Fastjet axes important routes weighed down by poor load factors
Africa’s low cost airline fastjet has suspended some routes and shelved expansion plans in Zimbabwe as poor load factors and depressed margins affect viability, according to media reports.
Feb 10, 2017: Africa’s low cost airline fastjet has suspended some routes and shelved expansion plans in Zimbabwe as poor load factors and depressed margins affect viability, according to media reports.
Despite its various promotions that have seen domestic and regional flights costing $30 and $50 respectively for a one-way ticket, excluding taxes, fastjet has been unable to achieve its desired load factors and increase flight frequencies to targets.
As a result, Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) sources said the airline has been forced to suspend its Victoria Falls-Johannesburg route and shelve plans to expand its route network into East Africa.
The airline has also suffered as a result of the country's import prioritisation exercise, which is part of efforts to stop externalisation of the scarce United States dollar.
As a result, customers are unable to purchase tickets in bulk using international payment platforms.