23rd Annual World Travel Awards held in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
The entry of the British low-cost airline in 2012 in Tanzania and later in Kenya sparked off ticket price war in the region after it promised fares relatively cheaper than its competitors such Kenya Airways.
Fastjet was honoured for making air travel more affordable, safe and reliable across its pan-African network.
“Being recognised and accepting this award not only reflects our commitment to air-travel excellence, but the impact we endeavour to make on the African continent,” said Jai Gilbert, the head of marketing at Fastjet.
The global World Travel Awards reward excellence across all key sectors of the travel tourism and hospitality industry. The winners of the event were picked by travel and tourism professionals and consumers worldwide.
With its hub in Dar es Salaam, the airline flies within Tanzania – to Mbeya, Mwanza and Kilimanjaro – as well as Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi. The airline also plans to fly to Rwanda, eastern DR Congo and South Sudan.
Fastjet, however, recently suspended flights between Nairobi and Kilimanjaro over low passenger numbers.
Kenya Airways tops
Kenya Airways was named Africa’s leading airline amid sale of its fleet and layoff of 600 workers in a turnaround strategy aimed at finding a sustainable financial structure for its business.
Ethiopian Airlines was also feted as Africa’s leading economy class carrier.
